Chapter 49
Watching the scene unfold, Abel called out to the stiffly frozen Felix.
“Felix.”
Felix immediately came to Abel’s side.
“Lord Abel. I just… saw Duke Spencer.”
Unlike before, Felix was the one who actively started the conversation.
Had he already forgotten that he had barely spoken to Abel until now? Or did he simply have no room to think about something like that?
Looking at the unease flickering in Felix’s eyes, Abel answered.
“That’s right. I spoke with the Duke for a little while.”
He was the one who came looking for Abel. Lest Felix misunderstand, Abel hurried to add:
“He came over right after you were called away by the Commander.”
At those words, Felix’s shoulders gave a small jerk.
He had realized it too.
That being summoned by the Commander might have been part of someone’s plan.
“Did everything go well?”
“…Yes.”
Judging by the lack of any further report, it probably hadn’t been anything particularly important.
‘I wonder what excuse they used this time.’
Both Abel and Felix had things they wanted to ask each other.
But this was hardly the place for such a conversation.
Turning his gaze toward Gregory, who was watching them with a gentle smile, Abel said:
“We’ll talk about the details after we get back.”
In any case, Abel’s work here was already finished.
Both as the Herald of God and for whatever purpose Gregory had in mind.
* * *
Perhaps everyone was too busy filling their containers with holy water.
Unlike last time, Abel was able to return to his residence without drawing much attention.
He had been heading for his bedroom, but changed his mind midway and turned his steps toward the garden instead.
There weren’t many opportunities for Abel and Felix to be alone together in the first place.
Besides, it didn’t seem right that every one of those moments took place in the bedroom.
And if they were outside instead, there was a good chance Felix wouldn’t simply turn on his heel and leave, mindful as he would be of the eyes that might be watching.
After dismissing all of the clergy, Abel turned to look at Felix, who had followed him without showing the slightest hint of curiosity.
Unless they raised their voices, no one would be able to overhear their conversation.
Well… unless someone enhanced their hearing with holy power the way Felix could.
‘If that’s possible, then he’d be able to hear our conversations in my room too.’
Ah. Then perhaps…
Someday, when he was alone in his room, he should try confessing to Felix.
Who knew? Maybe Felix listened outside Abel’s room from time to time.
The chances were almost nonexistent. Still, if Abel could somehow give Felix a bad reason to eavesdrop instead of a good one, perhaps it might happen at least once.
“Lord Abel.”
Abel looked at Felix, who was watching him with barely concealed unease, and asked his question first.
“Why did the Commander call for you?”
Felix parted his lips several times before finally answering.
“…He told me to take a short break somewhere away from the crowd.”
He didn’t elaborate, but considering the respect Felix held for the Commander, there was probably a considerable amount of trust between the two of them.
‘He did say the Commander was someone who recognized his efforts.’
If Felix had truly opened up to the Commander, then the Commander must have realized that Felix struggled with being the center of attention.
Which was precisely why he had been able to call Felix away under the guise of “consideration.”
“Then why did you come straight back?”
Duke Spencer had approached almost the moment Felix left, and Abel’s conversation with the Duke hadn’t lasted very long.
Which meant that, despite the Commander’s consideration, Felix had returned to Abel’s side almost immediately.
“Felix?”
When Abel prompted the silent Felix, he finally spoke.
“Because… that wasn’t something the Commander would normally say.”
“Not like the Commander?”
“…He is a man of unwavering principles. Even as the Commander, he has always been diligent.”
For some reason, Abel couldn’t shake the feeling that the unspoken words unlike you had been tacked onto the end of that sentence.
Well… Abel fulfilled all of the essential duties expected of him as the Herald of God. He didn’t exactly neglect the things that truly had to be done.
Though perhaps that wasn’t enough to satisfy Felix’s standards of diligence.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
“Are you saying that wasn’t the case this time?”
At Abel’s question, Felix bit down on his lip before slowly relaxing his jaw again.
It seemed he had completely broken himself of that habit after what had happened last time.
Though judging by the way his frustration now seemed to be finding another outlet, it had merely taken a different form.
Abel calmly met Felix’s gaze as Felix suddenly looked at him with unmistakable anger.
‘He’s staring at my lips.’
Should I ask if he’d kiss me one more time? No. If he said that now, Felix would probably turn around and run away.
‘There are still things I need to confirm.’
While Abel suppressed the impulse, Felix spoke, every inch of his face radiating the urge to curse.
“Now it’s your turn to explain, Lord Abel.”
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