Episode 6
I was speechless.
Stopping in my tracks, I gaped as Roan added.
“For three years, at least.”
“Y-Yes… right.”
“Well, who knows how things will turn out.”
“…Huh?”
“Winspear might grow on you, Miss Walker. You could end up staying forever.”
Roan’s smiling eyes were infuriatingly beautiful.
My lips trembled, but I forced a smile. Sure, tears welled up in my eyes, but as long as my mouth was smiling, that was enough, right?
“Lord Roan, you’re quite the joker.”
“It wasn’t a joke. By the way, didn’t we settle on a title earlier?”
“The title. Oh, right, the title…”
“I noticed you called Bael ‘Mr. Bael,’ but you’re calling me, someone you’ll work with, ‘Lord Roan.’ That’s a bit hurtful. You called me ‘Mr. Roan’ before.”
“Then! I’ll just add ‘Lord’ to everyone in the estate…”
“Why make it so complicated when you can simply change my title?”
“…No.”
My instinctive rejection almost slipped out without thought. But meeting Roan’s chilling gaze, I changed my answer.
“You’re right. I think so too. Mr. Roan, I look forward to working with you.”
To others, I might seem spineless, but I didn’t care. My survival was at stake!
Satisfied, Roan bared his teeth in a smile.
“We’re here. Sion, teleport us back to where we came from.”
The mage (called a mage but clearly a demon) in a hooded robe looked up.
“Of course! If it’s Mr. Roan’s request.”
Did he just start to say “Duke”?
“I’d be happy to oblige. Miss Walker, we met earlier, right? I’m Sion.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
I let go of Roan’s hand to shake Sion’s.
After a relatively peaceful greeting, he stepped away from me without lingering and clung to Roan, whispering.
“Seeing humans outside after so long… ha, it’s so thrilling.”
Sion whispered softly, but with my senses heightened, his voice reached me clearly.
“If you go out again, you have to call me. Not the others. They’ll get caught.”
Damn it. I can hear you, you demon bastards.
I stared at the forest beyond to avoid looking at them.
I could feel Roan’s gaze on me, but I refused to turn in his direction.
Sion’s eyes followed Roan’s, turning to me. My mouth went dry.
Did they notice?
Not even a day—no, not even an hour—and I’d been found out?
Contrary to my worries, Roan’s words were utterly mundane.
“Sion, stop the nonsense and teleport us.”
“Tch, fine.”
At Roan’s command, Sion waved his hand a few times. I stood still, watching him.
In less than a minute, a perfect spherical teleportation portal was complete.
“Go ahead and step through.”
He’d finished the magic in under a minute.
‘Even the palace mages couldn’t cast magic this easily.’
When I studied theory, teleportation portals were said to have a short duration, requiring immediate entry to avoid being torn apart and scattered.
But Sion seemed confident his magic wouldn’t fail. He scratched his ear and glanced around casually.
His relaxed demeanor made me realize how formidable Winspear’s demons were. At the same time, a small question arose.
From what I remembered, Sion wasn’t among the stronger demons.
Bael, back at the estate, or Amon, who hadn’t appeared yet—they were far more powerful.
I couldn’t understand how the demons in the novel fell so easily.
But my pondering didn’t last long.
“Miss Walker.”
“…Yes?”
“Your hand.”
The moment Roan pulled me, my body was sucked into the light.
* * *
After passing through the bright light, a familiar scene came into view.
Shivering briefly from the sudden temperature change, I pulled my hand from Roan’s.
“Well, we’re here. It won’t take long to grab my things.”
“Is that so?”
As I walked toward the house, Roan and Sion naturally followed.
“Uh, I have some family matters to settle. Can I go alone?”
At my question, their steps halted. Their expressions seemed to stiffen too.
“You don’t need to worry about me running away.”
Of course, I hadn’t entirely dismissed the idea. But running now would only confirm that I knew they were demons.
Besides, if you ignored the fact that they were demons, it wasn’t a bad job. (Though the demon part was the problem.)
At my words, Roan’s expression grew even stiffer. Did I say something wrong?
As sweat formed on my hands, he spoke.
“I’m not worried about that.”
An unexpected response.
Blinking a few times, I cleared my throat.
“Ahem, thank you for trusting me.”
“Don’t mention it. Sion and I will wait where we first met you. Take care of your business.”
Roan stepped back without hesitation.
I called out to them.
“Two hours! No, I’ll be back in under an hour.”
No need to make enemies with someone—er, a demon—I’d see for the next three years.
With a quick bow, I hurried off.
My steps toward home felt oddly light.
After all, I’d secured the 300 gold my father demanded in half a day. Once I handed it over and finalized the family registry, I’d no longer be Baron Walker’s property.
Despite the hectic day, I had a strange confidence I’d sleep with a smile tonight.
Dark clouds gathered in the distance, hinting at more rain.
“I’d better hurry.”
Thanks to quickening my pace, I arrived five minutes earlier than expected.
Standing before the worn door, I closed my eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.
If I gave my father the 300 gold in my hand, he’d no longer be my father.
It felt strange.
I’d called him Father my whole life. Deciding to sever that tie brought unnecessary thoughts.
“Am I crazy? After seven years of his foolishness, am I still not over it?”
Slapping my cheeks, I thought seriously.
“…Maybe if I pay this time, he’ll come to his senses.”
He wasn’t always a bad father. Before he started his business, he was devoted and kind.
Though that all shattered once he began.
Maybe I couldn’t let go because I remembered that version of him.
I lingered in front of the door.
‘I can decide what to do after seeing his reaction. Cutting ties right now feels scary.’
Closing my eyes, I took a couple more deep breaths.
Having made up my mind, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. The rusty hinges creaked unpleasantly.
My father, inside, must have heard it, as he greeted me.
“I’m back, Father.”
“Oh! Liliana, you’re here!”
Wait. He’s happy to see me?
Seeing him approach with a bright smile, my shoulders flinched. Because he only acted like this when he’d caused trouble.
A bad feeling washed over me. The optimistic thoughts I’d had at the door were long gone.
Keeping my distance, I asked coldly.
“What did you do this time?”
“Do? What a way to speak to your father.”
“Tell me straight.”
Unable to resist my urging, he spoke. And his words were enough to send me plummeting into despair.
