Episode 101

Just as I was about to step towards my parents, Lloydin quickly wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t think much of his action. After all, Lloydin putting his arm around my shoulder was as common as us hugging.

However, I did feel like his grip on my shoulder was a bit firmer than usual.

But I brushed it off, thinking it was just the setting that made it seem that way.

After a brief greeting with my family, we walked towards the door to leave the banquet hall.

Once again, I felt a gaze similar to before, and my head turned involuntarily towards its direction.

I found myself making eye contact with an unexpected person.

It was the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was staring at me with an unreadable expression.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

As I tilted my head in confusion, Lloydin’s hand that was on my shoulder slid down to wrap around my waist.

Being pulled closer to Lloydin, all my previous thoughts dissipated into thin air.

Feeling a bit flustered, I looked at Lloydin, but he was smiling as usual.

So, I simply smiled back at him, and we left the banquet hall and returned to the ducal residence.

* * *

A few days after returning from the banquet.

That night, I once again fell asleep beside Lloydin and had the same dream.

In the dream, I was standing at the starting point of several paths.

However, there was one notable difference— the short path I had taken last time was nowhere to be seen.

With so many paths, it was hard to say if it had simply vanished among them, but it was definitely not there.

After a brief contemplation, I chose the shortest-looking path just as I had done previously.

Without pause, I walked along that path.

I couldn’t discover anything by overthinking, so I had no choice but to keep going forward.

It took about a minute to reach the end of the path.

As I arrived, the same phenomenon of the space around me shifting occurred once more.

The initial space faded away, and a new location came into clear view.

‘This place is…’

Seeing the large desk and the wall filled with bookshelves, I realized it was Lloydin’s office.

Oh, it’s Ian.

Ian was sitting on the sofa opposite me, and Lloydin was seated beside me.

It must be summer break.

The three of us had a long-overdue conversation.

We talked about what had happened at the academy and about Daliah.

Thankfully, since that day, Daliah hadn’t fallen asleep even once.

The energy Ian had given her seemed to be working.

Soon after, the dream ended, and I found myself back at the starting point.

‘What should I do?’

I pondered whether to take another path or wake up.

‘Let’s not act rashly and first confirm if these dreams are truly prophetic.’

With that decision, I silently wished to wake up from the dream.

Slowly, I awoke.

It was still dark outside.

It seemed not much time had passed since I had walked the short path in my dream.

Hearing Lloydin’s steady breathing, I felt relieved and sleepiness overcame me again.

So, I fell back asleep in his arms.

* * *

A week later, Ian returned to the ducal residence for his summer vacation.

As soon as Lloydin and I heard that the carriage carrying Ian had passed through the main gate, we hurriedly went outside to greet him.

The clopping of hooves and the sound of wheels rolling grew closer.

Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the residence, and Ian got out.

“Ian!”

I greeted him with a big smile, welcoming him back.

“Brother, I’m home! I’m back!”

Ian looked happy to be back home after a long time.

“Ian, welcome back.”

“Brother!”

Ian ran to his brother and hugged him tightly.

I stepped back a little to give the brothers some space to reunite.

“I missed you so much, brother.”

“I missed you too, Ian.”

“Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Ian stepped back and examined Lloydin’s body with wide eyes.

“No, I came back safely, so you can relax.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

Ian let out a deep sigh of relief at Lloydin’s reassurance that he was uninjured.

“It’s hot out here, let’s go inside quickly.”

“Okay.”

“Dear, shall we go in?”

“Yes. Ian, didn’t you miss me?”

As we headed inside, I teased Ian playfully, though my question had a hint of sincerity.

“…I missed you.”

“What?”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him.

But soon, understanding Ian’s words, I felt a warm feeling in my heart.

“I missed you too, Ian. Let’s have a great time together during the vacation, okay?”

“Yes.”

We went straight to the dining room once we were inside the residence.

I had made sure to prepare all of Ian’s favorite dishes, and he enjoyed the meal thoroughly.

After the delightful meal, we gave Ian some time to rest alone.

During this time, Lloydin and I had a brief conversation in the study.

“I’ve been thinking, how about we take Ian on a trip this time?”

I proposed an idea I had been considering for a while to Lloydin.

“A trip?”

“Yes, I think it would be nice for us to go on a trip together.”

“That sounds good. Have you thought about where we might go?”

“Well, I haven’t traveled much myself. Most of my travels were for treatments.”

“Same here.”

“Then let’s ask Ian and think about it together.”

“Alright.”

Knock, knock.

Just as Lloydin finished speaking, we heard a knock on the door.

“Brother, it’s me.”

“Come in.”

As Ian entered the study, I moved from the sofa to sit next to Lloydin.

Ian took the seat I had been sitting in.

‘Ah.’

The dream. It’s the dream again.

The moment Ian sat opposite me, the dream I had a few days ago came to mind immediately.

The arrangement was exactly the same as in the dream—the desk on the right and the bookshelf on the left wall.

Even the flow of the conversation was identical.

Lloydin asked Ian about his time at the academy, if anyone was bothering him, and Ian replied that he was doing well.

Then Ian excitedly talked about his Pollets class.

He boasted about how, thanks to Luke, he got the highest scores in the class.

“By following what Luke taught me, I scored easily. While others only got 1 point, I scored 2 or 3 points.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. I think you have a talent for Pollets. Luke told me it’s not something easy to do.”

“Really? Do you really think I have a talent for it?”

“Yes, I’m sure Luke would say the same if he saw you.”

I praised Ian, feeling proud of him.

“Um… can I see Luke during the vacation?”

“Luke?”

“Yes, I want to learn more about Pollets from him.”

“Hmm, I’ll contact him. He usually doesn’t have much to do, so I’m sure he can make time.”

“Wow, thank you!”

Ian was overjoyed, jumping up and down at the thought of meeting Luke again.

“Sure, I’d love for you two to get along well.”

Next, we talked about Daliah, and this conversation also unfolded exactly as it had in the dream.

“How’s Daliah doing these days? Are you two getting along well?”

“Yes, we’re doing well. And as far as I know, Daliah hasn’t fallen asleep since then.”

“Really? That’s great. I guess she’s still young and the illness isn’t too severe, so the treatment seems to be working quickly. Ian, you practically saved Daliah.”

“Ah…”

Ian blushed at my words, looking bashful.

“I just want Daliah to always be healthy and happy by my side. That’s all I need.”

Such a wonderful thing to say, fitting for the male protagonist.

“Yes, she will be. As long as you stay by her side.”

“Yes, I will never leave Daliah. I will always be by her side.”

Lloydin and I watched Ian with pleased smiles as he spoke with determination.
TL/N: Im Changing Madam into my dear cuz madam is too formal