DRD 27

A ring? Hardly. A dagger would suit their relationship better. So whatever that was, it had to be a message from Ogothai…

Hmm. The box is pretty small. Maybe not a message.

What is that bottle?

Huh?

“Ha-eon’s Light?”

The moment Enya recognized the object, she grabbed his wrist. His fingers and the back of his hand brushed against her chest, but she didn’t care. Right now, Helios was nothing more than a stand holding Ha-eon’s Light.

I can’t believe I’m seeing this in person.

For mages with strong mana like Enya, it was natural that divine power—its opposing force—barely affected them. Most blessings and healing simply didn’t work on her body.

But Ha-eon’s Light was different. It was a sacred artifact created by modifying sorcery so that divine power directly infused the blood.

Magic relied solely on mana, while sorcery used both blood and mana.

A mysterious domain separate from both magic and holy arts—that was sorcery.

Sorcery worked equally regardless of the target’s mana or divine power. By applying that principle, Ha-eon’s Light was created using divine power and blood instead of mana.

In other words, it could heal someone like Enya.

But Enya wasn’t fascinated by its endless divine power or its value as a sacred artifact.

Ha-eon’s Light was a rare product of sorcery—something hardly seen on the continent—and that alone thrilled her as a researcher.

“Wh-what is this? Why are you showing me this? No—why are you showing it? Is this… to show off?”

Her fingers curled into his palm. She looked ready to kiss the artifact.

“Your hand…”

“Hm?”

“Your hand—don’t just… so carelessly…”

“Don’t touch? Got it, got it. You’re the one grabbing people whenever you want.”

What Helios meant wasn’t just that she was grabbing him—he meant she shouldn’t let him touch her body so casually either. Did she even realize the back of his hand had been against her chest?

Maybe he was the strange one, making a fuss over something like this. People bumped into each other all the time when excited or angry.

But right now, he couldn’t stand it.

“If you understand, step back.”

Reluctantly, Enya pulled her hand away, her eyes lingering on the artifact.

Only then did Helios realize he’d been holding his breath. He tightened his grip on the box.

Seeing Ha-eon’s Light in his large hand made Enya anxious—it looked like it might break.

As she leaned forward unconsciously, her clear face came close enough to seem buried in his hand.

Her black eyes sparkled, reflecting the sunlight bouncing off the vial.

Her gaze drifted within the transparent glow of Ha-eon’s Light… then slowly lifted to meet his.

Eyes that felt like they could pull you under if you met them.

There was no reason to be tense, yet Helios’s throat bobbed.

When they arrived at the residence, Ogothai had pushed him forward in front of several nobles, telling him to go fetch Enya. He thought it would be a good opportunity to hand over the sacred artifact.

He also wanted to get rid of the lingering sense of debt.

After receiving <Gwangya>, it hadn’t even appeared in his dreams for a day, so he dismissed it indifferently. It was nothing. You’re nothing, he told himself.

But the moment the carriage door opened, he saw Hasan—barely past boyhood—leaning in as if kissing Enya’s eyelids.

The calm shattered instantly, replaced by the sensation of his bones cracking.

How could she lack such judgment? No matter how rough her life had been on the battlefield, how could she display affection so openly when so many were watching?

He wasn’t asking her to live modestly like himself.

But at least until the subjugation was over, shouldn’t she avoid rumors?

There was a reason for his anger.

She could ruin everything.

It felt like someone was stomping on his chest.

He needed to bring her in, confirm whether Hasan had touched her, and make her promise never to do such a thing again.

At the very least, she shouldn’t act like that in public.

He only snapped out of those insane thoughts when he saw her expression.

Why are you here?

A look that treated him like an unwelcome guest.

Seeing her now—so completely different from the gentle figure in his dreams—he was struck with the certainty that everything had been nothing but lingering hallucinations.

His mind cooled.

And like drawing a sword before a beast, he instinctively grabbed her and kept her close.

Not letting go.

A way of marking her position.

At least until the subjugation ended—you belong to me.

Once he judged that Enya understood her place, he released her.

Every time their eyes met, it was hard to suppress his anger, so he planned to hand over Ha-eon’s Light and avoid her for the rest of the day.

But then—

Seeing Enya flushed and clinging close to him, his thoughts went blank.

Black hair that seemed to swallow light.

Eyes shining with life—like unpolished black gemstones.

He spoke as if spitting it out:

“A return gift.”

“Huh?”

Enya’s eyes widened impossibly.

“A return gift…?”

“For your present.”

“Ah! So that’s why you came to meet me?”

Her body trembled as she covered her mouth.

Now that she thought about it, Laila had given him <Gwangya> as a visit gift. She’d said a return gift would come soon—but Enya had forgotten.

That book must be really popular.

He even gave up something like this in return.

Maybe it was just the temple showing generosity—but it didn’t matter.

Feigning calm, Enya brushed her hair behind her ear.

“It’s hard to get that book. Very rare… So, did you read it?”

“…Yes.”

He answered as if entranced, then quickly regained himself.

He caught the expectation in her smile.

“It was terrible. Novels are for idle people—like you.”

“I’m an idiot for asking. If it’s for idle people, why give something this valuable?”

“The book itself has value.”

“No matter how valuable, it can’t compare to Ha-eon’s Light… Whatever. If you’re giving it, hand it over already.”

Despite her arrogant tone, Enya held out both hands obediently.

He closed the lid and placed Ha-eon’s Light into her palms.

“Ahhh! I love it so much!”

Like a rabbit finding a spring, Enya jumped in place.

Clutching the box to her chest, she blinked as if she couldn’t believe it, spinning around.

Her face twisted as she tried to suppress her excitement—then burst anyway.

Like a flower blooming in winter.

It felt like spring existed only around her.

“Thank you, Sir Helios. If this is the kind of return gift, I’ll always welcome it.”

She tapped his chest with her fist and winked.

“This settles it. I won’t give you anything more.”

Her bright smile outshone even the light breaking through shadows.

Then, as if she had no attachment at all, she stepped out from beneath the zelkova tree.

Helios watched her shrinking figure.

Though she was known to be fickle, this was the first time Enya had shown him such open positivity.

Her lips curved smoothly, full of life.

Her eyes shimmered with curiosity, interest—and a hint of madness, like obsidian.

Beautiful.

Rather than feeling embarrassed or wounded in pride, he felt relief.

At last, things made sense.

Yes—Enya was beautiful from every angle.

Dark brows like slanted mountains, clear black eyes, a straight nose, abundant free-flowing hair, a tall elegant frame.

He had simply been drawn to beauty.

Though he’d been indifferent to many beauties before, he was still human—was it so strange to stumble once?

He wasn’t even hurt—just reassured that his body was functioning normally.

He had always thought himself lacking, especially in matters of desire.

But despite Enya’s terrible personality, her beauty had shaken him.

So perhaps he wasn’t so lacking after all.

Once he accepted it, everything made sense.

Her presence in his hallucinations. His restless thoughts around her.

He mistook beauty for gentleness.

Even her cold eyes sometimes seemed sad.

Beauty clouded the mind.

It was nothing.

Compared to the days he endured in the temple, longing to escape—

Compared to the days he wanted to die—

This was trivial.

His strange, sharp interest was nothing more than a natural reaction to beauty.

And the irritation he felt was simply due to her unreasonable behavior.

The clarity made him want to shout.

He followed behind Enya.

Carpe and the attendants followed him.

“Did something happen? You didn’t… relieve yourselves together, did you?”

Carpe asked, startled by Helios’s unusually bright expression.

Even at such a crude question, Helios’s face didn’t change at all.

“Carpe.”

“Yes.”

“When you see a stray cat, do you find it cute?”

“…Well. How did you know Gray picked up some rain-soaked cats? If you’re handing out punishment, give it to me this time.”

“So you find them cute.”

“Well… yes. Small face, big blinking eyes. Why are you asking? Commander, have you lost your mind?”

“No.”

“Planning to raise one?”

Under the clear sky, Helios smiled faintly.

“Perhaps.”

“You should raise a dog. That suits you better.”

But his good mood didn’t last long.

Ahead of him, Enya pulled Hasan close and whispered something.

“Hasan, come here. Look at this. What do you think?”

Hasan looked at her in surprise.

She burst into laughter—bright, innocent.

She looked years younger.

Though she usually acted sharp and harsh, she smiled easily around her own people.

Even if he was a bastard, Hasan was still a noble registered in Valencia—was it fine for her to behave so freely?

As that thought continued, Helios’s brow creased slightly.

Beside him, Carpe’s gaze—also on the mage—sparkled with both interest and caution.