EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 133

Chapter 133

 

As I listened to the child speak through tears, it became clear that the duchess had explained our parting in her own way and helped her understand.

Seeing the child endure her sorrow alone without clinging to me made my heart ache unbearably.

Without hesitation, I pulled Diana into my arms.

Startled, she struggled to break free, but I did not let her go.

Had my parents or Raizel seen this, they might have been alarmed, but somehow, I was certain.

Certain that Diana could never be a threat to me.

“It’s okay.”

After reassuring her several times, Diana clung tightly to my neck and sobbed.

Then, rubbing her face against my chest, she spoke honestly.

“Do you really have to go? Dana wants to be part of your family too…”

The thought of parting with Diana made my nose sting and my eyes burn.

But I couldn’t bring myself to lie and say I wouldn’t leave, so I said this instead.

“Diana, meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life.”

“Hic…”

“We will definitely meet again. Until that day, don’t forget me. Okay?”

Nod, nod.

The intelligent child must have realized that our farewell was inevitable, as she kept nodding repeatedly.

After that, no more words passed between us.

Because the promise to meet again no longer needed to be spoken.

 

***

 

“Lia, take care of yourself, and be sure to write once you arrive in the principality.”

“Yes, I will.”

The duchess pulled Lia into a tight embrace once more as she nodded obediently.

Swallowing her regret, the duchess murmured to herself.

“It would have been wonderful if you could have stayed for the graduation ceremony.”

At those words, Lia hesitated.

“Um…”

“What is it, Lia?”

“Well… The first young master…”

“Lucio, you mean?”

The duchess tilted her head in curiosity, and Lia smiled awkwardly.

“Yes. Could you give him a message? Please tell him… thank you for treating me well all this time.”

That single sentence might not be enough to fully conclude everything between them.

But there were too many things she couldn’t say in front of others.

As she shook her head slightly, memories of Lucio’s usually sharp eyes softening into crescent moons and his gentle voice crossed her mind.

A part of her was also curious about how Lucio would react once he learned the truth.

“Of course, I’ll tell him!”

“…Thank you.”

Hearing the duchess’ determined response, as if making a solemn vow, Lia suddenly felt shy.

“Well then, it’s time to depart.”

Right then, Raizel lifted the barrier and spoke.

Since the ducal estate and the marquisate faced each other, the carriage had been placed in the middle, and the memories of those who knew Lia had just been erased.

“Mother. Even if you won’t let me, can’t I at least follow her to the dock?”

Ascart, realizing the weight of their separation, pleaded with teary eyes, but the grand duchess simply stroked his head with an apologetic expression.

“If you’re going, go quickly!”

As if everything had been a dream, the endlessly soft-hearted Marquis Diapel shouted in displeasure.

But as soon as Lia flinched at his stern voice, his expression softened immediately.

Seeing this, the duke let out a small chuckle, though his eyes also glimmered with lingering regret.

“My dear, it’s time to go.”

The grand duke lifted Lia into the carriage, and the duchess watched, tilting her head.

Lia was looking around as if searching for someone.

It wasn’t Diana, whose eyes were swollen from crying but was still waving her hand energetically, nor was it Allen standing beside her.

Then suddenly, the duchess narrowed her eyes.

Come to think of it, the knight Lia had recommended to the order was nowhere to be seen.

Had he, like her family and Taze, been spared from having his memories erased?

“Oh dear, my child! Travel safely. This old man will finish things here and follow soon!”

“Lia! I’ll be right behind you!”

Just then, as the carriage door closed, Marquis Diapel and Ascart cried out with trembling voices.

Even the once-composed Diana, seeing the carriage begin to move, burst into tears and buried herself in Allen’s arms.

Allen, too, wore a solemn expression as he patted Diana’s back.

Only now did it truly feel real that Lia was leaving.

And at that moment—

“Jack?”

Taze’s stunned voice rang out.

Turning their heads, they saw a gray-haired boy sprinting madly toward the carriage, past everyone else.

 

***

 

Jack heard Taze’s startled voice, but he didn’t stop running.

His breath was ragged, his lungs burning, but he had to stop that carriage.

He couldn’t just let her go like this.

Why didn’t I believe her? Lia said she wouldn’t erase my memory.

Back then, he thought she was just saying that, since his memories would disappear anyway.

He had been so foolish. He should have believed her.

Regret filled his mind.

Even now, Jack still remembered Lia.

He remembered growing up with her at the orphanage, how he had protected her from the director, and how, thanks to her, he had become a knight of the Elard Duchy.

Back at the orphanage, when he had lost consciousness, Jack had thought he was going to die.

However, if it meant protecting Lia, he had been fine with that.

So when he barely regained consciousness and heard that Lia was safe, he had felt immense relief.

But after learning the full story of what had happened after his rescue, his thoughts changed.

Because the one who had truly protected and saved him and the other orphanage children had been Lia.

From that moment on, Jack made a decision.

He would become stronger than anyone else so that he could protect Lia.

And he had thought he was doing pretty well in achieving that goal…

…Until he saw Allen’s aura.

The resolve he had built up crumbled like a sandcastle against a wave.

And in its place, a single question took root: When will I ever be strong enough?

Along with doubt in himself.

And then, as if to crush him further, the truth was revealed.

Lia was the Grand Duke’s daughter.

In an instant, she became someone he could never hope to reach.

He felt like he would never get the chance to protect her again.

The day after he spent an entire day bedridden, unable to move, Jack had asked Taze, just in case, if Lia was leaving Elard Duchy.

He had already assumed she would.

But then Taze’s answer came as a shock.

Not only was she leaving, but she was leaving in less than a day.

And on top of that—

⟨…She’s erasing everyone’s memories?⟩

According to Taze, Lia was erasing herself from everyone’s memory.

Those whose memories were erased would no longer be able to recall her on their own. Even if they met someone who still remembered Lia, their reaction would be, ‘Lia? Was there someone like that?’ or, ‘Ah… right, there was someone like that.’—only to forget again.

It was horrifying. He never wanted to forget Lia.

But… she really didn’t erase my memory.

Even as he ran toward the increasingly distant carriage, Jack was bewildered.

He wasn’t a knight trusted by Duke Elard like Taze.

Even though he had spent time with Lia, he was just another orphanage kid…, someone who barely knew anything about her.

He had thought their friendship was so shallow that, of course, she would erase his memory.

But…

“Jack!”

At that moment.

The carriage, moving so fast he thought he would never catch up, suddenly stopped.

Lia leaped off the carriage and, seeing him panting for breath, beamed at him.

“Lia, I—”

“No need to apologize. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“…Still—”

“I came to say goodbye, so it’s fine. But seriously, how far did you run?”

Lia scolded him for not even shouting for her, calling him hopelessly stiff.

Jack just stared at her.

Even now, he still couldn’t tell if Lia was clumsy and naive or strong and clever.

But…

“Lia, from now on, I’ll work even harder. I’ll become a knight so strong that no one can look down on me. I promise.”

“Huh?”

“So later, you have to check if I kept my promise. Got it?”

Lia blinked, then nodded as she reached out her hand for a handshake.

“…Huh?”

Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her into a tight hug. Then he whispered softly,

“Really. We have to meet each other again.”

 

***

 

After parting with Jack, the carriage began moving once more.

Peeking out the window, Lia saw that Jack was still standing there.

‘He should’ve come to see me off from the start.’

She grumbled internally, but a smile naturally spread across her face.

If Bianca, who had been riding alongside the carriage, hadn’t told her, she would have left without seeing Jack.

“My dear, did you… say your goodbyes properly? That was a friend from the orphanage, right?”

At that moment, her father asked in a stiff voice.

It seemed he was still troubled by the hardships she had endured at the orphanage.

Nodding, Lia cheerfully explained how great of a friend Jack was and how, if she had more time, she would have loved to introduce him to her parents.

“Ahaha… introducing him…”

Her father said awkwardly, glancing at her mother.

Her mother, who looked like she was holding back laughter, gently stroked Lia’s cheek.

“Our Adriana has such a wonderful friend. That makes me happy.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll meet plenty more good people in the future. Look forward to it.”

Lia nodded at her mother’s words and let out a deep breath.

Now, she was truly heading to the principality.

 

***

 

Four days later…

Lucio returned to the capital.