Episode 49
Cheshire shook her head at the thought.
She was about to live a life free from the Basilian family.
Yet here she was, meddling again.
“You don’t need to worry about the Black Forest. Once it’s cleared, it stays quiet for a while,” Belzeon said, explaining that Kierne had swept through it before coming to the capital.
Reassuring her that the Count took his responsibilities seriously, he furrowed his brow slightly.
Muttering under his breath, he added, “I ended up saying all sorts of things. You probably don’t even understand…”
The talk of demonic swords wasn’t exactly suited for a toddler either.
Rising from the chair, Belzeon propped his sword against the head of the bed.
“Let’s sleep.”
There was only one bed.
Cheshire lay side by side with Belzeon, sharing a pillow.
Hata slipped between them, claiming his spot.
He seemed jealous of their closeness.
As if he were a real puppy, Hata curled up into a ball and yawned widely.
“We’re leaving at dawn, so sleep early,” Belzeon said, turning to face Cheshire to share the plan, then muttering to himself, “…Do babies usually sleep early?”
Cheshire, unsure herself, just widened her eyes.
He soon pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in snugly.
She blinked, pretending to be sleepy.
Then she feigned falling asleep.
As her breathing evened out, a soft whisper reached her ears.
“Goodnight.”
The rustle of the blanket followed.
Despite his goodnight, Belzeon didn’t seem to sleep.
She felt his gaze on her face.
It lingered for a long time.
After a while, he murmured in an even softer voice, “…I wish you really were my little sister.”
Cheshire waited for more.
But nothing followed.
Peeking slightly, she saw a boy fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
He’d tried to stay alert but succumbed to exhaustion.
It was probably his first time doing something like this in his life—natural enough.
Cheshire watched him sleep.
Just as he’d watched her.
Today, he’d blown up the Basilian estate and fled with her, evading Kierne’s pursuit.
He’d pulled off an audacious feat.
A grown adult might not have dared, yet his sleeping face was still that of a young boy.
Watching him sleep, collapsed from exhaustion, a fleeting pang of pity crossed her mind.
*Maybe because he’s been looking out for me despite acting otherwise.*
She was quietly concerned for him.
Even after she left, Belzeon would have to continue living as a Basilian.
*I hope Kierne doesn’t scold him too much.*
As she worried, Hata’s closed eyes snapped open.
The jealous puppy narrowed his gaze and silently mimicked a *woof*.
Cheshire mirrored him, laughing soundlessly.
As she carefully reached to pet Hata, something happened.
“…!”
A purple circle appeared on the ceiling above the bed where Belzeon and Cheshire lay.
Intricate lines began weaving swiftly within the perfect, unbroken circle.
Startled, Hata blurted out in human speech, “Eek, a tracking spell!”
Cheshire frowned at the magical array.
Judging by its pure aura and the color of its magic, it wasn’t Kierne’s.
*But such a precise tracking spell…*
Only one person came to mind—a mage with vivid purple magic and exceptional skill.
Duke Evroyel.
She was one of the continent’s most renowned mages.
A hero who’d led the Evroyel Duchy to its most glorious era.
She was capable of such a spell.
*But why would Duke Evroyel…*
Was she casting it at Kierne’s request?
It made no sense for a duke to use her magic to track a runaway child.
Regardless, getting caught was not an option.
Already on the run from the Basilian family.
Cheshire decided to use her power without thinking of the consequences.
*Time to show the Duke what a fairy can do.*
Mages had never faced fairy magic.
Fairies were near extinct and hard to encounter.
Plus, their non-aggressive nature meant they rarely harmed others.
By design, fairies used their powers defensively.
But Cheshire was different.
Born with twisted powers, even her illusion realm warped into bizarre shapes.
Attacking others came naturally to her.
She threw off the blanket and stood on the bed.
First, she conjured a jasmine flower with a *pop* and placed it on Belzeon’s chest.
Infused with a light sleep spell, it would keep him asleep despite any commotion.
Then she summoned her power.
Colorful flowers bloomed at her feet.
Fluttering butterflies gathered in the air.
Reaching into the swarm, she pulled out an axe.
“Whoops.”
The axe, meant for Lichesia, was too heavy for toddler Cheshire.
She nearly toppled backward but barely balanced with the butterflies’ help.
“Ugh…”
With their aid, she hoisted the axe.
Glaring at the forming spell on the ceiling, she waited.
The moment the lines completed the array, she leapt.
Butterflies and flowers lent her wings.
Soaring lightly, she swung the axe down on the spell.
*Crash!*
The sound of magic shattering rang out.
The array broke into pieces.
Blinding fragments of light illuminated the room.
To protect Belzeon, the flowers and butterflies devoured every trace of the broken spell.
Hata, bouncing excitedly, swallowed some fragments too.
“Phew.”
Landing on the floor, Cheshire returned the axe to her illusion realm and exhaled.
She’d destroyed the tracking spell, but…
*We’ll get caught soon at this rate.*
She looked down at the sleeping Belzeon.
His plan had been solid.
But it was designed to evade only the Basilian family.
He hadn’t anticipated Kierne reaching out to a third party, not his underworld minions, for help.
*Neither did I.*
Somehow, he’d convinced Duke Evroyel to cast a spell.
If she got serious, they’d be caught in no time.
Hata trotted over, his tags jingling, and asked, “Do we need another plan?”
“Probably…”
“What if Hata goes back and sets the estate on fire again?”
The memory of Belzeon’s explosion must have impressed him.
Cheshire scolded him that it wasn’t an option.
*The best move is to recruit a third party as a shield.*
Someone Kierne couldn’t touch easily.
Someone with status and power like Duke Evroyel, and strength to match.
Someone who could protect Cheshire and Belzeon…
She slapped her forehead with a groan.
“Ugh…”
One person fit perfectly.
So perfectly it was almost uncanny.
But the thought alone filled her with dread.
The Inquisitor of the Holy Empire of Hilderd.
Hailon.
