Chapter 65
It was something she didn’t even want to imagine. Even if it had been a mistake that happened after she turned into a dove, it would have become a laughingstock. Not only would it have haunted her debut into high society, but it would have also lingered like a tail even after being announced as heir.
Eluana stroked the little bead rolling on her shoulder. The cool metal sphere against her fingertips steadied her heart.
“Besides, do you think Duke Spes would have just sat quietly? Something terrible would have happened. How could Prince Regis think of something so stupid? Honestly, he’s pathetic.”
Clicking her tongue, Ceyron casually threw venomous words toward a royal and then stretched out her hand.
“Here. Take it. It’s crude, but it should work fine. I set the coordinates for the ducal mansion’s back garden.”
Eluana accepted the ring she handed over.
“Thank you.”
She was about to rise when Ceyron pulled her hood further down over her robe. Eluana’s heart beat uneasily. Somehow, she had ended up lingering far too long in Ceyron’s room.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Worried?”
Eluana hesitated, then spoke honestly.
“…Yes.”
“Your brother will be fine. The third circle comes quickly enough.”
It was an age when dragons had vanished, and magic was all but extinct. Many mages never even reached the second circle before they died, yet she spoke with certainty.
Perhaps because—
“Because Rui has the blessing of mana?”
“No? Because I’m teaching him. That’s a much greater blessing than mana’s favor. And besides, he has a goal, which makes him all the more motivated.”
Eluana had felt Rui’s determination herself.
“He was so happy when he realized he could learn magic.”
“He said he wants to get stronger quickly so he can protect you. Isn’t that adorable? Such a tiny thing.”
“…Protect me?”
“You’ve been through a lot of dangerous things, haven’t you? Sure, being hurt yourself must have been hard, but for that little bean to watch you, powerless, would have been agony. That kind of helplessness leaves a deep wound.”
Eluana recalled her own experiences. Watching Kazar get injured while being unable to do anything had been unbearable. That was only for a brief moment—but Rui had watched her suffer for eighteen days in the prison tower.
Just imagining Rui watching her get hurt, over and over, right before his eyes made her chest tighten.
‘I only protected Rui’s body. I didn’t protect his heart.’
The words Rui always said—“I’ll grow up quickly and protect you”—took on a heavier weight now. Had she dismissed them too lightly, thinking them just a child’s words?
Once again, she realized she was lacking in many ways as a guardian.
“…Please take good care of Rui.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve taken quite a liking to that little bean. And besides, I felt sorry toward Duke Spes for not being able to find your mother.”
Ceyron grinned and gestured.
“I’ll be leaving soon, so hurry and tell him.”
Eluana went straight to Rui. The door to the Daisy Room was half open. Rui sat alone, already changed into travel clothes—the ones she had bought for him that day.
‘Looks good on him.’
Well, Rui looked good in anything.
When she stepped inside, Rui turned around. His face lit up with joy when he saw her.
“Sis!”
Eluana knelt in front of him and silently slipped the ring onto his finger. The ring, which had been loose, shrank to fit snugly on his second finger.
“It’s a gift. If you turn this jewel in the center, it will teleport you to the back garden of the ducal mansion.”
“Thank you, sis.”
Rui looked down at the ring and smiled shyly. Eluana tapped the necklace hanging from his neck.
“And don’t take this off either.”
“Okay.” Rui nodded.
“My Rui listens so well. Are you all ready now?”
“Mm-hm. Sis, will you be sad if I go?”
At his hesitant question, Eluana answered honestly.
“Yes. Sad. I almost cried.”
She pulled Rui into her arms and rested her chin on his head. Rui mumbled that he couldn’t breathe, burying his face against her chest, but she didn’t let go.
“I’ll miss you.”
“Mm. Lots.”
Eluana breathed in the scent of her little brother deeply. Yes, being apart felt lonely. Gently pushing Rui back, she dug into her pocket and pulled out a silk pouch. She had planned to give it to him when he was a little older.
‘But Rui feels grown up enough now.’
From the pouch, Eluana took out a small, round pin brooch and held it up.
“This is from Mom.”
“Mom?” Rui’s eyes grew wide.
“It’s the brooch she always wore. Don’t lose it.”
She pinned it to Rui’s collar, and his face instantly broke into a goofy grin.
“…It’s Mom’s. I won’t lose it.”
It was the first time Rui had ever received something that belonged to their mother. Though their mother’s things were still in Arden’s house, none of them had been his. With no memories of her, he had never felt regret. But having something of hers now stirred strange feelings.
Rui fiddled with the little brooch on his collar.
“Listen carefully to what Lady Ceyron says. Get stronger quickly and come back to me.”
“Mm! I will.”
Eluana ruffled his pink hair. Now that they were parting, she realized something—she hadn’t been raising Rui. It was Rui who had raised her.
Because of Rui, Eluana hadn’t fallen apart. Not when their mother died, not when their father died, not when she was imprisoned in Arden, not when assassins chased her.
Because Rui had been there.
Eluana held his small hand tightly.
***
Serus gazed pensively at the scenery outside the carriage. It had been about ten days since they’d set off toward the ducal mansion.
They said they would arrive within a day.
[Please, let us get there quickly.]
He missed the idle days in the forest with the butterfly. It wasn’t because the carriage was cramped or the jolting uncomfortable—Serus, trapped within a statue, couldn’t feel such things anyway.
What made the journey miserable was the presence of Sing inside the carriage.
“Serus, think about it. Tomorrow we’ll reach Duke Spes’s territory. That’ll be the end of this long journey. And it’ll also be the end of my life. I failed to protect the young lady. I’ll be demoted, right? Sent back to the Third Knight Order? Do you know how great an honor it was for a commoner like me to be in the First Knight Order?”
[I know! I know already! You’ve said it 107 times!]
Of course, Serus’s voice never reached Sing. So she launched into her story for the 108th time. To repeat the same tale endlessly was a talent of its own.
“I actually started as a knight in the First Order. That alone was lucky. I’m a woman, and I was an orphan. Should I start from when the diamond mine in my hometown was taken over by bandits? I’ll keep it short. I was determined to rescue my parents, who’d been taken hostage inside. My weapon was just my father’s axe, the one he used to split firewood. I was sneaking into the mine when a group of people came up the path. Back then, I couldn’t tell the Spes knights from the bandits. So I charged them—and got beaten soundly. Fortunately, the captain liked my spirit. He said my eyes were alive. Anyway, I guided the knights to the mine and watched them defeat the bandits. But my parents were already dead. The captain offered me a hand. On the journey to Spes territory, he said if I did 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 sit-ups, and 100 practice swings every day, I could become a trainee. If not, I could work as a maid in the mansion. Of course, I did it. Even though I had to cut my sleep short while traveling, I managed it. That’s how I became a trainee, then a squire, then into the Third Order, the Second, and finally the First. Oh, maybe you don’t know what a trainee is. It only exists in Spes. Other knight orders have pages who serve knights while learning. But in Spes, there’s no serving—trainees only practice swordsmanship. But not everyone becomes a knight. Out of 101 trainees, only 11 make it as squires. I was one of the 11. My trainee days were a story of blood, sweat, and tears. I’ll tell you the whole thing someday.”
[I don’t care. Leave me alone. I want to be by myself.]
But no matter what he thought, Sing couldn’t hear him. Serus wanted to cry. At least it would only be one more day.
Sing mercilessly continued.
“Honestly, I’d be fine even if I were sent back to the Third Order. But I do deserve to be abandoned. If the Fourth Prince hadn’t appeared that time, the young lady would have been in real danger. I’m just glad she wasn’t hurt. If anything had happened to her, I could never forgive myself. Just thinking about it makes me shudder.”
[I think you’re what’s terrifying.]
“I wonder what happened between her and the Fourth Prince. Since it’s true love, I hope it works out. But when did they even meet? Well, it doesn’t matter. Falling for her isn’t strange. She’s so lovable, after all. You know that, too, right?”
[I miss my second friend.]
“Hey, are you even listening? I mean, they say you can hear me, but since I can’t hear you, it feels like I’m just talking to myself. Another peaceful day on the road, huh? Feels boring, kind of. I want to get back to the mansion quickly, but I’m also scared of it. If I do get expelled, what should I do? I’ve never thought about it before, so I feel lost.”
[Then think about it. You’ve said enough already. If you must keep talking, at least take a breath in between. You’re suffocating me.]
“Today feels strange. I’m usually good at sensing things. It feels like something’s going to happen. Maybe bandits? Don’t worry. Bandits are nothing to me.”
At that moment, the carriage suddenly stopped. Sing got out to check what was happening. Serus, finally able to sigh in relief, prayed once more to reach the ducal mansion quickly.
The door opened again, and a man covered in wounds climbed inside. They weren’t major injuries, but his body was scraped all over as if he had rolled down somewhere. Sing followed him in and asked,
“I let you ride because your face was familiar, but that doesn’t mean I trust you. Tell me. Why do you need to meet the young lady?”
“My son has disappeared. Hans—he’s Rui’s… no, Lord Rui’s friend.”
