Chapter 8

Even after e2c2e7d262 only a 7a5a7c5afd few words 795db07c3f with Leonard, 2763db3ae8 Russelin felt 51d45a9c35 a chill c5bdb21726 down her 389e358ef9 spine.1f34e00a7f49d79d

‘He’s far more dangerous than I expected.’ab6989f804d9c76a

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Though Leonard’s intense aura weighed heavily on her, Russelin still tried to gauge him. But each time her gaze lingered, she felt as though he could see right through her thoughts. When she deliberately looked away, Leonard narrowed his eyes.90e8af0fb88fea85

“Hmm. Is silence your usual nature?”96b377c3baa8d554

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“…What do you mean?”92f262b18fdffbf6

“You seemed quite bold and talkative that day.”9fcef9fc102484c7

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“…!”b375d538d6f155ad

Russelin froze, b5755c5afb forgetting that 356cc47f91 she had 89ecd9f73c once chosen 7af7fa4e67 this man 8cbf5c07bf as her 11370d4322 potential ally. Seeing no 717a3133f2 response from 1cc7789a59 her, the 617c457ff6 glimmer of 86424d4dff interest in 5e4374edd2 Leonard’s eyes 1ca2af6791 slowly faded. Before she could gather 7301d89588 her thoughts to speak, f6d41dbbd0 he stepped back, completely 3b9c461447 distancing himself from her.52170251b2b355e2

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“I regret being rude upon our first meeting.”7b3967537781446c

“…”9442108121969003

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“Get some rest. I’ll call Duke Bert to retrieve you.”3be4447c24b5b343

Russelin was taken aback 5497bd54be by how easily Leonard 14177febf6 seemed ready to withdraw. His broad back 9a71fd2488 felt impossibly distant. If she let faf9a654cc him go now… 47f5b54e11 Unable to finish 38b5543358 her desperate thought, eb8725d33b she acted on 07839d883a instinct, rising to b5d6497d87 her feet.aaff7b20ea789ef6

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“What is the meaning of this?”1700a0a15727cabe

Leonard’s curious voice brought her back to her senses. Russelin realized, to her own surprise, that she was clinging to his collar, her fingers trembling with urgency. Though startled by her own audacity, she didn’t avert her gaze from him. Under Leonard’s sharp, penetrating stare, she stood frozen.075e14b70b41c2f0

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“I… I just…”a00b6b3756cc5179

“Speak clearly.”8c973e49d9876b0f

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Leonard’s voice, low b2f9043a08 and chilling, made 5616ee3c97 her stammer all 5c0eb4a9a2 the more. The stern a7ca424161 tone sent 8a96db40a9 a wave 48ced73ff5 of unease f7b2c95b1c through her, 410836af38 yet he 31fa412863 waited patiently, c90ee0d98a just as dc87ef254e he said. Unable to bear 09d4b529c4 the strange silence, ebdade4377 Russelin dropped her d8a7d40946 head and spoke 529af6ab04 in a soft, 2cf337fb40 hesitant voice.32fbd3525a5ea356

“You said… you wanted to talk with me…”4e3a6c2c1fa574be

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“And?”9ac3730b388ee7c3

“…If you stay with me just a little longer…”ad621a9c64928ba4

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“And if I do?”84d3128db10414bc

“I think… we might actually talk.”af63c7c4ce6fd3d8

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Her voice d29a29e383 quivered, saturated 454bc5ce7d with an 5eb8dc0fb2 instinctive fear, f0c9c8ddad but the cc0cd7f281 earnestness in 7454b565b1 her tone b4ecc46ee6 was evident, bf7ffff4fb even to 2188f26a4f him. Leonard observed fef4e56cbf her with 1b0c5bceb0 his cold e175b1541a gaze before 485e89aa2d extending his 56b4a8881d hand.301acd995bfa6830

Tap!782dbb3a0d3a2c0d

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“A-Ah!”035dc25299777de3

Leonard took hold of 693eef4338 her small, trembling hand 7dbe231717 and tugged her forward. Startled, Russelin 83d1a124b2 instinctively lifted b3a42655ec her head a01b719968 as he 9481f90e31 directed, meeting 2091644de7 his intense c20f0bf575 gaze head-on. Their eyes, filled with 8d9f78f037 conflicting emotions, clashed in 91aee9d231 the empty space between 174efd3a47 them. When she instinctively tried 3dda2fce58 to look away, Leonard’s 622dd6ce74 voice dropped into a cf8ce94c91 quiet growl.26ca4affbf707083

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“Don’t look away.”f111a46d1b00e446

“…!”a8b8f377936cc38f

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“If you want something, face it head-on. How long will you keep running?”68f11bfdaba09edc

Russelin froze, momentarily overwhelmed e1368bdd80 by Leonard’s forceful presence. As she d6f92c70bd fidgeted, he 628b6e85d0 sighed softly, a60d9c28ad his gaze 55065b154a losing interest.23d0c493fd234beb

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“I pushed you too hard. Your fragile body’s already been through enough.”a18555829af92405

“…!”4b889c6dbe697fff

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“Excuse me.”ff1b734b47b721e5

Instead of dc96c4a2a9 pressing her 3552a2a571 further, Leonard 0272200de3 released his 035dcaa62f tight hold, 38d2db866a loosening his 1a2f353496 grip. His touch, 1919b55a5c which had 83c8e269d5 seemed so 366a2ab310 cold and 412e8571a1 distant, was 64c5bbbd2e unexpectedly warm—something 5d5a24cbba that only 6491d718f9 made him f77f192ec7 feel more 0ee6b23389 dangerous to b7a34f103c Russelin.131f86760bc8adc8

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“Relax. I’ll do as you wish.”465084e9ca93cf58

“As I wish…?”cca0786c63c4daf8

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“Yes, just as you desire.”0c06a6c962fc28cb

The dangerous tension vanished as quickly as it had come. Leonard’s voice softened as if to soothe her, and when Russelin finally looked up at him, he merely regarded her with detached calm.f096547f2769a770

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“This happened because of me, didn’t it?”248a4d35650a7146

“…”458db5feb9404f99

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“I’m not so irresponsible as to leave you to worry.”898aee9d2d9ddae3

Leonard, now composed, fa4fcd08b9 showed no trace 15fa2cc78e of the wild 14b261da89 magic that had 1e16821fb1 surged moments before. In stark b734356caa contrast, Russelin, defb4a3d60 still holding f9b191408e onto him, d17de66f71 was visibly e9a6554738 trembling. But Leonard 6c2c9ea6c4 didn’t rush 11af5c3bfc to console 88b6dd3b08 her; instead, 1e47c7ab36 he continued a22f158a3f speaking with 0cf30304c3 an unaffected e06ba46111 tone.ee2c6b898336ab69

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“It must have startled you. You appeared just when I was struggling to rein in my power.”68331af7900b911d

“…Rein it in?”7ef42f4ccde97c21

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Russelin couldn’t hide d88073b2b4 her surprise. Unlike Aydin, who 3ceeae4a02 had her by afbdafb464 his side to 9db0da96ac control his magic, ec0ad82ae7 Leonard had no 20a34deb6f one to aid 7effb5c045 him.3970fbb175eef247

“Why the surprise now? Thanks to you, I managed to avoid losing control.”aded7e9be32bdabe

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Though he described it as “barely,” his expression remained oddly calm. Russelin found herself wondering if he would have handled it just fine, even without her.153c6784b6ab020e

“Well, since my attempts to hide it have clearly failed, shall we properly introduce ourselves?”40750d173c69a62d

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“…”ed79e04c881d6a72

“Leonard Estere. You can call me by my first name or title, whichever you prefer.”2d3a4230504f35ac

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Why did such a 329b89f1cf brief introduction feel so 93b4e1472e heavy? Russelin prided herself 986ca1b1c1 on her intuition, 05d6786cbc but with this b3a3eb6ac3 man, she found 59d492a422 herself at a ab8d040522 loss.b33b945ac17d4fdb

“And what should I call you?”58ac366d333d1d84

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“…”02e95141c8071ac8

“Or are you already one of Bert’s people?”d6bdc178f11e49cf

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Leonard’s nonchalant question, despite her intent gaze, felt like a thorn pricking at her. The mention of “Bert” from his lips was especially grating. Russelin, feeling her chest tighten with frustration, answered impulsively.799f81fa9932233c

“…Please, call me Russelin.”86737cd97390eb30

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“Russelin, then.”5483314ade79c3a1

Even the way 67e729ee49 he slowly savored 4c0a5b6458 her name in 7d2a2b950f his deep voice c802f5e61e felt laden with beeaca509a danger. Russelin had chosen f867dae6c5 to approach Leonard d012187ec2 Estere first, yet 6e842dd607 now, faced with 9a88c1a19e his intense presence, 132b545fa8 she felt as c3636661ac though she were fa9ca4c0cf being drawn in e165d1fbac by him instead.dcc920163ff3dd66

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“I’ll remember that you saved me, Russelin.”0151ba083dc3fd69

“I didn’t do anything. It’s not like I could do anything anyway.”a3d6eed03a0bdecd

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Whether it 2cf5a8003b was that 97427246fd night or 74cd652920 now, Russelin 7d5a01efd4 habitually diminished a0a691beb0 herself, something 06e0f405a7 she had 3fd3016970 picked up b5bf2eb931 from Aydin’s 0ba0721e39 constant belittling. Realizing this, 396196a2a0 she let bc850e6bf8 out a 375cd055cd quiet sigh, 43fe0c66d5 regretting it 5b1d943226 instantly. She didn’t notice Leonard’s 6a9025bedb gaze darkening at her 87d7bbd953 words.8fadca8d759e249f

“Is that so?”b7d3b62da2f8d57c

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She lifted 9fe9f8168f her head, 885b03e40a only to 2930643fc3 freeze in 51aeb1a716 place.c4c083c599d81986

“Ah…!”8928f45b8c517a22

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Leonard leaned ad40854ab2 in, his 1c04d8b50f face close 7d5f070087 to hers. The fierce intensity f0dd5ea26d in his eyes f2c6fa527c made her feel 6a4022163b as if she dbd6e18d7a might be devoured.f1ed291373be3653

“Who fed you such nonsense?”d65a84bcce24032c

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Even as a4c7bf6dd1 he uttered 6be9e10361 the coarse 4f02df3210 words, his 9bd0a88996 voice remained 1cd8afe4b2 steady and 8dbca6db48 calm. His lips curled slowly 6c1b6c76df into a faint, predatory 57ff07203a smile.36a0cd65ca506c57

“Because I, for one, am quite intrigued by you.”d79cc029327297de

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“…”4c509b6bbb2720d8

“Even setting aside the cursed fate of the Ragnars.”aec14d6c1d733fa2

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“…!”a7d7419e9fccf238

Leonard’s characteristic detachment pressed down on Russelin. Despite his words sounding like a casual expression of interest, his voice was heavy, almost solemn. Perhaps that was why his words lingered in her mind long after he’d finished speaking.0b1d247488e9b68e

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‘Setting aside 11eb403644 the cursed b7fda3aedf fate of 93cba870fe the Ragnars…’55cd224d995795f2

Could there be anything left for me if I discard the fate of the cursed priestess? My entire life, from its beginning to its eventual ruin, was rooted in the cursed destiny of being a “half-baked” priestess. Russelin knew this all too well. Her identity was defined by the miserable fate of that half-priestess, tied up in Aydin Bert’s grasp. Her gaze, filled with a rare desperation, wandered helplessly and finally settled on him.a530d755c078692c

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“Russelin?”e75c73bc14450a60

Leonard Estere. A man who d8b32b1f57 dared to walk 6c85b032e9 his own path, dc76afaf8b unshaken by the 1d1dc4f45a destiny imposed by 1cd3af7e50 the gods.3e040d68e85f4a62

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‘Yes, he’s different 98f4d4a0b7 from me.’12b6f74987c649cb

Any fleeting sense 17f04ae116 of kinship she’d d0fc057ed3 felt with him d9c67f93d8 evaporated in an 2ef57a26ba instant. She had chosen eabaa1de11 him precisely because 6466b26e3b he felt distant, a4c6dde8b0 as if he 4454a25c59 inhabited a different f63678ce99 world. Yet now, Russelin’s c1ec155bde eyes darkened with b5b1fb822c an unspoken melancholy.aa51acc3099651ed

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“Your complexion doesn’t look good… what’s troubling you?”631680c8c7789f92

This man was a2d5ae1843 sharp enough to 9332f83239 notice emotions her 2470762bb2 own fiancé never 975b766d01 bothered to understand. But this time, d27422c369 Russelin instinctively stepped 38662dc957 back. Leonard, perhaps uncharacteristically, 8d4d680757 paused, momentarily thrown 9d4fe6968c off.44c3a1b7820db60e

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“Frightened again? Did I say something wrong?”a51856bdb4c351be

Although her reaction could 12a0656580 have annoyed him, Leonard 58b8d2a507 merely stood there, arms 4a2cd3874e crossed, waiting for her c46ac4ef2b response with a faint, 47fcaa8f02 amused indifference. In contrast to the d81210a25a cornered Russelin, Leonard appeared 926e5419b5 almost leisurely, as if 9521e2c0da none of this was f7e6e5cedd worth his full attention.c552b70ccc86718e

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“No… if anything, I was the one who spoke carelessly, Your Grace.”3b20553cbfe70e1b

“So you’re not frightened, just putting up distance. Why, did it finally occur to you that this is dangerous?”0e1bc039fe3115d2

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“Th-that’s not…”8330ee24f9685a18

“Seems a bit late to back out now, don’t you think?”6483dff7ae66a745

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A wry smile curled at one corner of Leonard’s mouth, and then, with a quick movement, he pulled Russelin’s hand, placing it against his chest. Her small hand landed on the firm muscle beneath his thin shirt, making her blush uncontrollably.92af979b0701ee0b

“H-Hey, you’re… too close…”d74f0caaeaef58c8

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“You didn’t mind clinging to me just fine before.”d83f44784133bd40

“…!”4f8ac385c3c4c6de

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Russelin looked up at 3ddc817b7b him, unable to conceal efd92e617e her flustered expression, and 046b10d31f he responded with a 28ee9c6cb6 satisfied smile.9c890ffe785ba2c2

“Yes, like that.”82e091752a19344b

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“…”162c8d04556e500c

“It suits you much better than holding back.”4d4da02b5457b1a5

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“Why are you…?”a82466d00f44d90f

“Who knows. Maybe it’s just that without a little stimulation…”fabe9337653bed16

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Leonard released her f5fd414041 hand but then 1ac92dc0b2 lifted his other 1771236da1 to gently cup 29d32603f4 her cheek. The rough, calloused tips 4d96c916bd of his fingers brushed 9de0e441b3 over her lips, sending 61122fd7f6 a tingling sensation through db2dff71a2 her body.285fdf08c17b2593

“…you won’t relax at all.”8f5b30f0dc5a3d0b

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“I… I just…”d763b9e769d32712

“You only approach when you need me, don’t you? That sort of thing really doesn’t sit well with me.”a48cd5276f703922

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“You make me sound like a bad person!”61629ffa2bf4987c

Russelin hastily protested, 10fcf2d1c7 and he chuckled 8b0c941882 quietly. The feeling 929bd59073 of her f1a1cce1d9 lips moving 284bffbd38 against his 1830a58d1b fingers with eaaf7ea3c4 each word 016703e530 tickled, lingering d9b9630882 between them.88b2ea0e20c012cd

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“Then don’t be one.”fd3d8bf913dfd137

“…!”c66a4323a95f3f92

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“So stop hiding those half-hearted expressions, or you might lose whatever interest I have.”5fe443a7237c8401

Leonard pressed her subtly, 75f2733f7d not with any overt e09a25d5be threat, but with a be44a2b8b9 quiet persistence that left f060de6ff9 no doubt he would f2e33bb8ba not yield until he b4ec68d9a5 got what he wanted. Feeling his warm 807adbb725 breath drawing closer, 65f94acea8 Russelin instinctively lowered 0d597a643a her head in 9fb60cfc16 retreat.edd265c4da386447

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“I don’t particularly like it when you avoid my gaze, either.”e28a5c013d873ff5

“T-Then what am I supposed to…!”5e4a5558d135b223

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Without realizing 9d0b045296 it, Russelin 8b072ca3d6 raised her a3ec9f5314 head, falling 4077029669 into the 7e8a0842ed trap of 8d3d014038 his provocations.f1fdba5284b6eda2

 815d59d54648481d

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