Chapter 16: Unfinished Conversations

An Unwanted Reunion

Evelyne hadn't stopped staring at Alsiel.

He didn't seem to mind. In fact, he looked amused.

Phileo, on the other hand, looked miserable.

Evelyne could practically hear his thoughts: Why is he here? Why now?

"I'm waiting," she said finally, crossing her arms. "You said you came here for a reason."

Alsiel's grin widened. "Ah, I like her. She doesn't waste time."

Phileo shot him a glare. "Alsiel."

"Alright, alright." Alsiel held up his hands in surrender, but the teasing glint in his eyes remained. He stretched, then leaned against the wall, his gaze sharpening. "You've been making a mess, Phileo."

Phileo's expression didn't change. "What do you want?"

Alsiel's smirk faded. "I want to know what the hell you're doing."

Evelyne's breath hitched.

Alsiel crossed his arms, his playful demeanor replaced with something far more serious. "I heard about Nikolai."

Phileo's shoulders tensed.

Evelyne clenched her fists. Nikolai. The man who had nearly killed her. The one who had been after Phileo.

Alsiel sighed. "You should have just disappeared, Phileo. You were good at it. But instead, you're out here, picking fights with the wrong people."

Phileo didn't respond.

Evelyne narrowed her eyes. "Nikolai came after us. That wasn't Phileo's fault."

Alsiel raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why do you think Nikolai came after him in the first place?"

Evelyne frowned.

Phileo's past was a mystery, but every encounter they had only confirmed one thing—someone wanted him dead.

Alsiel shook his head. "You really haven't told her anything, have you?"

Phileo's grip on his sword tightened.

Evelyne stepped forward. "Then you tell me."

Phileo shot her a warning glance, but she ignored it. She was tired of being kept in the dark.

Alsiel studied her for a moment, then exhaled. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

A pause.

Then Alsiel turned his gaze back to Phileo. "Should I tell her, or will you?"

Phileo's jaw clenched.

Evelyne's heart pounded.

"Phileo—"

"Enough."

His voice was quiet, but final.

Alsiel tilted his head. "Still keeping secrets, huh?"

Evelyne's patience was wearing thin. "You came here to say something. Say it."

Alsiel ran a hand through his dark hair, looking almost regretful. "Fine. I came here to warn you—same as Lysander."

Phileo's eyes darkened. "You saw him."

Alsiel nodded. "Ran into him a few towns over. He said he already gave you a warning, but knowing you, I figured you'd just ignore it."

Phileo didn't deny it.

Evelyne looked between them. "Warn him about what?"

Alsiel's gaze met hers, steady and serious. "That Phileo isn't done paying for what he did."

The words hit like a slap.

Evelyne inhaled sharply, but Phileo didn't flinch. He only stared back at Alsiel, his expression unreadable.

Alsiel sighed. "You should leave. Both of you. Before they catch up."

Evelyne's mind spun.

Who were they? And what had Phileo done to make them chase him across the continent?

She turned to Phileo, her voice quiet but firm. "We need to talk."

Phileo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Later."

Evelyne's eyes flashed. "No. Now."

Alsiel chuckled. "Oof. She's not letting this go."

Phileo shot him a glare.

Alsiel grinned. "Well, this is getting fun. Mind if I tag along?"

Phileo exhaled sharply. "No."

Alsiel placed a hand over his heart. "Too bad. I'm coming anyway."

Evelyne didn't know whether to feel relieved or even more frustrated.

But one thing was certain—she was finally going to get her answers.

Even if she had to drag them out of Phileo herself.

Silence settled over the small room.

Evelyne could feel the weight of it pressing down on her chest.

Alsiel had just confirmed what she already suspected—Phileo was running from something. Something dangerous.

And now, it was catching up.

Phileo finally sighed, rubbing his temples as if deciding how much to say. "It doesn't matter."

Evelyne's patience snapped. "It doesn't matter?" She took a step closer. "Phileo, I almost died because of this. We're being hunted. How does that not matter?"

Alsiel whistled under his breath. "She's got a point."

Phileo shot him a glare, but Alsiel only smirked, clearly enjoying this.

Evelyne crossed her arms. "I want the truth."

Phileo's gaze met hers, sharp and unreadable. "The truth won't change anything."

Evelyne's fists clenched. "Maybe not. But I still deserve to know what I'm up against."

She wasn't going to back down. Not this time.

Phileo exhaled slowly. Then, after what felt like forever, he spoke.

"They're called the Black Veil."

The name sent a chill down Evelyne's spine.

Alsiel's smirk faded. "So you're finally saying it."

Phileo ignored him. "They're a faction. Not a kingdom, not a mercenary band—something worse. They deal in contracts. Blood debts. Assassinations. If they mark you, they don't stop until the job is done."

Evelyne swallowed hard. "And they marked you."

Phileo didn't look away. "Yes."

Her breath caught.

"Why?"

Alsiel let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in it. "That's the million-coin question, isn't it?"

Phileo didn't answer immediately.

Then, quietly, he said, "Because I broke a contract."

Evelyne's eyes widened. "You… what?"

Phileo's expression remained unreadable. "I was supposed to kill someone."

The room felt colder.

Evelyne's pulse hammered in her ears.

She had known—suspected—that Phileo had blood on his hands. But hearing it, confirming it, was something else entirely.

Phileo's voice was quieter now. "I didn't."

Evelyne blinked.

She had expected him to say he had killed someone. Not the opposite.

Alsiel folded his arms, watching them both. "And the Black Veil doesn't tolerate failure. Or disobedience."

Phileo nodded. "They sent others after me. At first, they just wanted to punish me." His tone was calm, but there was something bitter underneath. "Then they realized I wasn't going to crawl back."

Evelyne inhaled sharply. So they decided to kill him instead.

Phileo looked at her. "Nikolai was one of them."

She stiffened.

Alsiel clicked his tongue. "And there will be more."

A heavy silence followed.

Evelyne felt like she was seeing Phileo for the first time.

A man hunted by his own past. A man who had walked away from a life of killing—only to be marked for death himself.

She thought about the way he fought. The way he avoided unnecessary bloodshed. The way he had looked at her when she had been on the brink of death, his expression unreadable yet filled with something she couldn't quite name.

Regret.

Her throat felt tight.

"You saved me," she said suddenly. "And now I'm caught in this, too."

Phileo didn't answer.

Alsiel stretched, his usual smirk creeping back. "Well, that was dramatic."

Evelyne shot him a glare. "This isn't funny."

"Sure it is." Alsiel leaned back against the wall. "Two fugitives running from a deadly organization. A mysterious past. A growing pile of unresolved tension." He grinned. "It's practically a storybook romance."

Evelyne flushed. "That's not—"

"Shut up, Alsiel," Phileo muttered.

Alsiel just laughed. "Glad to see some things never change."

Evelyne let out a slow breath. Fine. She had her answers—at least, some of them. But there was still more Phileo wasn't saying.

And she was going to find out.

Phileo had given her the truth.

But he hadn't given her the whole truth.

Not yet.