It was a cave.
But it was definitely not just any ordinary cave made of stone.
The ceiling was covered with beautiful icicles that could easily be mistaken for crystal instead of ice.
Even in this weather, a small unfrozen stream flowed, and pieces of ice glittered like jewels on the cave walls.
It was a breath-taking landscape.
Rosa couldn’t hold back her awe and immediately said to Elef,
"It's beautiful.”
An ordinary person would have been pleased or proud of these compliments.
But Elef was different.
He was calm and bitter, and slowly opened his mouth,
"It's just a useless temple now.”
“...…What do you mean a temple?”
"This is a temple of truth. That is why, as you approach the center of Glaciers, the clearer the truth becomes.”
‘I see why magic is useless here.’
But that wasn’t the only reason she was confused.
As soon as she heard him, her face naturally frowned at the question that arose.
Perhaps he saw her expression, because Elef resumed his explanation.
It was kinder and more detailed than before.
"There are temples in each region. For example, in the capital city, Nota, there is the ‘First Temple,’ the ‘Temple of the Earth’ in Silva, the ‘Temple of Love’ in Terrian, and the ‘Temple of Truth’ here.”
The examples given were all areas ruled by different dukes.
‘So that means...….’
"Of course there's also the ‘Temple of Estella,’ it's located...….”
"Wait a moment!”
She stopped him.
There was a reason she interrupted this unhindered, fluid conversation.
‘Why is he helping me without any strings attached?’
It was like this last time.
Like that day when he gave her what she needed, saying that he had no use for it so he might as well give it to someone who did.
"Is there a reason to tell me all of this? How does it benefit you to help me...….”
"Well,”
Elef gave an unclear answer, as if he didn't know himself.
Then, he asked rather calmly,
"Do you need a reason to help others? I just try to live every day in a way I don't regret, unlike my ancestors.”
That answer struck a chord with her.
The blood of a priest who pursued purity and truth flowed within the body of this pure, snow-colored man in front of her.
"If you stay any longer, you might catch a cold, so let’s go now.”
Elef recommended leaving.
She nodded without hesitation, as she had begun to feel the chill.
They went back the way they came and returned to Elef’s small house.
They gathered in front of the fireplace as though they’d all agreed to convene in the coziest place.
It created an atmosphere where they could comfortably have a conversation.
In fact, in a way, it was closer to a one-sided barrage of questions from Rosa than a conversation.
"Then, do the other dukes know about the temples and our ancestors from the past…….”
It was a continuation of the interrupted conversation.
After going to the cave with Elef, she wondered if everyone except her knew about all of this.
This question had suddenly arisen in her mind.
But Elef shook his head firmly in response to her question.
"It is a truth that is only passed down to those who have inherited a dukedom as a form of penance for abandoning God. It is used as a measure to ensure that something like that never happens again.”
"I see…….”
She smiled bitterly.
Then she met Enoch's pale green eyes, which glowed subtly in the fireplace's light.
It was then that she realized, "Oh no!”
“I should have asked you this when no one else was around…….”
"That's all right. I don't mind much, as he seems to be the Duke's lover.”
She was momentarily embarrassed but quickly tried to deny that they were lovers.
"We’re not...….”
"Excuse me for a moment.”
The appearance of another guest cut her words short.
A woman outside suddenly knocked on the window.
After the interruption, he quickly got out of his seat and headed outside.
There was a moment of silence.
Rosa was speechless because she was embarrassed by the words that Elef had left behind, and Enoch was next to her silently smiling joyfully.
Finally, she opened her eyes and glared at the smiling Enoch.
She asked,
"What on earth is so funny that you’re laughing? What rude behavior in front of your employer.”
"You and I are lovers.”
Unlike the calm demeaner he maintained in front of Elef, Enoch curved his eyes.
Like a fox, he changed his posture.
Then, he let out a light breath and said lazily,
"Being your dog is fine, but...….”
He stopped talking and ran his index finger over the choker around his neck.
It was nothing but a gentle touch.
But that touch was so secretive and sincere that her face turned red when she saw him do it.
She averted her gaze.
"If we were to do it, it’d be human for me to be human, right? If I remain a dog...….”
Enoch kept talking as if it didn't matter if Rosa was looking at him or not.
It was a low, hoarse voice.
Perhaps that's why she could imagine his face even though she wasn’t looking at it.
"I won’t be able to touch you any more intimately."
"Ha.”
When Rosa heard that, she was burning with embarrassment, but she was also so dumbfounded that she laughed.
She turned her head and looked at him.
As expected, she could see Enoch's face hiding an obsessive beast behind a languid smile.
But his eyes gave him away.
Those pale green eyes, looking at her intently, as if to engrave every one of her hairs into them...….
Her lips kept getting dry.
"I can't believe this.”
But she, like Enoch, hid her true feelings and burst into laughter.
She stared at Enoch in a sarcastic manner, quirking her lips as much as she could.
She asked him back,
"Hmm, haven't you already touched me too much for a dog?”
"Hmm.”
Enoch tilted his head, as if he were contemplating for a moment.
Soon, he smiled brightly.
Everything that could be curved, whether it be his eyes or mouth, was curved and very bright.
"Yes, but I am the Duke’s loyal dog, so isn’t this level of compensation, okay?”
Enoch reached out to Rosa in an instant.
He slowly brushed the disheveled hair that had been covering her face behind her ears.
It occurred to her that the red fire in the fireplace made Enochs profile appear particularly shadowy.
Their eyes met.
In an instant, the strangely reddish-green eyes, perhaps so colored because of the fire, transformed into beautiful crescent moons.
And he playfully cried out,
"Woof.”
She must have been unknowingly nervous throughout her conversation with Enoch.
As soon as she heard that, she felt the tension suddenly disappear and a short breath escaped her mouth.
"Ha.”
However, what was more absurd was...….
"What are you doing now?”
"I'm acting cute towards the Duke for the first time in a long time.”
She felt Enoch's unexpected behavior was cute.
She shook her head.
Then she placed her hand on his black hair and stroked it roughly.
It was a kind of punishment.
By the time his black hair was becoming a mess.
Squeak.
They heard the door open, and the cold wind outside swept through the interior.
She quickly removed her hand from his head.
Then she looked up at the person coming inside through the open door.
Did he come back after talking about something serious? Unlike before he left, there was a deep furrow between his eyebrows.
He walked without any obstruction.
Then, without sitting, he stood in front of her and asked her something in a very serious voice.
"Would going out again be alright with you?”
‘Outside in the blizzard?’
She didn't want to go out at all unless it was urgent, but she was a guest who’d come uninvited.
Even if it was uncomfortable and she didn't want to do it, it was only polite that she comply with her host.
"Is something going on?”
She stood up.
Enoch naturally got up and handed her a coat in response to her actions.
"I need you to meet the lords. Someone who was traveling to trade for food outside of the territory brought me news about the Duke."
‘Well...….’
‘Enoch told me that he and I woke up two days apart.’
‘Naturally, Yura would have arrived at the Holy Kingdom during that time and would have announced my story as planned.’
Of course, she wouldn't have framed it in a positive light.
Having already heard Caligo's plan directly, Rosa had an idea of what was being said about her.
She firmly raised her head.
She showed no signs of panic or ignorance.
Such behavior is perfect for creating doubt.
"……Are you telling me to leave?”
‘I don't want to cause him trouble, but I can’t leave yet.’
She was calm on the outside, but She was running through various scenarios inside her head.
‘Should I secretly hide, ask for a few days, or tell them that a disaster will befall here even if I'm treated as the devil's servant?’
It was then.
While she was agonizing, Elef calmly answered,
"No.”
She saw strangely almond-shaped, gray pupils staring into her amethyst pupils.
[t/n: to clarify, Elef seems to have vertical/almond shaped pupils here.]
He made eye contact with her as he resumed speaking.
"I don't mean you should leave. Just go before the people and tell them your story.”
"What? But if they’ve heard about me, I'm sure the temple has already...….”
"That was from someone else's mouth, right? We want to hear from the you."