PMEVBO 79

Iser felt that the Pope’s attitude toward Lucariel was strange in some indefinable way.

Lucariel had attempted to escape for first time in six years. A few days after that incident, the Pope traveled all the way down to Hell to grant Lucariel an audience. Iser heard that this was the first meeting since Lucariel’s imprisonment.

‘And now is the second one.’

As soon as the report arrived that Lucariel had suddenly lost consciousness, the Pope came down to the reception room. He gave Lucariel the bed located on one side of the room and called a physician to examine him. He didn’t leave his seat even while he tirelessly signed a mountain of documents.

But that was all. The Pope didn’t spare a single glance toward the tapestry where Lucariel lay.

Plop

The last drop of the medicine fell. Iser removed the needle fixed to Lucariel’s back of the hand.

The Pope remembered even a new guard’s name just because he was in charge of Lucariel’s medicine. He likely knew exactly how long the administration would take as well. Iser gently held Lucariel’s hand and channeled his energy into him.

‘I need another excuse to stay here longer…’

Fortunately, he quickly found an excuse. And it came from someone else.

A gentle voice came from behind the tapestry.

“Eve, if it’s alright, won’t you come here and have a cup of tea?”

Iser had no reason to refuse.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Iser sat upright in the seat across from the Pope. The Pope pushed the documents spread on the table to one side and began to brew tea. It was after he drank a few sips of the tea the Pope personally brewed and handed to him.

——————【 Report 】——————

‘Weapon of Order’

Restoration Complete

(2/7)

——————————————————

Soon after, the tapestry parted and Lucariel walked out. His movements were so vigorous that it was hard to believe he was the person who had just been unconscious.

‘That’s a relief.’

Lucariel’s gaze landed on Iser and the Pope, who sat facing each other with teacups between them. Lucariel flinched and stopped in his tracks.

At that moment, the Pope set down his teacup and wore a smile.

“Our Lulu is awake.”

His voice was soft and warm, but his eyes still didn’t look at Lucariel. Lucariel frowned and spoke.

“…Why are you here again?”

It was a cold voice he had never used with Iser. The Pope smiled even more deeply, he seemed used to it.

“I came to see you. How could I not visit when I heard you suddenly collapsed?”

“Ha.”

Lucariel let out a hollow laugh, and his face contorted. Then his eyes met Iser’s. He looked even more surprised than Iser and immediately smoothed his expression. He turned his head and avoided Iser’s gaze. Lucariel let out a long sigh, swept his hair back, and spoke in a noticeably softened tone.

“…Then haven’t you seen everything? Leave now.”

“How can I do that when I’ve only just welcomed a guest?”

The Pope smiled brightly and looked at Iser. Lucariel, who stood behind the Pope, also turned his gaze toward Iser.

“Don’t be like that. Sit down and have a cup of tea too. Hmm?”

“…Just one cup.”

This time, he didn’t avoid Iser’s gaze and whispered silently.

‘I’m sorry. I’ll finish this quickly.’

He seemed to feel guilty about the situation that forced Iser to sit in this spot, even though there was no need for it.

Lucariel walked over with long strides and flopped down next to Iser. Then he held out the medical equipment he had in his hand.

“…This.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Iser took the equipment and placed it on the sofa.

As soon as Lucariel sat down, he tilted the pot and poured tea into an extra cup. His determination to do only [unauthorized copy]what he must and leave this place quickly was evident. There was no way the Pope missed that. Nevertheless, he didn’t make any comment.

Iser noticed where the Pope’s gaze landed. It was Lucariel’s hand, which was covered in bite marks.

“The physician said there’s nothing wrong with your body. Why did you suddenly lost consciousness?”

At the Pope’s question, Lucariel stopped just as he was about to bring the teacup to his lips. After a moment, he spoke while he fidgeted with the cup.

“…I haven’t slept at all lately. I didn’t lose consciousness; I just fell asleep.”

“In the bathroom?”

“….”

“Well, even when you were young, you used to fall asleep in strange places if you let your guard down.”

At that moment, Lucariel’s breathing grew ragged. Veins popped out on the back of his hand that held the teacup. Lucariel bit his lip, closed his eyes for a moment, and then gulped down the tea as if he were drinking poison.

“Cough…!”

Lucariel suddenly started to cough. Iser almost patted his back without thinking.

The Pope silently poured water into a glass and handed it over. Lucariel snatched the ​Read on​glass and gulped the water down. He wiped his mouth with his prison uniform’s sleeve and glared at the Pope.

“…Did you brew this yourself?”

The Pope nodded with a smile.

“How did you know?”

“How could I not… How could I not know when it tastes like this?”

Lucariel buried his face in his palm and let out a sigh.

“Please, I’m begging you… Unless you’re trying to kill someone, don’t get your hands wet and just live a precious life.”

“I even got the temperature right this time. That’s strange.”

The Pope tilted his head as he opened the pot’s lid. Lucariel watched the Pope’s behavior in disbelief.

“This time? Does that mean there’s a next time?”

Just then, the Pope’s gaze turned toward Iser, who had been quietly listening to the conversation.

“But Eve seemed fine with it. He drank it well without any trouble.”

“…What?”

Lucariel checked Iser’s half-empty cup and immediately scanned Iser’s face. Even under the bright light, his silver eyes looked particularly sunken. Iser was certain that Lucariel had realized his secret.

‘…I didn’t want him to find out this way.’

Iser was born with a dull sense of taste. He didn’t feel much difference regardless of what he ate or drank. Since he didn’t think it was such an important matter at first, he hadn’t bothered to tell Lucariel. But he realized too late that his unintentional silence could hurt him.

The fact that he had asked someone who couldn’t taste for their opinion on the flavor, Lucariel was the type of person who would feel guilty over that single thing.

Lucariel silently moved the teacup away from Iser.

“…Can’t you tell? He’s just forcing himself to act fine.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m sorry, Eve.”

Lucariel didn’t give Iser a chance to speak and replied instead.

“If you’re sorry… stop bothering people and end this meeting.”

“Alright, let’s do that. You may go now.”

The Pope easily accepted Lucariel’s suggestion. As the Pope smiled softly and brought the teacup to his lips, Lucariel grabbed the Pope’s wrist. He went rigid as if he were surprised by his own actions, then let out a long sigh and spoke lowly.

“…Why do you keep drinking something that doesn’t even taste good?”

He snatched the teacup from the Pope, set it on the table, and went straight to the wall. Lucariel took out a tea set displayed in the cabinet and began to brew tea. His movements were as skillful as when he had brewed peppermint tea for Iser at the hideout.

The smile that had been on the Pope’s face the entire time finally vanished. His expression went blank as he quietly watched Lucariel’s actions. Soon, tea with a fragrant scent was placed in front of the Pope.

“…If you want to drink tea, ask someone else. Don’t do it yourself.”

His tone and expression were grumpy. Yet, to Iser, it felt sad for some reason.

Iser quietly checked Lucariel’s complexion. However, Lucariel turned his head away to avoid his gaze and grabbed Iser’s hand. Usually, when Lucariel touched Iser, he was as careful as if he were touching a newborn animal. Now, he tightly held Iser’s hand.

Lucariel whispered softly as he put the talicord’s handle into Iser’s hand.

“…Let’s go.”

Iser had no choice but to nod.