The shadow trembled, releasing its grip around Eldrich’s neck from hearing Valencia’s father’s name. It glared at Eldrich one last time before fleeing from her body. Valencia’s eyes rolled back as she fainted.
Eldrich jolted, running to her side. He shook her.
“Miss Luvoise!”
Dark. Everywhere was pitch black.
Valencia could feel her eyes open, but she saw nothing. She clenched her fists as she turned around repeatedly to see anything.
“Where am I?” she asked, but her hands touched nothing. She panted—
GRAB.
A warmth. A light.
Valencia froze as she could see a faint light shining on her hand. Then the light grew.
Kael.
“Young Duke—?”
“Trust no one!” a distorted voice shouted in her ear.
Valencia suddenly opened her eyes—
She’s on the bed where Eldrich sat on his desk, flipping through pages.
“Where am I?” Valencia asked.
Eldrich looked at her and walked to her. He placed the back of his hand on her forehead.
“A fever… I thought you were past that phase already,” Eldrich claimed, checking the time on his wrist.
She glared at him, tossing his hand away. This lying wizard again?
“You still haven’t answered my questions—”
“Miss Luvoise, the more you use your power, the weaker you are… You haven’t properly trained yourself yet,” Eldrich explained, clicking his tongue.
Valencia’s brows furrowed as she pouted.
“Why do you care?”
“I care because… your father was a good friend of mine,” Eldrich finally admitted.
She clutched the blanket tightly, withholding her tears.
“Lies… you would have admitted that a long time ago!”
“How else would I have your late mother’s journal and your late father’s necklace, Miss Luvoise?”
“Because…” she paused, thinking of what to reply. “You stole it from them!”
Eldrich sighed in frustration. He raised his right hand up with three fingers out.
“I swore if I lie to Valencia Elyane Luvoise about everything I say today, the Goddess of Athesia strips me of my immortality and sends me as a sacrifice to close the Demon King’s gate.”
A tear pushed out of Valencia’s eye and fell as she stared at him.
“W-Why would you swear?”
“Right now, that entity that is attached to you is trying to make you trust people less… I have to swear in order to make you understand that I’m no enemy to you…” Eldrich declared. He leaned toward her and held her shoulders. “Miss Luvoise, you need to escape the kingdom… the Royal Palace is seeking you at every corner of the slums…”
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