"Why is he laughing like that? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Josselyn frowned, looking at Howarth standing in front of her.
Howarth glanced at her, but did not answer right away. Instead, he stepped back, positioning himself very close to her.
"You never stop surprising me, Josselyn," he whispered, quiet enough that only the two of them could hear.
Josselyn averted her gaze, staring straight ahead as if she did not care.
"What do you mean?"
Howarth smiled faintly. His gaze dropped for a moment, then rose again to meet her eyes.
"A few hours ago, you left me just like that," he continued casually, as if discussing something trivial. "And now you wake up, not to apologize, but to stir up trouble in front of an entire village."
He leaned in slightly.
"I'm starting to understand why Killian is so interested in you."
Josselyn fell silent. Her brow creased as she processed his words.
"Left?" she repeated softly.
She tried to remember, pulling her thoughts back. But the only thing that surfaced was Kael. A brief conversation with him. A sense of exhaustion.
Then, nothing.
There was nothing after that.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," she finally said, her voice still very low.
Howarth raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I don't remember," Josselyn continued. "After I spoke with Kael, it's blank. Maybe I fell asleep."
Howarth did not react immediately.
But from the corner of her eye, Josselyn sensed something shift in his gaze. Sharper. More probing.
She wanted to ask more, but suddenly a voice broke through her thoughts.
"Then we'll see tomorrow!"
A loud voice from one of the villagers cut in. All attention turned toward the crowd.
The man who had been provoking them stood at the front, his face still flushed.
"We'll see whether you can truly keep that promise."
"Yes! Prove it first!"
"If not, leave!"
Other voices joined in.
Village Chief Halvern raised a hand. "Enough. Everything is clear. We will continue tomorrow morning."
Some villagers continued to grumble, but slowly they began to disperse. Footsteps faded. Torches crackled.
And finally, silence.
Josselyn exhaled softly. She turned, noticing Sebastian standing there, dressed in a satin nightshirt, the bandage on his shoulder slightly visible through the open buttons.
She immediately walked over to him.
"How is your condition?" she asked without preamble.
Sebastian lifted his gaze. "Better."
"Are you sure?"
"I can stand here for quite a while," Sebastian replied lightly, "and I don't feel like I'm about to die."
Josselyn let out a breath of relief.
"That means the transfer worked…" she murmured, though her voice trembled. She doubted her own words.
"The ability you used earlier. That wasn't mine."
Kael's voice echoed in her mind.
"And it's not something I can lend."
"I don't understand."
"It's not that you don't understand. You're just not ready to accept it."
Josselyn took a deep breath. 'Does that mean… that power is mine?'
"Seems like it."
Josselyn flinched, startled. For a moment she thought Sebastian had answered her thoughts.
"I mean…"
Sebastian looked at her more seriously.
"Thank you. Because of your help transferring energy from Kael, I was saved."
"Oh." Josselyn lowered her head briefly, her face flushing in embarrassment as she realized her mistake.
"You're exaggerating, sir. I should have checked on you right away after that," she said softly. "But I… fell asleep."
Howarth, who had been quietly listening, let out a soft chuckle from the side.
"Exhausted, huh?"
Josselyn turned to him.
"What else would it be?"
"What exactly did you do to end up that exhausted?" Howarth continued casually, though there was a clear edge of provocation.
Josselyn fell silent. She tried to remember again. But it was the same.
Blank.
"I…" She shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Not sure?"
"I only remember talking to Kael," Josselyn said. "I wanted to go with him to pick you up. But he told me to rest."
She gave a small shrug. "Maybe I looked very tired."
Howarth watched her in silence.
"You really don't remember anything after that?" His tone shifted, lower and more serious.
Josselyn turned toward him. "What exactly happened…"
She stopped. Her breath hitched. Something stirred. A pulse.
Sharp. Sudden.
And strangely, there was a faint ache low in her body.
She froze. Her hands clenched instinctively.
"Are you alright?" Sebastian asked.
"I…"
Josselyn did not answer right away. Suddenly, fragments flooded her mind.
A room.
The scent of herbs.
And Yorick.
An intense gaze.
A restrained gasp.
Josselyn stiffened.
'No…'
She swallowed.
:Don't tell me…:
She stepped back.
"I… I need to go inside for a moment," she said quickly.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried away.
She entered the house and went straight to her room.
The moment the door closed, she headed for the washroom. Her hands trembled slightly. She nearly stumbled over her own steps as she went inside.
"Calm down…"
She inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
"Calm down…"
Slowly, she touched her own body.
And froze.
That sensation. Sticky. Warm.
Josselyn jerked her hand back, her breath catching.
"…What is this?"
She stared at her hand. A trace of clear fluid clung to her fingertips.
Then she looked down. Panic began to rise.
"Damn it… what happened last night?"
She tried to remember. Forced her mind to work.
But found nothing.
Only sensations. Fragments of emotion. No clear images. No sequence. No answers.
A knock sounded on the door.
Josselyn startled.
"Josselyn."
Howarth's voice came from outside.
"Wait… does Howarth know something? Could it be…" Josselyn covered her face with both hands. "No way. That's impossible."
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
Josselyn closed her eyes briefly. Then she walked out of the washroom and toward the door.
She took a deep breath. Then opened it.
Howarth stood there, smiling casually.
"What is it…"
She did not finish her sentence. Howarth suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Sir…"
Her body was pulled back into the room. The door shut.
And in one swift motion, Howarth pinned her against the wall.
Josselyn froze. Her breath caught.
"Sir… what are you doing?!"
"Your acting is very convincing," Howarth said softly.
Josselyn stared at him, confused. "What?"
"In front of everyone," the silver-haired man continued. "Including my brother."
Josselyn frowned.
"I don't understand…"
"You're still acting now?"
Howarth's gaze was sharp. Piercing.
"It's just the two of us here," he went on quietly. "We can continue what was interrupted earlier."
Josselyn stiffened completely.
'What is this man talking about…'
The next second, she pushed against his chest.
"Have you lost your mind?!" she snapped, no longer able to restrain her voice.
Howarth did not move.
Josselyn pushed again, harder.
"Let me go! I don't understand what you mean, and I don't like where this is going."
Her jaw tightened as she glared at him.
Something shifted in Howarth's eyes.
"You don't understand?" he repeated softly.
"Yes!" Josselyn shot back. "And stop behaving like this!"
Her breathing was uneven.
"This is inappropriate. You are a noble. Act like one."
"You didn't seem to mind a few hours ago," Howarth cut in.
The words silenced her.
'Did I really… with him?' Josselyn bit her lip hard.
"Enough!"
She shoved him again.
"Whatever you think happened, I don't remember it."
Her gaze was firm.
Howarth looked at her for a long moment, as if searching for something. Then, slowly, he stepped back.
The distance between them opened again. Faintly, Josselyn noticed something had changed in his expression.
Barely visible. But it was there.
"You really don't remember…" he murmured.
Josselyn heard it, but chose not to respond.
Howarth exhaled quietly.
Then, as usual, his relaxed smile returned, covering everything.
"Get some rest."
He turned halfway and walked toward the door, then stopped.
"You don't know what you're going to face tomorrow."
His tone was light.
But Josselyn knew the meaning was not. She stared at his back.
"What about you?" she asked suddenly.
Howarth glanced over his shoulder. "What about me?"
"About the victim from a few years ago. You seemed like you knew something."
Howarth smiled faintly.
"I always know something."
Then he opened the door and left.
Leaving Josselyn alone.
"What exactly does he know?"
Josselyn stared at the closed door.
"And that expression… did I really lose control again?"