Chapter 124: Wrong Words
Seraphina paused right in front of him, her steps quiet and deliberate, then tilted her head slightly as a dark smile appeared on her face. Her voice came out soft but edged with venom, "A fancy meeting, huh? But don't you think it would be wise to call it caught right-hand infidelity? I'm glad I chose this road today."
Kael didn't bother to reply, instead he turned around and walked toward the nearest wall, gently placing Celeste against it so she could lean without falling. His movements were steady and careful, as though he had done this sort of thing many times before, and once he was sure she wouldn't slip, he stretched both of his arms above his head and let out a slow sigh. His eyes dropped to his shirt, now soaked in blood, and he couldn't help feeling a small, quiet pity for it. It was a good shirt after all, and he had liked it. Finally, he turned his gaze toward his wife.
Seraphina stood there motionless, her face expressionless and her eyes fixed on him in cold silence.
What was wrong with her anyway? He had only been holding a woman in his arms, and it was not as if that was the end of the world. Then again, perhaps it was, at least to her. Still, this was Celeste of all people, someone Seraphina already had a twisted jealousy toward, a jealousy that Kael never understood nor cared much about.
Finally, he asked in a calm tone, "What exactly did you mean by infidelity?"
The dark smile never left her face. "What else could I mean besides the fact that I caught you cheating on me? Oh, don't tell me you just happen to be walking through the abandoned part of the house with a woman in your arms where no one lives."
Kael let out another sigh. "I guess she's still mad about last night's argument with Arwyn. Even though she can tell my situation just by looking at my shirt, she's still acting like this. What am I supposed to do with her?" he thought quietly to himself.
Then, speaking aloud, he said, "I'm not cheating on you and I won't ever do that."
Her smile widened slightly, her eyes narrowing in amusement. "Is that so? Then would you mind explaining why I always find you near some beautiful woman whenever I meet you outside? And not only that, they're always asleep for some reason. This time, however, you've outdone yourself. You're even holding one in your arms."
"So that's what this is about," he muttered under his breath, his tone almost resigned. Then, raising both of his hands slightly toward her, he said, "Come here... I think I'll be able to carry you for a few seconds. But not too long though since you're supposed to be so damn heavy."
Her eyes widened slightly, her hands curling into fists, clearly on the verge of punching him across the face. However, before she could even take a step, Kael added with a grin, "I mean because of your armor, of course. Didn't you once tell me that armor makes a woman heavy? I'm not mistaken, am I?"
Seraphina let out a slow breath, her fingers loosening as she raised one hand to her temple and rubbed it gently. "You're not mistaken," she said finally, her tone still calm but slightly tired. "But why would you even think I'd want to be carried by you in the first place? Is there a particular reason behind that?"
Kael chuckled in a playful, dramatic tone, "You don't want to."
She replied instantly, "No. Never."
He ignored her answer completely and continued in the same teasing tone, "But I thought you were jealous of Celeste since she's in my arms." He grinned even more and turned his head toward the sleeping girl beside him. "Oh, did I forget to mention? This girl is actually the receptionist I told you about once. Remember when we were walking together under the moonlight, just the two of us. And I just happened to remember something, yesterday you told Arienne to inform especially the guild that I already had a girlfriend? Was that truly just for show? I'm sure it wasn't. And don't you think Celeste is rather beautiful, my dear?"
He could swear that for a brief second, her expression changed slightly, a flicker of something crossing her cold face. But she composed herself so quickly it was difficult to be sure. "She is beautiful," Seraphina admitted quietly, then continued in a measured tone, "but what exactly are you doing with her here? And why is there so much blood on both of you? Were you perhaps attacked by someone... or by monsters, maybe?"
Kael sighed again, this time with a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "She changed the subject right when I almost caught her. What a clever woman... jealous but refuses to admit it. Still, I need her right now, so it's good that we met here of all places."
He straightened his back and began explaining what had happened as clearly as he could, leaving out only a few details he preferred to keep to himself for the time being.
"...and then I chased the direction where the woman ran, and that's when I ran into you out of nowhere," he finished. "Oh, now that I think about it, the woman went your way. Did you perhaps see her?"
Seraphina was silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful, and then she shook her head. "No. I don't remember seeing anyone coming my way. And if the person you're describing was truly strong, I would have sensed her presence long before she got close. So she must have taken another path."
"I see," Kael murmured softly.
He stood there quietly, thinking to himself. He didn't really know where that woman had gone after that. He had seen her sprinting in that direction, and he had followed, but she was unbelievably fast. But wasn't Seraphina terrifyingly fast as well?
"I wonder which one of them is the fastest," he thought, before shaking his head and letting the thought drift away.
Soon, he looked around quietly, as if confirming something in his mind before speaking, while she was still deep in her own thoughts, her eyes distant, perhaps contemplating the meaning of his earlier words.
For a moment, he hesitated to disturb her, but then he noticed the way her gaze shifted in a brief, uncertain flicker. Within a few seconds, she glanced at Celeste and then back at herself as if trying to connect some thought that only she could understand. He had no idea what she was thinking, and honestly, he preferred not to know it either. Knowing her personality, whatever she was thinking right now was bound to be something strange, maybe even ridiculous enough to worry him later.
Finally, after that small silence, he decided to speak, his tone carrying something unfamiliar, almost uncertain. "Honey... can I ask you for a favor? Actually, not really asking, but you owe me one from last week when you asked me to make my own breakfast, remember?"
Hearing his words, Seraphina blinked, returning from her thoughts as if waking from a long silence, and then she sighed quietly. "I do. So, what is that favor of yours this time? Please don't tell me it's something stupid again."
He nodded quickly, almost too eagerly. "Don't worry, I won't. Actually, it's something you would've done even if I didn't ask, but since you're my wife, I think it's only fair that I ask properly. You remember Arienne, right? The sweet little student of mine you met yesterday."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow slowly. "What about her?"
He was silent for a while, lips parting and closing again as though he couldn't find the right words to begin with. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he finally said, his voice quieter than before, "She... was kidnapped last night. I want you to help me find her."
Seraphina crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as if trying to read him through those words. "But... why do you want to save her in the first place?"
Kael didn't reply immediately. He stood still, the air between them growing heavier with every passing moment. Then, he took a slow breath and exhaled softly before speaking again in a tone that sounded distant, almost fragile. "You know I don't have many people close to me. What I mean is, I don't really have friends. I've always been like this, unable to talk properly with others, always harsh, always distant. I never understood what it truly feels like to have someone stay beside you without a reason. And... I lied to you about something."
Seraphina, who had been listening carefully without interrupting, narrowed her eyes slightly. "What did you lie about?"
He hesitated once more, his gaze dropping to the ground before continuing in that same quiet tone. "Celeste wasn't exactly the kind, polite, or sweet woman I told you she was. She was the complete opposite of that. She used to pity me."
Seraphina's voice remained calm, though a trace of curiosity lingered within it. "Then why did you risk your life to save her today? Wouldn't it have been better to let her die instead?"
Kael's hands clenched tightly, his knuckles turning pale. "Because... even if she was rude, even if her words cut deep, I still considered her my friend. She always helped me when I needed it, even if she never admitted it. Truth be told, she thinks I never noticed, but I know she's been changing my quests for a long time... making sure they gave more money and fewer suicidal odds. I even caught her once doing it, but I chose to ignore it completely. There was no point in making her embarrassed, and I didn't want to ask her why she did it either. She must've had her own reasons. So, over time, she became someone I could quietly call a secret friend. That's why I saved her. Because I couldn't stand there and watch my friend die in front of my eyes."
Seraphina listened in silence, her expression unreadable, while Kael continued, his voice softer now, as if speaking from the edge of something deeper. "That's also the same reason why I want to find Arienne. She's my student, not a friend, but she's someone important to me in her own way. She's still a little child. I don't want her to suffer or end up like that. So I need your help."
Of course, that wasn't the real reason he needed her help, and he knew that perfectly well. If he wanted to find Arienne, he could've done it on his own, but there was one problem he couldn't ignore. If she had been taken by Queen, then there was no doubt that vile woman could watch anywhere she wished. If that was true, then she would surely be watching him right now, every movement, every decision, every single breath he took. Searching for Arienne directly would be useless when his enemy could see through his movements and decisions so easily, changing the situation however she pleased which would only make finding Arienne hard.
That was exactly why he had come here, pretending to practice his swordsmanship, while in truth, he was trying to think of a way to locate Arienne without revealing his intentions. But without a single clue, all his effort was meaningless.
Still, could someone truly possess a power like that? Could anyone be that omniscient? The answer was obvious to him. No one should be able to wield such a power without a flaw, without a limit somewhere. There had to be a weakness within that terrifying ability, something hidden behind its brilliance.
And he was right. Even if he didn't understand the full nature of her element, he had seen enough to realize something important.
Whenever the Queen used that power to see wherever she wanted, her presence was revealed for just a brief instant, a trace of her gaze lingering in the air. That was the flaw of her element. And her weakness was none other than Seraphina.
It wasn't just a random thought or a baseless theory. He had seen proof of it with his own eyes. Back when the bandits who attacked Eska suddenly died without warning, Seraphina had vanished behind a tree. When he asked her about it later, she said she had imagined something there, but when she went to check, no one was there at all. Back then, he thought she was just imagining things. But now, he understood what had really happened.
The Queen had been watching them at that time with however she did, and Seraphina had sensed that unseen gaze immediately, even locating exactly where it had come from.
So, logically speaking, if he stayed near Seraphina or if she herself decided to take this case into her own hands, then there was a strong chance the enemy wouldn't be able to perceive them properly or even guess what their true plan was. And even if the Queen tried to interfere or look into it, Seraphina would likely sense that immediately. The only problem in all of this was that Kael couldn't explain everything to her clearly, even if he wished he could. The truth was, he was now using her for his own reasons, although at the same time he was also relying on her willingness.
Regardless, if his theory about the matter turned out to be wrong, then there would be nothing left for him to do except try to find an enemy who somehow knew his every move. Even then, he would still have Seraphina beside him.
Even if Arienne's father himself asked Seraphina to investigate, she would never go personally unless the situation became truly critical, only the knights would be sent or perhaps a lieutenant at best. But if Kael asked her directly, there was a good chance she would agree to help him. That was how Seraphina's heart actually was, no matter how cold or proud she appeared on the outside.
After thinking that much, Kael looked at her quietly and lowered his head slightly before asking, "Will you help me find her, Seraphina?"
She didn't answer at once, her eyes thoughtful, then her lips curved slightly upward as she said, "Alright, after hearing your reason I suppose I have to do so. But tell me, what will you give me in return? You do realize it's not exactly cheap to hire a Captain of the Knight Orders for your personal matter. It usually costs a lot."
Kael smiled and said, "Anything you want."
Seraphina lingered for a moment as if testing the truth of his words, then touched her chin thoughtfully. "Anything I want, you say? Are you sure about that? You wouldn't happen to regret that choice soon, would you? What if I asked you to become my slave, or something even worse, like making you do thousands of push-ups?"
Kael let out a quiet laugh, "You won't."
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing a little, "And how can you be so sure about that anyway?"
He lifted his shoulders slightly, "Somehow I just am. I know you wouldn't do anything wrong to me. You would never hurt your husband. But… I can't say for sure about what might happen if you suddenly decided to do something inappropriate with my body though."
Her brows drew together instantly, a flash of anger crossing her face as one of her hands clenched tightly beside her.
"So cute," he thought mischievously, enjoying the sight a little too much.
Then she cracked her knuckles by pressing her fists together and said with a dark smile, "Would you mind explaining to me what exactly you meant by doing something inappropriate with your body?"
For a moment, Kael regretted every word that came out of his mouth, and he instinctively lifted both arms in defense. "I don't know," he said quickly.
She tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping a little lower, "Are you perhaps trying to mock me?"
Kael shook his head quickly, his expression almost nervous, "No, I'd never dare. It's just something Arwyn happened to tell me when I asked her what exactly happened last night."
Seraphina slowly moved one hand across her palm, her expression unreadable. "And what exactly did she tell you?"
Kael thought for a moment and then said, "Oh, nothing serious. She only said that you intended to do 'intimate' things with me, and that's why she didn't hand my body over to you. Is that true, darling?"
She went quiet, but her silence was heavier than any words. He could clearly see how angry she became from those words alone. Finally, she asked with a calm but frightening tone, "Are you sure she told you those exact words?"
Kael nodded quickly, his head bobbing up and down like a guilty child. "That's precisely what she said. But… can you tell me what the word 'intimate' means exactly?"
A slow, mischievous grin appeared across her face, and her voice turned soft but dangerous, "Sure, I can. But not here, of course. It's something that should be explained privately between just the two of us. So let's get inside that abandoned house. I'm going to show you thousands of meanings for it."
"Oh, I don't like the sound of that at all," he thought nervously.
Before he could even react, she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him with surprising strength toward the half-broken house, forcing him to slip backward behind her while her eyes glimmered with cold amusement. She opened the door and threw him inside the house and closed it behind her. Her blue eyes were glowing strangely in the dim light.
"She's not really going to rape me, right?" he thought helplessly as he sat up.
Moments later, lightning flickered within the abandoned house, followed by the sound of something crashing into something and the distinct cry of a grown man echoing from inside.
---
In the end, she only punched him a few times on his face and gave him little shocks of lightning and nothing else. But it hurt like hell though.
He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling like he had just escaped death itself. He was glad to be alive. However, why did she get so angry so much all of a sudden? He was just saying those exact words Arwyn told him. Was it truly that wrong?
He glanced at Seraphina who sat beside him for no particular reason though. The room had a dim light only since all of its windows were closed, and because of that it was hard to see her expression clearly. Shadows covered her face, but he could still tell from her posture that she was not calm.
Both of them stayed silent for a while. The air between them felt heavy, filled with something that neither could name. Eventually, it was Seraphina who broke the silence. Her voice came out cold and soft in a strange way, like calm water hiding something deep beneath.
"I've been meaning to ask you something, Kael?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. He couldn't see her face properly, the dim light made it even harder to read her. Still, he replied in his usual teasing tone, "What it is, darling?"
She didn't respond right away. There was a pause, and he could feel the stillness in her breathing. Then he noticed the slightest movement... her shoulder seemed to stiffen a little as if she was holding something back.
Her words came slowly, almost like she was forcing herself to say them, "Are you perhaps trying to hide something from me?"
Kael didn't answer immediately. He stared at her for a moment then turned his gaze away, his eyes wandering around the small room before he let out a deep sigh.
"I am..." he said at last, his tone quiet but without hesitation, "but not just something. There are countless things I am hiding from you. I even lied to you so many times."
He paused for a moment, then shrugged.
"In fact, I'm the masked man."
---
(Chapter Ended)
To be continued...