Chapter 72
The schedule for visiting the Hwangryong family included Rita and Joshua accompanying me.
Even though the trip had been decided rather suddenly, I actually didn’t mind. Going somewhere new was always exciting — I was curious how people lived in places with different geography and climate.
The only thing I regretted was not being able to go see Roel.
My original plan had been simple: “Once I reach my coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll sneak out of the estate and visit Roel!” But with how tense the atmosphere at home had become, that was impossible.
“Haa…”
I let out a deep sigh. I’d been waiting for the right moment all this time, and in the end, things turned out like this.
By the time I got back, Father and the Elders would probably have already reached some kind of conclusion. And once that happened, there’d definitely be more people assigned to watch me than before.
Ugh. Either way, I have to meet Roel somehow… but how? I couldn’t think of a single good way.
Also—why was the carriage moving so slowly?
“Did something happen up ahead?”
“We’ve reached the border of the territory,” Rita replied.
That answer didn’t really explain much.
This was my first time visiting another noble family’s lands, so I had no idea what they did at border crossings.
Ah, well… I’d been to the imperial palace before, but it wasn’t like this back then.
“They’re checking the identities of everyone passing through,” Joshua added brightly. “Once we’re past this point, we’ll arrive soon, so don’t worry!”
As he said that, he winked playfully at me. I quickly turned my gaze to the window, pretending not to see, and caught sight of Joshua’s drooping reflection — he looked just like a sulky white puppy.
I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
By now, it wasn’t even surprising that Joshua could read my expressions without a word — or that he’d always add the explanations I needed before I even asked. It worked both ways, really.
I guess that just means we’ve been together long enough.
It hadn’t even been a year — just about four short months — but to me, it felt like such a long time filled with so many things.
Unlike my previous life, this one had given me precious family and people I could truly call connections. Every day had been peaceful and happy… until now.
“It feels like it’s all going to end soon…”
“Huh? What’s ending?”
“Oh—uh, no, nothing.”
I’d mumbled that to myself, but of course, Joshua heard it perfectly.
He really had no sense when it came to reading the mood.
I turned my attention back to the window and cracked it open a little. Since the Hwangryong family’s estate was farther south than ours, the inside of the carriage felt uncomfortably warm and stuffy.
Still, the carriage crawled along at a snail’s pace. How many other carriages could possibly be ahead of us?
“Hmm?”
As I leaned toward the window to look outside, something in the nearby bushes twitched.
Because we were moving so slowly, I could clearly see that it was a person — a ragged, filthy one at that.
No, not like a beggar. He was a beggar. And that beggar was reaching his hand toward me.
When I tried to turn my head away, he started waving it frantically — as if he knew me and desperately wanted me to recognize him.
“Wait…?”
That messy-haired, half-starved beggar was someone I definitely knew.
“Stop the carriage!”
“My lady?”
“Stop the carriage, now!”
Rita and Joshua exchanged confused looks, clearly having no idea what was going on.
But the carriage didn’t stop.
It actually started to pick up speed. If this kept up, I’d lose sight of that person entirely.
I couldn’t wait any longer. I threw the door open and jumped out.
Thankfully, the carriage hadn’t gained too much speed yet, so I landed safely without getting hurt.
Partly thanks to my pheromones, but mostly because sword training had made my body lighter and quicker.
“My lady!”
“No, wait!”
The coachman — who probably never imagined someone would actually jump off mid-ride — panicked and whipped the horses faster.
Rita and Joshua’s voices grew fainter as I sprinted toward the bushes where the man was hiding.
Yes, I knew what I was doing was reckless. Rita was definitely going to scold me later. But I couldn’t help it.
Because the moment I recognized that face, I knew — this was the only chance I’d get to see him.
“Roel!”
There he was, slumped against a large tree, looking like he could collapse any second.
The moment he saw me, he half-hid himself behind the trunk, as if he’d been waiting for me to come closer.
I’d prayed I was mistaken, but up close there was no doubt. It really was Roel.
What on earth had happened to him to end up like this?
“…It’s been a while.”
His voice was weak, almost dying. I couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving laugh.
Really? That’s the first thing you have to say?
“You can still talk like that right now?”
“I suppose I’m the only one happy to see you.”
“Happy, my ass! What happened to you? Why are you here? And why didn’t you show up at the palace last time? What the hell’s going on?”
“When you ask several questions at once, I’m not sure which to answer first…”
“Then just pick any! I’m curious about all of them!”
Even back when I’d met him in the bookshop, I’d thought the same thing — Roel was, without question, the most frustrating person I’d ever met.
“There were… some complicated matters.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
That one word was all it took to confirm what I already knew.
Just like before, he wasn’t going to tell me anything.
Ever since we met at the bookstore, I’d been waiting to see him again — there were so many things I’d wanted to ask.
But now, it all felt pointless.
He hadn’t said it outright, but clearly, Roel still thought “the time isn’t right.”
“…Fine. Forget it. Then at least tell me this — why are you here?”
“I didn’t come here intentionally.”
“You didn’t? You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth, even if you don’t believe me.”
“Then why were you waving at me like that, huh? You were practically begging me to recognize you.”
“That’s… because I happened to end up here while wandering, and when I saw you by coincidence, I just felt happy to see you—”
“I’m leaving.”
I turned on my heel and started walking away before he could finish.
There was no point in listening further — that explanation was useless.
So, in short, he’d just been wandering around, saw me by chance, got excited, and waved?
What, does he think I’m stupid?
I was annoyed. Even if what he said was true, it still sounded ridiculous.
You don’t just get that happy to see someone you’ve only met once! What goes on in that head of his, seriously?
Still… I couldn’t shake it. The fact that he wasn’t even trying to stop me — that bothered me.
…Could he really have just run into me by accident? Was I the one overreacting?
If it had been the Roel I’d seen back at the bookstore, I would’ve kept walking. But this was different.
His face was so thin it looked like he hadn’t eaten in days, his skin pale, his whole body trembling.
Just walking away from him… it felt like something sharp was stabbing my chest.
Ugh, come on. He’s someone I know. How could I just leave him half-dead by the road? Why does he always make it so hard to ignore him?
In the end, I stopped and turned back.
“…Hey.”
“Senika…?”
“Don’t call my name.”
The way he said it irritated me somehow.
And those eyes — the way he looked up at me — it was like he knew I’d come back.
“You don’t have anywhere to go, do you?”
“When the time comes, I’ll have a place to return to.”
“So, until then, you don’t?”
“…I suppose not.”
“I suppose not,” huh. Must be nice to say that so casually.
Honestly, from the moment I’d seen him in those bushes, maybe there had only ever been one choice I could make.
I could already hear the sound of the carriage wheels getting closer.
“…Come with me.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said come with me! What, you planning to just rot here like that?”
“Why…”
“If you don’t want to, then fine — starve out here.”
Right now, the priority was to keep him alive first.
Then I could pester him until he told me what I wanted to know. I couldn’t ask a corpse anything, after all.
Clatter—
The carriage jolted roughly over a stone. Still, not a single person inside said a word.
Two of them were furious, and the other two were too busy watching the angry ones to even breathe.
Clatter—
A moment ago, the coachman had been driving smoothly — now it felt like he was purposely hitting every rock in the road.
“Here, have some water first.”
“Thank you.”
Rita, who’d been silently observing us, handed Roel a cool bottle of water.
He drained the whole thing in one go, while Joshua glared at him with clear disapproval.
“My lady.”
“I’m sorry!”
After another stretch of silence, Rita finally spoke my name — and I immediately shut my eyes and apologized before she could even start scolding me.
If I apologized first, maybe I could breathe again.
But Rita didn’t reply.
Oh no… she was so angry she couldn’t even speak, wasn’t she?
I cracked one eye open and peeked at her.
“My lady.”
This time, her tone was calmer, her earlier fury mostly gone.
Thank goodness. I could relax a little.
“From now on, you no longer need to seek my permission for every little thing.”
“Uh… what?”
“When you were still before your coming-of-age, I guided and educated you as your nanny. But now, you’ve completed your ceremony safely.”
“Oh…”
“From this point on, every word and action is yours alone to take responsibility for.”
Each word hit like a knife. I couldn’t help but flinch.
In short, she meant she wouldn’t interfere with my decisions anymore — but that also meant I’d bear all the consequences myself.
Joshua nodded grimly in agreement.
Hearing it said out loud made my shoulders feel heavier.
In other words, bringing Roel along was my responsibility.
It was only our second meeting, but… he didn’t seem like the kind to cause major trouble. Probably.
“I agree with Miss Rita completely!” Joshua suddenly burst out. “But there’s one thing I’d like clarified!”
“What thing?”
Joshua’s eyes burned as he pointed accusingly toward Roel sitting beside me.
“This beggar— no, this gentleman! What exactly is his relationship with you, my lady?!”
