Chapter 35

✢✢✢✢

‘That’s right. They said that there would be the sound of iron hitting against something when the ghosts come out. It’s alright. I’m alright.’

Lestia glanced at the iron armor on display. She gulped loudly as she took a step forward. But then…

Clank.

The clanking sound of iron rang loudly behind Lestia. It was just like what Mathias had told her before. A tingling sensation climbed up along her spine.

‘What was that sound just now? Are there really ghosts?’

But she did not have the courage to look back and confirm if the ghosts truly existed. What would she do if the armor was truly moving? Lestia nervously and hurriedly rushed forward.

Thankfully, a faint light began to illuminate the hallway as the sun began to rise. But it was also a setback for her. Due to the sunrise’s faint light, the magic light that operated only if there was no light present did not turn on. The hallway was still too dark for her liking.

‘What should I do? It’s too dark and scary.’

But what was more frightening was the fact that there was another set of footsteps stomping close to her.

‘Is the ghosts wearing shoes, not armor?’

Lestia grabbed her coat tightly with trembling hands. Then…

Grab.

The thing that was following behind her grabbed her shoulders.

“Kyaack!”

Lestia couldn’t help but close her eyes and scream.

“Calm down.”

But instead of a ghost, she heard the sound of a familiar voice. Lestia slowly opened her eyes that were tightly shut.

“Huh…? Lysian-nim?”

It wasn’t a ghost but Lysian who grabbed Lestia’s shoulders. There was a butterfly made of flames fluttering around him and because of that he looked like his body was shining brightly. His brilliant and golden eye that reflected the light even in this darkness was more mystical than a ghost.

“Why do you look like that?”

Lestia came back to her senses when Lysian opened his mouth again.

“Huh, huh? There was clearly a clanking sound but… it wasn’t a ghost…”

“…What are you talking about? Ah. You were probably talking about this. I fixed this while I was on my way here.”

Lysian showed the long sword in his hand to Lestia.

“Phew. Thank goodness it’s not a ghost.”

Only then did Lestia breathed a sigh of relief. But Lysian immediately asked her.

“So, why are you here? And it’s at this early hour too.”

“Ah, that.”

Lestia lost her tongue.

She had planned to tell Lysian if she met him at the training ground that she came here to meet with her escort knights as an excuse but this place wasn’t the training grounds.

“You… Did you come out here to meet me?”

Unfortunately, Lysian was able to see through Lestia’s intentions in just one glance. Lestia let out an ‘Ah!’ unknowingly before quickly trying to rectify her blunder.

“N, Not at all. I just went out for a walk and got lost.”

“At the break of dawn?”

“Yes…”

“Then, go back. Follow this butterfly and you’ll be able to find your room.”

Lysian left a magic butterfly in front of Lestia and passed by her as if his business with her was finally over.

“Huh? Huh? Lysian-nim!”

They were only able to barely meet each other, they couldn’t part just like that. Lestia rushed towards Lysian’s side.

“I’m really glad I met you here by chance, Lysian-nim!”

Lysian did not know if this was truly a coincidence but his brows were deeply furrowed.

“Are you extremely busy these days? Are you also preparing for the academy’s next semester?”

“……”

But Lysian did not answer. Lestia did not give in and chased after him with her constant chatter.

“Brother Mathias said that he would be going back to the academy. Did you hear that?”

“……”

“Will you be going back to the capital once vacation is over? I think I will be lonely.”

“……”

“That, uhm, Lysian-nim. I guess you’re going somewhere after your swordsmanship training.”

Eventually, Lysian stopped in his tracks.

“How did you know that?”

“Yes, that, Lysian-nim always wears a long robe everytime you go out. And you’re wearing one right now… but why do you always wear robes? Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“…You don’t need to know. Go back.”

Lysian took another step forward but Lestia continued to chase after him and chatter away.

“Uhm, Lysian-nim. I think I can see a bit of magic. Is this also related to the magic book?”

“You should tell it to Gerard, not me.”

“But I want to talk with Lysian-nim. Uhm, I also studied my writing hard but… Ah, how was the letter? Did I use a weird word? But even if I sent you a letter you did not reply…”

Lysian had no choice but to stop in his tracks once again.

“The answer to the letter was already delivered by Dora.”

“Ah, yes. I heard it. You said you were busy? But I’m going to keep waiting for Lysian-nim until you’re not busy anymore.”

“What?”

“You have a lot to do so I’ll wait until you finish all of the work that you need to do.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Yes? Just, because I wanted to talk to Lysian-nim. And you said that I could do whatever I wanted.”

Lestia pouted.

“If you don’t like it then just reply to my letter. I definitely wrote it in my letter…”

Lysian sighed.

“Fine. I won’t be back until late this evening. I’ll come to your room with a reply.”

“Yes? Really?”

Lestia smiled widely.

“Right. So just hurry on and get back to your room. Aren’t you cold wearing such thin clothes?”

“Yes, yes! Alright! You definitely have to come! I’ll be waiting for you!”

Lestia made sure to urge and remind Lysian that he should come before going back to her room following the butterfly that Lysian had conjured.

“……”

Lysian folded his arms as he watched Lestia disappear down the hallway. Her careful steps reminded him of the handwriting in the letter that she had sent.

The letter was filled with letters that Lestia had written herself.

―Lysian-nim.

How are you doing? These days, I have been studying with brother Joel and brother Mathias in the study. If you don’t mind, I would love it if you can come and join us. Ah! I’m not asking you because I wanted to ask you for help in my study. Brother Joel is already doing that for me. I just wanted you to be there and read with me because you also like to read books.

I’ll say it again, I will never disturb you!

But if you don’t like it, please send a reply so I can check if I wrote this letter properly. If you did not like my letter, please feel free to correct me too. You can get angry at me if I do not write it well.

‘…What do you mean it’s alright to be angry? In the end, it’s about liking it or not. But you still want me to send my reaction?’

Lysian had tried to distance himself from Lestia. That was why he told her that he was busy and did not give her any response. But Lestia was using all kinds of methods to narrow the distance between them.

‘I thought you were just daring but it seems like you’re also quite clever.’

He only temporarily took care of a poor rabbit but he did not know that the rabbit would try so hard to cling on to him. He thought that it was better for him to erase the thought that Lestia was an innocent child.

‘…Perhaps it’s better to distance myself from her slowly than all at once. I can just write her a reply.’

Since he was bound to get further and further away from Lestia he decided that there was no need for him to be impatient.

“…I’m very busy today.”

Just as he promised with Lestia, he moved diligently so he could come back to the castle before she could fall asleep.

As soon as he finished his sword training, Lysian jumped on his horse and rode out of Verchester Castle. In the capital, he had to refrain from going out since it was proclaimed that his body needed ample rest. But here in Verchester Duchy, there was no need to be careful like that. It was enough for him to cover himself with a long robe.

✢✢✢✢✢