VFAI 23

Chapter 23

The Elodie Hand Tug-of-War
2022.09.18.

At that very moment, when I was barely managing to keep up with Karlo’s relentless, straight-line assault—

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded, and I lifted my head. Leaning against the open door was Yansi.

“Are you done talking?”

“Not yet, just a little longer—”

Before Karlo could say anything more, I quickly cut him off.

“It’s over. You can come in!”

Karlo clearly looked disappointed, but I pretended not to see it and gestured to Yansi.

Yansi glanced at Karlo, who was still kneeling on the floor, then walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Anyway, Riri.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know the mercenary king, Ian? Were you acquainted with him before?”

The sudden question left my mind in chaos for a moment.

I had clearly said I met him by chance… so why was he asking this?

He put someone on my tail. At least since my first outing.

Either he had no intention of hiding it, or he thought I was too dull to notice.

Knowing that getting sharp with Yansi would be useless, I simply answered.

“Yes. I once ran into him on the street before. He seemed to have mistaken me for someone else.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Yansi smiled a little more meaningfully, but he didn’t press further.

So the “Rayan” was the mercenary king Ian.

I had heard rumors about him.

Impossible not to.

Among commoners, there were two especially famous figures—and he was one of them.

A commoner from the slums.

A lone man who entered the mercenary world at a young age, and through sheer strength, conquered all mercenaries and stood at their summit.

They said he was a legend among mercenaries.

There was a reason I didn’t recognize him.

When I used “Masha” to gather information, I only searched nobles. A commoner like Rayan wouldn’t even appear in the data—he wouldn’t even be a candidate.

But someone like him didn’t appear in the original story…

Rayan’s existence was still a mystery to me.

Before leaving after bringing me back to the estate, I remembered his final words.

“I will visit again soon.”

Another vague promise without a date.

But now that I knew his identity, I didn’t need to just wait.

Should I go find him first?

The moment I thought that, Yansi quietly looked at me.

“Stay away from him, Riri.”

Yansi rarely spoke without a smile—yet now his face was unusually serious.

“Why?”

It was a warning from Yansi of all people.

Given how deeply tied he was to the dark side of the Perdia family, he probably knew something about Rayan.

I believed he wouldn’t say something like this without reason.

But—

“Just because.”

“…?”

Just because?

That’s it?

I was dumbfounded.

“Is there no reason?”

“There are reasons if I list them. First, as a member of Perdia, you have no reason to associate with a mere mercenary. And also, he might have ulterior motives, or—no, no. Forget I said that.”

So in the end, it really was “no particular reason.”

Of course, I had no intention of listening to him.

Rayan was hiding something important from me. To find out what it was, I needed to keep meeting him and gathering information.

Besides, since he saved me, the family would likely compensate him. I could use that as an excuse to meet him a few times.

And if I could uncover something important in the process, even better.

No, wait. More importantly…

My gaze dropped downward.

At some point, I realized Yansi had quietly taken my hand.

His gloved fingertips covered the back of my hand, lightly playing with my fingers—lifting them, lowering them, fidgeting absentmindedly.

Yansi Perdia.

What kind of person was he?

Someone who avoided physical contact as much as possible, fearing his own power might go out of control and hurt others.

And yet he was touching me so casually—

Does that mean I don’t matter if I get hurt…?

I already knew he was a terrible person, but I didn’t expect this level of carelessness toward me.

Unbelievable.

I stared at him, dumbfounded, but Yansi was too busy playing with my hand.

“…Yansi, what are you doing right now?”

“Riri, you got into trouble earlier. I was worried, but holding your hand like this makes me feel better. Can I keep holding it? I’m too anxious to let go.”

“……”

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know how to react.

I forgot for a moment because of Karlo… but Yansi is insane too…

Feeling like I was holding a ticking bomb, a chill ran down my spine.

Just as I was thinking of how to naturally pull my hand away without provoking future retaliation—

Karlo slowly moved closer and stared at my other hand, the one not held by Yansi.

Seeing that, Yansi smiled like a fox and deliberately provoked him.

“Karlo, did you know? Riri’s hands are super soft and warm.”

“…!”

“Soft… and squishy…”

Yansi shook my hand as if to show off, and Karlo quickly reached out.

“Sister, me too.”

“What?”

“I want to hold your soft, warm, squishy hand too.”

The same guy who used to recoil as if touching something filthy was now asking to hold my hand.

Still unsure how to respond, I stayed silent. Karlo, watching my reaction, slowly took my hand.

Squeeze.

Mush.

Squish.

What the hell is happening?

Can someone explain?

Before I knew it, I was being held by one of the brothers on each hand.

I seriously began to wonder—

Maybe this was some new form of harassment they had devised.

Elodie’s face, already pale, turned ashen white.

Yansi watched her changing expressions with interest, then finally let go of her hand.

She seems to think this is harassment.

Let’s stop here for today.

For reasons he didn’t fully understand, Elodie was wary of him.

But perhaps that was natural.

He had always acted kindly as a “family member,” yet had never truly looked at her.

To Yansi, Elodie was special.

Someone who didn’t flinch even after seeing his true face beneath the mask.

A child who patted his back even after his outbursts of rage.

And yet she pushed people away the moment they tried to get close.

Yansi wanted to seep into Elodie’s daily life—slowly, so slowly she wouldn’t even notice.

There was a clear reason.

He had learned that Elodie was “that person” who witnessed his rampage on the night of the lunar eclipse six years ago.

The fact that she hadn’t been surprised even when he lost control recently was proof.

Yansi became curious.

How far could she accept him? Did she truly feel nothing?

And then Karlo’s sudden change in attitude irritated him in an inexplicable way.

Karlo, who now called her “sister” and desperately sought her attention, was interesting.

Even though it wasn’t a competition, a childish sense of rivalry rose within him.

How childish…

But this wasn’t so bad.

There was a reason he kept wanting to touch Elodie.

Whenever he touched her, the power he struggled to control strangely calmed down.

His tension eased, and the risk of losing control vanished—leaving him strangely relaxed.

So of course he wanted to keep touching her.

To give Elodie, who seemed to want solitude, some space, Yansi dragged Karlo away and said goodbye.

“See you tomorrow, Riri. Rest well.”

“T-tomorrow too?”

“Of course. I’ll come tomorrow, the day after, and every single day.”

“You don’t have to…”

He pretended not to hear her last words and closed the door.

Perhaps because he had held her hand for so long, controlling his power felt easier than usual.

Why is that?

What about Elodie helped stabilize his control?

Once he became curious, Yansi was not someone who let it go.

He would dig until he found the answer.

Time was on his side.

After all, as family, he had plenty of time to get to know her.

Karlo, looking at Yansi’s faint smile, spoke.

“You look happy, hyung.”

“Do I?”

Yansi touched the corner of his mouth. He always smiled, so he couldn’t tell what was different.

Meanwhile, Karlo looked dissatisfied as he was dragged away.

A stark change in just a few days.

“You’ve changed. You don’t seem to hate Elodie anymore.”

“And you haven’t changed either.”

When Elodie was present, they both acted recklessly—but without her, they began to reflect on themselves.

Karlo blushed and changed the subject.

“Why are you doing things you never used to do?”

“She’s my sister.”

“Not that again.”

Karlo shuddered, but Yansi only smiled.

He always said she was his sister, but he had never truly meant it.

However, this time, he did.

Though Karlo didn’t understand that meaning.

“By the way, there’s a royal banquet soon, right? Who will sister attend with?”

The host of the imperial banquet this time was Empress Salvatriche, mother of the Second Prince.

Because of the rivalry over the throne, relations between the First Prince Adenmir and the Empress were poor.

The First Prince would not attend this banquet.

But all members of the Perdia family received invitations, so attendance was expected unless there was a serious reason.

That meant Elodie would attend as well.

“She usually goes alone, like always.”

“Then…”

Both brothers thought the same thing at the same time.

I should attend as Riri’s partner.

It would be great to be her partner.

Of course, neither knew they were thinking the same thing.

Headquarters of the “Sky Falcon Mercenary Group,” Somnia Branch.

Rayan in the office received a letter from the Perdia family.

A message expressing gratitude and requesting his visit.

Mario, his deputy and subordinate, asked in alarm:

“Boss, what exactly are you involved with the Perdia family?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Of course I will, but I’m curious.”

“Don’t be.”

Ignoring him firmly, Rayan immediately headed to the Perdia estate.

Perhaps it had been arranged in advance, because he was guided immediately upon arrival.

Inside the reception room, only Duke Silvester Perdia, the head of the family, was present.

“Sit.”

Rayan sat opposite him. A servant soon prepared tea and snacks.

After the servant left, the two men remained silent for a moment.

Then the Duke spoke first.

“I intend to invest in your mercenary group as payment for saving my daughter. What do you think?”

“I didn’t do it expecting payment.”

“However, the only compensation I can offer is that kind of payment.”

Rayan understood what he meant.

It was essentially: take the money and disappear.

And likely also a warning to stay away from Elodie.

But Rayan had no interest in anything except Elodie Perdia.

So he could not accept the offer.

“I would like to see Lady Elodie.”

“No.”

The Duke’s answer was firm.

Rayan did not back down.

“I saved her life. The proper compensation should come from her. Don’t you agree?”

“She is my daughter. I will compensate you in her place.”

“I want to meet her.”

“I said no—”

Before the Duke could finish—

Bang, bang, bang!

Someone casually knocked three times, then the door swung open.

Standing there was Elodie.

She looked around the room, and her eyes met Rayan’s.

“Rayan!”

Her voice, calling him with unexpected warmth, made the usually expressionless Duke Perdia frown deeply.

“…Rayan?”