Ezekiel has a lover.
To people who loved romantic stories about heroes, this news was a serious matter.
“What do you mean? Ezekiel has a lover?”
And it was Ezekiel. Ezekiel was almost like the first true king of this land, even though the title had changed many times. A hero who saved countless lives. A philosopher who found the meaning of humanity under the tyranny of a cruel god.
Because of that, his life had always been perfect, and in a way, he seemed closest to the gods. But now they were saying he had a lover?
“That’s impossible.”
People like the Count, who focused on his heroic side, shook their heads.
“I kind of thought it might be true!”
But people like Solid, who welcomed love, accepted it warmly.
“Ezekiel was a hero and a great king. I think he was too busy for love.”
“Love always comes when you least expect it. Even if Ezekiel was too busy and tried to refuse love, it must have happened anyway. Besides, even after he became king, he never took a wife.”
For once, Solid raised his voice. The Count sighed, clearly not liking it.
“That’s the real problem. If Ezekiel had just picked one of the nobles’ daughters and married her, the kingdom wouldn’t have fallen so quickly in just ten years.”
“This might turn into a whole debate about the fall of the kingdom. So why did people start saying that Ezekiel might have had a lover? Everyone, please focus on Felix’s story.”
The Countess spoke, trying to draw attention like she used to when Felix was young and no one paid attention to him. Felix cleared his throat awkwardly and began to speak again.
“It seems a letter was found, written by one of Ezekiel’s servants after he died. The Talsak family originally had it, but after their downfall, it was passed to the Dailo family. As you know, the Dailo recently went bankrupt. In the end, money wins. They brought out the letter even though it had a dying wish that it be kept secret forever.”
“So? What did the letter say?”
“It was about Ezekiel’s belongings. It said that Ezekiel asked to be buried only with ‘that person’s’ necklace, ring, and a lock of hair. He also wanted everything else related to that person to be burned.”
“So who is that person?”
Solid asked, and Felix replied with his usual bored face when he didn’t have an answer.
“Unfortunately, now that we’ve just learned this person existed, we don’t know who it is yet. But since it’s the most exciting part, I think the truth will come out slowly.”
“But there’s no proof that person was a lover, right?”
“That’s exactly my point!”
Sophia asked sharply, and the Count raised his voice, pleased to agree with her for once. But Sophia hadn’t said it to please her father.
She didn’t know why, but she didn’t like that Ezekiel’s name had come up in front of the Duke.
Sophia glanced at the Duke. He didn’t add anything to the conversation, but he also didn’t seem uncomfortable with the topic.
Trying to stay neutral, Felix gave a slight nod toward Sophia’s words.
“You’re right. People assume he had a lover because even after becoming king, he never took a queen or had any women in his life. It’s also what many people want to believe.”
People kept talking about Ezekiel after that, but with no proof, the talk about the lover eventually ended. Though some were disappointed, they quickly went off in search of new gossip.
Sophia was left alone, poking at a seared scallop and thinking about the dream she had that day.
“I choose you.”
“I wish to die with you.”
That man.
Sophia could still feel the thick, scarred hand that had pulled her along, and the sound of the wild heartbeat under his solid body.
Of course, he wasn’t real. He was probably just a figment of her imagination.
Trying to act normal, Sophia cut the food into small pieces and ate. But now the delicious food felt like sand in her mouth.
“It was just a dream,” she told herself.
But even after the meal was over, the words “Ezekiel had a lover” wouldn’t leave her head.
In the end, Sophia went to find Felix.
He liked to visit the library of the Rillum mansion, and today was no different. As usual, he was browsing the shelves, and Sophia, who had no interest in books, trailed behind him, pretending to look around. Felix had no idea what her real reason was.
“What is it, Sophia?”
Unable to stand her hovering, Felix asked. These days, she had been acting more like a childish girl, and Felix’s voice was always laced with a sigh.
“Well… I wanted to ask something.”
“Then ask.”
“Um… is there a story that says Ezekiel couldn’t see out of one eye?”
“Which Ezekiel? The Ezekiel?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t seem interested at dinner, so why are you suddenly asking about that?”
“Ah… it just feels like I heard something like that somewhere.”
Sophia answered awkwardly. Felix gave her a suspicious look. She seemed clearly embarrassed. Was she trying to apologize for acting cold during dinner?
But Felix’s guess was completely wrong. Sophia had come to find out if the Ezekiel she saw in her dream could be the same one from the legends.
Of course, she knew it was nonsense. Just asking the question made her want to hide.
Like a child who couldn’t tell dreams from reality.
“I don’t know where you heard that, but I’ve never seen anything in the history books about Ezekiel being blind in one eye.”
“Ah, I figured. Okay, I’ll go now.”
As expected, Felix denied it, and Sophia nodded hard and quickly tried to leave, embarrassed.
“Sophia!”
But then Felix called out. Sophia stopped and turned around.
“Sophia, are you really okay?”
His worried eyes looked at her.
“Of course. I’m fine—except I can’t smell anything.”
Sophia answered cheerfully. What she really needed now wasn’t a talk with Felix, but a quiet moment to feel embarrassed on her own.
But Felix didn’t waste the alone time and started to scold her.
“You’ve seemed out of it lately, and though it was because you were sick, you’ve been careless too. Mother even told me to talk to you. Honestly, I can’t say I don’t understand her concern. You haven’t even had your engagement ceremony with the Duke. Your engagement isn’t official—just words.”
He rambled on, not even sure what he wanted to say. But Sophia understood.
He was worried that her careless behavior might make the Duke cancel the engagement.
Sophia returned to being a calm young lady and lowered her head in a graceful way.
“I understand what you’re worried about. I’ve been reflecting on it too. I’ve been too careless and distant with the Duke.”
Felix was softhearted. Usually, if Sophia acted like this, he would let things go. Sophia often used this trick and thought Felix would definitely fall for the wrong girl one day. But this time, he shook his head and held her hand.
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
No? Sophia almost frowned but kept her face calm. Felix looked frustrated.
“I don’t mean what Mother said. I mean, you’ve seemed unstable lately. If it’s just the poison you took, then fine. But sometimes, it’s like someone pushed you off a cliff. That’s what I worry about. When I said your engagement is just words, I didn’t mean you should act more polite—I meant that we still have a way out.”
Sophia stared blankly at Felix. She never thought he’d say something like that. Especially when she herself had started to believe that there was no choice but to hold onto the Duke.
