“…………..”
Melsia left Cherrya’s room and glared at Seffield, who had an awkward look on his face.
“I’m not forgiving you, Dad. But, for Cherrya’s sake, you should reconsider giving up your dukedom.”
Seffield started to say something but then clamped his mouth shut. Knowing Seffield’s stubbornness, Melsia didn’t say anything further and instead worried about Benedict.
“Benedict, I know you’re overworking yourself. Finish talking with Dad quickly and get some rest with me. Okay?”
“I will, Mel.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Melsia touched Benedict’s shoulder and then turned her back on Seffield without a glance.
Seffield quietly sighed at his daughter’s cold demeanor.
“Mel’s misunderstanding is understandable, my lord. In her last letter to Mel, Dame Diana wrote that she was forced to confront things alone because you weren’t cooperating.”
“I see.”
Seffield’s face grew thoughtful at Benedict’s words, seemingly recalling the events of that day. Benedict watched Seffield’s expression closely.
“What exactly happened in Kratyn?”
“…Haaa.”
With a worried look, Seffield took a deep breath and surveyed the surroundings.
His sharp senses picked up even the smallest sounds of footsteps, rustling clothes, and breaths.
He waited until there was no one around to overhear them before speaking cautiously.
“Benedict, you are very clever.”
It wasn’t an unexpected compliment. Benedict immediately understood that Seffield needed his intellect.
“Therefore, I can’t tell you everything. But I must ask you one thing.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Emblem must keep the Empress in check.”
“……….!”
Though Seffield’s request was brief, it set off a complex chain of thoughts in Benedict’s mind.
He began to piece together the attitude of Duke Jade Gray, the Emperor’s neutrality, and Seffield’s current actions.
“My lord, could it be that Dame Diana Gray in Kratyn Forest…”
“Shh.”
Seffield placed a hand on Benedict’s shoulder, signaling him not to probe further.
“Melsia and I only know how to wield a sword. That’s why we sometimes get lost and confused. At those times, I want you to clear the way for Melsia. Help her move forward.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I believe in you.”
With that, Seffield turned and disappeared. Benedict stood alone for a long time, watching his departing figure.
“The Emblem and the Gray that Melsia desires can only be created by Cherrya and Enoch.”
The recent conversation made him realize that he couldn’t immediately fulfill what his wife longed for.
From now on, he and Melsia would have to protect the Emblem from the storm brewing in the absence of the great mountain that was Seffield Emblem.
Benedict walked towards the bedroom where Melsia was waiting, pondering how to mend the rift between Seffield and Melsia.
***
The doctor’s insistence on absolute rest wasn’t without reason.
Unbeknownst to me, I had been stressed by the tense atmosphere in the mansion.
As a result, my forgotten muscle pain, headache, and nausea all suddenly asserted themselves.
“Oh, I’m dying.”
How long had it been since my arm healed, and yet I swung the sword again.
I thought this as I massaged my aching arm with my other hand.
Time slipped away as I continued to swing until the scarecrow broke.
It was frustrating that the habit of overworking my body from my previous life had carried over. Of all things, why did it have to be that habit?
“Well, that’s just how it is…”
Feeling a bit down, I lifted my body from where I was lying on the bed.
At that moment, the door carefully opened. It was Jessia, who had come to check on me.
“Lady Cherrya, you’re awake?”
“Uwaakh, Jessia. Give me some water.”
I greeted Jessia more enthusiastically than ever as she brought in a tray with a cup of water. My throat was parched at that moment.
“Oh, as I thought you might want some.”
Jessia set the tray down next to the bed and handed me the cup.
The cup was filled with water that was just warm enough to soothe my upset stomach, a gesture I appreciated.
“I don’t think I can manage without you, Jessia.”
“I feel the same. Do you know how worried I was earlier?”
“I know, right? Today, I felt like my grandfather wasn’t human.”
“Exactly.”
Jessia shook her head in exasperation.
Calling someone who can make you feel like a patient just by spinning you around in his arms a human seemed a bit off.
My grandfather made me rethink that.
“How much more do I need to grow to handle that?”
“One thing is certain, it’s not now. Just focus on recovering. And don’t even think about asking him to do it again.”
“Okay……”
How did Jessia know I was considering asking him to do it again once I felt better? Sometimes, she gave me chills.
“Anyway, I thought you’d want to know. While you were asleep, there was quite a commotion outside.”
“Why? Did my grandfather and mother fight again?”
“No, it was outside the Emblem mansion.”
Jessia’s answer made me think, ‘At least our house isn’t falling apart.’ But that didn’t mean the trouble outside the mansion was any better.
“Was there a clash between the refugees and the city residents? Or did Aunt Diana return?”
“I wish it were something like that; it would have been less troublesome.”
“Then what is it?”
At this point, what else could cause such a commotion? As I racked my brain, Jessia sighed deeply.
“Lord Enoch has run away again.”
“…Again?”
“Yes, again.”
Isn’t he a repeat offender? This was the second time this year that Enoch had run away.
“Last time, he came back on his own, so it ended as a minor incident, but this time, it seems the situation is serious enough to overturn the Gray household.”
“…………”
“They are searching the entire capital for Lord Enoch. With the unending stream of refugees, safety is also a concern. The atmosphere is quite tense.”
The more Jessia talked, the more I felt like I knew where Enoch was.
“Haha, really. He’s so immature.”
I awkwardly laughed and handed the cup back to Jessia.
“Jessia, I’m feeling sleepy again.”
“Oh, really? Then please sleep some more.”
Jessia tucked me back into bed and covered me with a blanket. I closed my eyes, letting her take care of me.
“See you tomorrow, my lady.”
After Jessia wished me goodnight and quietly closed the door, I listened intently to her footsteps fading away.
Only when I could no longer hear anything did I open my eyes.
“The culprit always makes the same mistake.”
I instinctively ran to my room’s window. I opened the window forcefully, and the moonlight poured in all at once.
“Of course, the rat that came last time is back.”
Trying to getting caught by me again.
