Dali put on the mask again and spoke.
“Shall we move to the carriage?”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The Count of Kaiter’s territory was located at the easternmost edge of the kingdom. Laila traveled in a large carriage with Taylor. Suddenly, she asked Taylor a question.
“By the way, what were you saying in the cabin?”
“What did I say?”
“You said that the royal knights couldn’t have caught up to us.”
“…Ah, that.”
“What did you mean by that?”
“Well…”
After scratching his nose, Taylor confessed.
“There were some palace knights who helped me and Miss escape.”
“Really? Can I ask who they are?”
“…Ridan and Nidson.”
“What?”
Laila blinked in surprise before speaking.
“You said they weren’t your colleagues?”
“They’re not colleagues… um, more like friends.”
“But you said they were enemies?”
“They were both enemies and friends.”
“You called them bastards.”
“I call myself a bastard too.”
“We bastards have become friends,” Taylor said casually. Laila narrowed her eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I thought it wasn’t necessary to mention…”
“Anyway, that means those two are probably stopping the palace knights from chasing us.”
“Yes.”
“Seriously….”
No wonder we haven’t been caught. As Laila said this, Taylor countered.
“Even if those two hadn’t helped, we would have escaped safely.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“That’s because Terry, the mercenary, is quite capable.”
“Huh?”
“Should I change my name to Terry? I kind of liked it.”
“Your taste is really unique….”
“Terry is the name you gave me.”
“I just came up with it quickly because there wasn’t time.”
“What did you say?”
While Laila and Taylor were exchanging trivial chatter, the carriage continued on its way.
On the way to the east, the carriage passed through several checkpoints. There had never been any issues during the inspection process.
The inspectors at the checkpoints verified the identification badge Dali presented and silently allowed the carriage to pass each time.
Laila once again realized the power held by Count Kaiter. There was a reason why Count Kaiter was always mentioned when discussing the nobility representing the east.
Well, even Dali, who served the Count, was a powerful magician on a level Laila had never seen before.
“We’ve arrived!”
Laila stepped down from the carriage after half a month.
A woman Laila had seen in the past in the reception room of the Hildegarde Marquisate came out of the castle to greet her.
“Welcome, Lady Marquis.”
Lady Marquis…
By now, her title must have been revoked.
Laila thought this but didn’t feel the need to voice it.
She bowed her head slightly toward Countess Kaiter before raising it again.
“It’s nice to see you again, Countess.”
“…Come in.”
Cecile turned first. Laila silently stared at her back before stepping forward.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“I’ll keep it brief. Sion asked me to.”
Laila, who had been warming herself with hot cocoa in the reception room, paused.
“It was shortly after I visited the Marquisate. I received this letter.”
As Cecile spoke, she handed Laila a letter. Laila set down her cup of cocoa and took the letter.
As she held the letter, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
[If something happens to her while I’m away, please help her. I’m counting on you.
And don’t worry about me, no matter what happens. I will definitely come back safely. I promise.
-Your family]
Laila read the letter repeatedly.
She compared the handwriting in the letter to the handwriting she had seen in passing over six years ago, when she was ten.
She soon reached a conclusion.
It was Sion.
It was Sion’s handwriting.
“I’m glad I found the Lady Marquis. I almost became someone who couldn’t fulfill the request of my only family…”
“…”
“Do you know where Sion is right now?”
Laila hesitated. Should she tell her? What should she say?
After much thought, Laila shared everything she knew.
Cecile remained silent throughout the story, only speaking after Laila had finished.
“I have a question.”
“…Yes.”
“If you knew Sion would return alive anyway, why did you choose to become a traitor?”
A long explanation formed in Laila’s mind.
She was angry. Just thinking about Sion’s death made her stomach churn and her head feel hot. She had dreamed several times about scenes in which Sion died—scenes she had never actually witnessed. She felt like she would lose her mind if she did nothing.
Because…
“I’m crazy.”
After Laila answered, silence fell between them. Cecile silently stared at Laila before rising from her seat in the reception room.
“Finish your cocoa and come out. If you want more, just ask a maid. And I’ll give you the letter as a gift, if you want.”
“…Thank you.”
“After you leave the reception room, look for the butler. He’ll guide you to your bedroom.”
“Yes.”
“Make yourself comfortable.”
“…”
“…Laila.”
Cecile left the reception room. After she left, Laila slowly lowered her gaze from the door.
She read the letter again and again, carefully brushing her fingers over the words written on it.
The desperate words that came to her never made it out of her mouth.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Cecile opened the letter that had arrived in her bedroom. A hollow laugh escaped her.
[Is Laila doing well?]
“Is that all…? No thoughts for your family?”
Cecile clicked her tongue and stepped out into the hallway.
It had been about a year and a half since they started living together, and by now, she was heading to someone she had grown close to, almost like a friend.
“Laila!”
“Sister (Cecile).”
It had been about three months since they changed how they addressed each other.
Cecile had first dropped the formalities and called Laila by her name, and about a month later, Laila had cautiously asked, “Can I call you ‘sister’?”
“This sister has brought a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Ta-da.”
Laila, who had been sitting in the study reading a book, blinked and then quickly stood up. Her gaze was fixed on the letter Cecile was holding out.
“You could have stayed seated to receive it. Anyway, take a look.”
“…”
“Isn’t it funny? It’s like he’s hidden all the parts about himself and his well-being, and only asked about you.”
After receiving the letter, Laila stared at it for a while before speaking in a slightly hushed voice.
“Can I… write the reply myself?”
“Go ahead. But keep it short. It’s a bit annoying.”
Cecile joked before exiting the study. Laila put away her book and slowly prepared to write her response.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Two years passed.
One early spring day.
Laila, nearing her twentieth birthday, was in the garden when she witnessed the sky splitting apart.
A black line appeared in the middle of the sky, which was painted red like a sunset. The line momentarily divided the sky before disappearing as if it had never existed.
“…Did everyone see that?”
“Just a moment ago.”
“It wasn’t just me, right?”
The maids in the garden started chattering. Laila stood frozen in the middle of the commotion.
She murmured softly,
“…I want to see him.”
The words she had been holding back finally slipped out.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Your Majesty! The hero is coming to the kingdom!”
“Which kingdom?”
“This one!”
“What? They’re coming to our kingdom? Why?”
“I don’t know!”
“When are they expected to arrive?”
“Within three days at the latest…”
“Prepare a banquet immediately! Gifts! We must have gifts ready too!”
The king sat on the throne, shivering like someone with a cold.
The chamberlain standing below the platform glanced at the king’s pale complexion and thought absently.
White as a sheet.
“The hero has arrived!”
“Let them in!” the king shouted from his seat.
Moments later, the door to the hall slowly opened.
“Wow…” Someone let out a small gasp.
Another person murmured.
“Truly a hero.”
“He has the appearance of one chosen by the gods.”
Someone else speculated.
“Perhaps it’s true that the gods favor beautiful humans.”
Another questioned,
“But if that’s the case, why do ugly humans exist at all? Didn’t the gods create all humans?”
“Maybe it was a mistake?”
“It seems like there have been too many mistakes…”
“Silence!”
The king struck the floor with his staff. The commotion quickly faded away.
The king, who had calmed down thanks to the courtiers’ frivolous chatter, gazed steadily at the hero.
