MYKBH 14

Chapter 14

There wasn’t really any secret Agnes particularly wanted to hide, but having someone who could know anything and everything standing right in front of her was an entirely different matter.

Without realizing it, Agnes carefully studied Silmare.

Silmare seemed flustered and drew in a short breath.

Apparently, he hadn’t expected that to be a problem. But he soon smiled calmly and shook his head.

“No. Animals and plants don’t have very high intelligence, after all.”

“Ah, I suppose that’s true.”

“What trees can perceive is limited to emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. I suppose they can tell something as simple as the fact that they have taken a liking to Oliver, like earlier.”

“Is there anything you can sense right now?”

As he gazed deeply into Agnes’s eyes, who had become completely absorbed in his story, Silmare quietly murmured,

“It seems the mice haven’t been finding much to eat lately. They’re hungry.”

“Ah, that’s probably because there have been more people around recently. More people have been moving here from the north because of the rifts.”

“Yes. They’re upset because people keep taking their food away.”

As he said that, Silmare subtly glanced toward Kesenor.

He hadn’t spent two hundred years of his life for nothing.

The thoughts of a human who hadn’t even lived thirty years could sometimes be seen as clearly as the surface of a crystal-clear lake.

And it was the same now.

He’s pretending not to pay any attention to our conversation.

Silmare gave a nearly imperceptible scoff.

Whenever Agnes paid attention to Silmare, the corners of Kesenor’s eyes lifted ever so slightly.

It was as though a chill had settled around him.

He probably wasn’t even aware of it himself.

That’s convenient for me.

Silmare had never considered Kesenor a rival from the beginning.

It wasn’t simply because he was inexperienced. It was because of what Amy had told him.

Will you treat my sister well, Silmare?

Her round, delicate eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.

Though he didn’t know why, Silmare had gently promised the pitifully pleading Amy.

Of course. She’s my destined mate, after all.

That’s right. I believe in you, Silmare! Because you protected my sister until the very end!

In the future you saw?

Yes!

That’s certainly something to be grateful for.

This time, my sister can’t get hurt! She has to be happy! That’s why I’ve come all the way here!

Amy, I promise. Since you’ve come all the way to the distant Naopa Forest, I’ll do everything I can.

If Amy really could see the future…

The fact that Silmare alone had protected Agnes meant that Kesenor had not.

It would make sense. Look at how calculating he’s being even now.

Even when he said something as insignificant as a casual remark or made the slightest gesture, Silmare could see him turning complicated calculations over in his head.

He seems to think that helping Agnes is beneficial to him right now.

But there was no telling how he would change if the circumstances changed.

Therefore, Silmare couldn’t even entrust the tips of Agnes’s fingers to Kesenor.

He would remain wary of everything Kesenor did, keep his guard up, and build a solid wall around Agnes so that he could protect her from within it.

If only for the sake of the mate whom the world had bound to him by fate, whom he had waited two hundred years for.

That night.

Once again, a visitor had come to Kesenor’s room.

It was Asher, Kesenor’s adjutant.

“An official request has come to Celestial from the Imperial Palace.”

Kesenor, who had been processing the documents Asher had brought, sighed.

“They’ve already noticed?”

“Yes. They seem to be taking the situation very seriously—the elves have violated the non-aggression treaty without prior notice. Since the Tower Master is here as well, I believe they wanted to ask us first before beginning a formal investigation.”

“I suppose so. Although there has been occasional communication between us, this is the first time they’ve crossed over without saying a word.”

“Why exactly did they come? Is it really because of that young lady?”

“They don’t seem to have noticed anything about her, do they?”

“They seem to think it’s because your youngest sister escaped from the rift. That’s why they’re more curious about Miss Amy than Miss Agnes.”

“Ah. So they think Silmare came here to investigate the rift, just like me.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

If that was the case, it was actually a relief.

Kesenor didn’t want anything about the seed or the World Tree’s mate to reach the Imperial Palace.

“Humans already have pretty sharp instincts. It’s troublesome, so tell them I’ll handle everything myself and report back afterward.”

“Pardon? You mean the Tower Master?”

“Yes. Tell them I’m planning to stay here and keep watch until Amy arrives. I’ll report if I discover anything new.”

“And his apparent interest in Agnes is meant to be a smokescreen?”

“Do that. Say that because of the seriousness of the matter, I don’t want rumors spreading.”

“I don’t know whether they’ll actually believe that.”

“Make them believe it somehow. I don’t want them dragging their heavy asses all the way here.”

Just then, Kesenor suddenly waved his hand.

The documents piled high on the desk disappeared as though they had never existed in the first place.

At the same time, Asher’s figure vanished as though melting into snow.

The magic circle that had appeared on the floor flashed and disappeared.

At that very moment, there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Silmare. I’d like to talk.”

Kesenor briefly looked around the room.

There was no trace whatsoever that Asher had been there.

When he opened the door, Silmare stood there looking exactly as he had during dinner.

“What is it?”

“I have something I’m curious about.”

“Do you really think I’ll answer you?”

“You’ll have no choice.”

Without even asking for permission, Silmare strode into the room and sat down in one of the chairs.

Kesenor clicked his tongue softly, then reluctantly closed the door and followed him inside.

Silmare glanced around the room for a moment.

“Wasn’t there someone visiting you?”

“No. I was alone.”

“The wind told me there was a visitor.”

“Honestly, there really are no secrets when you’re around.”

“That’s right. In some ways, there aren’t.”

Leaning back leisurely in his chair, Silmare smiled.

“I didn’t deliberately listen in.”

“Can you swear to that?”

“Yes. They don’t tell me things if they don’t particularly want to.”

“I don’t think animals possess enough intelligence to distinguish something like that.”

“Usually, they don’t.”

Kesenor let out a hollow laugh.

He hadn’t expected anyone to come, so he had only blocked the sound.

Next time, it seemed he’d have to drive every living creature within a certain radius away.

Despite what he was thinking, Kesenor smiled pleasantly.

Silmare met that smile with an displeased expression and continued questioning him.

“So, was your visitor a mage? Judging by how quickly he disappeared, he must have used teleportation. And if he deliberately came all the way to your room, he must have been a mage from the Tower.”

“An accurate guess.”

There didn’t seem to be any reason to hide it, so Kesenor gave him a brief confirmation.

“I have duties to perform as both a lord and the Tower Master, after all.”

“I’ve heard rumors about it, but I really don’t understand why humans make their lives so complicated.”

Without much reaction, Kesenor sat down opposite Silmare.

That wasn’t what mattered.

The real question was why Silmare had come at this hour.

“So, what’s the reason you came here tonight? Is it about Agnes?”

“Yes.”

With a sigh, Silmare turned his gaze toward the dark window.

“Like you said, there’s a lot I’m curious about regarding her.”

Silmare looked directly at Kesenor with a worried expression.

“Knowing your personality, you’ve probably already done a thorough background investigation. If there’s anything I need to be careful about when it comes to her, tell me everything.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I don’t want to accidentally do something that hurts her.”

Kesenor sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“How long are you planning to stay here?”

He threw the same question back at Silmare that the steward of House Raverose had once asked.

Silmare gave a derisive little laugh.

“How long? I’ll stay by her side until the day my fate comes to an end.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Even if she doesn’t choose you?”

“There is no possibility of that. She’ll choose me.”

“Quite the confidence.”

There wasn’t even the slightest trace of doubt in Silmare’s eyes as he spoke with such blind certainty.

How could he be so sure?

Did he know something else?

Even though he was certain Silmare wouldn’t answer, Kesenor still voiced his question.

“What makes you so certain? Did Amy perhaps prophesy the future?”

“Yes.”

But Silmare answered without hesitation.

At his straightforward response, Kesenor drew in a sharp breath.

“She said Agnes would choose you?”

“Do I really need to tell you the exact details?”

Kesenor glared intensely at the beautiful man who smiled as he said that.

No.

Come to think of it, there was no need.

Whatever prophecy Amy had made, it must have been a future with a bad ending.

Wasn’t that precisely why the six-year-old girl was traveling across the entire continent—to change that future?

“That’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”

Thinking that, Kesenor regained his composure.

“Unfortunately, the future isn’t fixed. And right now, I’m the only one who can help Agnes.”