Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 2

Chapter 2

"Is this really a place I'm allowed to be in...?"

Looking at Bern with a bewildered expression, Bern sat Ravian down in a chair as if it were no problem at all.

As soon as they entered the situation room, Bern became busy. Ravian watched Bern issuing evacuation orders to the servants, then fixed his gaze on one of the crystal balls that had been shaking continuously.

Wait a moment. That person... isn't that Caelius?

Squinting at the screen inside the crystal ball, there was Caelius. Caelius, thrashing about like a madman.

So you're saying this whole situation is because of Caelius?

"Oh dear, my lord. No fire. No fire!"

Bern ran around busily, repeating through amplification magic that fire was forbidden. It seemed he was speaking to Caelius.

"B-Bern! Something's flashing over there!!"

On the other side of the crystal ball, three mages who had been on standby simultaneously began channeling mana into the magic circle on the floor.

Ravian squeezed his eyes shut to avoid the dazzling light of the magic circle, and when he opened them, a man was standing in front of the crystal ball, watching the scene unfold.

He was a stunning beauty impossible to look away from. A man with pale pink curly hair roughly pushed back frowned in annoyance at the booming sounds coming from upstairs. His green eyes, as if nature itself had been transplanted into them, cooled sharply.

"What is he throwing a fit about now."

Ravian was the only one startled by the man's low mutter. Everyone else in the room seemed accustomed to this situation.

"You've arrived, Sir Irein."

"Mm. Looks like that bastard's going crazy more often now. How long has he been like this?"

The low voice continued slowly.

"Not long. But sparks have been flying in the air since a while ago. If he keeps this up, he might actually..."

"He's just throwing a tantrum because he can't control his temper. No need to worry. Who would dare play with fire in front of him?"

Czerban Caelius was surely the only Grand Duke of the Latarta Empire. Bern aside, who was this man who didn't hesitate to speak so rudely to such a Grand Duke?

...Wait, he looks familiar somehow. Lady Hariella?

"Oh? Who's this?"

The man called Irein pointed a finger at Ravian.

"Do you remember the peach wine that Lady Hariella used to enjoy? He's the artisan who brews that wine."

"Ah, that sweet stuff. You made it? You come too. Follow me."

"Huh?!!"

Ravian jumped in surprise.

Follow him? Where to?

"Sir Irein. But..."

"Ah, it's fine, it's fine. He won't die."

Bern tried to stop Irein, but Irein was already walking away.

Ravian looked at Bern, at a loss for words. Bern gave Ravian a gentle push toward Irein with an awkward expression.

"He said you won't die."

"Ah, no! Bern! Who is that person that..."

"He is Lady Hariella's eldest brother. Since he said you won't die, you'll be safe."

No wonder he looked familiar!!

Ravian clutched the wooden box containing the peach wine to his chest, wore a half-crying expression, and trotted after Irein.

With booming sounds thudding through the place, he staggered several times as he climbed the stairs. As they neared their destination, the crashing noises grew louder.

Irein flung open a large door covered in ornate patterns. The room was, truly, a complete mess. The floor was littered with broken and shattered objects.

In the center stood something shrouded in black. That dark mass let out rough breaths that sounded like both crying and rage.

The man slowly raised his head and glared at the intruders with crimson eyes.

For a moment, Ravian's legs gave way and he nearly collapsed on the spot. The moment he realized he was face-to-face with death, his breath caught.

Intense bloodlust that pierced to the bone made his knees tremble, and the pressure constricting his ribs made it hard to breathe properly.

"I may not be in my right mind either, but you're quite the madman yourself. What's the point of smashing everything like that? Huh?"

"...Irein?"

"Oh? Look at those eyes rolled back. You want to pick a fight?"

As the situation grew tense, Ravian gasped. That, that person is Caelius? He couldn't believe it.

Every time Ravian had come to deliver peach wine, Caelius had looked perfectly fine on the outside. His glossy hair, skin without a hint of roughness, neatly trimmed nails, and immaculate clothing had reassured Ravian that he was doing well.

But look at that man now. Who could look at him and call him "Grand Duke Czerban Caelius"?

His bloodshot crimson eyes glared at the intruders. It seemed he would pounce at the slightest movement, so Ravian just stood there trembling. A savage pressure weighed down his entire body.

"Oh right, there's the peach. Step back for a moment."

At Irein's words, Ravian flinched and stepped away from the doorway. The moment Ravian retreated as if fleeing, Caelius lunged at Irein.

Irein knocked aside the slow hand reaching toward him, then opened his palm and struck Caelius across the head. Irein sent Caelius flying with an open hand rather than a fist, then dusted off his palm.

"How long do I have to keep looking after you like this? Huh?"

"Ghh..."

"If you keep this up."

A fierce killing intent flashed in Caelius's eyes. Irein met Caelius's gaze and laughed mockingly.

"Hari. Shall I take her away?"

Those words were the spark. Caelius attacked Irein with a speed that was on a completely different level from before.

If he had been in his right mind it might have been different, but half-mad as he was, Irein could easily subdue him alone.

Caelius, who had been faltering under Irein's fierce assault, began to see pitch-black mana slowly welling up in his left hand. It was one of Caelius's unique spells—"Corrosion," which rots everything it touches.

Irein watched the hand reaching toward him, let out a cold sneer, and called Caelius's name.

"Kali."

Caelius, gripped by despair and fear, stared straight at Irein. His fiery red eyes began to tremble violently.

In the Algenprina ducal house, only the Duke and Duchess of Algenprina and the Algenprina princess called Czerban Caelius "Kali."

"Ha, ri..."

He murmured Hari's name in a voice like scraping rusted metal. As Caelius, who had been moving violently, hesitated, Irein kicked Caelius in the side.

At the same time, Caelius's body flew helplessly through the air. The problem was the direction Caelius was flying.

"Ah!"

For the first time, Irein's face—which had been relaxed ever since he opened the door—changed.

At the sudden silence, Ravian, who had been sniffling while clutching the wooden box, peeked his head through the doorway, wondering what had happened. He saw Caelius collapsed inside the room.

Whether it was from the impact of Caelius hitting the bed, the white canopy surrounding it spread and billowed through the air.

"Eh...? Lady Hariella?"

Visible through the gap was a person with pale pink hair lying on the bed.

'Ah. So this was Lady Hariella's bedroom.'

Only then did Ravian understand the entire situation. Since Hariella had fallen into her deep sleep, Caelius had not been in his right mind. He only pretended to be fine—he had been mad for a long time.

"Ah, ugh... ah..."

Caelius's sobbing broke the silence. Crawling pitifully to the bed, he pulled back the canopy with trembling hands.

"Healer!! Call a healer!! Now! Bern!!!!"

A loud shout erupted. Ravian stared blankly at Caelius. The only impact the bed had suffered was the canopy swaying.

The one who needed healing was Caelius, but he didn't even glance at his own wounds. Only his trembling hands hovered over Hariella.

Caelius's eyes were filled with terror. With a face pale as if he might faint at any moment, he kept calling for a healer.

"Irein!!! What are you doing? Call a healer!!!"

"Ugh, I really don't know what to do with this bastard."

Scratching his head, Irein looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Irein's troubled gaze turned to his younger sister lying on the bed. Irein's expression twisted in pain.

Ravian dropped his gaze from the scene in the room. Somehow, it felt like he shouldn't watch any longer.

"Ah, peach wine. Leave that there and go find Bern."

"Huh? Ah, yes!"

Ravian placed the wooden box on the flat floor and quietly slipped out of the room.

"Hari, Hariella. I was wrong. I was, I was all wrong. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I'm sorry. So... no, no. Hari, sleep more. Sleep as much as you want. You're tired, aren't you? I'm sorry."

Despite Caelius's desperate and pitiful calls, Hariella did not open her eyes. Only her steady breathing indicated that she was simply asleep.

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