People Are Bound to Be Afraid When Someone Suddenly Changes

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t surprised.

But if you ask if it was something I hadn’t predicted, that’s also not true.

After hearing the news Vermillion brought, Kyle stared at him with his signature indifferent gaze, then slowly nodded and opened his mouth.

“Faster than I expected.”

“You’re not surprised, I see.”

“No, I was pretty surprised. I didn’t think they’d move so aggressively to that extent.”

I had expected such a full-scale move to happen much later, at least.

From the perspective of the Eyes of Dawn in the first place, Creed Eleanor wasn’t exactly a precious asset.

Of course, he was the most suitable means to target Sylvia, but it’s not like their organization was so weak that they couldn’t target Sylvia without him.

So, while it was regrettable, I had guessed that they wouldn’t get too involved in this incident, thinking they’d just discard that pawn.

Moreover, if it were just Sylvia alone, they might try to eliminate her for their original purpose, but I hadn’t anticipated that I would also be on their elimination list.

After all, on the surface, I am an important figure predicted to be the next head of the Liard family.

I had assumed they would be reluctant to touch such a person, thinking it would be like stirring up trouble.

‘Does that mean they were that furious that this plan fell through?’

Why are they being so aggressive? Kyle pondered the reason.

There are two possibilities.

The first is that the guys somehow found out that I was the one who revealed the connection between Creed Eleanor and the Eyes of Dawn.

So, if they thought I was a threat to them and were moving to nip it in the bud, it would be somewhat understandable.

The second is that they might have done it on a whim, just like I thought, but that seemed very unlikely to Kyle.

Just looking at how they recruited Creed Eleanor to obtain Sylvia Eleanor as secretly as possible, and how they aimed for the big picture even waiting for several years before regression, you can tell.

They are quite a patient bunch.

That means, in this case, the former is more likely.

“Did you hear any specific plans?”

“No, unfortunately.”

“This is going to be a pain in the ass. I wouldn’t mind taking care of myself, but Sylvia too…”

Tsk, Kyle clicked his tongue lightly and frowned.

A mere assassin wouldn’t be able to scratch him, so he wasn’t too worried about that, but the problem is still Sylvia.

Of all times, this news is delivered at the moment I decided to stay as far away from her as possible.

At this rate, I have no choice but to stick with her as much as possible for the time being and protect her.

Moreover, I have to worry about them coming in the middle of the night, so it’s a hassle in many ways.

At least if I leave the surveillance to Primo and put up a barrier, it might be a preventive measure, but even that is not certain.

“Anyway, thanks. I’ll be able to prevent the danger thanks to you.”

“No need to thank me. That was the deal in the first place. By the way…”

“……?”

Vermillion’s eyes, who had been wearing his signature mask-like, friendly smile, narrowed for a moment.

Even the lips that had been drawing a good-natured smile, like Sylvia’s, became playful.

Kyle frowned, feeling a strange sense of unease at that, and Vermillion opened his mouth in a subtle tone.

“I heard it was just a contractual relationship, but you seem to have gotten quite close to the Princess. Especially during dinner, it was like you were cooking up a storm of love.”

“Get lost if you’re going to say useless things.”

“You’re reacting sensitively, so I guess you’re aware of it?”

“Aware my ass.”

Kyle, who doesn’t usually swear unless he’s alone, growled openly and spat out harsh words, but Vermillion just shrugged with a leisurely expression.

He’s a man who inspires awe when it comes to magic, but at times like this, Vermillion is reminded that he’s just a childish guy of the same age.

It seems that he also has some feelings for Sylvia.

There’s no man in the world who would care more about a woman than himself if he didn’t have feelings for her in the first place.

Nevertheless, he consistently acts as if he doesn’t care about her, so it’s frustrating from the perspective of someone watching.

“If I may offer some advice, men’s coy behavior is off-putting.”

“If you have time to say such shitty things, get the hell out of here. I want to think alone.”

“I will.”

Despite Kyle’s harsh words, Vermillion just got up from his seat with a nonchalant expression.

I’m not one to interfere in other people’s love lives, so I’ll just have to watch from the sidelines.

Still, Vermillion smiled wryly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity, as he had no idea that the man who seemed so far away as a magician had such human qualities.

It seems that the lifeline he chose isn’t so bad after all.

＊＊＊

The next day, Sylvia woke up from her bed with a refreshing morning and finished dressing.

When she was in Kaintreche Castle, she used to wear simple clothes and not even bother with makeup on slightly annoying days, but after staying in the Liard family’s main residence, even that habit disappeared.

No, it would be more accurate to say that she’s correcting herself so that it doesn’t come out forcibly rather than disappearing.

It has become a daily routine to dress up in pretty clothes, even if they are a bit cumbersome, and to do light makeup, even if it is a bit of a hassle.

‘Good.’

She smiled with satisfaction as she checked her appearance in the mirror one last time.

Kyle will probably avoid her eyes and wander around from this morning, so she will have to start hide-and-seek from now on.

Today’s first goal is to spend time alone with Kyle before breakfast.

She was about to pull the doorknob and leave the room, reassuring herself that she could do it.

Kkiik.

“Good morning, Sylvia.”

“Kyaat…!?”

Sylvia screamed and backed away at the sudden familiar voice from next to the door.

But because she was so surprised, she put her weight on the wrong foot, and her body tilted as the ground and her body gradually got closer.

The moment she closed her eyes in preparation for the impending impact, something grabbed her hand roughly and supported her waist at the same time.

Deopseok.

“Are you okay? I guess I startled you from the morning for no reason.”

“Ah… I, I’m okay.”

Sylvia’s face turned red as she saw Kyle, who was supporting her waist and getting close to her face, like a scene from a passionate social dance.

When Kyle put her body back up and let go of her hand, a hint of regret flashed across Sylvia’s face for a moment.

But there was something even more bubbling up than regret, and that was doubt.

She couldn’t guess why Kyle was standing blankly next to her door from broad daylight.

“More than that, Kyle, what brings you here…?”

“I thought I’d stop by to talk for a while before breakfast. The weather is nice today, so how about a walk?”

“Nee…!?”

Is this a dream or reality?

Kyle, of all people, is willingly proposing a rendezvous in the name of a walk?

Kkuuk.

Sylvia pinched her cheek, wondering if she was still immersed in a sweet dream, but the clearly stinging pain proved that this was not a dream.

Then does that mean that the Kyle in front of her is real, not just a daydream or hallucination?

Then is this Kyle’s own prank?

That’s the only way to think about it, considering Kyle’s recent attitude, he seemed desperate to distance himself from her.

It’s not for nothing that Sylvia was racking her brains, wondering ‘How do I find Kyle?’ from the moment she left the room a little while ago.

That’s how cold Kyle’s attitude towards Sylvia has been lately, as if he was openly saying, ‘Don’t come near me,’ but today, the sun is rising from the west, or even rising from both sides?

Wondering what was going on, Sylvia stared at Kyle and couldn’t help but say a word.

“…Kyle, are you feeling unwell today?”

Kyle was speechless at those words, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Because it’s the situation he created in the first place.

“No. You can rest assured that I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

So, as she shook her head indifferently, Sylvia was busy examining him, as if she felt uneasy about something.

At that time, a servant approached the two and bowed his head and spoke.

“Excuse me. Princess, Madam asks if she can see you for a moment from the morning, but I’m sorry. Is it okay with your time?”

“Me? Yes, I have time, but…”

Of all times, the mistress of the Liard family is calling her directly at this time.

She thought it was a lucky day because Kyle came to visit her in the morning for some reason, but Sylvia was inwardly disappointed that the plan would be disrupted in this way.

Still, the conversation with Roxanne was also quite enjoyable, so she forced a smile and spoke to Kyle.

“I’m sorry, Kyle. I guess we’ll have to postpone the walk. I’ll see you later.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

“…Yes?”

But when an unexpected answer came back, her eyes widened.

Go together, where?

Does that mean he’s going to follow her?

If it was the Kyle she knew, he would have taken it as a good excuse and left without looking back.

Seuek.

“Kyle, do you have a fever? You should get a checkup…”

Thinking that something must be wrong by this point, Sylvia put her hand on his forehead and checked his temperature, with a truly worried expression.

‘Was I that cold?’

Kyle had to lose his words again at her actions, which seemed to be truly worried without a hint of playfulness.