# 62
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While Logan was muttering excitedly, Matthias' face was getting darker.
'Who is this bastard coveting now?'
He was relieved when Agares, the tower lord who had approached Elinor without distance, but now was coveted by his brother, disappeared.
'Why is Elinor so beloved?'
He was boiling inside and feeling upset.
It wasn't an exaggeration, but he felt that men would fall in love with her as soon as she smiled a little.
But he can't ask Elinor not to smile because he doesn't like it.
On the other hand, he cannot discipline all men, because he himf has fallen under the spell of her smile.
'He inherited my keen eye.'
Matthias suppressed his pride and anger at his brother's taste and cough.
“Don't even think about revealing your feelings in front of Miss Elinor.”
“Why?”
“We are now about to undertake a very important mission to purify the black magic in the borders.”
Matthias spoke seriously to set the mood.
“Are you going to upset Miss Elinor's feelings because of your affections?”
“Ah…”
“Don't get in the way of our great cause... Speaking of which, Miss Elinor doesn't like long hair.”
"What? Really?"
"Yes."
Logan frowned as he stroked his hair.
His long, shiny hair.
Maintaining his long hair was his only hobby while stuck in the borders.
“I've been prolonging it since I became an adult.”
“Five years of growth, it would be a shame to cut it. Our mother likes your hair too. So, leave it as it is.”
“But my angel doesn’t like long hair.”
Matthias shrugged.
Logan's expression looked disappointed.
“But what if Miss Elinor has long hair?”
Logan is tall, well-built, sweet-natured, and he's my brother, but he's a good guy.
If someone with a clear identity decided to come forward seriously, is there a guarantee that Miss Elinor's heart would not be shaken?
Mathias ruffled his hair.
As a duke, his hair was neatly arranged to maintain his prestige.
“Hair grows a lot longer in a year.”
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to prolong it like Logan.
Anyway, he always wanted to try long hair one day.
* * *
The next morning, Elinor woke up early after sleeping early since the evening.
“Cold...”
I shivered in the cold dawn air.
Even though the weather was approaching early winter, she never felt cold while staying in Hilliard's main castle.
But the borders were different.
Even though the fire was lit in the fireplace, her body was trembling.
“The sun is shining.”
Elinor put on a coat, wrapped a blanket, and went out.
A small castle located near the border.
Even just ten years ago, people lived here.
But after the black magic explosion incident and the death of the previous duke, all the residents of the territory were transferred to other regions.
Now, all who reside here are the knights led by Logan.
There were no servants to take care of the castle, so the castle became more of a fortress than a residential place.
Hoo-
Elinor frowned as she climbed onto the battlements.
On the horizon, there was a huge valley that had turned black in places.
“This seems to be a place tainted by black magic.”
Despite the distance, I felt a bad omen.
It was an instinctive feeling that could be felt even without holy power.
The golden bird, which was singing, landed on Elinor's shoulder.
As if he was trying to hide from the dark magic, he rubbed his head against her neck.
“Do you feel that place is a bad omen as well?”
Biiii-
"The area is wider than I expected. This means there is a greater possibility for variants to emerge."
Elinor crossed her arms and thought deeply.
At that moment, someone approached her.
“The contaminated area is still expanding its range.”
Elinor turned in surprise.
“Sir Logan.”
“Good morning… I mean, Miss Elinor. Did you have a restful night?”
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I slept well.”
Logan's face lit up.
He stood beside her and pointed to the distant valley.
“There is a starting point for contamination.”
“You mean the black rock shaped like a dragon’s head?”
“Yes. It was originally a crimson rock… but it was tainted by black magic.”
The legend of the awakening of the dragon, the first emperor, originated in Boundary Valley due to the characteristics of the area.
The shape of the valley was like that of a dragon.
Logan explained as he drew a horizontal line in the air.
“The contamination originally started from the head part, but has now spread there.”
“Almost to the end.”
“We no longer know how much time we have left.”
Logan's features darkened.
“The pace of pollution is accelerating. Even though we are preventing it as best we can using the holy water my brother brings, the pollution is spreading faster than purification.”
The trade in holy water was essentially prohibited.
Therefore, it had to be accessed through illegal channels at great cost.
Elinor could not even imagine how much money Matthias spent to prevent pollution of the territory.
“But now that you have come, Miss Elinor.”
Logan's eyes lit up.
“My brother told me that your decision to help Hilliard is not a foregone conclusion, but a big decision. As a knight, I would like to thank you again. Thank you very much.”
“No…”
Elinor felt embarrassed when he bowed to her.
He thought that all problems had already been solved.
How disappointed will I be if I can't purify the pollution?
Elinor felt burdened by his behavior and tried to quickly change the subject.
“You are wonderful, Sir Logan.”
"I?"
"It silently maintained the border. It prevented pollution from spreading to other areas and protected people from harm."
Elinor smiled sweetly.
"Standing in one place for years is not easy. It's not something anyone can do. You did it because you're Logan. You've been through a lot."
“No, no, it's okay.”
Logan started acting embarrassed when Elinor complimented him.
All his attempts to look bold and mature were gone, and all that was left was a shy man.
“It's just what I have to do. I am Hilliard, after all. And others are suffering too. Even Cornelia is in the main castle.”
“Exactly. You and Lady Cornelia are wonderful.”
“T, t, wow...”
Logan's face turned red like a tomato.
He lowered his head to avoid Elinor's eyes and muttered in an ant-like whisper.
“My angel...”
“What?”
“Do you hate men’s long hair?”
Elinor tilted her head, struggling to understand his words.
“I didn't think about it much.”
"truly?"
"Yes. Hair style is a matter of personal taste, isn't it? If you like long hair, that's your choice. I don't think I have the right to comment."
“So my hair…”
"You, Sir Logan? Ah, I think he suits you very well. He looks like a knight from a storybook. I bet you're popular among the kids... you're popular, aren't you?"
With every word from Elinor, Logan's heart beat harder.
Why do I feel so excited?
As he moved his lips, he heard.
“Logan, Miss Elinor.”
Matthias, who went up unnoticed, called out to them.
Logan blinked in surprise, as if guilty.