The sound of a waterfall falling from a low place, the surface of the water shimmering and swaying as it received the sunlight filtering through the branches

Though the sound of mountain birds could still not be heard, it was a scenery that brought peace to the mind just by looking at it.

‘They say that big lakes have waves like the sea… Is it true?’

It was the moment when Alicia, recalling the huge lake she had seen on the first day of her trip, took her gaze from afar and looked down at her feet.

A long, dark shadow overlapped the reflection of her figure on the water’s surface.

At first, Alicia thought it was just the reflection of a branch and didn’t think much of it, but the moment she realized that the shadow was moving, she felt all the hair on her body stand on end.

The shadow didn’t seem to have noticed yet that she had discovered it.

Reproaching herself for a moment for not bringing even the minimum equipment to protect herself, Alicia swallowed her dry saliva as she watched the shadow slowly moving towards her.

Should she jump into the lake? Or should she run out of the forest?

Judging from the shadow cast on the water and the way it moved, it must be a snake.

She had heard that the larger the snake, the more likely it is to choose the method of suffocating its prey using its body rather than venom.

Of course, it was very foolish to judge the presence of venom based on the size of the snake, but for now, she had to cling to that possibility.

‘And whether it has venom or not, if it bites, it’s over.’

Could it be that the reason why she couldn’t hear the sound of mountain birds was because of this?

Realizing the cause of that strangeness, Alicia moved her body very slowly so that the snake wouldn’t notice.

She was planning to keep her distance as much as possible, although she didn’t know how the snake hunted.

“What are you doing in a place like this?”

Alicia, who was trying to find a way to escape while maintaining the precarious balance that could break at any moment, was startled by the sudden voice and flinched.

Soon after, the sound of something being cut was heard.

Alicia turned her head to follow the sound and widened her eyes, taking a short breath.

She saw the head of the snake rolling on the floor with its mouth open, and the body of the snake hanging limply on a branch, dripping blood.

Was it because the head that was maintaining balance was cut off?

The body that was hanging on the branch soon fell to the ground with a thud.

“Was it a candidate for a pet? I don’t really want to recommend it though.”

Alicia, who was blankly staring at the snake whose head and body were separated and had passed away, slowly raised her head.

She finally saw Killian’s face, who was looking at her with a chilling expression as he put his sword back on his waist.

“Killian.”

“I’ll ask again. What are you doing in a place like this?”

“I, I was just looking around…”

“It must have been quite a spectacular sight, with the admission fee being your life.”

…Why is he so angry?

He tried to step on the snake’s head with his foot, but as if aware of Alicia staring at him, he put his foot down and kicked it far away with the tip of his foot, then approached her.

Alicia, who had been frozen in place just as she was admiring the scenery of the lake, couldn’t even think of getting up from her seat and looked up at Killian blankly as he approached her.

It felt strange to see Killian appear at the necessary moments and save her, just like yesterday.

“Did you drink this water?”

“Ah, no.”

At his words, Alicia realized that she was sitting in a posture that fully exposed her bare feet, and she was startled and gathered her toes.

According to the customs of Eregron, the only person a woman could show her bare feet to was her married husband.

In the case of an unmarried woman, she should be embarrassed to show her feet even to her family, but she exposed it in front of Killian…

Alicia, her face turning bright red, covered her bare feet with her hands and fidgeted, and Killian, who had been staring at her, let out a short sigh and turned around.

“I didn’t see anything, so put on your shoes first.”

“…Thank you.”

She roughly shook off the moisture from her wet feet and put on her shoes.

An unpleasant sensation remained, but it was more bearable than the embarrassment.

“Why is the duke here?”

“…Do you call that a question?”

He turned around and waited for Alicia to put on her shoes, then offered his hand to help her up.

Seeing him frowning as if it was absurd, Alicia cleared her throat.

Even she thought it was a nonsensical question.

“You must have come because of me. I’m sorry.”

“Is apologizing your hobby?”

“What?”

“I’m just saying it would be better to not cause accidents and not have to apologize in the first place.”

At his sarcasm, Alicia clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head deeply.

Even though it was something she really needed to do, that doesn’t mean it’s not a mistake.

She hoped that Killian, who was angry about this incident, wouldn’t tattle on her to either the emperor or the crown prince, or both…

‘He’s not the type of man to be so narrow-minded. If I behave well on the way back, it should be fine.’

Right?

It has to be…

Alicia slightly raised her head to check Killian’s face, but startled by his gaze staring at her, she quickly bowed her head again.

“Haa…”

“…”

“Let’s go back for now. I’ll hear your excuses later.”

“Yes.”

Alicia, who had committed a crime and answered meekly, moved her steps following behind Killian.

Realizing that she might get lost again if she kept walking while only looking at the ground, Alicia fixed her gaze on his back and diligently moved her feet to keep up with Killian, who was striding with his long legs.

Perhaps he heard her walking quickly?

Killian’s stride naturally narrowed to match Alicia’s pace.

Not noticing this, she felt that walking had suddenly become easier and leisurely observed her surroundings.

The beautiful scenery that she had missed while walking and only looking at the ground finally caught her eye.

“Huh?”

That’s when it happened.

Something glittering in the sunlight caught Alicia’s eye.

She wondered for a moment if it was a blade or a mirror reflecting the sunlight, but there was no way such a thing could be in this sparsely populated forest.

“Um… Killian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Can I go over there for a moment?”

“For what reason?”

“I think I saw something. If it’s bothersome, just wait here for a bit. I’ll just go check what it is and come right back.”

“I’ll go with you.”

He really doesn’t trust me at all.

Alicia realized this fact from his short answer.

His emerald eyes stared at her as if asking where the lie was this time, and it made her choke up, but Alicia, who had done wrong, couldn’t say anything and turned her body.

It seemed that what she saw was not a mistake, as she could easily find the glittering object.

Perhaps Killian had also spotted it while moving, as he didn’t say anything more and walked side by side with her.

“Ah…”

The place they arrived at after pushing through the undergrowth.

There, Alicia discovered the black crystal she had been searching for so much.

Protruding like a flowering plant rooted in the ground, it glittered as it received the light, yet was eerily dark.

“It’s a black crystal, right?”

“Yes, it might be the reason why the demons appeared.”

Killian, who had knelt on one knee in front of the black crystal to examine it closely, rummaged through the inside of his coat.

It seemed he was looking for something to carry it in.

“If this is okay…”

“Thank you.”

Alicia, who had searched her own coat and found a handkerchief, handed it to Killian.

Killian, who slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude while still kneeling, took out a dagger from his waist and carefully tapped the root part of the black crystal.

After a long time, a single black crystal fell off, and Killian wrapped it in the handkerchief Alicia had given him, then stood up and dusted off his knees.

“Let’s record the location so we can send someone later.”

Instead of answering, Alicia nodded her head and watched him about to leave the place immediately, hesitating for a moment.

If not now, there would be no chance to touch it, but would Killian allow it?

He was so cautious even when detaching a part of the black crystal…

But to move arbitrarily while he was watching intently, she was wary because of the accident she had caused.

“Why do you have that expression?”

Killian asked, reading the hesitation on Alicia’s face, who didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving the spot.

“I want to touch the black crystal once.”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s the first time I’ve seen it…”

“I remember you weren’t someone with such strong curiosity.”

She knew it was an unreasonable excuse, but she couldn’t honestly say that she was curious about what reaction would come back if she touched the black crystal herself.

Killian, who had been staring at Alicia with her lips tightly closed for a long time, let out a long sigh and shook his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“It could be dangerous for Your Highness.”

“You touched the black crystal too, Duke.”

“It was unavoidable for the purpose of collecting it.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Your Highness.”

“I’ll just touch it once.”

“Alicia, stop it.”

Seeing Killian stopping her actions in a stronger tone than usual, a strange sense of defiance arose in her.

Since when did he worry about her so much?

The mischief added to the defiance made her bold.

Taking advantage of being closer to the black crystal than Killian, Alicia turned her body and quickly reached out her hand.

Killian also reached out his hand as if to stop her movement, but Alicia’s hand touched the black crystal first.

The first thing she felt at her fingertips was firmness and coldness.

This was something that could be felt when touching ordinary crystals as well, so it wasn’t anything special.

But the next moment, a heat that seemed to burn her fingertips was felt.

Surprised, Alicia flinched, but her hand that had touched the black crystal was stuck as if glued and wouldn’t come off.

It was the moment when Killian tried to detach her hand with an urgent expression.

Someone’s dark and deep regret and obsession engulfed her body like a tidal wave.

Feeling something black and black calling her name, Alicia fainted on the spot.