“That..”

“Yes?”

“Nothing.”

Michael turned his head a little to the side so that he wouldn’t get drunk on her scent.

Neither of them cared too much about the assassin.

Liarte was stronger than the assassins, and Michael was used to killing.

“I’ll take care of them for now. It’s okay for you to close your eyes or turn away.”

The water was tightly binding the bodies of the assassins.

Michael, who was approaching them with a dagger, stopped.

‘I can hear a strange sound.’

Most assassins carried poison for self- destruction in case they failed.

He could understand that it was because of self- destruction that he could not hear their breath.

However, from somewhere, he could hear the sound of sand falling.

seureureureureu*

(TL/N:*you guys can think of it like the sound of drinking ,but not quite drinking)

“Michael, wait.”

At that moment, something fell on the place where the assassins were tied up.

Liarte’s water picked up the fallen object.

On reflex, Liarte grabbed Michael’s hand.

She then pulled Michael back  to prevent him from continuing to move forward.

“You have to be careful because an ancient force like the kind which caused the curse on your eyes may be involved.”

Michael’s ears went red again.

“Thanks.”

“Let’s move closer carefully. Follow my lead.”

Liarte approached the old clothes floating on the water.

As soon as Michael approached, all the other assassins collapsed.

The only things left were their faded clothes and a few bones.

“When I wrapped him in water, the person suddenly turned into a bone.”

“A bone?”

At Michael’s questioning voice, Liarte looked up.

His red eyes sunk frightfully.

“What kind of state is it in?”

Michael’s hand, which held Liarte’s, gained a little bit of strength.

Liarte explained in detail to Michael, who could not see.

“It seems very old. And instead of the black cloth robe, he is wearing an old white velvet shroud. They may have switched people.”

“That’s a relief.”

Michael answered and relaxed his guard.

‘It’s not the worst situation I’ve ever encountered.’

At least things were better than what Michael had assumed.

‘You can hold out for years even if you can’t see what’s ahead. So far, there has been no problem with control. ‘

Michael soon regained his composure.

Liarte reached out her other hand that Michael did not hold to check the remains of the assassins.

The bones and clothes raised by the water stream had no special characteristics.

Most of the curses and magic always left traces such as letters and patterns.

“I think it’s safe. It’s okay to touch the bones and the clothes.”

Liarte’s movement was conveyed through the hand he held.

It was only then did Michael realize he was holding his ally’s hand.

“Hands. You keep holding it.”

There was no more danger in the room.

“I did.”

There was no reason left to hold Michael’s hand and prevent him from going further or lead him to follow her.

Liarte let go of his hand.

“Thank you for helping me. The bones and clothes will be taken care of when my escort comes back.”

“Just in case, tell him to be careful.”

“I’ll tell him that.”

Ah. It was weird.

When the other person came in, saying that he couldn’t escape alone and instead helped Michael, he felt pleased.

All he could see then was darkness, but at that moment, it felt like the world was shining.

“Then I’ll get rid of the curse now, Michael.”

Michael’s own name, called by her clear voice, felt sweet.

The cool body temperature of the hand that he held, and the shoulder of the other person which brushed against his arm amplified his senses.

The energy of the flowing water broke the second layer.

‘Is it the second time already?’

Michael thought it would be nice if time would stop like this.

There were only five curses left.

* * *

The peculiar purple eyes were a symbol of the royal family.

The Crown Prince opened his closed eyes and looked at the debris which then returned to his bones.

“Can’t it last for a long time? It would be better to discard the bones.”

“What about the bones that have already been sent to Elheim?”

Count Fedes, the crown prince’s lieutenant, kneeled down and loyally bowed his head.

“Leave it alone.”

If he was lucky, Michael Birce would get injured or cause Elheim’s anger, but he didn’t expect much.

“There will be no plans to use the bones again, so Birce wouldn’t know who’s behind it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Prince, while looking down on to Count Fedes, asked

“Is the Duke of Elheim still quiet?”

From the time Michael Birce visited, the Duke of Eheim was strangely quiet.

Originally, it was about time for the Duke of Elheim to protest against the issue of the visitation of Birce.

“Yes, neither the Duke nor his sons have contacted us.”

“I don’t know what’s going on inside anymore.”

Elheim was a more closed off family than he thought.

The three spies were able to penetrate deeply into the family, but despite that, the important information was only shared between the Duke of Elheim and his direct line, so nothing could be known.

“Is the Duke changing his mind and trying to cooperate with Birce?”

At that thought which came to mind, the Prince stood up with a sharp expression.

“If you were to look at the nature of the Duke of Elheim, he would never cure Birce, Your Highness.”

”It ‘s different when it comes to his son.”

Unlike the Duke of Elheim, the Young Prince of Elheim did not hate Birce.

The prince nervously shook his head.

He was behind the curse of the eye of Michael, as well as the one who put a lot of effort into the curse to blind him.

It was the perfect time for him to release the assassins to Elheim.

“First of all, send a letter saying that I will visit Elheim. The excuse is to have Lianrius have an engagement with Ninian but do so in moderation.”

The curse on Michael had a strength that only the strongest among Elheim’s bloodlines could solve.

There was only one person with such awakened power as far as the Crown Prince knew.

Young Master Lianrius.

Lianrius Elheim.

“No matter how reluctant they are to welcome Birce, Elheim should be holding an event to welcome their distinguished guests who brought a visitor’s note in name. Convey my intention of attending it unconditionally.”

“I will do as you wish, Your Highness.”

Count Fedes, who answered sincerely, was still on his knees.

Instead of answering, the Prince nodded arrogantly.

* * *

About two weeks later, a figure appeared in the Spirit Stone.

As if something was about to be born, a group of light was gathered in the middle of the blue crystal.

“You’re even beating around the bush today.”

The Duke of Elheim muttered at the unbelievable miracle.

“Somehow… doesn’t it feel like a heart?”

Asked Aynias, who carefully placed his hand on the spirit stone.

So far, there have been certain changes in the Spirit Stone.

Even if Lianrius didn’t do anything, the change occurred between midnight and dawn.

The light grew as the days passed.

Now, when he touched it, he was able to feel the beating of a person’s heart.

“And it’s especially warmer than the day before.”

“That’s what you say, Ain. Of course, it’s still too early to jump to conclusions.”

The Duke of Elheim turned around and looked at Hwi-Amin disapprovingly.

“Hwi-Amin. You’re alone in the corner again.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

As always, Hwi-Amin was far away looking scared towards the spirit stone.

Lianrius was just lost in thought.

“You’ve been working hard so far, Lian.”

The Duke of Elheim spoke. But he didn’t hear it.

“As Aynias said, the spirit stone looks like a heart or an egg that will soon wake up.”

“Yes, father.”

Lianrius answered mechanically.

The temperature of the spirit stone, which became lukewarm like when cold water met with warmth, and the face of Liarte came to mind as he touched the surface of the stone.

“No, she did not look for Young Master today.”

That was what the maid just said.

It had already been over a week since Lianrius impulsively granted Liarte freedom.

It wasn’t until today that Lianrius realized that he had been waiting for Liarte.

Usually, Liarte would come find him to say thank you first or visit him first.

But Liarte didn’t even look for Lianrius.

It was as if she had turned cold just like water.

‘Did they say that people who have extreme near death experiences can change their personalities?’

There must have been a change of heart in Liarte while she suffered from poison.

That was Lianrius’s conclusion.

‘But so what. What do you want to do?’

He couldn’t understand himself; caring for Liarte was something he never did.

“So, Lian isn’t it time to think of your spouse?”

Aynias lightly punched Lianrius in a playful manner.

Lianrius asked back, erasing the thoughts of Liarte he had in his head.

“A spouse?”

“Yes, you’ll soon turn 17 years old and have your coming of age so you’ll have to find an engagement partner.”

The nobles of  Awakened Families had been searching for a spouse in earnest since reaching adulthood.

In the process, he went through several betrothals and breakups.

“I don’t care who it is.”

Lianrius replied indifferently.

The Young Ladies admired Lianrius because he was the Duke of Elheim’s favourite son and he possessed a beautiful appearance as well.

Lianrius was not interested in anyone, so he just couldn’t get close with someone.

“She just needs to have the right conditions. Choose a family that won’t lose to you, Ain.”

“I knew you would say that.”

Aynias held out a letter he had in his hand to Lian.

“The Crown Prince has sent back a message that he wants to visit Elheim.  Oh, it seems that he wants you to be engaged with Princess Ninian.”

It was also a famous story that Princess Ninian had an unrequited love for Lian.

“If it’s a Ninian, then it’s not a bad choice.”

Lianrius, who was calculating the benefits of Elheim if they married, said.

Ninian always blushed and giggled when she saw Lianrius.

‘An easy partner.’

Lianrius was indifferent to others, but not foolish.

Ninian’s feelings, which were close to blind Love, were well known.

At that moment, Liarte’s afterimage overlapped over Ninian’s.

‘Before her sudden changed, I had felt that she was easier than Ninian.’

Why does she feel so unfamiliar and distant now?