I’m In Trouble Because The Darkened Heroes Are Obsessed With Me

After taking control of the banquet hall full of brainwashed nobles, Elsez and Astaire returned to the temple with Count Lort in custody.Normally, imperial nobility couldn’t be arrested without the emperor’s approval.But since this case involved the church and they had undeniable evidence and witnesses, Astaire took matters into his own hands.Once they arrived, Astaire and Lancelot took the Count to the underground prison inside the temple.Elsez, left alone outside, sat on a nearby bench, waiting.‘What a spectacle of a day.’Leaning back, she closed her eyes for a moment—then suddenly realized something.Reti had been oddly quiet this whole time.Absentmindedly fiddling with her brooch, she called out.“Reti, what are you doing?”“Resting. I’m tired.”“Tired? What did you even do?”“You were clinging to those two men the whole time. It was exhausting.”“…Clinging?”Okay, technically, not wrong.But the way he said it sounded so weird…Scratching her cheek in embarrassment, Elsez thought back to “those two men”—and immediately, the masked man came to mind.‘Who was he, anyway?’A royal?A mage?No, more than that…‘Why did he feel so familiar?’Just as Elsez was lost in thought, Astaire and Lancelot emerged from the underground prison.Astaire hadn’t noticed her yet and was giving Lancelot instructions.She watched them silently, waiting for their conversation to end.‘Astaire can make that kind of expression, huh?’His face was cold as he spoke—completely different from how he usually looked at her.Just like the man she had seen three years ago—killing without hesitation.Then, Lancelot subtly gestured toward her, and Astaire finally noticed her presence.His expression immediately softened, returning to the Astaire she knew.As he approached, Elsez greeted him with a teasing tone.“Hmm. I’m not used to seeing Your Grace look so scary.”“Oh? Didn’t you know? I only smile like this when I’m with you.”He said it with a smirk, his voice light, yet something about it felt strangely meaningful.Maybe it was because his stupidly handsome face made it sound so natural.“Weren’t you supposed to go home?” he asked.“Wow, didn’t expect you to be so cold. We just risked our lives together solving this whole mess, and you’re going to leave me out of the fun?”“That’s not what I meant—”“I know. You meant I should go home and rest.”Astaire, flustered, tried to explain himself, but when he realized she was just messing with him, he chuckled.Elsez got up and walked over to him.“How did the interrogation go?”“Just as expected. He’s denying everything. Even tried to threaten me, saying his arrest would cause an international scandal.”“Seriously? Even after nearly dying, he still hasn’t learned.”Elsez muttered in irritation, then suddenly had a thought.Her expression turned serious.“Torture isn’t allowed, right?”Lancelot, who had been listening, looked horrified.“The temple does not permit inhumane practices.”“I was joking.”Astaire burst out laughing.“You’re surprisingly ruthless, Lady Elsez.”“Is that an insult?”“Not at all. I actually find it… charming.”If anyone else had said that, she would’ve thought it was empty flattery.But coming from him, it almost sounded sincere.Astaire gestured for Lancelot to leave.After nodding respectfully, Lancelot departed, leaving them alone.Astaire continued,“We have Valentin’s testimony, the dimensional fragment you recovered, and nobles with traces of brainwashing magic. The Count won’t be able to deny this forever.”“Well, at least all that suffering wasn’t for nothing.”“Yes. Thanks to you.”Elsez smirked.“Did the count say anything about the masked man?”“No. He pretended not to know anything.”After a brief pause, Elsez recalled something strange.“Your Grace, is there a magic artifact that can change eye color?”Changing physical features while casting attack magic was impossible.If the man had truly changed his eye color, then the only explanation was a magic tool.Astaire thought for a moment before replying.“There are artifacts like that. But they’re unstable and can cause permanent eye damage, so they’re rarely used.”“So unless it’s a life-or-death situation, no one would use it?”“Most likely. Plus, they’re incredibly hard to obtain.”Astaire narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly wondering why she was asking.Elsez answered his unspoken question.“That masked man… his eye color changed.”She explained everything—How she met him on the way to the annex.How she initially thought he was just another guest.How he later turned out to be the count’s special guest.And most importantly—how his eyes had shifted from violet to red.Astaire’s expression hardened.“So someone’s pretending to be the Crown Prince.”If the man’s real eyes were violet, but he displayed red eyes in front of the Count, then…He wasn’t actually a royal.“Ah, and also…”Astaire met Elsez’s gaze as if expecting her to say more.But instead, she simply smiled and shook her head.“No, it’s nothing.”He studied her quietly for a moment but didn’t press further.Together, they walked toward the temple entrance, where a carriage was waiting.As they walked, Astaire kept stealing subtle glances at her.Concern was written all over his face.Noticing, Elsez turned to him.“Do you have something to say?”Caught off guard, Astaire averted his gaze—before sighing and meeting her eyes again.Her bright amber eyes gleamed under the dim light, clear and unwavering.They tormented him.His face twisted slightly in pain before he finally spoke.“I… I’m sorry. For making you see so much blood.”Elsez blinked, caught off guard.Astaire lowered his gaze, as if unable to bear looking at her.“A few years ago, hurting others was difficult for me… even if they were evil.”“……”“There was someone who always stepped forward in my place.”Elsez didn’t need a name to know who he meant.“I only realized after they were gone… that stepping back, just because I didn’t want to stain my hands, was hypocrisy.”“……”“So now, I want to do the difficult things myself. Just like they did.”Elsez listened in silence.At last, she understood why Astaire had changed so much in three years—How he had become someone who killed without hesitation.And suddenly, she saw it.The heavy weight of guilt he had been carrying all this time.“I’m fine.” She smiled. “Because I have Your Grace to carry that weight with me.”“……”“That person, too… I don’t think they ever felt burdened by it.”She had never once found it unbearable.Astaire had never asked her to take his place.And she had done it willingly, as a comrade and friend.Astaire stared at her, his expression unreadable—then let out a bitter chuckle.“…I hope my existence really did lessen their guilt.”Elsez held out a hand toward him.“Then, I hope I can help carry yours.”Astaire blinked at the unexpected gesture.“I’m saying, let’s keep working together.”She gestured toward her hand, urging him.After a moment’s hesitation, Astaire reached out and clasped it.It was warm. Of course, it was.Elsez finally grinned.And just then—A message from the Holy Nation came to mind.“The Demon God has been resurrected.”Astaire tightened his grip on her hand.And silently, he prayed for courage—For the strength to step into that cruel battle once more.  *****    Late at night, inside the carriage.The only sound was the wheels rolling along the empty streets.Elsez thought back to something Astaire had said earlier.‘There’s something very important I need to discuss with you.’But what he had emphasized as “very important” turned out to be—Their payment.The reward from the temple, set to arrive by tomorrow, was far greater than she had expected.Muttering to herself, she said,“The Holy Nation really does have a lot of money.”Reti, in a serious tone, replied,“If they pay you well, then clinging to that man isn’t so bad.”“Hey—don’t say things people could misunderstand.”Ignoring Reti’s innocent confusion, Elsez lowered her gaze to her right hand.The memory surfaced again.Fighting the masked man.The way his gaze lingered on her as he vanished.She hadn’t told Astaire about the familiarity she had felt.Because of one unsettling possibility.‘Could he be…?’A face flashed in her mind.Her heart sank.Just then—“My lady, we’ve arrived.”The coachman’s voice pulled her back to reality.‘No. No, it can’t be.’Shaking off the thought, she stepped out of the carriage.Despite the late hour, lights were still on in the viscount’s mansion.Lanny and Lady Mas must be waiting for me.Hurrying inside, she didn’t notice.Didn’t see the gaze that had been watching her all along.Beyond the mansion’s closed gates—A masked figure stood, silhouetted against the moon.His violet eyes, shadowed beneath his mask, lingered on where she had been.Then, with a glow of magic—He vanished.