Chapter 60
Chapter 60
“Who gave you permission to go to Belheim?”
Calix Krauvel frowned deeply and glared at Miron.
“Is there some reason I shouldn’t go to Belheim?”
Even under that fierce gaze, Miron asked with an unshaken smile.
“There are plenty of reasons.”
Calix Krauvel crossed his arms and continued.
“First of all, I don’t like impurities entering my territory. And I especially have no intention of letting someone whose intentions I can’t read step inside.”
“If you’re curious about the reason I wish to go to Belheim—”
“I’m not.”
Calix Krauvel cut him off and turned around.
“No matter what you say, I will never allow it. So don’t even think about entering Belheim. If you disobey my warning, you’ll be staking your life on it.”
Since he had actually beheaded an elf before, that threat was not mere bluster.
Perhaps Miron realized that as well, because he wrinkled the bridge of his nose slightly.
“How about this?”
Miron stepped closer and spoke in a voice quiet enough that only Calix could hear.
It clearly wasn’t a pleasant suggestion, because the lines on Calix Krauvel’s forehead deepened even further.
“You will also be able to obtain what you want, Your Grace.”
“…What if I don’t want it right now?”
“Then you may simply refuse my proposal.”
“….”
Apparently that wasn’t an option either.
After silently staring at Miron for a moment, Calix Krauvel suddenly turned toward me.
“What are you doing just standing there? Come here.”
Why was I suddenly being dragged into this?
I grumbled inwardly but quickly walked over to stand beside him.
Calix Krauvel grabbed my arm roughly and strode toward the portal.
“Right now—”
I was about to ask if we were leaving immediately, but before I could finish speaking, a brilliant light swallowed me.
When I opened my eyes again after instinctively squeezing them shut, we had already arrived in Belheim.
“It’s been a while since I used a magic portal.”
When I heard a voice that absolutely shouldn’t have been behind me, I turned around in shock.
“Mr. Miron?”
Did he come through with us? That man had literally said he would kill him if he came to Belheim.
“Mr. Miron will be staying in Belheim as well?”
Noah Roheim, who had arrived earlier, asked Calix Krauvel with visible confusion.
I expected Calix Krauvel to explode in anger for daring to ignore his warning.
But surprisingly, he said nothing.
He returned the luggage he had been holding to me and loosened the collar of his tightly fastened shirt.
“My mercy toward your proposal ends here.”
Then he turned to Miron and warned him.
“Don’t expect to be treated the same way you were in Nubiar. Stay out of trouble and manage yourself until the day you leave.”
“Don’t worry. I have at least that much conscience.”
“Yeah, right.”
Calix Krauvel snorted and turned away.
Miron simply shrugged and looked at me.
“Miss Aileen, would it be possible for me to stay at your house for a few days?”
“My house?”
At that moment, Calix Krauvel—who had been giving instructions to Noah Roheim—grabbed Miron’s shoulder firmly.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
He spoke the exact words I had been about to say.
“You told me to take care of myself while I’m here. The only human I know in Belheim is Miss Aileen, so I asked her. Is that wrong?”
Miron tilted his head as if he genuinely didn’t understand.
Calix Krauvel laughed incredulously, then snatched the luggage Miron was holding and handed it to the butler who had come to greet them.
“Now that I think about it, an elf wandering around the streets would attract too much attention. It would make the residents uncomfortable. Prepare the guest room in the main residence.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And don’t wander around causing trouble. Stay inside the castle.”
He warned Miron again.
“Thank you for being so considerate, Your Grace.”
Even after hearing that, Miron didn’t look offended at all.
Instead, he smiled brightly and thanked him.
I had noticed it earlier, but despite his gentle appearance, this elf clearly had quite the personality.
Calix Krauvel had threatened to make me work overtime and even on weekends once we returned to Belheim.
But surprisingly, he didn’t assign me any work at all.
Preparations for the summer monsoon had continued smoothly while I was away.
The drainage construction was nearly complete except for the outer district, and building repairs and triangular roof installations were progressing without issue.
I was a little worried whether they’d manage without me, but it looks like everything’s fine.
Then again, everyone in the Urban Development Department had worked there for at least two years.
And we had all prepared together for the autumn monsoon last year.
This level of work was well within their ability.
While I was inspecting the construction sites after a long absence, Miron appeared.
He was wearing a hood, as if trying to conceal the fact that he was an elf, so his face wasn’t clearly visible.
But the shining blond hair and the elf’s distinctive slender physique made him instantly recognizable.
He was even wearing the same clothes I had seen on the first day.
What is he doing here?
Was he sightseeing around the city?
Or did he have business with me?
If it was the latter, he would have approached when our eyes met.
But he simply left without saying anything.
So I didn’t think much about it.
But I encountered him again at the next construction site.
And again at the one after that.
This isn’t a coincidence.
He’s following me on purpose.
Considering he had already done that in Nubiar, I was even more certain.
“Why do you keep following me?”
I walked up to Miron and asked directly.
“I’m not following you. I just happened to see you while passing by—”
“If I hadn’t come here, you wouldn’t have come either, right?”
When I pressed him, Miron fell silent.
“Maybe things are different in the elf world, but in the human world, this is a crime.”
I crossed my arms and glared at him.
“And didn’t His Lordship tell you not to wander around outside? Is it really okay for you to be walking around like this?”
“He told me not to cause unnecessary trouble. As long as I don’t do that, it should be fine.”
“Following me around is causing trouble.”
When I pointed that out sharply, Miron tilted his head slightly.
“So are you going to report this to Archduke Krauvel?”
“I might, unless you properly explain why you’ve been following me.”
I absolutely hated the idea of being stuck with an annoying stalker.
Miron seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.
“I’ve been following you because there’s something I wanted to confirm.”
So he finally admitted it.
I had wondered whether humans and elves simply thought differently.
But it turned out this elf was just strange.
“What exactly do you want to confirm?”
“Your abilities, Miss Aileen.”
My abilities?
“I wanted to see for myself how impressive the person who solved the long-standing problems of both Belheim and Nubiar truly is.”
“So you want to confirm that because you want to ask me for a favor, right?”
Instead of answering, Miron smiled faintly.
That was essentially confirmation.
“You still don’t plan to tell me yet.”
“You’re quite perceptive.”
Another confirmation.
“I don’t know what you want to ask me, but isn’t it a bit much to be testing me like this when there’s no guarantee I’ll agree to help?”
“You will definitely agree.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because you’re a kind human who helps others even after being insulted.”
That wasn’t because I was kind.
It was because of that damned system.
But since I couldn’t say that, it only irritated me more that he seemed to think I was some pride-less fool.
“Hearing you say that makes me even less inclined to help.”
“I haven’t even made the request yet.”
“Exactly. Whatever it is, I feel like refusing already.”
I meant it sincerely, but perhaps it sounded like a joke.
Miron laughed out loud.
“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“What exactly is your relationship with Archduke Calix Krauvel?”
That question came completely out of nowhere.
“What do you mean what kind of relationship? He’s the lord, and I’m an administrator working under him.”
“Is that truly all?”
“It sounds like you think there’s something more between us.”
Once again, Miron answered with nothing but a smile.
“Honestly, I don’t know why you would think that, but there’s absolutely nothing between His Lordship and me.”
I sighed deeply and said it plainly.
“If anything, I want to quit my job and leave Belheim.”
Ah.
I shouldn’t have said that.
I quickly shut my mouth, but once spoken, words couldn’t be taken back.
“I see.”
Miron looked at me with a rather ominous smile.