~Chapter 81~
Getting ready to move was absurdly fast.
Aisha hadn’t brought much to begin with, and she wasn’t the type to collect dresses or jewelry.
In the end, her suitcase only contained her old manuscripts, the latest special edition of Sunday’s Exposé, an old pen and notebook, and a few clothes from the Ashton family.
After packing, Aisha told Sien to let Kilian know she would be leaving, but…
“He said he understood.”
“Hmm?”
“He said he understood, and told you to go safely.”
“……”
“Was there something else he wanted to say?”
That was all of Kilian’s reaction. Even the usually annoying Sien looked a little sad.
Aisha thought it was too much, but she didn’t show disappointment.
She simply thought, This is how it’s supposed to be.
“Yeah. That’s all I am to Kilian. From the day we met until now.”
It was only her own misunderstanding. So if anyone was at fault for feeling sad, it was her.
Without even being seen off by Kilian, Aisha left the Winters estate with Til.
Sitting in the carriage, she kept looking back at the mansion.
“When I first came here, I thought I would die in this place.”
Still, she had spent that season from winter to spring here, caught between two worlds. And that time had been truly enjoyable. That fact couldn’t be denied.
She probably wouldn’t come back to this castle again.
Thinking that made her a little sad, but she kept her eyes on the manor until the end.
Soon, Til brought Aisha to the hideout where she had met him before.
“Consider it an honor. Only I can stay here.”
Til carried her suitcase like someone who had waited his whole life for this day.
“No one else can even visit. In fact, only Paul knows about this place. Do you understand what that means, Aisha?”
“Do I need to?” Aisha asked casually, and Til sighed.
“You really don’t know anything, do you? This hideout is the safest place in Draxion.”
“Hmm… yeah, I guess so. You wouldn’t stay somewhere unsafe, right?”
Til didn’t back down. He glanced at Aisha, then started leading her upstairs.
“Everything you need is on this floor.”
“Hey, the first floor was big. Why am I on the second floor? You’re doing this on purpose because you don’t like moving me, aren’t you?”
“I’ve planned everything. Just be quiet and follow me.”
Aisha had no energy to argue, so she quietly followed him.
“There are two rooms upstairs. One is a bedroom. One is a workspace.”
“…Workspace?”
“You weren’t thinking of going back to your old workspace, were you? That place is exposed now.”
Aisha had never had a proper space to write. The old room was part of the house, so she could never fully focus on articles.
At the Winters estate… well, she didn’t even need to think about that.
Til opened the workspace door.
“Don’t be shocked. Ready?”
Aisha couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Wow… this is… really something.”
“Of course. I put a lot of effort into it.”
She stepped in, looking around carefully.
A large desk was placed right in front of a window.
“You can see outside, but no one can see in. Special materials were used.”
The brown wooden desk looked classic and very big. Aisha thought about her time as a political reporter—she had never seen such a desk.
“The chair is very comfortable. I spent a lot of money on it.”
Indeed, it was very comfortable. And the room was decorated beautifully, with sparkling gems on the columns.
“There’s a footrest and a soft carpet. And over here, see?”
Aisha looked at the piles of documents on the desk.
“These are information related to the articles you’ll write. Not just about Rune, but everything we’ve collected so far.”
“Paul organized it, so there’s a lot to work with. And the pens and paper are prepared too. How’s that?”
Aisha saw Til proudly standing behind her. She wanted to hit his cocky nose, but couldn’t help smiling.
“Yeah… it’s more than I imagined. Thanks for caring.”
“Bedroom? Should I look at the bedroom too?”
Til smirked.
“If you see it, you’ll faint. The atmosphere is completely different from the Winters estate.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll mostly be in the workspace. Thanks, Til.”
Til pouted briefly, then crossed his arms and muttered softly:
“Damn girl. I worked so hard…”
“No, really, thanks. It’s amazing. I’ve never had a workspace like this. Should I dance in it? Do you really want that?”
“Hmm… no. Maybe I said something unnecessary.”
They continued their silly conversation, but Aisha went back to examining the desk. Til watched her quietly, feeling… unusual.
‘Enough. I brought her here anyway.’
He brushed his hair back and went downstairs to get her suitcase.
“Wait here. I’ll bring your suitcase.”
“Thanks.”
Left alone, Aisha quietly sat on the sofa.
The unfamiliar silence immediately wrapped around her, and she lowered her head weakly.
