Shade did not leave immediately. Instead, he held the dagger and gazed out at the sea for a long while before finally sighing.
Though he had remained vigilant all this time, he had still crossed paths with "Desire" again and again. Now that he was helping her, he did not even feel much resistance in his heart:
"Can mere words really wield such power? I haven't been subtly charmed by her, have I? What happened in the desert..."
You had sunstroke. Besides, when it came to pretty young ladies, you were never exactly a man free of desire.
"That's good. I've been hurt by cats and desire. Since exams are coming up, I'll abstain from women for a while!"
The seabirds on the reefs were startled into flight by Shade's sudden clenched fist. "She" chuckled softly by his ear.
"Then tell me, does this count as helping bad guys?"
Shade asked again, and "her" laughter was indeed gentler than the sea breeze brushing against his face:
It does not matter whom you help. As long as you believe it is right, that it is what you should do, then do it.
Shade put the dagger into the inner pocket of his coat. It was warm. Though it could not easily be turned into a toy, Shade decided to carry it with him at all times for the foreseeable future.
Because he had been delayed by some matters at Dalmanin Residence, it was nearly ten in the morning by the time the hired carriage brought Shade to the entrance of Belinder Manor.
Under the same gloomy sky, Belinder Manor had an utterly different atmosphere from Dalmanin Residence.
The moment Shade stepped out of the carriage, the maids who had been waiting rushed out of the manor together to welcome him. Once