Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day Hills left.
In the early morning, at Hills’ request to leave quietly, the number of people seeing him off was minimal. Only Arundel, Zion, Prime Minister, and the aide were here.
Hills, standing in front of the carriage, spoke with a bright smile.
“It was a short yet long time.”
“I hope you’ve made good memories in the Croyden Empire.”
“Of course. Thanks to you, I’m taking away very good memories.”
It’s starting again…
Between Zion and Hills, who were talking with clenched teeth, invisible sparks flew.
But in the end, they had to be thankful that they didn’t see a corpse, that a war didn’t break out.
“You should go quickly. Even if you take the carriage, the schedule will be tight.”
Arundel heard Zion’s words as ‘get lost quickly’.
“But before that, I want to talk to Her Majesty the Empress alone.”
“That’s not possible.”
Zion immediately refused Hills’ request. Zion’s expression hardened.
But Hills, as if he knew it would be like this, spoke with a smirk.
“If you grant my request now, I will help you with what you mentioned last time.”
Zion’s eyes became fierce. But the fact that he couldn’t easily open his mouth seemed like he was contemplating.
‘What…?’
Arundel looked at the two with a curious expression from the side.
Seeing that Zion couldn’t easily express his refusal, it seemed like there was something going on between the two.
“…Alright. But you two shouldn’t be far away.”
“Let’s do that.”
At Zion’s unexpected consent, Hills moved far enough with Arundel so that their conversation couldn’t be heard. Zion and the aide were seen in the distance.
Because Zion back there, whose expression didn’t look very good, was frightening, Arundel felt very uncomfortable at this moment.
“What are you trying to say that you’re going this far?”
“The demons are causing too many accidents right now, so I received a return order. I might not see Arundel for quite a long time.”
…?
Although it was questionable whether they were close enough to see each other regularly, Arundel didn’t question it because it was the last time and she felt sorry and regretful to Hills in her own way.
“And that guy, I can’t tell you in detail, but you really should be careful.”
Hills pointed at Zion and said.
“That old man… It seems like he sent Arundel knowing something.”
The ‘old man’ Hills was talking about was ‘Mannheim’. Mannheim was like the father of angels in a broad sense, and in a broader sense, he was a god.
Of course, to Arundel, he was just a boss at work, nothing more or less.
Mannheim could have sent her to the human world with other tricks. It’s an acknowledged part.
But,
“What are you basing that on?”
Since a certain level of trust in Hills had already been built up, she didn’t think it was a simple demon’s prank.
But she had to hear a clear reason for doubting the ‘father’ of the angels.
“I can’t tell you. Because there’s a secret treaty among the contents of the peace agreement with that guy.”
“…Are you really playing diplomat?”
“Understand this time, Arundel. Instead, I can tell you everything else.”
“What.”
“I have a really embarrassing story, but I’ll only tell Arundel. When I was young, I peed and was…”
“Stop.”
At Hills’ childhood story she didn’t want to hear, Arundel hurriedly shut his mouth.
Arundel sighed briefly.
“Ah, if you don’t want to talk, don’t.”
“Don’t be disappointed. I’ll compensate you with something else next time.”
“I’m fine.”
Although Hills appealed with a pitiful face, Arundel answered indifferently as if it didn’t matter.
In fact, Arundel had been thinking about something else since a while ago, not listening to Hills’ words.
From yesterday, she had been constantly ‘thinking about the words’, but she hadn’t decided whether to do it or not yet.
Arundel, who had been thinking, seemed to have finally made a decision, and clenched her fists.
‘Yeah… Let’s do it!’
If she wanted to be debt-free later, she had to tell him now.
Arundel, who had finished thinking, opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“I have something to tell you.”
She spoke forcefully, but Arundel hesitated and couldn’t spit it out. Her face gradually heated up.
“Sor…”
“Sor?”
Seeing Hills’ focused expression, Arundel’s face seemed to explode.
But she had to say it now…!
“I’m sorry for all this time!”
In the end, she blurted it out.
Arundel had been tormented by a guilty conscience all the time since Hills visited when she was sick.
She was too ashamed of herself. She had been blaming Hills for what had happened.
She thought it was Hills’ fault that she appeared 25 years ago, that she was tempted then, and that it turned out like this now.
But she realized it now. Everything was her choice and the result, she had to bear herself.
She used Hills to escape from reality. To grow one step, she had to apologize to him at this opportunity.
But it wasn’t easy to apologize to the opponent she had been longing for and hating so far, Arundel could barely open her mouth.
At Arundel’s apology, Hills looked flustered.
“What did you say just now…?”
“I said I’m sorry!! I think I hated you too much when I think about it now, it wasn’t all your fault.”
Arundel closed her eyes tightly and said again.
“Arundel…”
When she opened his eyes, Hills seemed to be moved. Then he laughed and said to Arundel.
“I also had something I was worried about, but I got courage when I saw Arundel!”
Hmm…? What is this unknown anxiety?
Arundel watched Hills with suspicious eyes.
“Can you give me your hand for a moment?”
“…Why?”
“I want to say a final goodbye.”
His proposal was suspicious, but she didn’t want to break the atmosphere of the apology she had made earlier, so she reached out her hand.
Hills carefully brought Arundel’s hand to his lips.
And he gave a short kiss on the wrist bone.
Huh…? But the place where he kissed sparkled red for a brief moment.
When the red light disappeared, a strange pattern was drawn there.
This broken star-like thing is…
“It’s a brand.”
“…What?”
“I’ve branded you.”
Hills spoke as if it was nothing, and Arundel thought she had heard the word wrong.
But Hills spoke again as if to drive a nail in, and Arundel was stunned.
And a few seconds later.
“Are you crazy!! Why did you brand me!!”
Arundel, who faced the situation, wanted to grab Hills by the collar.
However, conscious of Zion and the aide who were watching now, she expressed her anger to the maximum with her expression. Her face was fiercely distorted.
“Calm down, Arundel.”
“Do I look calm!! I’m the empress now, does it make sense for the empress to have a demon’s brand? What will people think!!”
“I know, that’s why I hesitated.”
“But why…!!”
“I told you before. Demons have started to appear nearby. There are probably many demons targeting the weakened Arundel.”
“…”
“If you’re attacked by a demon, it’s not just the Empress Irina’s body that dies. Your soul can be damaged too.”
Hills spoke quite firmly.
“But still, this…!”
“If you have my brand, most demons won’t be able to touch you.”
“Ha…”
“I’m too anxious. If other demons approach Arundel and take your soul, my blood will boil.”
Hills’ eyes turned red as he spoke with a trembling voice. Arundel was dazed at the sight of Hills, who seemed to have lost his mind.
“Besides, that brand, it’s not something you can erase or get rid of.”
Hills, whose eyes had turned purple, spoke while watching Arundel’s reaction.
“So…do I have to live like this for the rest of my life? Then I’ll just kill you here, and die as well…”
Arundel’s emerald eyes flickered.
Arundel, who had lost her reason, was about to rush in,
“Calm down, Arundel…! It’s not that you can’t erase it, if you really can’t, come find me. The ritual to erase it takes a long time though.”
“How do I know where I’m going to find you?!”
“Um… I don’t know either.”
“This crazy guy… I should have killed you 25 years ago…!!”
Arundel, who had lost her reason, reached out once again to strangle Hills,
“Stop.”
Zion was already close by.
“It seems like I’ve given you enough time to talk.”
At Zion’s dark expression, Arundel withdrew her hand. Hills sighed with relief as if it was fortunate.
Thanks to Zion, Hills, who had preserved his life, quickly got on the carriage. Arundel wanted to hold back Hills, who was leaving, but she couldn’t step forward because she was conscious of the other people’s eyes.
She just suppressed his anger inside.
‘Hills, you bastard, I’ll definitely kill you when I see you next time…!’
On the contrary, Hills looked very refreshed.
“The greeting was long. I’ll go now.”
Hills left like that.
Leisurely, leaving only chaos and destruction…
When Hills left, the people left in the place couldn’t move easily.
For some reason, Zion looked like he had a lot of thoughts and a somewhat uncomfortable expression, and the aide seemed to be watching Zion’s reaction.
Only the Prime Minister was smiling brightly.
‘What should I do with this brand…’
Arundel sighed and opened her cuff.
The fortunate part was that it was barely hidden by the sleeve, so if she was very careful, she might not be caught by anyone.
In the unknown future, Arundel wanted to meet Mannheim.
No, if she kept crying in front of her, Mannheim might cancel the mission.
Her chest was heavy.
It was all because of Hills. She regretted apologizing. She shouldn’t have opened her heart to such a demon.
As Arundel cursed Hills in her mind, a figure passed by.
‘…The old woman on the street!’
She didn’t trust her much at the time, but thinking about it now, she seemed like a really useful fortune teller.
She might have something helpful to say in this bleak situation.
But,
‘When you go out, you must be with me.’
She remembered the condition she had with Zion. Arundel glanced at Zion. She didn’t know what he was thinking about, he was hardly moving.
“Um… Your Majesty.”
As he didn’t seem to speak first, Arundel broke the silence by opening her mouth first.
Then Zion turned his head and looked at Arundel.
“Speak.”
“Um… I want to go downtown.”
“It’s not possible for a while.”
“I have to go today.”
“Why?”
At Zion’s question, Arundel was momentarily stunned. Her eyes sparkled as she thought hard about an excuse.
“Shoes!”
“Shoes…?”
“Yes! The shoe store said new arrivals came in today, and because they rarely import this type, I have to go today.”
“I’ll have someone bring them.”
At Zion’s ironclad defense, Arundel’s eyes trembled slightly. She didn’t want to go back to the Empress’s Palace as it is now.
“I have to try them on…! Size is important.”
Zion frowned at Arundel’s insistence.
“I have an afternoon schedule, so I can’t go with you.”
“I don’t mind! Instead, I’ll go with the aide.”
Arundel quickly pulled in the aide. The aide, who was suddenly involved, looked awkward.
Zion didn’t seem to like Arundel’s suggestion very much, his narrowed brow didn’t return to its original state.
“…Go and come back. But, only buy shoes.”
“Of course.”
In case he cancels his words, Arundel nodded vigorously.
****
As Zion’s figure disappeared, she quickly called for a carriage and headed downtown.
‘Come to think of it, I don’t even know his name.’
Arundel thought as she looked at the aide.
She had seen him several times since she entered the body of Empress Irina, but she knew nothing about him except that his position was Zion’s aide.
“What’s your name?”
“Ah! I’m Cain Hart.”
“I see. It’s late, but nice to meet you.”
“Ah… Yes! Please feel free to speak.”
Arundel nodded her head and looked at Cain’s appearance. She had never looked closely at the aide or thought much about his existence, but now she finally saw what Cain looked like.
Cain was a man in his mid-30s with brown hair. Like the personality he usually shows, his appearance also gave an overall weak impression.
“We’re here, Your Majesty!”
As the carriage stopped, Cain shouted stiffly. Arundel looked around.
‘If we go a little further from here…’
Arundel wandered around looking for the location of the old woman. She wandered around for a few more minutes.
Finally, she arrived exactly where the old woman had been.
But there,
“…it’s gone.”
Only the empty spot of the old woman greeted Arundel.
