“…Yes?”
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at Raphir’s straightforward words.
“I clearly told Her Majesty that I have no intention of getting married unless it’s to the Duke of Rojasis’ daughter.”
“…….”
Raphir let out a bitter laugh.
“Judging by your expression, it seems like I still have a long way to go.”
“Your Highness, I…”
Raphir brought his finger to my lips. He smiled as our eyes met.
“Be careful on your journey, Eila. I will wait as if a day feels like a thousand years.”
*****
Finally, the day for the investigation team to depart arrived.
It was a bit of a last-minute decision to join them, but somehow I managed to get everything ready on time.
Even though I reduced our luggage considering the long journey, my and Aslan’s belongings alone filled two carriages.
I didn’t see Father among those seeing us off. He was probably busy with his duties, as usual.
Even at the moment of sending off his daughter, who had been by his side for twenty years, that aspect of Father was so typical of him.
“Take care of Eila, Aslan.”
“Don’t worry.”
After bidding farewell to Aslan, Nita came over to me.
However, he could only look at me with a heavy gaze and remained silent for a long time.
“Ugh, why is your expression like that, Brother Nita? If someone sees it, they’ll think it’s a permanent farewell.”
I deliberately let out a wry smile and spoke teasingly. Otherwise, tears would have welled up in my eyes.
But as always, Nita maintained his stubborn and nonchalant expression, without returning my smile.
He spoke in a soft, sinking voice.
“…Take care of yourself, Eila.”
“Yes, you too, Brother.”
We kissed each other’s cheeks, then hugged. It was a hug that felt longer and warmer than any other in my memory.
“You didn’t cry easily.”
After the carriage started moving, Aslan, who was sitting across from me, spoke.
“Brother Nita didn’t cry, so I can’t cry either.”
“He’s probably crying his eyes out in his room right now.”
I chuckled. I couldn’t help but know that Aslan said it to purposely make me laugh.
“Thank you, Big Brother Aslan.”
Aslan replied with a faint smile.
*****
Nita watched as the carriage carrying Eila and Aslan moved farther away.
After seeing them off, he felt like his heart had been pierced even more than he had expected.
He and his father were now the only family left in the great Duchy of Rohasis.
But he couldn’t just stay sad.
「I’ve lost contact with whoever was watching Peridot.」
Aslan said to Nita this morning.
「What? What do you mean by lost contact?」
「Just as it sounds. Yesterday was the regular reporting day, but I still haven’t heard anything. I had someone else urgently investigate, and they said Peridot had also gone into hiding. The mansion, which was clearly occupied until three days ago, has become vacant.」
「…Could it be related to the disappearance of the watchman?」
「Most likely, yes. Since I have to depart for Andela today, I’ll leave it to you, Brother. Let me know as soon as you find any information regarding the missing watchman and Peridot’s whereabouts.」
A foreboding feeling washed over Nita.
It wasn’t only the watchman who disappeared, but it was also strange that Peridot had vanished near the day Eila left for Andela.
Eila was now in Aslan’s hands.
And Nita had to do what he could do.
Soon, the carriage disappeared beyond the horizon. Nita turned his gaze with a firm expression.
*****
On the tenth evening since leaving the capital of Trachen, we arrived in Bellum, Andela.
Bellum was a small city closest to the Decoswan Canyon, and it took about three hours by carriage.
True to its northern region, it was quite chilly, even though it was still August. The weather felt more like early winter compared to Trachen.
Although there were only about thirty members of the investigation team, the number of escorts and employees who came with it was more than twice that.
Since there were no accommodations that could accommodate all of us, naturally the investigation team was scattered throughout the city.
Aslan and I unpacked our belongings in a mansion that was about a quarter of the great Duchy of Rohasis’ estate. It was a place our father had acquired for us.
「Until the weather gets colder, we’ll be camping near the ruins. Until then, think of your time in accommodations as holidays where you can rest.」
The words came from Marquis Colliward, the assistant head of the Palace Magic Department and the leader of the investigation team.
The thought of camping near the canyon with the cold wind blowing made me dizzy. But since I had voluntarily joined, there was no room for complaints.
「It has been a long journey, so we will rest for two days to recover. The actual investigation will begin in earnest tomorrow morning.」
After a brief conversation, I bathed in the water prepared by Tess and when I emerged, it was already past midnight.
“You must be tired. Get a good night’s sleep.”
“Yes, you too, Brother Aslan.”
I bid farewell to Aslan and entered the bedroom.
Perhaps due to exhaustion, my eyes kept blinking. I was sure I would fall asleep in a second once I lay in bed.
But I shouldn’t sleep.
I had to go see Clyde.
Two weeks ago, I had asked Clyde to depart for Andela earlier than the investigation team.
「You go first. I’ll arrive a couple of days after you. Once I arrive, I’ll come to meet you right away.」
「…Are you really coming?」
「Yes, of course. I’ll never break my promise to you again.」
「…That’s right. You have to come as soon as you arrive.」
「Yeah, I understand.」
I didn’t want to break another promise with Clyde if possible.
I cast the invisibility spell and cautiously left the mansion.
Once the sun had completely set, it was much colder than in the evening. Although I thought I had dressed warmly enough, the cold was more intense than expected, causing shivers to run down my spine.
Clyde’s residence was on the outskirts of the opposite side of Bellum. It was about a twenty-minute walk.
If it had been closer, it would have been more convenient to go back and forth, but I intentionally chose a farther location out of concern about running into Aslan.
Even here, the door to the mansion was open.
‘But that means the cold breeze will keep coming in…’
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.
At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching rapidly in the hallway.
“Ruby!”
“Cly…”
Before I could even finish calling his name, Clyde came running towards me and lifted me up in his arms.
It felt as if he couldn’t feel any weight, even though I hadn’t cast any lightening spell.
He pulled off my hood and placed his palm on my cheek. His eyes narrowed as if in pain.
“Why is your body so cold? Did you walk here?”
“Oh, um… yeah.”
Clyde held me as if I were a princess and started walking briskly.
“Wait, Clyde.”
Clyde soon arrived in the bedroom and set me down in front of the fireplace. Then, he brought a blanket and began wrapping it tightly around my body.
Before I knew it, only my face was exposed, buried under the mound of the blanket.
“…You didn’t have to do this.”
“What are you talking about? You’re going to catch a cold.”
“But it’s not necessary to go this far.”
“I’m serious. What if you catch a cold?”
“Clyde, you were the one wearing thin clothes and leaving the door open. Weren’t you cold?”
“Not at all.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not lying. Demons naturally have strong resistance to both heat and cold.”
Clyde still held my hand tightly in his grasp. Even though we were sitting right in front of the fireplace, wrapped in blankets, his hand held onto mine felt the warmest and most comforting.
Come to think of it, in my memories, his body temperature always seemed higher than mine. Perhaps it was because of his demon blood.
“That’s really convenient….”
I mumbled absentmindedly in my tired state, and Clyde chuckled softly.
“You’re just like in the old days, Ruby.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You don’t seem to care at all about the fact that I’m a demon. You’re not scared or disgusted.”
“That’s impossible. You’re my friend.”
I said that, but then I unintentionally fell silent.
I thought we could never be friends.
When I first met Clyde, and even when we made the promise to meet again, in my heart, I had always thought it would be an eternal farewell… And yet, when we finally reunited, that thought hadn’t changed.
But it turned out differently. I already considered Clyde a friend deep in my heart.
