Chapter 178

"Are you sure you'll be okay without your mask?"

Yelena, who was ready to go out, gazed up at Kaywhin.

"Yes. It doesn't matter, since I'll be with you."

'Well, no one else will be at the lake at this hour anyway.'

Yelena nodded.

"Very well then."

Yelena left for the lake after sunset. This late departure was due to two reasons, the first being that Yelena had deliberately chosen a time when the lake would be empty.

"Go to the lake when it's dark. It has to be after sunset no matter what, so that I can definitely help out."

The second reason was that Aendydn had stubbornly insisted.

Yelena had planned to go at night to begin with, but she grew curious because of what Aendydn had said.

'What in the world is he going to do?'

Aendydn appeared after finishing getting ready.

"Shall we get going?"

He didn't look much different from usual. It didn't seem like he prepared anything special, nor did he seem to be carrying anything.

'Hmm.'

Yelena was dubious. But first, she got on the horse carriage. Her heart was slightly thumping as she held her husband's hand to board the carriage.

The carriage headed towards a nearby lake. Yelena hadn't summoned Sidrion because the latter was busy, so they couldn't go far. But enjoying a ride on a small boat on the lake that was closer to the castle was still feasible.

"We've arrived."

The lake at this late evening hour was calm and quiet. The small boat and boatman that Yelena had prepared in advance were waiting by the shore. The lights that adorned both ends of the boat dimly illuminated their surroundings.

"Ahem."

Yelena suddenly turned around after bringing Kaywhin towards the boat.

"Wait here for a moment."

Yelena scurried back to the carriage. Kaywhin stood where he was compliantly, watching Yelena grow farther away.

Then, Aendydn, who had been quietly following behind the couple, spoke up.

"...I've been carefully observing during my time here for the past couple of days."

Kaywhin shifted his gaze towards Aendydn when the latter had begun speaking.

"I've been trying to see whether or not this place is an environment Yelena can be happy in without any problems."

"..."

"Whether or not Yelena really is happy."

"So, what do you think?"

"..."

"What conclusion did you come to?"

Kaywhin's lack of reaction and his tone of voice indicated that he had already figured out Aendydn's purpose in staying at the castle.

'Could that be why he never stopped me and just let me be?'

Aendydn furrowed his brow. He had wondered why Kaywhin had never asked him what he was doing and went on with his own business.

Aendydn felt as though Kaywhin had seen through his intentions completely; it wasn't a pleasant feeling. But Aendydn wasn't so petty as to let his emotions change his predetermined answer.

"...Well, she looks happy, I guess."

"..."

"And her environment doesn't seem too bad either."

Aendydn had witnessed the knights' skill and loyalty while watching them in the training arena. He also heard testimonies about Yelena and Kaywhin's relationship as a married couple from the castle servants. And although he had inspected the facilities of other parts of the castle, he couldn't find any flaws in particular.

Most importantly, he could see the pure joy in Yelena's face whenever she smiled, which was often.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"However, it's still too early for me to be at ease," Aendydn quickly added. "I've only just finished the first round of inspections. I will continue observing."

"..."

"I have the right to do so. You know that, right? I grew up with Yelena; we're like family. Well, you could even say I'm like her older brother."

Kaywhin chuckled softly. Aendydn's eyebrows shot up.

"Is something funny?"

"No, it's nothing."

Kaywhin had suddenly been reminded of what Yelena had said.

"I took care of him like an older sister would, you know!"

If she had heard Aendydn call himself her older brother, she would have sprang up and asked him what the heck he was talking about.

Just imagining her doing that made Kaywhin laugh without realizing. Aendydn narrowed his eyes.

'Is he laughing at me?'

Aendydn continued speaking, unable to get rid of his suspicion and now in an unpleasant mood as a result.

"Well, anyway. I don't think you should ridicule my sincerity."

Aendydn looked Kaywhin in the eye.

"Unlike Yelena's family in the capital, who can't hear news about the fief right away, I can. I can find out about what's going on here even when I'm not around."

"..."