Chapter 51
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Chapter 51
Unable to grasp the meaning behind his words, I found myself thoroughly bewildered.
"Kamang, come here. Quickly!"
The moment I reached out to pull Kamang away from the nobleman, a large hand gently caught my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
"It's fine. Just leave him be."
"Are you sure?"
"It's not like he's heavy or anything."
Rather than showing surprise or distaste at the sight of Kamang and me, he seemed entirely accustomed to such things.
Observing his composed demeanor, I mentally revised the negative impression I'd held of him moments before.
'Well, since Rachel sent him, he must be a good person.'
Kamang, who had been trembling continuously and trying to communicate something, quietly returned to my shoulder.
His form seemed somewhat drooped, but I couldn't possibly guess what he was trying to convey.
Instead, I gave Kamang a gentle stroke and then matched my pace with the Escort, who was moving away from me.
An inquisitive gaze turned back toward me.
"I thought you said you had something to think about alone?"
"I was planning to, but you looked lonely walking by yourself."
Truth be told, I'd felt awkward walking alone while leaving someone behind.
The Escort let out a small, hollow laugh at my self-aggrandizing response and challenged me.
"I'm not an escort."
"Then what should I call you? Come to think of it, we haven't even exchanged names yet."
Looking up at him as I asked, he stared at me silently for a moment before speaking.
"...Lahedis."
"Lahedis? Since you're relatives, your name is similar to Rachel's, isn't it?"
Ah, could it be something like a generational name used in Korea?
'But for a generational name, he doesn't seem to be that close a relative to Rachel.'
In any case, that was his name, so there was nothing I could say about it.
"Then should I call you Lord Lahedis?"
"Call me whatever feels natural."
"My name is Vivian. Though you probably already knew that."
"...I did. For a long time now."
It seemed he'd known Rachel far longer than I'd realized.
Though they must have only started spending time together after Rachel crossed into the Kingdom, so he'd met me later than Rachel had!
"Did Rachel tell you about me?"
"Yeah, a lot."
At his sincere answer, one corner of my heart suddenly felt ticklish, as if filled with soft down.
Honestly, I'm always in contact with Rachel, but....
'I thought that as distance separates our bodies, our hearts might drift apart too, and perhaps I'd come to think of him as just another childhood friend who'd passed through my life.'
Hearing from a third party that Rachel cherished me, the anxiety that had always lurked in one corner of my heart vanished.
Unable to suppress the smile creeping across my lips, I asked.
"Is Rachel doing well?"
"Haven't you been keeping in touch?"
"Well, you know I've been by your side, but truthfully, it's been ages since we last met."
"...."
"We do exchange messages, but Rachel isn't the type to share his inner thoughts with others. So I've been worried whether he's truly doing well."
"...."
"From your perspective, how did he seem? Did he really appear to be doing well?"
In that moment, an indescribable emotion flickered across Lahedis's eyes as he gazed at me.
The same emotion as when our eyes first met at the Dessert Cafe earlier today.
But before I could decipher that feeling, he lowered his gaze and answered in a quiet voice.
"...He was doing well. Truly."
"Thank goodness! I was so worried."
Only then did I relax, breaking into a gentle smile. My footsteps toward the Tavern grew lighter in turn.
As I moved, my hand swinging freely brushed against the firm back of Lahedis's hand as he walked beside me.
Startled by the contact, I instinctively looked up, and he—who seemed to have been watching me all along—asked.
"Did you miss him that much?"
The question was abrupt, but it was clear who it referred to.
I blinked for a moment, then nodded emphatically as I answered.
"Yes. Very, very much."
"...."
"But it's a secret from Rachel."
"...Why?"
"You know that feeling when someone's focused on something, unaware of their own struggles, and then suddenly someone beside them says they're suffering too—and you end up suffering along with them?"
"...."
"Rachel must want to return to the Capital more than anyone, and I can't let my words shake his resolve."
"...."
"Of course, suppressing it entirely isn't good either, but that goal is so precious to him."
So I would simply wait for him quietly, I reminded myself of the promise I'd kept since the day Rachel and I parted.
As I reaffirmed this resolve, we arrived at the Tavern.
It was evening, so there were more people bustling about than during the day.
"I'll bring it out right away."
Deciding it was better to go in alone and retrieve it, I said this to Lahedis and turned to leave.
Behind my back, a low, mellow voice reached me.
"I missed you."
I reflexively turned around and froze.
In that fleeting moment.
His eyes gazing at me bore a striking resemblance to Rachel's eyes in my fading memories.
'But that can't be. Rachel is a woman.'
As I shook off the hazy memory, a stranger stood in that place once more.
A man who resembled Rachel, yet was not Rachel.
'Perhaps he meant that Rachel had missed me.'
I nodded with a smile as if I already knew what he was about to say, then turned toward the Tavern.
Lahedis seemed to add something belatedly, but his words dissolved into the noise of the Tavern before they could reach my ears.
"...Me too."
* * *
That night.
Vivian returned to the Duke's Residence, dined with Kaltz, and luxuriated in a grand bath.
Only after finishing a reply letter to Rachel did I close my diary and lie down in bed.
'I was so alert just moments ago....'
As I lay in bed anticipating his response, the fatigue I'd been holding back came crashing down as if my earlier alertness had been a lie.
Having experienced so much in a single day, Vivian closed her eyes and fell asleep as if losing consciousness entirely.
A knock sounded in the quiet room not long after.
But Vivian, deep in slumber, did not stir.
The visitor waited briefly, then quietly entered the room.
The Dark Spirit crouched beside Vivian's bed sensed the presence and sprang down with a start.
In an instant, it swelled to the height of the ceiling, about to swallow the intruder.
"You'd get a stomachache if you ate me, wouldn't you?"
From the darkness came a low, measured voice—and Lahedis emerged.
Recognizing him, the Dark Spirit quickly shrank back down.
"Mew!"
Lahedis brought his index finger to his lips as he watched the Dark Spirit vocalize.
"Shh."
The Dark Spirit, about to make more noise, fell silent at last.
The room grew quiet again, filled only with the steady rhythm of Vivian's sleeping breath.
Lahedis approached the bed and sat down beside it.
The Dark Spirit soon climbed onto his head and settled there.
That gesture was less a sign of affection than....
'...It's thoroughly protecting its contractor.'
It felt like vigilant surveillance to shield Vivian from me.
Unlike humans who judge by appearances, the spirit seemed to have identified me from the start through its inherent aura.
Perhaps that's also why it had trembled on my shoulder earlier, as if it had something to tell Vivian.
'It's fortunate it can't speak.'
Otherwise, Vivian would have discovered my true identity long ago.
As Lahedis toyed with the Dark Spirit perched on his head, something glimmering on the nightstand caught my eye.
It was Vivian's diary—the one I had given her for communication purposes.
Judging by how the magic stone on the cover sparkled, it seemed Vivian was transmitting her written words to my diary.
Lahedis, impatient by nature, opened Vivian's diary without hesitation.
The pages were densely filled with round, childlike handwriting that resembled its owner.
Rachel, I came to the Duke's Residence just like you said.
I was honestly a bit worried it might feel awkward since it's been so long, but the Duke was the same as always. I guess I was just worrying needlessly.
Oh, and I met Lahedis too.
She was so formal in front of the Duke, but the moment he left, she dropped all pretense—I initially thought she was just a shrewd person, you know?
Lahedis let out a soft chuckle as he read that passage.
He could picture Vivian's mouth pouting in displeasure so vividly.
She had clearly made an effort to hide it, though not entirely successfully.
But the more we talked, the more she seemed like a good person. Kamang doesn't dislike her either, and she listens to what I have to say with genuine interest.
I think we'll get along well going forward.
Thank you for looking out for me in so many ways despite how busy you must be, Rachel.
The diary entry ended there.
The genuine longing she had confessed to Lahedis—the desire to see him—was nowhere to be found in these words.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org