Chapter 40
Sebastian decided to send Erica and Joanna back to the Grand Duke’s estate first by carriage.
If the appearance of a “rift” in the northern forest was true, he needed to act as quickly as possible.
“If I stop by the estate first to gather the knights, it’ll be too late.”
If something went wrong, the monsters could escape the forest and attack the nearby villages.
That’s why it was better for him and Milord to move ahead for now.
“Please be careful.”
Sebastian smiled at Erica, who expressed her concern until the very end.
“Don’t worry.”
With that, Sebastian signaled the coachman with a glance.
Receiving the signal, the coachman bowed deeply and drove the carriage forward.
Sebastian watched the back of the departing carriage silently, then took a deep breath.
The sun that had once hung high overhead was now starting to lean westward.
“Well then, let’s get going too.”
It was a good thing they had brought their horses when they set out.
Sebastian skillfully mounted his horse.
Soon, the two of them galloped off at full speed toward the northern forest.
* * *
Sebastian and Milord returned to the Grand Duke’s estate well past midnight.
It was nearing 2 a.m. when the two men quietly tied their horses in the stable and stepped outside.
“I’ll return to the knights’ quarters now.”
“Alright. Good work, Sir Milord.”
“Oh, I hardly did anything. You, Lord Sebastian, had the harder job. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sebastian gave a brief nod and, now alone, finally let out a long, deep sigh.
Only then did he take another deep breath.
The cold dawn air felt like it was cleansing his suffocating lungs.
Upon returning to the front of the mansion, he first glanced toward the area where Erica’s room was located.
The lights were off.
“Good.”
He was relieved.
All the way back, he had worried that she might be up late due to anxiety.
Sebastian then turned to scan the entire garden.
Fortunately, Erica wasn’t out there either.
“Looks like she’s sleeping well tonight.”
Erica’s sleepwalking didn’t happen every day.
Maybe the simple thread necklace he had given her today provided some comfort.
Thinking that made him feel oddly proud.
As he lingered in that unfamiliar sentiment…
Sebastian sensed a small presence behind him.
Turning around, he found Vincent bowing to him.
“You’ve returned, my lord.”
Despite the late hour, Vincent was impeccably dressed and composed.
It was clear he had been waiting for Sebastian’s return.
“I need to see Father immediately.”
“He’s waiting for you.”
Vincent replied without hesitation.
Sebastian let out a quiet chuckle.
Typical of Felix.
He hadn’t gone to bed yet, still waiting for his son’s return.
Sebastian simply nodded and followed Vincent toward his father’s chambers.
The sharp scent of cigars stung his nose.
“How’s your left arm?”
“It’s fine. No need to worry.”
Felix replied bluntly.
And he seemed to mean it — his condition didn’t appear too bad.
Felix had injured his left arm three years ago during the first occurrence of a rift in the Akhlif territory.
Even now, information about rifts and monsters was scarce, but back then, it had been nonexistent.
Felix had let his guard down and was struck by a monster’s claws in the arm.
Though he had quickly eliminated the monster and treated the wound, it was no use.
The flesh began to blacken and harden as if it were rotting.
The pain became unbearable, the nerves went numb, and the arm stopped moving as he wanted.
Holy power provided some relief.
But keeping a priest permanently stationed in Akhlif would give his political enemies ammunition.
“No need to advertise to the world that my condition is dire. I can endure it. And I have an heir — what’s there to worry about?”
So Felix received help from a priest only initially and then pretended to be fine.
But in truth, his condition worsened by the day. What began as one cigar a day had become a whole pack.
It was only recently that things had started improving.
After he met Erica.
Since then, Felix’s condition had slowly begun to get better.
Sebastian glanced at his father, who had a cigar in his mouth but hadn’t lit it, and then began to report.
“We arrived to find the rift in the northern forest had already closed. However, it seems someone entered the forest, as there were traces of an attack by monsters. No corpse was found.”
“Hmm.”
Rifts could be artificially closed using holy water, but sometimes they disappeared naturally with time.
This one, fortunately, had vanished quickly.
Two monsters had remained after the rift disappeared — one each for Sebastian and Milord to deal with.
Felix, who had been quietly listening, asked:
“So how did you know this time?”
“Well…”
Sebastian hesitated.
Erica’s face flashed through his mind. He wavered for a moment.
Everything that happened within the Grand Duchy, especially concerning rifts, should be reported to Lord Felix.
But for some reason, Sebastian held back.
“There’s nothing certain yet.”
It was only suspicion at this stage.
So until it was confirmed, perhaps silence was best.
Rationalizing it to himself, Sebastian steadied his breath and replied calmly.
“I saw a flock of birds take flight. It seemed unusual, so I went to check it out.”
“Hmm.”
Felix nodded slightly. He didn’t seem to find anything odd in that explanation.
“Very well. You’ve done well. Go get some rest.”
“Yes. Good night.”
Sebastian gave a polite bow and turned to leave the room.
His clenched fist was held tightly by his side.
A week later.
Erica returned to the village square as promised.
This time, she went without Sebastian, accompanied only by Joanna and a knight escort.
“Oh! It’s the little teacher!”
“Over here! Come this way!”
“You’re late, little teacher!”
Seeing the children greet her so cheerfully, Erica blushed and hurried over with quick steps.
She had only met them twice, but she had quickly grown close with them.
And she had learned a lot.
Jack’s parents sold fruit at the market, while Daniela’s family ran a dairy farm.
Erica hoped to keep building friendships with the kids and learn more about their lives.
“It might help when I live with my mom in the future.”
Then, Erica spotted a scruffy-looking child crouched nearby.
The child’s hair was gray, and their skin was a darker shade than most people in the Angelica Empire — like melted chocolate.
“Who’s that kid?”
“You don’t know?”
Jack glanced over and shrugged indifferently.
“He just suddenly showed up a few days ago.”
“Really…?”
“Yeah. I heard he came from the northern forest.”
“What? From the northern forest?”
Erica reacted sharply.
After assigning the children a homework task — writing the new vocabulary ten times — she cautiously approached the boy.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
The boy looked up.
His gray eyes looked hollow, as if his soul had vanished. Erica nearly flinched back.
“…Garlyan.”
She hadn’t expected him to answer, but he surprisingly gave his name.
Still, his voice was raspy, like he hadn’t spoken in a long time.
Part of her wondered if continuing to talk to him like this was cruel.
But if she wanted to help, she needed at least some information.
So Erica pressed on.
“What about your parents?”
“…”
He fell silent again.
He buried his face into his knees and shook his head.
Judging by the mood, it seemed his parents were both gone.
Erica paused in silence.
She didn’t want to just walk away — something about this tugged at her heart.
After hesitating, she gently asked again:
“Garlyan… did you really come from the northern forest?”
The boy froze.
Then slowly, with barely perceptible movement, he gave a small nod.
Erica unconsciously held her breath.
“Then maybe… this child saw what happened in the forest that day?”
