Nighttime Encounters - Chapter 41
It was still February, so the sun was already low in the sky despite the early afternoon. The sunset filtered through the glass windows of Kantaea’s infirmary. The reddish hues painted across the room accentuated Kaiden’s face as he sat on the chair next to the bed.
With a weary sigh, Kaien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. Even in the midst of his strained posture, the deep emerald eyes were fixed on Rosiana, lying on the bed. The sunset’s reddish glow accentuated her forehead, delicate nose, and small closed lips. From her slender neck to the connecting jawline, Kaiden studied the red glow of the sunset on her face.
In the shifting light, she didn’t move when she should have. It seemed faster to wait for a statue to wake up.
Judging the time by the tilt of the sun, Kaiden let out a frustrated breath.
“What am I supposed to do?”
Clearing his throat, Kaiden pressed a hand to her forehead. Would she even open her eyes?
Unable to bear the anxiety, Kaiden slowly closed his eyes.
“Why would I make such a mistake?”
It was a quiet afternoon when Kaiden entered the Kantaea admissions office, and at that moment, a strangely familiar voice echoed in his ears. It was as clear and crystalline as a bird’s chirp, and he found himself involuntarily turning his head to the direction of that sound.
Kaiden’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the voice. What was she doing here? It was the woman he rescued from those thugs, who showed gratitude by bringing him food.
Why would she be here? The woman hadn’t noticed Kaiden’s arrival yet, and was talking to an admissions clerk.
“Rosiana Delconda.”
“Delconda? If it’s Delconda…”
The eerie intuition triggered by the name Delconda made Kaiden hold his breath. When he asked for her name at the guard headquarters, the woman had only provided the name Rosiana. At that time, it was just a passing piece of information.
Why would she only give me her first name? And why hide such a remarkable surname as Delconda?
An uncomfortable curiosity filled his eyes as he focused on their conversation.movement.
“I don’t want to enroll.”
It was an unconventional statement. To not desire admission to a school everyone aspired to attend. Trying to understand this inexplicable girl, Kaiden suddenly remembered the maid he had shoved against the wardrobe.
A figure that seemed to fit snugly into his arms, a delicate frame, and a body that he had once held close in a drunken haze. The memories, previously blurred by alcohol, sharpened, painting vivid colors on the hazy dreams. Violet hair ties and violet eyes, the servant girl’s back resembling Rosiana, and a clear voice that tickled the heart.
Could it be Trinity? Suspicions, once left dormant with no evidence or logical reason, resurfaced—if she were Trinity, if she hid the Delconda surname to conceal her identity as a mage, refusing admission to Kantaea to avoid exposure.
Once he started to doubt, it grew uncontrollably. The lack of evidence and logic didn’t matter anymore. Simply changing his perspective on her led to an overwhelming surge of anger.
Could it be that she pretended to be grateful for being rescued from the hoodlums and making him food? Perhaps she mixed something into the food? He seemed to get drunk unusually quickly that time.
When Trinity, who had thoroughly mocked him and disappeared, was projected onto the woman’s form, Kaiden could no longer stand by and watch.
“Why don’t you want to enroll in Kantaea?”
Anger was all that remained in Kaiden’s mind as reason evaporated. If she were Trinity, she would avoid this moment at all costs. If she were truly Trinity, she would likely get angry and confront him. The Trinity he knew as a cunning villain couldn’t endure being treated unfairly.
So, he relentlessly pressed the girl, convinced that his suspicions were correct. Her body trembled violently, swaying, but he didn’t stop, pushing her to the brink.
However, the moment the warmth from his hand touched her forehead, his mind froze. That’s right. She was this kind of woman. Even when surrounded by rogues, she didn’t fight back. Even now, she was crying, unable to escape.
Perhaps he had misjudged her. As the realization dawned on him, the anger that had boiled up quickly dissipated without a place to go. Kaiden quickly withdrew his magic, attempting to salvage the situation. However, Rosiana had already collapsed from the shock of the collision.
“What am I supposed to do?”
