Stigma Effect

Raphlet looked at Yuriel silently. Yuriel, who looked at his dark eyes as if she wanted to say something, shut her mouth.

When Yuriel calmed down, Raphlet grabbed her hand as she was stroking his face.

There was a lot to explain, and he had to be angry about her leaving the temple at a dangerous time, but there was something he wanted to ask first.

“Why did you have that?”

“That?”

“The monster’s core. I am asking why you have something that Commander Shudmuel should have.”

“Ah….”

The reason Yuriel took the risk and went out to find the pickpocket was because of the monster’s core. If she simply lost her money, there was no reason to follow the pickpocket.

Baraha, who returned to the temple with Yuriel, who had fainted, was nervous about why such an important item was entrusted to Yuriel. The expression on Baraha’s face, which was extremely irritated with Shudmuel, remained in Raphlet’s memory.

It was easy to guess why Yuriel took the risk.

‘It’s an important item, so she must have thought of getting it back.’

But the other thing was strange. Raphlet didn’t think Yuriel had enough trust with Shudmuel to be entrusted with such an important thing.

If she had become so close with Commander Shudmuel, Raphlet could not have not known.

In the first place, there was no way he could stand still and watch them become close friends. If Yuriel had shown interest in Shudmuel, he would have separated Shudmuel from Yuriel without hesitation.

It was not a relationship of trust. It was just a relationship where Yuriel helped him with work to pass her free time.

Upon hearing the question, Yuriel made a bewildered expression and flapped her lips.

“That, I mean. I thought I should have it….”

“Why?”

“Because Sir Shudmuel asked me to keep it.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me when you kept it?”

“… Because you didn’t ask?”

Yuriel frowned and answered.

Before going to sleep, Yuriel talked about everything that happened that day to the point where she was worried that Raphlet’s ears might sting. She thought it was odd as she didn’t say anything important, even the trivial things.

It felt a bit awkward to talk about Shudmuel in front of Raphlet with the thought that it was strange. Yuriel gently pulled out the hand that was being held by Raphlet and leaned back on the bed.

Something felt very offensive, but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

Unable to come to a conclusion, Yuriel avoided answering in front of Raphlet for the first time. It was obvious that she was changing the subject awkwardly.

“Well, more than that, Lord Raphlet. How’s the monster? There was a monster that was with me. I wonder what happened, but I’m sure it wasn’t dead, right?”

Questions that began in an awkward tone quickly followed. Yuriel asked Raphlet in a rather impatient tone. Raphlet looked at Yuriel who asked another question with an unnatural attitude.

Yuriel looked very anxious, and her expression was not good either. She had a haggard face as if she would collapse again if she was questioned now.

Raphlet, who was about to investigate further about the relationship between the monster core and Shudmuel, saw Yuriel’s condition and hardened his face.

Now was not a good time. Restoring Yuriel’s health was the priority.

After thinking about it, Raphlet answered.

“The monster is being investigated in detail by the researchers. This is the first case of a monster protecting a person, so the investigation is getting longer.”

Yuriel, who had turned the subject, heard his answer and swept her chest.

“Even though the Princess was making a fuss asking for the monster.”

Yuriel quickly shook her head at Raphlet’s voice that came out without giving her a chance to be relieved.

“That can never happen! If the Princess takes the monster, it will definitely not be safe.”

“Even if you hadn’t worry too much, the Princess can’t take the monster. Rather, Yuriel, you are the problem.”

“Me? Why me?”

Yuriel jumped up and shouted. It was the monster who saved her. Even if it was a monster, she didn’t want it to suffer.

If the Princess takes it, it won’t die, but it’ll suffer from experiments!

Considering the Princess’ character, it was a plausible idea.

Yuriel was startled and was about to jump down the bed, but Raphlet’s hand grabbed her shoulder. Her legs, which had been fumbling in search of shoes, were pushed back into the blanket.

Raphlet, who pushed Yuriel into the bed, said with a face full of worry.

“The alchemists and priests who came out of the Alchemy Tower are scolding me to find out why the monster saved you.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, then there’s something I guess.”

Raphlet let out a short sigh and looked at Yuriel and shook his head. It was a gesture for Yuriel to explain.

Yuriel began to speak while recollecting the memories before fainting.

“I think it was trying to attack me when I didn’t have the monster core. It has been trying to protect me from the moment I returned with the monster’s core in the other room. Could it be that I have a core and it mistook me for a monster?”

“That is unlikely. According to that, the monsters we saw in the subjugation should not have been hostile to the knights with core fragments.”

“Ummm…. Lord Raphlet is right. Something is strange. Then wouldn’t that be the only monster that doesn’t harm people?”

“No. Except for you and Commander Baraha, everyone who approached the monster was attacked. Right now, they’re satisfied with having Commander Baraha next to the monster and investigating… The researchers will come to look at you soon.”

Yuriel nodded, remembering the alchemists she had seen in the Alchemist Tower. She’d heard that knights who have received core implants often go to the Alchemist Tower and cooperate with experiments.

She remembered Raphlet taking off his coat and standing in front of the researchers. Even if she cooperated with such an experiment, nothing serious would happen.

Unlike Yuriel, who nodded indifferently, Raphlet was watching Yuriel with confused eyes.

He seemed uneasy about Yuriel being swept up in a series of disturbances after she came to the Imperial Capital.

Yuriel herself felt it. Since she came to the Imperial Capital, there has been no calm day. But it wasn’t her who caused the conflict. She was always being swept away by what was happening around her.

Yuriel glanced at Raphlet, wondering if Raphlet would tell her to return to the Grand Duke’s residence again. As she looked at Raphlet anxiously, the emaciated cheeks bothered her eyes.

Yuriel, who looked at Raphlet dissatisfied, broke the silence and opened her mouth first.

“I’m hungry, Lord Raphlet. Lying down is frustrating, so I want to move…. Can I go to dinner with you?”

Raphlet, who had just pushed Yuriel into the bed, got her up.

Moving Raphlet was not difficult for Yuriel. After confirming his affection, making him move was so simple that it was embarrassing.

All she had to do was express her discomfort in front of him.

It’s not the first time she’s woken up choked by the thick blanket wrapped around her body the next morning, even if she whispers that she’s cold in her sleep.

Watching Raphlet, who carefully looked after her, she wondered if the servant role might have been deprived of her.

“Can you walk?”

Raphlet, who got up and looked into Yuriel’s face and asked worriedly.

“Yes, of course….”

Yuriel, who was getting out of bed, felt an unexpected dizzy feeling and stumbled. The voice that answered curiously was cut off. She barely gave strength to her legs and held out, but there was no way Raphlet, who was watching Yuriel, couldn’t not notice it.

“Sit down.”

“it’s okay. I lost power for a while….”

“I’ll bring the meal over here, so sit down.”

He ordered firmly.

Yuriel sat down on the bed, looking at Raphlet blocking the way as if he had no intention of making any leeway.

It became difficult to go out and eat together.

Yuriel’s pale, tired complexion made him anxious, so Raphlet did not allow Yuriel to hold the spoon herself. Yuriel had no choice but to open her mouth as he pointed out the spoon.

As she was about to finish eating her food, she heard footsteps outside the door.

As if to announce its existence, a person who approached with loud footsteps deliberately knocked on the door and called for Raphlet.

“Commander Raphlet, are you inside?”

It was Helio’s voice.

After hearing Helio’s voice, Raphlet did not respond for a while. After feeding Yuriel until all the food was empty, he turned his gaze to the door.

“You may come in.”

After a long wait, Helio opened the door. Helio, who Raphlet had made him wait for a long time, had a displeased look, but when he saw Yuriel sitting on the bed, his expression softened.

“It seems that Miss Yuriel is in good shape. I heard you were seriously injured, but I’m glad you look okay.”

Helio sighed. Raphlet, who put down the empty bowl, asked in a low voice.

“What brought you here?”

“The monster is out of control. Now, even when Commander Baraha approached, it attacked him. Researchers are yelling to bring Miss Yuriel.”

He explained with a troubled expression on his face.

“Right now, Commander Barraha is blocking it…. They will come to find Miss Yuriel soon. You know that alchemists are persistent.”

It wasn’t very good news that Helio had come to deliver.

Raphlet, who had been quietly listening to the news he delivered, opened his mouth.

“Commander Shudmuel…. Is he preparing for the festival with the priests?”

“Yes. All the nobles are gathered in the Temple, and the festival cannot be stopped. Thanks to this, the Princess is a little more calm. If she wants to have the monster core, she couldn’t make a fuss during the festival.”

Helio looked at Yuriel’s face, who blinked innocently without understanding the situation, and said as if giving advice to Raphlet.

“You would be better off leaving before the alchemists arrive.”