CHAPTER 14: UNDERCURRENT

"Good morning my Lord."

Julian had already heard that countless times on the road as he followed Losiya.

The people in this domain didn’t seem to show any particular fear or reverence, or perhaps their feelings toward Losiya had long shifted from awe to heartfelt admiration.

Sensing Julian’s admiring gaze beside her, Losiya increasingly carried herself with a noble and elegant bearing, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword, a perfect smile gracing her face from start to finish.

"Tired?" Losiya suddenly stopped and asked after a while.

Julian shook his head, but the sweat clearly visible on his forehead betrayed his actual state.

To be honest, whether in his past life or now, his physical condition had always been weak. He still remembered that during school, running a 1000-meter test almost felt like a death sentence.

That experience had made him reserved and patient by nature. No matter how tired he was, he had learned to endure it without even a hint of complaint.

Besides, he understood Losiya’s intention — she wanted him to better familiarize himself with her territory, while also allowing her people to get to know him.

Walking side by side, Julian originally intended to lag a step behind, but Losiya refused to allow that and insisted on walking together. At some point, she even took his hand — and when he didn’t resist, she eventually entwined her fingers with his...

Suddenly, a cold, soothing energy flooded his body, sweeping away his fatigue entirely. Julian froze for a second, then realized this was the effect of Losiya’s holy mark.

He turned to look and met Losiya’s deep blue gaze. Those eyes that had always seemed dignified now felt gentle, almost like an ocean embracing him.

His heart stirred involuntarily. This unfamiliar feeling — he’d already tasted it several times in just the past two days.

Was his emotional defense really this fragile?

The thought left him inwardly a little embarrassed.

"Mm...?" Losiya, her fingers still interlocked with his, suddenly halted.

A carriage had stopped in front of them. But it wasn’t the type used for transporting goods — it was a noble’s private carriage, lavishly adorned, intricately built, pulled by strong, fierce-looking horses.

When she saw the family crest, Losiya suddenly frowned, her expression filled with doubt.

Julian looked over as well and could roughly make out an emblem of a mighty eagle.

Losiya silently pulled Julian along to a corner just outside the carriage’s line of sight. Her whole presence — her warmth and aura — began to fade.

Julian did the same. At that moment, it was as if their very existence had almost disappeared.

They happened to hear voices from the carriage.

"So, you agree?"

Julian couldn’t say why, but the voice sounded strangely familiar to him — full of sarcasm and mockery.

"Please... I beg you..."

Clearly a girl’s voice, weak and filled with pain, pleading desperately.

"Don’t be anxious, I’ll give it to you right now..."

The earlier voice retrieved something — then there was a sound of something dropping to the ground.

"Ah, ah..."

A dull thud. Someone had collapsed. Julian’s eyes widened.

As licking sounds became increasingly audible, Losiya’s expression grew darker.

"Good doggy, lick it clean."

The woman laughed gleefully, then seemed to toss something.

"Get lost. Or else you’ll dirty my carriage."

"Thank you, thank you..."

The girl’s voice trembled as she spoke, then she staggered and stumbled off the carriage.

"If you forget what just happened, don’t even think of coming to me again. Once Losiya finds out you’re acting strange, she’ll personally hang you alive."

The woman had directly called out Losiya’s name — no doubt there was something being hidden from her, and it definitely wasn’t anything good.

After the carriage departed, Losiya led Julian out from their hiding spot. Her eyes, still glowing blue due to the lingering power of the holy mark, now looked like a storm looming over the sea — waves ready to crash at any moment.

She kept her gaze on the departing carriage... and the small, distant figure on the horizon.

Her body remained cold, but now her heart felt even colder. She had always treated people sincerely — she never imagined she’d face betrayal like this.

"Those two were..."

Losiya clearly recognized the carriage’s owner. She also seemed to know the girl.

"Let’s talk while we walk."

Her mood visibly soured, she pulled Julian along again.

After a while, Losiya suddenly asked,

"Do you still remember the woman who kept raising the price that day to try to buy you?"

"If I’m not mistaken, you told me her name was Tania Desmond, a count’s daughter," Julian recalled.

"Right. A count’s daughter... and she dares to lay her hands on me?"

Losiya’s voice turned cold — the last few words practically laced with mocking laughter.

But it wasn’t amusement — it was pure scorn.

"You seemed to recognize that girl too."

"Her name is Enie. She’s a maid from the estate."

Losiya gripped her sword hilt tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"I don’t recall much about her."

"Someone in her family passed away recently, so I granted her leave to handle things."

To be fair, as a lord, Losiya had been compassionate and reasonable — only to find herself caught up in this.

"She seemed like she was under the influence of something..."

Julian tried to reason, urging Losiya to stay calm.

That girl’s reaction resembled addicts he’d seen in his previous life. Could such drugs exist in this world too?

He knew how terrifying that kind of thing was — destroying your body while making you addicted, ultimately reducing you to a hollow shell.

"Let’s go back."

Losiya finally spoke after a long silence, clearly calmed a little by Julian’s words.

Julian’s brow furrowed slightly, showing a hint of pain.

Wait...

In that moment, Losiya let go of his hand, and when she looked at his wrist, it was completely red — the marks looked like they’d been made by chains.

"Why... why didn’t you tell me...?"

Her voice carried a note of blame, but her expression was full of self-reproach.

She hadn’t realized, in her rage, how much force she was using. Julian was still just a normal person — how could he withstand her grip?

"It’s nothing." Julian smiled gently.

"My skin’s just sensitive. Even a little pressure leaves red marks."

But those weren’t just red marks... Looking at the bluish bruises, Losiya released a bit of her magic to dissolve the blood clots before letting out a breath of relief.

The more she thought about it, the more useless she felt. In her anger, she should’ve gone to destroy that carriage — instead, she’d vented on the one person who truly cared about her. How weak and pathetic...

"Sigh..." Julian sighed as well. It seemed like he had to be the one to help her bounce back again.

"I really wasn’t lying earlier," he leaned close to her ear and repeated seriously."

My body really bruises easily. Very soon... you’ll see for yourself."

Losiya caught the implication in his words. Her eyes widened, and the blue magical glow faded immediately. She stared at Julian in a daze.