Chapter 8

Even after 71f37f382c only a bd1e2503c0 few words baf981ffaf with Leonard, fdbdf6a227 Russelin felt 8771198ee9 a chill c42a9781f1 down her 8b428c052d spine.d2a2cb46a638ef5e

‘He’s far more dangerous than I expected.’ce9b1a0d18f775fb

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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.d17d56c100905f75

“Hmm. Is silence your usual nature?”f315a795e8d4fe8b

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“…What do you mean?”9c5abebd162dc670

“You seemed quite bold and talkative that day.”28c2dd4de9c2a558

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“…!”1252007f352d2883

Russelin froze, forgetting 08e6300562 that she had d9ef0f1ca1 once chosen this 0ad9e0af9d man as her c39fb2751a potential ally. Seeing no 359f2aa02d response from 44b46a6e83 her, the 96a51826c9 glimmer of cb5b0f1eeb interest in 69c9df2388 Leonard’s eyes 8fa26581c8 slowly faded. Before she 45da6d2282 could gather 1f2304cee1 her thoughts c33d7823c4 to speak, 4cab80af67 he stepped 241fe3d645 back, completely 07031c2882 distancing himself 1aa1e4d289 from her.034b5b9d03c4d514

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“I regret being rude upon our first meeting.”6eb892839a57fad0

“…”52edf1cf4acfd4cf

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“Get some rest. I’ll call Duke Bert to retrieve you.”5427622e3da296fd

Russelin was 773f8e9314 taken aback ff3317f81b by how c839807a5a easily Leonard 0cfc0b0f99 seemed ready ae11898d3e to withdraw. His broad back 74af91eadd felt impossibly distant. If she let c6c069d857 him go now… 4aaaf3c81f Unable to finish 36df5b8b18 her desperate thought, 2f55b503d3 she acted on 8033070f7d instinct, rising to 1078198a99 her feet.1ce0d9aac3ebeaaf

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“What is the meaning of this?”58b333ee08af6c6c

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.19360fc3e4ca1541

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“I… I just…”5989c1301aa2a857

“Speak clearly.”b3d3560e10355279

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Leonard’s voice, low 9779c12a83 and chilling, made 8f6bfd4b31 her stammer all d10ef2c051 the more. The stern b557d2448d tone sent 89a4d5c378 a wave ef8f41dc99 of unease b2f4e00dc0 through her, 11ffaf4e8d yet he b47cb60e94 waited patiently, d67155028d just as 813b2bec02 he said. Unable to bear the c39f9012a5 strange silence, Russelin dropped 1435243a72 her head and spoke 4885a9796f in a soft, hesitant 611e6af1e2 voice.fb5dec3aa9e7079c

“You said… you wanted to talk with me…”4a63f1da570d6d56

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“And?”a80e335fd3f1a146

“…If you stay with me just a little longer…”56c707cfca67c5a5

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“And if I do?”ec6ad33c7ea931dd

“I think… we might actually talk.”2aa21d87adfe2994

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Her voice 5bcd710726 quivered, saturated ffc7196edc with an e0e52c49ad instinctive fear, f43d5ec436 but the 207e672949 earnestness in 3fa928a852 her tone ea9eb2560d was evident, 56d7c7156c even to 944e249bf2 him. Leonard observed her with 5872b5a203 his cold gaze before 3a997cce4a extending his hand.003568e24b94c622

Tap!340b4959aad06a26

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“A-Ah!”e36818732dc5fb6e

Leonard took hold f9c1bd901c of her small, dacc4885a6 trembling hand and 91f7131eb2 tugged her forward. Startled, Russelin instinctively lifted 7ea7fc5f70 her head as he bfe4739df0 directed, meeting his intense 5b003fc999 gaze head-on. Their eyes, 93fae896b7 filled with c138bf51b0 conflicting emotions, 61258f0f5b clashed in a45b7eab43 the empty 4de2234639 space between 4f14658918 them. When she instinctively 613471a8bc tried to look 9c45b76589 away, Leonard’s voice 5d529a0589 dropped into a 8532205433 quiet growl.746162bd472eec02

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“Don’t look away.”11b8208e3d3e0e52

“…!”003062bd7e7dfba6

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“If you want something, face it head-on. How long will you keep running?”c0ee2151f0e8e5c1

Russelin froze, momentarily 8a42466309 overwhelmed by Leonard’s 8cc1dbcd59 forceful presence. As she 49d048a540 fidgeted, he c207f94add sighed softly, 7867049c12 his gaze d5dbc86db4 losing interest.47517ab60607cc98

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“I pushed you too hard. Your fragile body’s already been through enough.”ef6c2bcb78d95b72

“…!”3c1460bd987bf945

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“Excuse me.”74aa44220c30bf6b

Instead of c034427272 pressing her 0af2efe01c further, Leonard d49ae5fef9 released his c679e31fc7 tight hold, 53d4a80b0e loosening his c57f0ea68f grip. His touch, which 4b706a15fe had seemed so df7e2771a4 cold and distant, 8008c88284 was unexpectedly warm—something 2088b08312 that only made 48c0bc75cb him feel more 02daa248c2 dangerous to Russelin.4e6efcb44faba1cf

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“Relax. I’ll do as you wish.”1b9c209041868e14

“As I wish…?”81d0840d95032683

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“Yes, just as you desire.”e5274dd74d3daa49

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.0c0f297caa45be10

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“This happened because of me, didn’t it?”cfb34f2a44b2d3b0

“…”d4809a91bfaa6c6a

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“I’m not so irresponsible as to leave you to worry.”bc39f9837617038c

Leonard, now composed, f8e0138707 showed no trace 42ebd8c050 of the wild c7c5e6b06e magic that had 110d66f8ce surged moments before. In stark 96dc2adb67 contrast, Russelin, d1da0dd1f5 still holding 5b82e1088b onto him, 654d8acc08 was visibly dbbaa5d7a9 trembling. But Leonard didn’t b21aecd089 rush to console 930fa80256 her; instead, he 07153ae194 continued speaking with 825608e838 an unaffected tone.c7a5d541371bdbe9

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“It must have startled you. You appeared just when I was struggling to rein in my power.”ee019b8055c45946

“…Rein it in?”cc7b04d2c954dcae

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Russelin couldn’t hide her c08b742c45 surprise. Unlike Aydin, who 18987b9cdf had her by 5cfbfe83d5 his side to c252679e2b control his magic, 98d2fd146c Leonard had no 67c61c7b70 one to aid fc0fb40fa6 him.46597706d97386fc

“Why the surprise now? Thanks to you, I managed to avoid losing control.”6077a892f9cfad7c

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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.b61638339e41e278

“Well, since my attempts to hide it have clearly failed, shall we properly introduce ourselves?”9ffc679f4152112d

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“…”b35a6a21c5c337cc

“Leonard Estere. You can call me by my first name or title, whichever you prefer.”9e8dcddaaaec4a3f

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Why did such 66b1d05efa a brief introduction ec52819b97 feel so heavy? Russelin prided herself 381003a403 on her intuition, 77efd52ae6 but with this 909e035501 man, she found 32eb3654cf herself at a 544912b839 loss.45bac954cdd645a3

“And what should I call you?”c214cbb91c63e546

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“…”254ea6b4b4c10972

“Or are you already one of Bert’s people?”eea15393d2d104ca

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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.fc4db90a60578944

“…Please, call me Russelin.”ea7e46685dc21b3a

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“Russelin, then.”630403281a41b9de

Even the way he 43fb55fa7a slowly savored her name 6499304a85 in his deep voice 1e0f0a335a felt laden with danger. Russelin had chosen a21741fcaf to approach Leonard 8e3c049c87 Estere first, yet 677145802d now, faced with 998c939ba4 his intense presence, a0f0b2b33e she felt as c50a6ee980 though she were f8020b16a0 being drawn in 7a5be5c7c6 by him instead.eb5a7e5d7700e1d7

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“I’ll remember that you saved me, Russelin.”1ef43b08aa5efdb5

“I didn’t do anything. It’s not like I could do anything anyway.”4b024fff1e288c3a

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Whether it was a91755bd5c that night or 5f2a23c111 now, Russelin habitually 48c49f73c4 diminished herself, something f2896fe8fb she had picked bd47e1e7c5 up from Aydin’s f8699c6fec constant belittling. Realizing this, she 06df795217 let out a 647bdb960c quiet sigh, regretting dc67b26a48 it instantly. She didn’t 9e54dc62b3 notice Leonard’s ebba8a7ef6 gaze darkening 8c0f092f08 at her 31dc8efc95 words.e97fe560fcc910c8

“Is that so?”6592f3dd0c6299c2

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She lifted her af410ad39f head, only to e50c80c327 freeze in place.cff9ec67d01adeb9

“Ah…!”8282348800bf8df5

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Leonard leaned in, 7ad69dadf7 his face close 0c1cda6056 to hers. The fierce intensity b39a209f1d in his eyes 2f303befc3 made her feel 4868b6e1ab as if she 79740fabaa might be devoured.871cfcfa57033240

“Who fed you such nonsense?”1aa67df9e266cbe5

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Even as he uttered 3419a23f1a the coarse words, his f35eccc0f2 voice remained steady and fc38a4cbca calm. His lips curled 5429c59aad slowly into a 5d4611a144 faint, predatory smile.8d39215d7685bebc

“Because I, for one, am quite intrigued by you.”2115015495e6ed9d

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“…”d3175713ef4e940f

“Even setting aside the cursed fate of the Ragnars.”5c6c4d5ecb169789

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“…!”2716fdce0dbd0df5

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.060c1368f4b2b3b3

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‘Setting aside the cursed d0f13c49c7 fate of the Ragnars…’299fe866c4112def

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.f0e6e6a8179909cd

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“Russelin?”ec2fc3bb23a21728

Leonard Estere. A man be19318c42 who dared 62e6efddce to walk 09526d7d08 his own 46c46922d1 path, unshaken 5b46dd0735 by the dea5a1ddae destiny imposed 1b6879a3f8 by the bda6257514 gods.22f98256c7e0b404

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‘Yes, he’s 82bffe36e9 different from 89a1346b88 me.’f5f5e2913ad6cc96

Any fleeting sense of 16f7cccc85 kinship she’d felt with 75332efef7 him evaporated in an d0110b5d40 instant. She had chosen c145a6afbc him precisely because 6c76fdccff he felt distant, a2594e712a as if he 1c86e103d5 inhabited a different c599e53740 world. Yet now, Russelin’s c385028ce4 eyes darkened with aaea322eb4 an unspoken melancholy.7f5784dd85c1cc97

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“Your complexion doesn’t look good… what’s troubling you?”731043a51d22bdd2

This man was sharp 2eb4517fbd enough to notice emotions a1cfc0c6bd her own fiancé never 67f72a79ac bothered to understand. But this time, Russelin 8639bd89ca instinctively stepped back. Leonard, perhaps uncharacteristically, 94cc07b1d8 paused, momentarily thrown fe173d4507 off.db659f7460f9232e

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“Frightened again? Did I say something wrong?”70b24b3a7bc41161

Although her reaction could 734097d978 have annoyed him, Leonard d2e4c62205 merely stood there, arms f74e1027f5 crossed, waiting for her 196ec2b536 response with a faint, 9721a5092d amused indifference. In contrast to the 2068cc0f67 cornered Russelin, Leonard appeared fe0c725088 almost leisurely, as if f33f10eb9a none of this was 51505dd938 worth his full attention.92cb2eeb29e88614

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“No… if anything, I was the one who spoke carelessly, Your Grace.”97ed5a71e72e32de

“So you’re not frightened, just putting up distance. Why, did it finally occur to you that this is dangerous?”00e95bfc391e1c4f

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“Th-that’s not…”02b3b979e774c66c

“Seems a bit late to back out now, don’t you think?”2d59b686dee2c19e

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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.4a51ce846b0b49be

“H-Hey, you’re… too close…”8e93bb63a843e1ee

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“You didn’t mind clinging to me just fine before.”3b232dbaccdd0a98

“…!”4e9795aed80bccd7

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Russelin looked up 6dac0d615e at him, unable c56564707a to conceal her fd36985f7f flustered expression, and b9cc5cf105 he responded with 066b95def7 a satisfied smile.d5de0650b1a04044

“Yes, like that.”28fff3d06d518ab9

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“…”d6473157354ca7e7

“It suits you much better than holding back.”d62c25719643c070

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“Why are you…?”41b7be37e8a61b03

“Who knows. Maybe it’s just that without a little stimulation…”2d35d551eb1e5e1c

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Leonard released her b280f93ecf hand but then 0f0f293862 lifted his other e7a74ffab1 to gently cup 272f58de16 her cheek. The rough, calloused tips 43c300b02b of his fingers brushed 628eba849b over her lips, sending d95459a76f a tingling sensation through a8ddab91a7 her body.35806721d9d7f5a1

“…you won’t relax at all.”d4b2b21257a1f751

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“I… I just…”26a4866f10a14003

“You only approach when you need me, don’t you? That sort of thing really doesn’t sit well with me.”f47a9ab0ed7de36e

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“You make me sound like a bad person!”893a6684e4f5a948

Russelin hastily 5ea40b9cc2 protested, and 12e7a75d9f he chuckled b5352be7f3 quietly. The feeling of her b476a4a448 lips moving against his 030a8795e0 fingers with each word a9a830abfa tickled, lingering between them.74cd2ef746c3d518

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“Then don’t be one.”fe4f46cbd99ce65b

“…!”e2b268d73f1d0111

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“So stop hiding those half-hearted expressions, or you might lose whatever interest I have.”9763fa2c17dd68ef

Leonard pressed her subtly, a84c80dbda not with any overt b67f606a04 threat, but with a 0bf134b01a quiet persistence that left ac5cddd752 no doubt he would 264416d6b4 not yield until he 836c8977d5 got what he wanted. Feeling his aa224b3a94 warm breath 2c638a23c3 drawing closer, 4a5cbf221f Russelin instinctively 8f40645e4d lowered her 5e1ba6aeb8 head in d3293b3fb6 retreat.1e05cbdcd4b70944

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“I don’t particularly like it when you avoid my gaze, either.”41f9dfa398db793e

“T-Then what am I supposed to…!”5d89bbd0a09af486

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Without realizing cf4ded3b10 it, Russelin ede96edc45 raised her 04aff12701 head, falling 3fd4e1c5b2 into the e38148bdc1 trap of 38abf1147f his provocations.eb5317673667a230

 9543631910d56230

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