Chapter 140: Dragon’s Blood (6)
Selendis was sitting in a corner of the café.
“……”
Wordlessly seated, she tightened her grip on the water glass in her hand.
With a faint tremble, the ice cubes inside clinked softly against each other.
Her expression was nothing short of complicated.
It was the look of someone entangled in emotions—a mixture of expectation and anxiety, suspicion and gratitude.
And yet, the reason she remained in that seat was only one: to meet her younger sister Cecilia’s friend.
Yes, she definitely…
“……You said your name was Lian, right?”
As she forced a smile and spoke, Lian, seated across from her, gently nodded his head.
“Yes, my name is Lian Gwendil. It's nice to meet you, Cecilia’s sister. So then……”
“Selendis.”
Selendis said.
“Selendis Everglenn. Feel free to speak comfortably, Gwendil-kun.”
“Yes, I will. And please, you don’t need to be formal with me either, Miss Selendis.”
Selendis responded with a faint smile.
Then she cast a reproachful look not at Lian, but at her younger sister, who had chosen to sit beside him rather than beside her.
Cecilia……!
Selendis muttered internally, almost like a cry of despair.
The contents of the letters exchanged with her sister flashed through her mind.
She had been happy when the first letter arrived, but that joy had quickly morphed into a complex tangle of questions and unease.
“……”
Since childhood, Cecilia had been the troubled one in the family.
Driven out of their main house due to unavoidable circumstances, she had spent her early years virtually imprisoned.
Selendis's desire to support her one and only sister in any way possible had never changed, even after she became an adult.
That was the very reason she left the family and joined the Dragon Knights of the capital.
She had hoped that by being in the capital, she would have more chances to find clues that might help break Cecilia’s ‘curse’.
However, all that effort and hope had amounted to nothing.
Time passed by helplessly, and when she heard that Cecilia would be entering the Academy, how anxious she had been…
And then, a letter arrived.
Cecilia, in the letter, seemed completely changed.
When she first received it, she couldn’t believe it.
Even the long-standing issues that had tormented her sister were mostly resolved, and on top of that, she had made a friend—how overjoyed Selendis had been.
She couldn't even begin to describe how she had felt at the time.
And now, the very person who had made all of that possible was sitting before her eyes.
“……”
Lian Gwendil.
How curious she had been when she first saw his name mentioned in the letter.
Of course, it wasn’t that she was suspicious of him.
And to be honest… even if he had harbored bad intentions, Selendis wouldn’t have minded.
That was how desperate she had been—grateful enough to thank him endlessly just for helping Cecilia break free from her past and change so drastically.
And surely…….
Cecilia felt the same.
That’s probably why her sentiments and thoughts had bled through unfiltered in her letters.
Especially when it came to mentioning Lian.
What had she written again?
Lian, as described in Cecilia’s letters, was nothing short of a perfect person.
So thoughtful and wise it was hard to believe they were the same age. Devout like a true follower of the Holy Sun Church, kind and attentive to those around him, skilled in magic and sorcery, and even talented in swordsmanship and martial arts.
She had even mentioned that he was beautiful and elegant in appearance.
So perfect, it was actually suspicious.
Hmph.
……To be honest, Selendis had thought: “There’s no such person in this world.”
He wasn’t just a superhuman—he was the superhuman.
If someone like that really existed, rumors would’ve already spread through high society.
Perhaps Cecilia, having made her first friend—an important benefactor at that—was looking at him through rose-colored glasses……
But then again, maybe it was because he truly was such a remarkable person that he’d been able to help Cecilia.
Whatever the case, Selendis wanted to meet him in person.
It was only right to personally express her gratitude to the person who had helped her sister.
And finally, she had the chance to do just that.
Selendis took a sip of water as she slowly observed the boy before her.
He is quite pretty, I’ll give him that.
He had a gentle aura.
But if one looked into his eyes, they could tell—he was no ordinary person.
Selendis subtly dropped her gaze to his hands.
Not the hands of someone who's handled a sword for long. And being from the Holy Sun Church, he probably hasn’t had many chances to handle blades either.
Though his physique suggested he trained regularly, that was about it.
No matter how she looked at it, he didn’t seem like the swordmaster Cecilia praised so highly.
And yet……
“Big sister.”
Just then, Cecilia leaned forward slightly.
Startled by the sudden movement while focused on Lian, Selendis flinched.
“Y-Yes?”
“You said you had something to say to Lian.”
“Ah, right…… I did say that.”
Selendis nodded and adjusted her gaze.
As her eyes moved away from Lian, Cecilia straightened her posture at last.
Selendis's eye twitched slightly at the sight, but she quickly put on a calm expression.
“First of all… it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Lian Gwendil-kun.
As she spoke his name directly, his eyes wavered slightly.
He must have noticed her evaluating demeanor.
“Yes, the pleasure is mine.”
“The truth is, the reason I insisted on meeting you like this……”
After briefly choosing her words, she nodded.
It seemed he already had a fair idea of the situation.
“It’s not just that you’re Cecilia’s first friend. I heard you helped her escape her pain.”
Selendis lowered her head slightly toward Lian.
With her hand over her left chest, it was the respectful salute of a knight.
“It’s late, but I wish to express my deepest gratitude for that. Truly, thank you. If there’s anything you wish for……”
“Forgive me for interrupting, but I wish for nothing.”
Lian said in a steady voice.
“I didn’t help Cecilia because I wanted something in return. So, you really don’t need to.”
“……Hmm, is that so.”
They were already on a first-name basis with each other.
Selendis’s eye twitched just a little more.
“……”
Truth be told, Selendis had only recently learned that Lian was a boy.
It had happened when she was casually reading through one of Cecilia’s letters, without a hint of suspicion—until one particular line had caught her attention.
—Lian, for his part, seems to find it very awkward between ‘brothers’. He’s quite troubled by it.
……Wait a moment.
Brothers? Did she say brothers?!
She had reread the letter multiple times.
Thinking she had misread it, she checked again and again—but there it was: brothers.
Only then had she realized the truth.
Lian was a boy!
It felt like being struck on the head.
Why had she assumed, all this time, that Lian was a girl?
Now that she thought about it, Lian was a name that could be used for both men and women.
Since Cecilia had only ever referred to him as a ‘friend’, she had unconsciously assumed he was a girl.
What made it worse was when Cecilia had written that he was a “beautiful and pretty friend”, and Selendis had simply gone along with it—making her believe it even more.
Anyway…….
After realizing that Lian was a boy, Selendis couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
Was it a problem because he was a boy?
……No, in a way, it was a problem because he was a boy.
Cecilia was far too naive.
Of course, that didn’t mean she was foolish enough to be easily swayed by others.
But she had spent most of her life alone and had very limited social interaction.
Because she lacked experience in dealing with people, her senses might have dulled.
It was clear that Lian had helped Cecilia.
If he truly was a good person, that would be a relief.
But what if…… Cecilia was being led on without realizing it?
Or maybe Lian had offered nothing more than goodwill, but Cecilia was the one developing feelings?
All kinds of thoughts spiraled endlessly.
So she reached a conclusion.
I need to confirm it myself.
And now she could confidently say the answer was the latter.
Oh no……
Cecilia’s eyes were shining brightly.
Knowing exactly what emotions lay behind that expression, Selendis couldn’t help but feel complicated inside.
“……”
First things first—she needed to ask this.
Selendis came to a decision.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask, Gwendil-kun.”
“Ah, yes. Please, ask me anything.”
She gave a slight smile.
“……May I ask what sect you belong to?”
The reason she asked about his sect was simple.
The Holy Sun Church had numerous sects, with vastly different stances—some strictly forbidding love and marriage, others actively encouraging them.
She sincerely hoped he belonged to one of the more open-minded sects.
For her sister’s sake.
“……Phew.”
After parting ways with the two sisters, Lian let out a breath he had been holding.
He had been fairly worried, but thankfully the conversation had ended without incident.
That’s a relief.
Contrary to his concern, it seemed Selendis had taken a favorable view of him.
At first, her eyes were filled with suspicion, making him tense without realizing it……
But midway through, they had managed to finish the conversation in a rather friendly atmosphere.
Thanks to that, Cecilia had shown a rare and genuinely happy smile.
“……”
Though they expressed it differently, the two sisters truly seemed to care for one another.
Watching them reminded Lian of his own half-brothers.
And his stepmother, who still sent him worried letters.
Lastly, his father—whom he still wondered if he truly regarded him as his son.
“……”
It was then, while he was quietly lost in thought.
“I’ll have a minted eggplant and cucumber juice, please. ……Ah, you don’t have it? Then give me the closest thing you’ve got.”
Mint with eggplant and cucumber, seriously?
To think there was someone else out there with the same bizarre taste as Professor Windy May.
Turning his head without thinking, Lian flinched the moment he saw who it was.
It was none other than Archbishop Onnime receiving the drink.
“Hm.”
Onnime took a sip and tilted his head.
Then took another two gulps.
Eventually, he let out a deep sigh.
“Hmm……”
Step step.
With casual steps, he made his way to the seat across from Lian and sat down.
Meeting Lian’s gaze, he answered as if in response.
“I ordered it on Lady Windy May’s recommendation.”
He cleared his throat and said,
“But it seems it doesn’t quite suit my taste.”
“……”
“This might be our first formal introduction. My name is Onnime. A pleasure to meet you, Lian Gwendil-kun.”
He spoke in his signature low, resonant voice.
“I bring a message from Lady Windy May.”
He murmured softly.
“This weekend, let us go together to meet her.”
After parting ways with Lian, the two sisters walked back to the dormitory.
Normally, outsiders weren’t allowed in, but exceptions were made under special circumstances.
And the fact that it was the Departure Festival period, combined with their family relation, was more than enough reason for that exception.
“Hmm……”
Upon arriving at Cecilia’s dormitory, Selendis looked around in admiration.
Her expression suggested, Nothing’s changed around here.
“Big sister.”
As she quietly closed the door, Cecilia spoke.
“Come to think of it, why were you curious about his sect?”
“……Hmm, well. The Holy Sun Church places different values depending on the sect.”
Selendis answered vaguely.
Because if she told the truth, she’d no doubt be met with Cecilia’s sharp glare.
“I just wanted to be mindful during the conversation in case I needed to be careful with my words. Don’t overthink it.”
“Even so, if it’s Lian, I don’t think he’d misunderstand something like that.”
“Hmm, he didn’t seem like the type.”
It had been a short conversation, but just as Cecilia said, she could tell he was thoughtful and kind.
He did look a little uncomfortable, but that was likely due to their positions—and the fact that she had suddenly dropped in.
I should probably send him a small gift later to apologize.
As she thought this and sat down in a chair, Selendis suddenly caught a strange smell.
The distinct scent of old blood.
And it was coming from the pocket of Cecilia’s soiled outdoor clothes.
……Hm?
Selendis, almost involuntarily, reached for the pocket.
Inside was a handkerchief stained with blood.
“Ah.”
Upon seeing it, Cecilia nodded as if she had just remembered.
“I was wondering where that went—it was in there.”
“Were you hurt? Is the wound okay?”
“I’m fine, big sister.”
Cecilia answered in a calm tone.
It was the handkerchief she had used a few days ago to wipe Lian’s blood after his match with Airos.
She had wondered where it had gone—it had been tucked inside the inner pocket all along.
“It’s not my blood. It’s Lian’s.”
From Cecilia’s point of view, she was simply stating a fact.
There was nothing strange about it.
……Yes, from her perspective.
“……Huh?”
And Selendis, hearing a response beyond her imagination, froze completely.
It was only after some time had passed that she managed to ask in a small voice,
“……Why?”