RATBA Chapter 24

**Luke felt suffocated by Naila’s endless kindness.**

Even after all she had been through, she was still trying to take care of Claudia.

Unable to bear the frustration any longer, Luke shouted at Naila for the first time.

“Do you really think you’ve forgotten the bruises that covered your arms? The hair Claudia tore out of your scalp? You actually forgot all of that!?”

“No, I didn’t…”

“Then why are you saying things like that? There are people more worthy of help!”

Naila looked up quietly at her brother, and suddenly burst into tears.

The sight of the tears welling up and falling from her large eyes made Luke step back.

“…I’m sorry.”

Naila quickly wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand, though the redness around them remained, making her expression look even more pitiful.

“Let’s give our sister one more chance. If we open our hearts, she’ll change too.”

“…”

Luke couldn’t say no when Naila looked at him with tearful, pleading eyes. In the end, he gave in to his sister’s heartfelt request.

—

*“Good thing I told Mary this morning that I’d be leaving.”*

Just as I was finishing breakfast, a servant arrived to announce that the carriage was ready.

If I left immediately, I could deliver the good news to Nathan quickly.

*“I got permission this fast, so Nathan will definitely be happy, right?”*

Thinking about the shy yet prickly expression he’d make when he heard the news lifted my mood.

But the joy didn’t last long.

The moment I saw the people waiting in front of the carriage, my spirits plummeted to rock bottom.

The smile that had been creeping up my face immediately dropped.

“…Brother? Naila?”

There was no way Luke, who hated me so much, had come to see me off.

He must have had another purpose in mind.

*“Please don’t tell me they plan on coming with me…”*

Seeing his outfit, which looked fit for a long journey, filled me with unease.

Dragging my reluctant feet, I made my way over to them.

“Why are you two waiting here?”

Even as I asked, I silently prayed.

Please, please don’t say you’re coming with me.

“Why? We’re here because we’re coming with you to find that stupid spirit of yours. Got it now?”

“…Weren’t you not coming with me?”

“Thank Naila for that. If she hadn’t insisted on going, I wouldn’t have cared about your silly game.”

“…”

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind.

There were so many things I wanted to say, I didn’t even know where to start.

“If you don’t want us to come, we don’t have to. You already have plenty of people to help you—”

“Damn it! You think Naila decided to come with you lightly? And all you care about is saving your stupid pride? Why are you so selfish?”

He thought I was rejecting them because of my pride.

I was about to protest, but Naila spoke first.

“Brother! Stop it! She’s just not being honest!”

“She doesn’t need any help with that attitude!”

“Brother, please… You promised you wouldn’t care about how she acts…”

They weren’t paying any attention to what I thought.

It felt like I was just a tree standing in the background of their conversation.

*“How much longer do I have to stand here watching this?”*

I was too busy to keep indulging them in their drama.

So I cut in.

“Thanks for the thought, but really, I’m fine. Honestly, you’d just get in the way.”

“What?”

As expected, Luke flared up instantly.

Before he could say anything ridiculous, I quickly continued.

“If two more people suddenly join, His Highness will be confused. Supplies, food—everything must have been prepared specifically for the original group.”

“…”

“…”

As soon as I mentioned Nathan, both of them fell silent.

“So, I’ll get going now, okay?”

This was my chance.

While they were silent, I swiftly climbed into the carriage and called to the coachman.

“Please go! Quickly!”

“Huh? Oh, yes, right away!”

Not knowing what was going on, the coachman hurriedly followed my request.

I stuck my head out the window and smiled brightly.

*“I need to show them that there are no hard feelings.”*

Otherwise, Luke might run to Father and spin the story to make me look bad—something like, *We tried to make things work, but Claudia pushed us away.*

“Take care of the house!”

Unlike my cheerful expression, their faces looked as if they’d just bitten into a cockroach.

But that wasn’t my problem.

I shut the window and settled in comfortably to rest.

—

After alternating between napping and waking, I found myself at the palace gates.

“Miss, we’ve arrived at the palace.”

“Oh, we’re here? Thank you.”

Stretching out my stiff back, I stepped out of the carriage.

Without delay, I headed toward where Nathan was likely to be—either his study or bedroom.

To my disappointment, he wasn’t in either place.

*“I thought he’d be waiting for me to arrive…”*

Feeling a bit let down, I decided to sit in the garden and wait for him.

It was just as the air started to feel cold when a heavy coat draped over my shoulders.

I looked up with some effort, my neck stiff from the chill, and saw the face of the person who had placed the coat on me.

“You should’ve waited inside—it’s cold out here.”

I tried not to look too happy, but a smile crept onto my face anyway.

I attempted to sound annoyed instead.

“Why did you take so long?”

“I was making sure everything was ready for our departure. There was a lot to do.”

“Everything’s going smoothly, right?”

“Of course.”

He sat down beside me with a heavy sigh.

It seemed like a sigh full of worry, despite things supposedly going well.

“But you know…”

“Yes?”

“If everything works out—if we find the spirit and Father passes the throne to me—what will happen to you after that? Specifically?”

It was the first time he’d asked about my future.

I thought for a moment.

I had to see him ascend the throne—that much was certain. But after that…

“Hmm, I’ll probably leave. I can’t say for sure, but that’s the plan.”

If I collected all five spirits, it would mean I’d fulfilled the game’s conditions and could go home.

Then I’d live my life as usual—graduate, get a job, maybe even get married…

*“For now, I’ll just say I’ll leave. It’d be too hard to explain going to another world.”*

As soon as I mentioned leaving, Nathan turned to look at me.

His deep blue eyes, like the night sky, flickered with various emotions.

“Leave? To a faraway place?”

“Yes. Somewhere very far. A place with different languages, cultures, and people.”

“That’s ridiculous. Father won’t allow it, and even if he did, how would you get there? You’d be back in no time.”

I stared at him, feeling incredulous.

What was with these ominous words? Couldn’t he just wish me well?

“That won’t happen. I’ll be fine—it’s a familiar place.”

“Just because you’ve read about it doesn’t mean you’ll be okay.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“I’m just giving you advice. Why struggle somewhere else when you can stay here with people who’ll help you?”

“Well… It might get lonely.”

I thought briefly of my late grandmother. After losing her, I had always been alone.

But still, I had to go.

—

Eventually, preparations for departure progressed smoothly.

Finally, the day arrived.

From the break of dawn, we were at the harbor, overseeing the situation.

…

I sighed, knowing this was going to be a long, tiring journey.