I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 63
Did you get hooked and started binge reading too fast? IJWTAD has advance chapters now available on ko-fi! Check it out!
There was nothing Rosaline could tell him.
It was true that the original “Yeshion” had been candid with him. But most of what he shared had been personal musings, never touching on matters that could lead to trouble or hinting at dealings in the shadows.
In the end, Yeshion decided to ask Eldis.
Eldis, who had gone after the intruder with the guards, had successfully captured him.
The man had indeed been prowling the temple for days, searching for Yeshion and encountering several priests along the way.
“The intruder was here because of the recent incident with the lethal poison. If he mentioned the ‘Red Rose’ or ‘White Powder,’ then it’s them.”
“…‘Them’?”
“The faction attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince. Nobles aligned against the Emperor. The intruder took poison to kill himself upon capture, so we couldn’t glean much more.”
Eldis explained, his tone calm as though it were all expected.
Yeshion recounted his conversation with Rosaline to Eldis, pleading for clarity.
He begged Eldis to tell him everything.
To reveal what he had done.
To help him confront the deeds of his past instead of avoiding them. Eldis’s response was unexpected.
“I understand your intent. I’ll tell you. But not yet.”
“Ah…”
“It’s not a matter of timing but of scope. As you might guess, the things you’ve done are… numerous.”
Compiling everything Eldis had learned would take considerable time.
Meanwhile, the temple was overwhelmed with requests, and their upcoming visit to the Duke of Mishemol’s territory loomed close.
Eldis simply didn’t have the capacity to delve into Yeshion’s past at that moment.
“Once we return from the Duke’s estate, I should have more time to spare. I’ll sort through the information and tell you what I can then. Until that time, can you wait?”
“…Understood.”
If Eldis didn’t share, Yeshion would have to ask Adelio.
But Adelio’s knowledge was bound to be limited. Their interactions began in earnest only after the underground prison encounter, while Eldis had known the original “Yeshion” far longer.
If what he wanted was more reliable source of clear and precise information, it was clear that he had to go to Eldis.
‘Besides, if he learns I was part of a group planning his assassination…’
He would undoubtedly look at Yeshion with deep betrayal.
As Yeshion organized his thoughts about the path ahead, Eldis smiled. The meaning of that smile was unclear, prompting Yeshion to silently stare. Eldis broke the silence.
“My apologies. It’s just… seeing you choose to confront things instead of running feels unfamiliar. Yet it’s also something I’ve longed to see.”
“Ah…”
“Your transformation is heartening, Yeshion.”
As he spoke, Eldis reached out, gently ruffling Yeshion’s hair like one might with a child.
The warmth of his touch left Yeshion feeling conflicted.
It felt as though Eldis’s words were directed not at the original “Yeshion” but at the soul now inhabiting his body.
Yeshion’s gaze wavered before he shyly averted his eyes.
Eldis withdrew his hand and continued.
“Let’s take care of immediate matters first. I believe it’s time to move you to a new room. It’s been put off for too long, and with the window in your current room broken, it’s no longer suitable.”
With a gentle smile, Eldis’s decision relocated Yeshion to a room closer to his own.
According to Rosaline, high-ranking priests typically resided in rooms within the main building, not the communal living quarters. Since the original “Yeshion” wasn’t expected to rise to that rank, Eldis had never moved him before.
Lying on the soft bed in his new room, Yeshion shifted uncomfortably. The plush mattress was unfamiliar.
“Is this… the right decision…?”
His muttered words were tinged with a sigh.
Deciding to face the original “Yeshion’s” actions had been a spur-of-the-moment choice driven by fear. But no matter how he looked at it, there didn’t seem to be a better option.
“I had planned to escape on the way to the Duke’s estate…”
During their stay in Mishemol, both Eldis and Rosaline would keep a close eye on him. But on the return trip, they would likely be exhausted and less vigilant.
If, as in the original story, Rosaline were gravely injured, all attention would undoubtedly shift to her, creating a perfect opportunity for Yeshion to slip away.
“They say you can’t predict life’s twists.”
He murmured while absentmindedly toying with his hair. Eldis’s warmth seemed to linger there.
