I Don’t Want This Bad Ending

"Where did their tracks last seen?"

Evelyn begins to ask questions again regarding the lost communication with Gil and Alisha.

"In the back garden…" Chrisfold replied.

"Did you find something odd about the surrounding area?"

"What? There's only a small mana but it was most likely a cleaning spell… why?"

Evelyn begins to deeply think about the connection of the cleaning spell, the sudden foot print vanishing in the middle of the garden.

"What if the cleaning spell was specifically made to erase the tracks of the people who went there?" Evelyn begins to mumble.

"...Eve?"

Cassandra suddenly called her name as she was so deep in thought that she was mumbling by herself and all of the people in the meeting room focused on her as she stopped talking in the middle of the discussion.

"... then that means that Gil and Alisha are still there… but where? There's nothing specifically foretold in the novel about how the temple accesses the secret treasury chamber."

"...Eve? What is it?"

This time, it was Chrisfold who called her name. However, as she was so focused on solving what Gil might be planning that he didn't even tell her where he was going with Alisha.

And specially that Elise, who is the most important target right now is with him.

"The cleaning spell..." 

"The secret treasury chamber…" Evelyn mumbled again.

It's a spell that was used to keep the surrounding area dust free… It's actually used by maids that have the responsibility to clean the place.

Evelyn bit her nails as her head started to work to unravel what Gil might be planning, then suddenly it strucks to her about their living environment.

Turning her head abrupt in the direction of Cassandra, she quickly asked a question.

"The house before… there was an illusion spell and a barrier there before right?"

"...yes"

Cassandra, who was shocked at the sudden enthusiasm of Evelyn, started to ask what she learned.

While Evelyn asked one of her subordinates to give her a piece of paper and a pen.

"Eve… what did you ask about the house?"

Still busy writing a note, Evelyn begins to smile.

"Gil and Alisha… I think they're still in the temple."

After she finished writing something on that piece of paper, she called her messenger bird and quickly secured it in place.

"What's that for?" Bern started to have deeper lines in his forehead.

"Who are you sending that?" He continued.

"To Nine…"

"The spy in the temple? Do you think he's still there?"

"Well… we can just confirm that."

Then, Evelyn sat down again and continued to explain her conclusion regarding what Gil was doing.

"He's definitely trying to find something in the treasury of the Temple…"

"Like what?" Chrisfold asked that Cassandra replied to.

"An artifact… if it's that man… he's definitely trying to procure something that would help us in the near future."

Evelyn nodded her head. So for now, Chrisfol will be going to the Temple after this to talk to Ricardo and ask to secure the garden with the knights.

The meeting then started to discuss other things as they concluded that it's better to wait for Gil and Alisha if what Evelyn said was true.

Still, they would, from time to time, check if the link is connected so that they know if they're alright.

As Evelyn said that the ring in her hand still has the color that represents Gil and Alisha then that means that they're still alive.

Then as if the atmosphere changed. Evelyn begins to talk about what Edickart just told her last earlier.

"There's something unprecedented happening in the palace. Edickart told me that the right hand man of Prince Adley attacked them with a mana that was disgusting and suffocating."

"Is that the kid that was always with the Prince?" Cathy asked as she began to ponder who the right hand man's face is.

"Yes…"

"What about him?" Bern asked as he gave off this dangerous aura.

"He said that he was waiting for so long that he was getting bored and so he presented himself to them…"

Suddenly, Chrisfol, Cathy and Bern became silent.

Evelyn who was expecting a sudden surge of question was weirded out as the three of her spirits became mute.

"What?"

"Did he say something else?" Bern asked as he closed his hand with more force like he was trying to suppress something.

"Edickart said that Ishid left after he attacked them…"

"Is that so…"

"What is it, Bern?"

"No… nothing…"

Cathy, Bern and Chrisfold looked elsewhere as Evelyn looked at them.

She knew then that the three were keeping something from her. Evelyn is sure of it.

"So.. is he the enemy now? What about Prince Adley? Why did you let him go?"

As Cassandra senses the awkward silence, she begins to change the topic.

Evelyn looked at her and regained herself.

"That is why I need to ask you something, Cassandra."

***

Knock knock!!

"Come in…"

Evelyn is currently in her room after the meeting was adjourned and is now sipping her tea at leisure. 

"Lady Evelyn… The Crown Prince contacted me that he will be coming here in a few days with the result of their journey."

It was Sir Erich who informed Evelyn that Silvester is now on the way after she asks him a favor.

Silvester is with Adam and Erick and with the rest of his trusted aides. Sir Erich stayed here because he decided to learn more about black magic from the last witch in the world.

"Thank you, Sir Erich. Then, I'll gladly wait for my cousin's return."

Sir Erich then leaves right away after he gives a manly bow to her that Evelyn just nodded as acknowledgement. 

"For now, I should just wait for Silvester to arrive and Cabel to wake up… now that Ishid already presented himself, he would definitely do more things in the open."

Evelyn looking outside her window mumbled.

"I need to find Prince Adley and talk to him…"

Remembering that Prince Adley said that they will not see each other for a while, Evelyn thought that Prince Adley will try to build his forces again.

However, the things that he did… risking his life to save her was something that a kidnapper would not do.

Besides, the Temple of Light and Prince Adley are supposed to be on the same side but based on what she learned that day, there was something amiss.

"Prince Adley… he definitely knew something… he was trying so hard to protect me that time. I'm sure about that."

Leaning her head on the head rest, Evelyn sighed as there are things that she can't predict. Though she knew about the characters and their personality that was depicted in the novel, right now, she has no clue if all of it is true.

"Haaa…"

Evelyn doesn't know why but whenever she thought about the days that she was with Prince Adley and how he tried to hide her from the Pope and Ishid, she had this feeling that her guts was telling her that Prince Adley knew something.

"He's not someone that will be used by his aide… but what if… what if Adley was manipulated and threatened?"

Then everything that she knew from the novel was just crap.

Rising from her seat, Evelyn left her room and went to the next chamber where Cabel is currently recuperating.

Creak!

The door opened as Evelyn slightly pushed it. The smell of medicine still lingers in the air.

For the past weeks that she was not here, her spirits already told her what happened to Cabel.

However, looking at him with a pale face and sweating skin, she didn't know that something like this would happen to him.

"This is why I told you that you should just go back to your territory…"

Sitting beside Cabel, she swept his hair that was wet.

Evelyn got the towel that was beside the bed and soaked in the water that was in the basin.

Touching him softly, she began to reprimand him for his actions.

"I told you that if you ever thought that it was dangerous then you will leave right away… look what happened to you now!"

Still wiping his sweat, Evelyn was softly scolding him.

"Then, you should also do the same…"

Evelyn's hand halted as she heard someone's voice.

"...!"

Like time was put into stop, Evelyn froze in her spot not expecting this to happen.

As if on cue, Cabel slowly opened his eyes and his bright red eyes welcomed the figure of Evelyn looking at her with shock in her sunset eyes.

"You should also run away whenever you think it is dangerous…"

"..."

He reached for her hands that was stop midair, he hold her hand and put it close to his face and like a cat, Cabel brush her face against her palms.

"I missed you..."

Cabel smiled charmingly as if he saw an angel as he opened his eyes. It was as if he was not unconscious just seconds ago.

His words made Evelyn lost for words.

No, she was actually lost for words because she was caught off guard with that handsome smile that Cabel just flashed at her. 

Add to that, Cabel was wet looking because he was sweating because of his cold that it added to his charms and left her astonished,

Sensing that Evelyn was shocked, Cabel who was parched pushed himself to call for Evelyn with his soft voice that even Evelyn found it so lovely and sweet.

"Eve? What is it? Hmm? Tell me…"

Cabel brushed her ombre hair that he hasn't seen in awhile. 

The unique hair color of Evelyn that is black that seems to reflect the night sky as if it embodies the universe made him feel that Evelyn was really his world and the silver-blue tips that seem to symbolize the day sky.

At that moment, as Cabel looked at her lovingly, a small voice was heard.

"...me too."

"Hmm~?"

"I also missed you…"