From the moment Evie found him in the village, she was truly curious about this.

“I didn’t know that your past time and memories were so cheap and light.”

Evie continued to tease him, bordering on crossing the line. Of course, it was not at all unfamiliar to Zion.

“Think of it comfortably.”

Zion got up from his seat, as if he didn’t want to argue.

He seemed to want to leave at once, so Evie suddenly grabbed the hem of Zion’s passing garment.

Zion was quite taken aback.

This was already the fourth time. Evie Ariate had invaded his space on her own accord.

Isn’t she covering her mouth with her hand at the Mayanyah Tower, hiding behind Mrs. Marso, showing sudden interest in glasses?

Every time Evie did that, what Zion felt was similar to the embarrassment one feels when an unfamiliar cat suddenly leans its head on you.

Too light to dismiss, but too annoying to ignore.

When Zion eventually stopped and turned around, Evie reprimanded him in a firm voice.

“I didn’t say you could go.”

“Do I need permission?”

“Yes. Since you have done this and that without my permission so far, you must diligently ask for permission now.”

Doing this and that without permission; it’s a statement that seems deliberately misunderstandable.

In the midst of it, Evie’s expression was so confident, and Zion, on the contrary, lost his words.

Evie smiled even more broadly at the Count.

Based on what Evie Ariate had observed and cared for, the reason this young lamb wandered alone.

It was because there was no shepherd.

If Zion knew, he would sneer coldly, but Evie thought he looked like her younger self.

Once Evie was a child no one held, and now the Count is a person no one can hold.

Their positions are worlds apart, but amusingly, the result is the same.

Both are isolated and lonely.

So Evie decided to treat the Count with contempt.

That way, his high nose would be broken, and he would realize that he was a person, not a cloud.

Whether it’s wild horses or people, they all need a group.

“Don’t run away. I’ll protect you so you can live as you are now.”

Evie grabbed him and said again.

So Zion slowly began to wonder if this was a joke with him.

Evie chose expressions that seemed calculated to irritate him.

Irresponsible, burdensome, giving up, cheap, light, ask for permission, don’t run away, etc.

Plus the repeated ‘I will protect you.’

All were words Zion had neither heard nor needed to hear.

Stunned by the continual attacks, Zion asked coldly.

“Do you even have the ability?”

“Yes, I’m incompetent, so all I can do is threaten you, Count.”

But Evie Ariate struck back brilliantly.

And yet, when the Count looked like he was really going to get angry, she quickly changed her gaze and added.

“But Count, I believe that will is more important than ability.”

What is she going to say now…
Zion looked at her incredulously, but Evie ignored him as if she knew nothing.

Instead, she fiddled with the hem of Zion’s shirt that she was still holding and spoke.

“These past few days, I’ve been thinking about why Count Philip Morris is staying here of all places. Although he said he has a debt to you, it doesn’t seem likely that he would come to the house where that man lived just for that reason.”

Evie spoke like this, looking at Zion as if seeking an answer.

Zion unknowingly avoided her gaze. So Evie whispered more softly.

“I don’t know what it is, but I think the twostory house has special meaning to me as well as to Count Philip Morris. So I don’t want to leave it. It would feel too lonely. For the Count, and for the people of this town.”

Evie’s whispering was heartbreaking, and Zion’s feelings became more complicated.

He was not used to being so persistent.

Everything flew away when he brushed it off and became distant when he passed it by.

Children who didn’t know any better approaching and fawning over him was only possible when he wore his shallow teacher’s mask.

But Evie, knowing who he was, came without hesitation and skillfully broke through.

By doing so, she shook his stubbornness, causing him to struggle again and finally accept it.

To be honest, if he were to be especially frank for once in his life, Zion wanted to continue this life.

But he did not want to compromise to do so. His neverbroken pride utterly rejected it.

But then Evie named it running away, and the pride of the emperor stood at a new crossroads.

Leaving without concern for Evie’s wordplay became running away, and what he thought was compromise instead became unyielding will.

So now it didn’t matter which he chose. It was up to him to accept it.

But then, appealing to his emotions and pitifully clinging to him, Zion seemed likely to fall.

In fact, he was already halfway there.

Yet what kept him holding on was Evie Ariate’s disturbingly virtuous expression, trying her best.

Zion, knowing from experience that Evie was someone who would gleefully stab others in the back with a smile, strongly doubted her intentions.

Then he realized he could just ask and began to question.

“Is what you’re saying now sincere?”

“Mostly sincere.”

“Any other hidden intentions?”

“Of course, there are some.”

Well then.

A smile appeared on Zion’s face. It was a very terrifying sarcasm.

Evie, almost thinking that the count was about to relent, lowered her head in perplexity.

“Um, Count. There’s no need to come out like this right now….”

“So what is your hidden intention?”

Zion asked lightly.

He intended to confirm Evie Ariate’s hypocrisy and criticize her for rattling off goodsounding nonsense.

But what actually came out of Evie’s mouth was completely unexpected.

“I’m curious about your curse, Count.”

At that one word, Zion’s expression froze all at once.