Chapter 98: A Curious Fate(4)
Chapter 98: A Curious Fate(4)
When Cecile asked with a playful smirk, a shiver crawled up from my right arm and spread through my entire body. It felt as if the blood in my veins had turned to ice, freezing me where I stood.
My body was so stiff I could barely move my lips, but I forced myself to shake off the sensation and turned toward the suspected source of the chill. It was where Arwen stood.
However, Arwen looked utterly bewildered the moment she met Cecile.
Judging by her expression and reaction alone, she certainly wasn't the culprit behind this cold wave. And it definitely wasn't the smiling Cecile, either.
What is it? Who could it be...
Was this feeling of my blood running cold just an illusion? I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the goosebumps prickling my skin, when a strange detail occurred to me.
Cecile hadn't addressed Arwen as "this person," but rather "these people." Yet, there was only Arwen standing beside me.
Was there a hidden bodyguard following her, much like Gartz, the knight who guarded Cecile from the shadows? As the destined successor to the Demon King, Cecile would likely be able to see things I couldn't.
I looked back and forth between Arwen and Cecile before fixing my gaze on the beaming Cecile and speaking slowly. For now, I decided to play dumb.
"...What do you mean by that, Noona? Arwen is alone."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
When I feigned ignorance, Cecile let out a sultry hum and gave a coy smile. Her gaze shifted to Arwen, and she crossed her arms, looking intrigued.
Her dress already emphasized her chest, but crossing her arms made it even more prominent. I struggled to keep my eyes from drifting downward.
Meanwhile, Cecile stared intently at Arwen before giving her another bright smile. It was a lethally beautiful expression.
"My apologies. I must have seen things for a moment. Don't mind what I said."
"...I see."
"So, who is this? Judging by the pure aura, she seems to be an Elf."
The conversation circled back to Cecile asking me who Arwen was. I stole a glance at Arwen.
I couldn't see her expression clearly because her robe was pulled down low, but her mouth was set in a firm line.
I had only met Arwen today, and Cecile had already realized she was an Elf. There wasn't much for me to say.
"She's just someone I happened to meet at the bookstore. She helped me out while I was picking out some books."
"Is that all?"
"I bought her something delicious since we were checking out the exhibition together. See this strawberry candy?"
When I mentioned the strawberry candy, Cecile looked toward Arwen's hand. Arwen was holding the candy, which had only one bite taken out of it.
Cecile then voiced her complaint in a slightly hurt tone.
"You didn't buy me anything, but you bought one for someone you just met today?"
"...I'm sorry. Should I buy you one now?"
"No. It's fine."
Cecile replied and began walking slowly toward us. As she approached, the cold sensation on my right side grew increasingly intense.
I turned to check on Arwen, but her face remained stoic. I couldn't tell if I was being overly sensitive or if it was just my imagination.
Step—
Finally, Cecile came to a halt directly in front of us. More specifically, in front of Arwen.
Arwen was shorter than me, while Cecile was tall and statuesque, much like Nicole. Due to the height difference, Cecile looked down while Arwen looked up.
As they stared at each other in a strange standoff, Cecile introduced herself to Arwen with a gentle smile.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Cecile."
Cecile kept it simple, perhaps feeling no need to reveal that she was the Princess of Helium.
Still, one could sense from her innate grace and charisma that her status was anything but ordinary.
Arwen quickly scanned Cecile's beautiful features from head to toe before speaking in a soft voice.
"...You may call me Arwen."
Though her voice was quiet, she didn't seem intimidated at all. If anything, she sounded wary.
Unlike Cecile, who used polite speech, Arwen spoke informally, which might have seemed odd. However, considering the relationship between Elves and Demons, it wasn't that strange.
Historically, Elves viewed Humans as inferior, but they viewed Demons as a malevolent plague.
The descendants of Angels, the Elves, and the descendants of Devils, the Demons. That alone was enough to show where they stood.
There was even a folk belief that because their innate energies were polar opposites, they felt physical discomfort just by being near each other.
Fortunately, since the publication of Xenon's Life, the Elves' perception of Demons had softened like that of other races, but their natural discomfort was hard to hide.
"Arwen... It's a common but lovely name. It was the name of an Elven hero who fought during the Demon War, wasn't it?"
"You are well-informed. Your name is also quite fine. It carries the meaning of 'holy'."
"Thank you for the compliment."
For now, the first impression seemed decent. Cecile didn't seem to mind Arwen's informal speech either.
But I couldn't let my guard down. Although Humans were the ones who persecuted Demons the most, Elves were their natural opposites, so there was no telling what might be said.
"Shall we look at the works instead of just standing here?"
While I remained tense, Cecile made a suggestion to Arwen in a gentle voice. Indeed, it was awkward to just keep standing there.
Arwen seemed to agree, nodding her head in consent. She was still holding the strawberry candy in her hand.
It looked like it would be hard to eat that while—
Nom.
"..."
...Never mind. She took a bite of the strawberry candy. It seemed she couldn't resist, even while her gaze remained fixed on Cecile.
Cecile's eyes widened for a moment at Arwen's sudden bite of the candy, but she soon let out a dignified, ladylike laugh.
It was a bit of a rude gesture, but Arwen's cute appearance masked it, only amplifying her peculiar charm.
"Forgive me. The sweet scent tempted me so much I couldn't help myself."
Arwen, who had been munching on the candy, swallowed and replied.
She then glanced at me before looking back at Cecile and continuing.
"Regrettably, I do not think I should intrude. I shall take my leave here."
"I really don't mind. Right, Isaac?"
I nodded at Cecile's question. From what I had seen of Arwen's personality so far, she wasn't bad at all; in fact, she was quite open-minded.
So, even if Cecile was a Demon, it was highly likely that no problems would arise.
"No. You two might be fine with it, but I would feel uncomfortable. It seems you two are acquainted, and an uninvited guest should not intrude."
"..."
"However, I shall not forget the kindness you showed me. I am truly grateful."
Arwen placed her right hand over the center of her chest and bowed slowly. It was a graceful greeting that exuded benevolence.
I felt a pang of regret as I received her farewell, but I also bowed politely according to etiquette. I had already guessed she was a noble, so this much was only proper.
"Then, I shall be going. Oh, and the strawberry candy is truly delicious, so you should try it soon as well. Nom."
Arwen teased me as she took another bite of the candy. I let out a helpless chuckle.
She told me not to treat her like a child, yet her actions were consistent to the very end.
"If we meet again someday, shall I buy you another one?"
"You treat me like a child until the very end. But there is no need for that. Next time, I should be the one to show you kindness. I do not know when it will be, but I have a feeling we shall meet again soon. People with a passion for history like yours are rare, so perhaps I shall see you at the Holy Land."
"The Holy Land..."
Come to think of it, Professor Elena had mentioned it before. She said if I entered the field of history as a recommended student, she would take me to the Holy Land of Albenheim.
Perhaps I really would meet Arwen again then.
"I might visit Albenheim within the next two or three years. If fate allows, we'll meet then."
"That is good news. Isaac Ducard Maishal... If I hear news of your visit to the Holy Land in the future, I shall come find you. Until then."
With those final words, Arwen took a couple of steps back, turned around, and walked away.
I watched her receding figure intently. Before long, Arwen blended into the crowd and disappeared completely.
She was a fellow bookworm and an open-minded Elf, so we had communicated well. Parting like this felt quite disappointing.
"Are you sad to see her go?"
As I stared in the direction Arwen had vanished, Cecile asked me from beside. I turned my head toward her.
Cecile was wearing her usual gentle smile. I blinked, staring blankly at that beautiful smile for a moment, before answering quietly.
"...A little?"
"You must have liked her."
"We have similar hobbies, and she was quite open-minded for an Elf. And she even showed me magic..."
Wait. A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I looked at Cecile again.
Cecile tilted her head, looking as if she were asking if I had something to say.
"Noona. Can you show me magic too?"
"Magic?"
"Yes. Earlier, Arwen made a water droplet and moved it all around. You can do that too, right?"
Cecile was a Demon, and the destined successor to the Demon King at that. She must possess incredible magical abilities.
As my eyes sparkled with anticipation, Cecile stared at me. Then, her eyes crinkled as she smiled, and she spoke in a soothing voice.
"What kind of magic does our Isaac-nim want to see?"
"Something that won't cause damage to the surroundings, maybe just a minor trick?"
"A minor trick, you say..."
Slide—
Cecile trailed off and gently took my hand. I felt not the softness of a well-maintained hand, but the hard calluses formed from rigorous training.
As I looked at her in confusion, she maintained her beaming smile and spoke.
"Something like this, for example?"
"What are you... Whoa!"
Whoosh!
I couldn't help but let out a shrill scream as my body's balance was suddenly jerked upward.
Because...
"W-W-What is this...! Put me down, quickly!!"
"Why? It's just a minor trick to me."
"My heart is going to stop, so hurry up!!"
Cecile had used magic to launch me into the sky. She was also gliding through the air using magic.
Cecile burst into boisterous laughter, seemingly finding the sight of me flailing my limbs in the blue sky hilarious.
"Ahahaha! Isaac, do you have any idea what you look like right now?"
"I don't care, just please put me down!"
"I don't want to. You're cute, so let's stay like this for a bit."
"Noona!!"
In the end, I spent thirty minutes flying through the sky.
*
After parting with Isaac, Arwen wandered around looking at the exhibits. In her hand was the strawberry candy Isaac had bought for her.
She had already eaten two, so only three were left, but that was enough for Arwen. She munched on the candy, which was both sweet and tart.
The sweetness of the syrup and the tartness of the strawberry spread through her mouth, bringing a sense of happiness.
"Your Majesty. Are you really going to leave it at that?"
While Arwen was munching on the candy, someone asked in a dissatisfied voice from beside her.
The speaker was currently invisible, so no one could see her, but it was Rain, the Dark Elf who had accompanied Arwen.
She was also the one responsible for the chilling aura that had made Isaac cold the moment Cecile detected her presence earlier.
"Is there anything we can do by stepping in? We came here to observe, not to fight."
"But... Your Majesty knows as well. The aura coming from that Demon right now is extremely dangerous."
"..."
Arwen didn't reply to Rain's explanation. She simply pictured Cecile in her mind.
As Rain said, the aura currently emanating from Cecile was extremely dangerous. Normally, Demons were not much different from Humans, but the story changed in certain situations.
The most prominent example was when they were on the verge of demonization. If they experienced a horrific event and couldn't suppress emotions like anger or sadness, the concentration of black mana within them would thicken.
This was something that could be felt regardless of race, but Elves, who were the polar opposites of Demons, could detect it even more precisely.
And the concentration of black mana currently coming from Cecile, while not quite at the level of a true devil, was at a somewhat dangerous level. It was something to be wary of.
"...I am aware of that. It is likely her Dark Cycle. Still, she seems to have strong patience, so it is not our concern."
"If you say so, Your Majesty... Then what about that red-haired boy?"
"Isaac..."
Arwen recalled Isaac's face. A human child who liked books just as she did and had shown her kindness.
His rare red hair and golden eyes made his face linger in her mind. To her, who rarely found anyone she could truly talk to, it had been a refreshing experience.
But for such a human to have a connection with the Princess of Helium...
Arwen had also realized that Cecile was the Princess of Helium. And Cecile seemed to have a rough idea of who she was as well.
It was only because of Isaac that she hadn't revealed her title; there was no need to complicate the situation unnecessarily.
Arwen pondered the relationship between the two before glancing toward Rain. Rain was still waiting for her answer.
"...Isaac seems to be just an ordinary human. You felt it too, didn't you? He can manipulate mana, but that is all. He is nothing more than a very ordinary human."
"But seeing him associate with that Demon, he doesn't seem ordinary at all."
"There is no need for us to know every detail. The exhibition is what matters right now. And he is the human who bought you strawberry candy as well."
"...I understand."
Upon hearing Arwen's mild scolding, Rain pouted, indirectly showing her dissatisfaction.
Seeing that, Arwen couldn't help but sigh inwardly with worry.
I hope nothing happens... It's a good thing I took out some insurance.
The strange encounter ended there.