"Come back next time, then. I've become interested in learning more about them as well."
Yuder broke the silence first, yet anxiously observed Kiolle's face as he stared back at him. Just before Kiolle's limited patience ran out, Yuder leisurely nodded, signaling his acceptance.
"Alright. But Kiolle."
"What!"
"If you're going to investigate them, just be upfront about it. You're not good at hiding things."
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm giving you advice as a gesture of goodwill, considering the warning you gave me at 'Da Fiel' and our renewed alliance."
Even without his advice, the outcome would likely have been the same. Nevertheless, it was helpful. Kiolle, however, couldn't perceive Yuder's advice as anything but condescending, and his expression tightened noticeably.
Kiolle had already been on edge while watching Yuder confront Baron Durmand and appear before his father. He had been so anxious that he couldn't even look directly at him. Even now, a lingering, uncomfortable sensation filled a corner of his heart, as if he had betrayed his own father.
"Are you mocking me?"
"If I wanted to mock you, I would've just laughed."
"..."
"Remember that if you really plan to investigate."
Instead of replying, Kiolle grimaced as if he was about to curse. He took several deep breaths before abruptly standing up. Just before he exited without looking back, Yuder called him again.
"Wait a moment."
"Why now!"
"Your knight's emblem fell off."
It seemed Kiolle had stood up so abruptly that the emblem of the Knights of the Bright Palace, which had been secured between his uniform's cape and shoulder, fell and rolled onto the floor. The fastener had flown off, leaving only the pin rattling around. Yuder easily picked it up.
The emblem, engraved with a beautiful, luminous tree, was made of a material tinged with the red color that symbolized the Crown Prince.
"Give it here!"
Kiolle quickly walked back with a flushed face and snatched it. For a moment, Yuder felt a slight sting inside his glove. When he looked down, he saw a small red stain on the white fabric. Apparently, the pin had scratched through the glove and touched his skin.
"..."
"Wait. That wasn't my fault, I..."
Kiolle hastily spoke upon seeing Yuder's silence, clearly worried about facing retribution. Though the white gloves made the stain slightly noticeable, it was hardly more than a pinprick and not painful, so Yuder merely shook his head.
"It’s fine. Go."
"But why did you even bother to pick it up when I didn't ask you to...!"
"Just go."
Kiolle, who was about to offer yet another excuse that wasn't really an excuse, finally retreated when Yuder frowned. How they would meet next time was not decided, but Yuder could always summon Kiolle if needed.
'I'm only dealing with one guy, but in some ways, it's more draining than facing both Duke Diarca and Baron Durmand.'
Yuder sighed and rose from his seat. He planned to join up with Enon and Lusan in the adjoining waiting room and make his way back when the time was right.
However, just as he was straightening his knees to stand, an unexpected bout of dizziness hit him, causing his vision to momentarily blur.
'...What's this?'
Yuder braced himself against the back of the sofa, bowing his head. After shaking his head and taking several deep breaths, the dizziness soon dissipated. Though he didn't experience a headache, his mind felt inexplicably suffocated.
'Maybe it's because I'm still a little drunk.'
Yuder summoned water to drink once again. A sense of relief washed over him.
He opened the door and headed for the adjacent waiting room. As soon as he knocked, Lusan and Enon, who were glancing at him in unison, hurriedly approached.
"Did you finish your talk with him? Everything's alright, I hope?"
"Yes."
"Good to hear."
Yuder had told Lusan and Enon that he met with Kiole due to a personal task. He hadn't disclosed what the task entailed, but Enon seemed to have an inkling, judging by his expression.
Unlike Lusan, Enon scanned Yuder with a piercing gaze. He soon noticed the glove and widened his eyes.
"You said everything was fine. What's this?"
"Ah, this is..."
Before Yuder could explain, Enon grabbed his hand. Lusan gasped upon seeing the small bloodstain on the glove.
"My god, that's blood!"
Faced with the scrutiny of both the pharmacist and the priest, Yuder felt as though he had committed some great sin. He averted their eyes, clenched his fist, and hid the wound.
"Ah... it's not a big deal. Just a minor mishap."
He explained that he had been slightly grazed by the sharp pin on the back of an emblem that Kiole had dropped. Enon's expression remained stern.
"If that's the case, why hide it? You should've asked for treatment immediately!"
"It's not painful. There's no need for that."
"Isn't a paper-cut still a cut? When will you ever get treated if you're like this? Just remember you can't get treated after you're dead!"
"Enon is right," Lusan added. "We are here specifically to handle such matters. Even a small wound can fester. Especially considering you've been drinking..."
"Sit down!"
Yuder finally relented after apologizing profusely. He removed his glove and allowed himself to be treated. Lusan poured a waterfall of divine energy into the minor wound, which soon vanished without a trace.
"...Thank you."
"Any other issues?"
Both looked like they'd give him an even harder time if anything else came up later. Yuder hesitated for a moment before mentioning the slight dizziness he had felt earlier.
"I felt a bit dizzy when I stood up, but it went away quickly. I think it might be due to the alcohol."
"See, this is why we have to ask multiple questions. Some people just don't speak up right away, even if it's inconvenient."
"Absolutely."
"...So we're done now, right?"
Exhaling a sigh, Yuder watched as Enon surveyed him a few more times before reluctantly nodding.
"Yes."
Yuder blinked his still-cloudy eyes and put his glove back on. Just as he was about to turn to leave the room, a sudden wave of unsteadiness hit him, and he had to brace himself against the wall.
Thud. The sensation of his skin hitting the solid wall felt muted.
"Yuder!"
Lusan's voice sounded oddly distant. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was Enon who was supporting him by the arm.
Yuder shook his head to clear it. The dizziness, and the subsequent recovery, mirrored what had happened earlier, but this episode lasted a bit longer.
"Lift your head a bit."
Yuder realized that Enon's hand, pressing against his forehead, felt cooler than before. And he also realized that Enon's expression had turned decidedly more fierce.
"You're feverish."
"Really?"
Lusan looked startled and retorted.
"This guy, his complexion hasn't changed, but he's incredibly hot."
"Could it be that the poison from earlier is just now taking effect?"
"No, that's not it."
Yuder shook his head and brushed off Enon's hand. He felt his heart beating faster than before. A wave of heat surged from his fingertips to his toes, and the insides of his eyes felt unbearably hot.
At first, he couldn't understand it, but as all these sensations came together, a forgotten memory quickly resurfaced. Yuder knew what this floating sensation under his feet was.
This was... a distinct sense of intoxication.
"It's just... drunkenness."
"What are you talking about? You weren't like this earlier."
"I don't know why it's intensified so suddenly... but it's definitely not sickness. I'm drunk. I've... experienced it before."
Yuder shrugged off Enon. His own face reflected in a distant ornate mirror seemed to waver faintly. His complexion was as pale as it had been before, which had also been the case in his previous life when he was drunk. So it was certain. This was simply drunkenness.
"This isn't something to make a fuss about. I'll be fine after a short rest; you go on ahead."
"What?"
"Go."
The moment he spat out the word, a gust of wind blew from beneath his feet. Yuder stepped back and sat on the sofa. He buried his face in his hands and took several deep breaths. The dizziness slowly began to subside. He felt a bit cold, yet not cold at the same time.
"Enon, sir..."
"Kid, you go ahead. And then..."
The conversation between Lusan and Enon faded in and out, and the door opened and closed. After Lusan had left, Enon who remained took a deep breath and slowly approached Yuder.
When he was about a few steps away, Yuder lifted his head and frowned. At this, Enon stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms as if he would not come any closer.
"Stop being so defensive, will you?"
"..."
"If you're going to get drunk, at least do it gracefully."
"Enon, just go."
"I will. But before I do, cover yourself with this."
Enon threw something. It was something heavy that fell over his head—it was the outer garment of his formal attire.
"It's suffocating. Take it with you."
"It's supposed to be suffocating; that's why I gave it to you!"
Enon sighed and shook his head. Then, faint but disruptive footsteps were heard not far away. Casting a brief glance in that direction, Enon muttered under his breath.
"...They're here. I'm going. Know that you'll get scolded later."
"Come back next time, then. I've become interested in learning more about them as well."
Yuder broke the silence first, yet anxiously observed Kiolle's face as he stared back at him. Just before Kiolle's limited patience ran out, Yuder leisurely nodded, signaling his acceptance.
"Alright. But Kiolle."
"What!"
"If you're going to investigate them, just be upfront about it. You're not good at hiding things."
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm giving you advice as a gesture of goodwill, considering the warning you gave me at 'Da Fiel' and our renewed alliance."
Even without his advice, the outcome would likely have been the same. Nevertheless, it was helpful. Kiolle, however, couldn't perceive Yuder's advice as anything but condescending, and his expression tightened noticeably.
Kiolle had already been on edge while watching Yuder confront Baron Durmand and appear before his father. He had been so anxious that he couldn't even look directly at him. Even now, a lingering, uncomfortable sensation filled a corner of his heart, as if he had betrayed his own father.
"Are you mocking me?"
"If I wanted to mock you, I would've just laughed."
"..."
"Remember that if you really plan to investigate."
Instead of replying, Kiolle grimaced as if he was about to curse. He took several deep breaths before abruptly standing up. Just before he exited without looking back, Yuder called him again.
"Wait a moment."
"Why now!"
"Your knight's emblem fell off."
It seemed Kiolle had stood up so abruptly that the emblem of the Knights of the Bright Palace, which had been secured between his uniform's cape and shoulder, fell and rolled onto the floor. The fastener had flown off, leaving only the pin rattling around. Yuder easily picked it up.
The emblem, engraved with a beautiful, luminous tree, was made of a material tinged with the red color that symbolized the Crown Prince.
"Give it here!"
Kiolle quickly walked back with a flushed face and snatched it. For a moment, Yuder felt a slight sting inside his glove. When he looked down, he saw a small red stain on the white fabric. Apparently, the pin had scratched through the glove and touched his skin.
"..."
"Wait. That wasn't my fault, I..."
Kiolle hastily spoke upon seeing Yuder's silence, clearly worried about facing retribution. Though the white gloves made the stain slightly noticeable, it was hardly more than a pinprick and not painful, so Yuder merely shook his head.
"It’s fine. Go."
"But why did you even bother to pick it up when I didn't ask you to...!"
"Just go."
Kiolle, who was about to offer yet another excuse that wasn't really an excuse, finally retreated when Yuder frowned. How they would meet next time was not decided, but Yuder could always summon Kiolle if needed.
'I'm only dealing with one guy, but in some ways, it's more draining than facing both Duke Diarca and Baron Durmand.'
Yuder sighed and rose from his seat. He planned to join up with Enon and Lusan in the adjoining waiting room and make his way back when the time was right.
However, just as he was straightening his knees to stand, an unexpected bout of dizziness hit him, causing his vision to momentarily blur.
'...What's this?'
Yuder braced himself against the back of the sofa, bowing his head. After shaking his head and taking several deep breaths, the dizziness soon dissipated. Though he didn't experience a headache, his mind felt inexplicably suffocated.
'Maybe it's because I'm still a little drunk.'
Yuder summoned water to drink once again. A sense of relief washed over him.
He opened the door and headed for the adjacent waiting room. As soon as he knocked, Lusan and Enon, who were glancing at him in unison, hurriedly approached.
"Did you finish your talk with him? Everything's alright, I hope?"
"Yes."
"Good to hear."
Yuder had told Lusan and Enon that he met with Kiole due to a personal task. He hadn't disclosed what the task entailed, but Enon seemed to have an inkling, judging by his expression.
Unlike Lusan, Enon scanned Yuder with a piercing gaze. He soon noticed the glove and widened his eyes.
"You said everything was fine. What's this?"
"Ah, this is..."
Before Yuder could explain, Enon grabbed his hand. Lusan gasped upon seeing the small bloodstain on the glove.
"My god, that's blood!"
Faced with the scrutiny of both the pharmacist and the priest, Yuder felt as though he had committed some great sin. He averted their eyes, clenched his fist, and hid the wound.
"Ah... it's not a big deal. Just a minor mishap."
He explained that he had been slightly grazed by the sharp pin on the back of an emblem that Kiole had dropped. Enon's expression remained stern.
"If that's the case, why hide it? You should've asked for treatment immediately!"
"It's not painful. There's no need for that."
"Isn't a paper-cut still a cut? When will you ever get treated if you're like this? Just remember you can't get treated after you're dead!"
"Enon is right," Lusan added. "We are here specifically to handle such matters. Even a small wound can fester. Especially considering you've been drinking..."
"Sit down!"
Yuder finally relented after apologizing profusely. He removed his glove and allowed himself to be treated. Lusan poured a waterfall of divine energy into the minor wound, which soon vanished without a trace.
"...Thank you."
"Any other issues?"
Both looked like they'd give him an even harder time if anything else came up later. Yuder hesitated for a moment before mentioning the slight dizziness he had felt earlier.
"I felt a bit dizzy when I stood up, but it went away quickly. I think it might be due to the alcohol."
"See, this is why we have to ask multiple questions. Some people just don't speak up right away, even if it's inconvenient."
"Absolutely."
"...So we're done now, right?"
Exhaling a sigh, Yuder watched as Enon surveyed him a few more times before reluctantly nodding.
"Yes."
Yuder blinked his still-cloudy eyes and put his glove back on. Just as he was about to turn to leave the room, a sudden wave of unsteadiness hit him, and he had to brace himself against the wall.
Thud. The sensation of his skin hitting the solid wall felt muted.
"Yuder!"
Lusan's voice sounded oddly distant. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was Enon who was supporting him by the arm.
Yuder shook his head to clear it. The dizziness, and the subsequent recovery, mirrored what had happened earlier, but this episode lasted a bit longer.
"Lift your head a bit."
Yuder realized that Enon's hand, pressing against his forehead, felt cooler than before. And he also realized that Enon's expression had turned decidedly more fierce.
"You're feverish."
"Really?"
Lusan looked startled and retorted.
"This guy, his complexion hasn't changed, but he's incredibly hot."
"Could it be that the poison from earlier is just now taking effect?"
"No, that's not it."
Yuder shook his head and brushed off Enon's hand. He felt his heart beating faster than before. A wave of heat surged from his fingertips to his toes, and the insides of his eyes felt unbearably hot.
At first, he couldn't understand it, but as all these sensations came together, a forgotten memory quickly resurfaced. Yuder knew what this floating sensation under his feet was.
This was... a distinct sense of intoxication.
"It's just... drunkenness."
"What are you talking about? You weren't like this earlier."
"I don't know why it's intensified so suddenly... but it's definitely not sickness. I'm drunk. I've... experienced it before."
Yuder shrugged off Enon. His own face reflected in a distant ornate mirror seemed to waver faintly. His complexion was as pale as it had been before, which had also been the case in his previous life when he was drunk. So it was certain. This was simply drunkenness.
"This isn't something to make a fuss about. I'll be fine after a short rest; you go on ahead."
"What?"
"Go."
The moment he spat out the word, a gust of wind blew from beneath his feet. Yuder stepped back and sat on the sofa. He buried his face in his hands and took several deep breaths. The dizziness slowly began to subside. He felt a bit cold, yet not cold at the same time.
"Enon, sir..."
"Kid, you go ahead. And then..."
The conversation between Lusan and Enon faded in and out, and the door opened and closed. After Lusan had left, Enon who remained took a deep breath and slowly approached Yuder.
When he was about a few steps away, Yuder lifted his head and frowned. At this, Enon stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms as if he would not come any closer.
"Stop being so defensive, will you?"
"..."
"If you're going to get drunk, at least do it gracefully."
"Enon, just go."
"I will. But before I do, cover yourself with this."
Enon threw something. It was something heavy that fell over his head—it was the outer garment of his formal attire.
"It's suffocating. Take it with you."
"It's supposed to be suffocating; that's why I gave it to you!"
Enon sighed and shook his head. Then, faint but disruptive footsteps were heard not far away. Casting a brief glance in that direction, Enon muttered under his breath.
"...They're here. I'm going. Know that you'll get scolded later."
