Chapter 9
The fact that Avis was currently in the Kingdom of Celis was yet another product of his superior’s unpredictable whims.
According to the original plan, Ciel was supposed to enter the kingdom today along with all his subordinates. Instead, he had abandoned both the Silverion family’s butler and the rest of his men, taking only Avis with him as he secretly slipped into Celis several days ahead of schedule.
When Avis, feeling thoroughly wronged, had demanded to know why he had been singled out, Young Duke Ciel von Silverion had answered with a cheerful smile.
‘Because you’re the easiest one to boss around.’
Thanks to that, all the unfinished work and accumulated luggage had fallen to the subordinates left behind in the Empire. Avis had even received word that their arrival would likely be delayed by several days.
Which meant several more days of suffering alone with Ciel.
“What have you been doing all this time?”
“Pardon?”
“Not you.”
Utterly oblivious to his subordinate’s mounting frustration, Ciel continued staring at Eris Blaine.
She stood near a shabby street stall, smiling as she placed some money into the hands of a grubby little boy. The moment Ciel realized that she still had the same gentle expression she used to have when holding his hand and teaching him swordsmanship, a strange, ticklish feeling stirred somewhere inside him.
‘She was always sincere about little things like that.’
To think she could smile so warmly over some insignificant snack.
For no apparent reason, Ciel felt an uncomfortable heaviness settle in his stomach. He chewed lightly at his lower lip, ignoring Avis’s suspicious gaze—though whether his subordinate was watching Eris or watching him at this point was difficult to say—and made an effort to keep his expression composed.
“I can see the Tervanne merchant ship.”
At Avis’s words, a massive shadow soon fell across the harbor.
“The ship’s here! Everyone, get moving!”
The harbor, which had been hibernating beneath an oppressive silence, abruptly sprang to life. Amid the chaotic shouts of the people gathered along the docks, Ciel slowly pushed himself away from the wall.
“It’s about time I got moving.”
“…Yes.”
Ciel gave a short reply as he removed his robe.
Beneath it was a white uniform that emphasized his broad shoulders and sculpted physique to an almost intimidating degree. The gold buttons engraved with House Silverion’s insignia gleamed brilliantly beneath the warm sunlight, while the black leather belt around his waist cinched firmly around his lean, solid frame.
The pristine white uniform looked as though it had been tailored precisely to his body, lending him an even more distinguished air.
“Avis, move around discreetly on your own.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Stay out of that escort’s sight for the time being.”
Even among the enormous crowd, Ciel kept his gaze fixed on Eris, barely blinking for fear of losing sight of her.
“Until when?”
At Avis’s anxious follow-up, Ciel answered indifferently.
“Until the others arrive.”
“What? Then where am I supposed to eat and sleep?”
Baffled, Avis found himself asking the most basic question imaginable. In stark contrast to his subordinate’s dumbfounded expression, Ciel remained perfectly serene.
“Are you ten years old? Figure out your own food and lodging.”
Ciel shoved the robe he had been holding into Avis’s chest.
Avis stumbled half a step backward as he accepted it with an uneasy look. There was no telling what new whim his insufferable superior had come up with this time.
“If this was what you intended to do, why did you even bring me along just to make all the others resent me…?”
Lacking the courage to openly argue, Avis muttered in a voice barely louder than a crawling worm.
Ciel, the very man responsible for giving him this miserable assignment, raised an eyebrow and stared at Avis for a moment, but showed no intention of taking back his order. Instead, he turned away with an aloof air.
‘I wonder if she remembers me.’
Ciel slipped into the bustle of the harbor like a ghost. His leisurely steps carried him between the crowds, gradually quickening as the distance between him and Eris narrowed.
‘It doesn’t matter even if she doesn’t.’
There had been an unexpected complication, but Ciel’s foremost priority was still recovering The Trail of Black Blood.
If the contents of the forbidden book were leaked, people who worshiped what it contained would inevitably emerge, even if magic and demons themselves were never revived. After all, there were still groups within the Empire who longed for the return of magic even now.
The book had to be recovered if only to prevent the chaos it could unleash upon the world.
The Trail of Black Blood contained some of the cruelest material among all the forbidden texts.
The faint remnants of his past might twist his emotions in strange ways and provide a little temporary amusement, but that was all it would ever be.
Eris Blaine was nothing more and nothing less than his first love from childhood, a fever that had burned hot and passed long ago.
That was all she could be.
“Excuse me.”
The deliberately pleasant voice soon reached Eris from behind.
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