What the actual hell?!
At that moment, the same exclamation simultaneously erupted in everyone's minds.
Linen was stunned that Silva actually dared to pull such a blatant stunt—kissing first and asking questions later. He felt thoroughly cheated.
The male Shadow Knights around them, on the other hand, felt as if they'd just taken critical damage straight to their hearts.
Many who'd willingly followed Silva to confront the prince—while some might've been naïve fools tricked by her vague assurances of evidence—most genuinely admired their young captain, a charismatic leader of remarkable competence.
Most importantly, Silva was beautiful!
Among the typically grim, shadowy knights whose faces seemed perpetually cloaked in gloom, she shone brightly like a star. Simply following a captain like her from afar felt like salvation itself.
But now, watching their goddess-like captain so naturally kiss the infamous, scandal-prone prince right in front of their eyes, their morale instantly shattered.
As for Silva herself, after the brief surprise, her gaze shifted intriguingly toward Elena.
Yet the normally gentle-tempered girl boldly met Silva's gaze, completely unafraid.
"Oh~"
Silva's eyes glittered, like a playful cat discovering a fascinating new toy.
How interesting... According to our intel, this girl should be merely a One-Ring mage specializing in illusion. Yet she actually broke free from my restraint?
She'd initially believed Elena was simply dragged into Ken's attack on Princess Hysteria by coincidence, but now it seemed reality was far more entertaining.
Even Hysteria hadn't broken through Silva's magical restraint, yet this girl had managed it first?
With playful curiosity, Silva subtly increased the pressure of her magic, testing just how resilient Elena truly was.
As Elena felt the invisible bonds around her tighten once more, she instantly understood:
The person who'd restrained Hysteria and myself—it's this woman!
Given Elena's nature and the circumstances, the wisest course would have been to immediately yield, lower her head, and pretend to be powerless.
But a defiant fire surged through her chest, an insistent voice inside her warned that if she backed down now, she would never be able to hold her head high again.
But what exactly am I fighting for?
Is it for myself…or for Linen?
Elena didn't know herself. She wasn't even sure whether Linen had truly saved her…
"Alright, Silva. Isn't it time this farce ended?"
A figure suddenly stepped between the two girls locked in their silent confrontation—it was Linen.
"Oh? What's this, Linen? You don't want me to continue?" Silva smiled softly, her eyes narrowed with amusement.
Linen shot her a displeased glance.
He'd only just realized the reason Elena and Hysteria had remained silent was due to Silva's magical restraints.
That was too close—I almost allowed this woman to steal all the spotlight!
"Isn't it obvious?" Linen said coldly.
He'd finally resolved the ticking bomb that was Ken, stirred the protagonists' desire to grow stronger, and successfully raised their hostility toward him. He couldn't let Silva undo all his hard work.
There can only be one designated villain on the heroine's path—and that's me. Don't even think about taking that role!
Behind him, Elena's expression shifted slowly from shock to a profound sense of security.
Is Linen…protecting me right now?
Staring at Linen's back—not broad, yet somehow shielding her from everything—Elena's earlier confusion evaporated instantly.
Did it really matter if it was Linen who'd saved me last night?
What truly mattered was that Linen was standing here now, shielding her. That was enough.
Yet, recalling how Silva had boldly stolen a kiss from Linen earlier, and how Elena herself had been utterly powerless, restrained by magic, a painful ache spread through her chest. Though she knew she had neither right nor reason to feel this way, the bitterness only intensified her resolve.
I must become stronger. Strong enough to protect Linen instead!
Silva tilted her head slightly, a cunning smile on her lips, then leaned toward Linen's ear again:
"Linen, besides what I did just now, I have something even more interesting to share—just for your ears. Would you like to discuss it somewhere more private?"
Sure enough, hearing Silva's deliberately provocative words, Elena tensed again, visibly distressed but still unable to voice her protest.
Linen frowned.
By now, he clearly understood Silva planned to stubbornly play dumb and sweep the matter under the rug—but why was she suggesting a private conversation now?
Surely this woman didn't enjoy that stolen kiss enough to want another?
Truthfully, Linen had no interest in continuing this kind of verbal sparring.
But seeing Elena's anxious expression, he suddenly changed his mind.
"Fine. In that case, I'll accompany you."
As expected, Elena's face fell into a mask of despair the moment she heard Linen agree. She looked as if she'd just watched two formidable enemies unite against her.
"Damn it!"
After the two left the infirmary, Elena finally collapsed onto the bed, gripping the sheets tightly as sorrow overwhelmed her.
Linen had even glanced back at her before leaving. If she'd been stronger, Linen wouldn't have been forced to yield to that woman's coercion.
I have to grow stronger, surpass Linen, strong enough to protect him…
---
Outside the infirmary, after finding a quiet corner, Linen abruptly stopped walking.
"This spot is fine. Knowing you, I doubt you'd reveal anything genuinely important anyway," he stated flatly.
"Ah, Linen, you're breaking my heart, saying things like that." Silva turned, sighing melodramatically.
"I promised you vital information—your distrust is hurtful. Even more hurtful than the fact that you secretly disposed of Ken and saved the girls without telling me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Linen replied expressionlessly, refusing to give Silva any chance to bait him further.
"Fine, fine. Since you insist, I won't press it further. You surely have your own reasons. But I must say, your planning was truly terrible. If I didn't know you so well, everyone else might've believed you and Ken were allies intending to kill those girls."
If you have something useful to say, hurry it up.
"Any more nonsense and I'm leaving."
Linen made as if to turn away.
"Alright, alright. On to business then. You weren't this cold when you were younger."
Silva sighed softly, her voice finally taking a serious tone as she met Linen's gaze:
"As a Shadow Knight, I'll continue investigating this mysterious case. But as your old friend, I must warn you—"
"In terms of arcane research, the Tower of Chronomancy surpasses every country. Even though you acted cleanly, there's still a chance those arcane fanatics will notice. You should be careful these days."
"In the worst-case scenario, those radicals feeling offended might even send 'her' after you."
"Her?"
Linen carefully weighed Silva's words.
At her mention, he suddenly remembered something crucial.
In the Tower of Chronomancy, after all, there was another protagonist yet to appear…