Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 134

Eir found it impressive that he could navigate without getting lost and find his way directly through such a complex and enormous house. At the same time, she felt intimidated realizing this bedroom was approximately twice the size of the entire house where she and her grandmother had lived.

So that’s why he had that expression.

When locals mentioned she was the grandmother’s grandson, and he had that dejected look of “Am I really the grandson of such a shabby house?”—that’s why he looked that way.

Rubel snapped his fingers in front of Eir’s seemingly bewildered face to catch her attention.

“What are you staring at so blankly?”

“The house is too big.”

“So what?”

“It’s a bit of a cognitive dissonance. I’m wondering if this is really a home for a single family rather than a park or something.”

“A single family? How many people do you think live here? The servants alone number over a hundred. Anyway, enough of that. Sit here.”

Rubel seated her at the edge of the bed and knelt on one knee before her. Their gazes met with intensity. The incoming sunlight made his eyes appear even cleaner and more virtuous than usual, somehow rendering her immobile.

After a brief silence, he spoke quietly, as if making a confession.

“Will you promise me not to run away?”

Eir pushed out her lips in response to the serious atmosphere.

“Are we still on that?”

Rather than being genuinely annoyed, she was avoiding making a promise she couldn’t keep. Rubel, as if reading her thoughts, grabbed her hand again and made her meet his eyes.

“Please answer me clearly. I’m leaving believing only in your word.”

“……”

His voice was both gentle and distinct. Eir felt strangely flushed for some reason. It was as if she had become truly important to him.

Not just a toy he was intensely playing with.

“Aren’t you going to put on bracelet things this time?”

Eir held out her wrist. She knew there was nothing better for Rubel to monitor her. It not only prevented her from using darkness but also allowed him to roughly gauge where she was.

But Rubel shook his head with a bitter smile.

“How could I put that on you again?”

After what happened to her because of it.

His face seemed to say this, as if it had been his fault. Eir had never dreamed he would feel such guilt, so she inadvertently reproached him.

“That was just me acting on my own, it wasn’t your fault. You tell me not to feel unnecessary guilt, so why are you doing it?”

“It’s all because you’re unnecessarily good-hearted.”

He brushed aside her hair that had fallen forward and wiped her cheek, dirtied by the sandstorm.

“If—though it won’t happen—you or this place were in danger again, you would use your power. I don’t want to put something on you with my own hands that could threaten you. And besides that, this time I just want to trust you.”

“……”

“Just tell me you won’t run away. Then I’ll believe you and go.”

Rubel quietly waited for her answer. His face was filled with patience, and at the same time, it shone gently with affection for her.

Eir bit her lips, not wanting to disappoint him when he spoke like this.

But in truth, what he was asking was a very unfair request.

Telling someone who needed to escape to survive to just trust him and give up everything. Rubel risked losing only Eir if he trusted her, but if Eir trusted Rubel and let go, she would lose everything.

“I……”

Eir, who was about to stammer out her situation, finally nodded, unable to withstand Rubel’s gaze.

Rubel gave her a splendid smile that seemed to blow away all her uneasy feelings, and he patted her hand as if she had done something praiseworthy.

Eir was newly mesmerized by his handsome face. Even in this situation, she was glad to have pleased him. Rubel extended his arms and pulled her defenseless form into his embrace.

She slid into his arms, her face meeting his cold armor.

Eir hesitated for a long while, debating whether to raise her hands, before finally placing them gently on his back. Rubel held her for a long time as if reluctant to let go, and only after a considerable time had passed did he release her from his embrace.

“I’ll be back.”

Eir followed him back the same way they had come to see him off at the stairs. Rubel released her hand reluctantly and turned away.

The reflection of the setting sun on his retreating armor troubled her eyes for a long time.