Episode 138

The night before leaving for the Chetwind estate, I sat looking at the deed for the grand mansion I had bought in the Kingdom of Debar, mumbling to myself.

“Well, I guess I don’t need this anymore.”

It had been my first home purchase across both my past and present lives, yet I was going to end up selling it without even setting foot in it.

I gazed wistfully at the picture of the mansion—a pure white estate overlooking a sea so beautiful it was called a paradise on earth—then closed the file with a sigh.

“Can’t be helped, I guess.”

Leaving it as a vacation home seemed pointless since I had no real reason to visit the Kingdom of Debar often, and the enormous maintenance fees were a headache.

The only problem was, under Debar’s property laws, a mansion couldn’t be resold within a year of purchase without a valid reason.
Apparently, this was to crack down on rampant real estate scams as the area rose to fame as a luxury resort destination.

In the end, I had to submit a detailed and convincing story explaining why I needed to sell.

“Hmm… if it’s a noble’s sob story, it has to be something dramatic, like a forbidden love elopement.”

Since I had purchased the mansion under a fake name with the intent to run away if needed, I didn’t have to care about my social image anyway.

‘I bought the mansion to live with my beloved, but due to fierce opposition from our families, we decided to escape to a farther land instead… Yeah, that’ll do.’

As I kept adding more to the story, it ended up sounding like a full-on tragic love poem.

‘At this rate, even the manager reading it will have to fight back tears.’

Feeling satisfied, I sealed the letter and pulled out another sheet of stationery.

This one was for Ludwig.

Even though a week was a short time, disappearing without a word would definitely make him worry.

In the letter to Ludwig, I wrote that I would be visiting the Chetwind estate for a little while.
Of course, I didn’t mention anything about trying to negotiate with Bergeus.

If he knew, he would never let me go.

‘But I’m the only one who can do this, protected under Askan’s watch.’

Thus, only four people would know about my trip to the south: my father, Ludwig, and the Chetwind Count and Countess.
An extremely classified mission.

‘If I can handle everything with Bergeus properly, then I’ll tell Ludwig everything, too.’

Thinking that, I placed the two letters onto the silver tray held out by the attendant.

Once the attendant left, quietly closing the door behind them, I collapsed onto my desk with a deep sigh.

“Haa…”

Ever since learning that Hertz had been targeting me from the start, I had grown cautious about everything.

‘Even planning a simple one-week trip has to be handled like a top-secret mission now.’

I really needed to reflect on how my life had come to this point.

At the time, I had no way of knowing.

No way of knowing just what kind of storm those two letters would bring.

* * *

The next day, it was finally time to depart for the Chetwind estate.

While the attendants were busily loading luggage onto the carriages, Catherine spotted me and approached with a bright smile.

“Good morning, Sierra. Have you packed everything you need?”

“Good morning, Catherine. I didn’t really have much to pack.”

All I had was a small Boston bag that I could easily carry with one hand.

“Haha, that’s fine. You don’t need to bring much. There’s nothing you’ll lack at the Chetwind estate anyway. But, tell me, is that your escort knight over there?”

“Yes, that’s right. I doubt anything dangerous will happen, but Father insisted that I take a guard along… haha.”

After all, I was heading to the Chetwind estate, known as the guardian stronghold of the south—arguably the safest place in the empire.
But it seemed Father wasn’t reassured by that.

Of course, I didn’t plan on taking Peter all the way to Aisil Lake, where Bergeus was.
He was just there to show Father that I was being properly protected.

Catherine chuckled.

“Given the Duke’s personality, I’m not surprised.”

Just then, an attendant came over to inform us that all preparations were complete.

“Looks like everything’s ready. Let’s head out, Sierra.”

“Yes!”

Catherine and Harry boarded the two-person carriage they had brought from the Chetwind estate, while I boarded the carriage prepared by Drenihan, taking Peter’s hand for balance.

“That Drenihan uniform suits you well, Peter.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Peter smiled as he replied.

He was wearing Drenihan’s light blue training uniform, which suited him far better than the imperial one ever had.
The imperial uniform had always seemed stiff and ill-fitting on him, but the Drenihan outfit looked like it was made just for him.

After drinking the Rizber Cure, Peter’s complexion had improved dramatically.
Where he once seemed frail and weak, he now looked notably taller and sturdier.

‘The cure must have been really effective.’

While I was inwardly feeling proud, Peter, sensing something outside the window, focused his gaze and spoke.

“My lady, that person over there…”

“Huh?”

Following Peter’s gaze, I looked out the window—and blinked in surprise.

“Master Lisburn…?”

No, it wasn’t Lisburn.

The one who resembled Lisburn so much was none other than Desar.

“Desar?”

The moment Desar spotted me, he yanked open the carriage door and climbed in without hesitation.

“I’m coming with you.”

“Wa-wait a second! You can’t just show up and say that…!”

It was already troublesome enough figuring out how to separate from Peter to go to Aisil Lake. Now Desar was tagging along too?

“There were orders from Lord Thergon.”

“……!”

So even Grandfather had caught wind of it.

‘Well… I figured this might happen.’

In the end, I couldn’t argue and had no choice but to accept Desar’s company.

After all, thinking of how Grandfather had once crossed a foreign country loaded with herbal medicines just to visit me, I couldn’t bring myself to send Desar away.
I had caused them enough worry already.
His overprotectiveness was justified.

There was no excuse—I had no words.

As the carriage began moving and a heavy silence filled the air, Peter broke it.

“You’re the knight who fought alongside me against the assassins at the Imperial Palace, aren’t you?”

Come to think of it, Peter and Desar had met before.

Back then, they didn’t have a chance to properly see each other’s faces in the chaos of battle, but Peter seemed to recognize him at once.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Despite Peter’s friendly tone, Desar responded curtly.

“…….”

It was clear Desar was harboring some dissatisfaction, and I had a good idea why.

‘It’s probably because I sent Lisburn without even telling him.’

It must have been quite the shock to have a man, assumed to be his father, suddenly appear without warning.
Even though I had acted out of necessity, facing Desar now made me feel like a criminal.

As another heavy silence was about to settle in, Desar was the one to speak first.

“Suddenly, a man claiming to be my father appeared before me.”

“…….”

As expected.

Feigning ignorance, I let out a laugh and said,

“So you met Master Lisburn! And… how was your first meeting with him?”

“I recognized him instantly. And it seems he did too. He couldn’t even speak for a while after seeing me.”

“I see. So my instincts were right. How did it feel, reuniting with your father after twenty years?”

“I didn’t feel much of anything.”

“……Haha.”

“I told Lord Thergon that I would dedicate my life to him, no matter what.”

Hearing that, I quickly shifted my attitude and said,

“I’m sorry, Desar. I should have asked for your opinion first.”

When I suddenly spoke so humbly, Desar’s eyes widened, and he waved his hand in a fluster.

“I’m not blaming you, Sierra. I was always curious about my birth parents, too. I just… still can’t quite believe it. That the great Tower Master Lisburn is my father.”

Desar said quietly, fingering the half-necklace he always wore.

“He didn’t force me to acknowledge him as my father, either. He just said he’d come visit me often.”

Thankfully, it seemed Lisburn hadn’t ignored my advice.

In the original story, Desar grew resentful when Lisburn tried to force him into accepting him as his father—
because it felt like Lisburn was trying to erase the existence of ‘Desar,’ who had grown up under Thergon’s care for over twenty years.

But now, Desar seemed to view Lisburn’s cautious approach not so badly.

“That’s a relief.”

I whispered with a smile.

Despite my worries, things didn’t seem too tense between them.

Reclaiming something that had been lost would never be easy, but time would heal those wounds eventually.