Chapter 67: Courage for Farewell (1)

“How could he leave so suddenly, without even taking an attendant? What could be the reason?”

The next morning, Silia, who had come to visit Emil’s room, rested her chin on the table as she gazed at Mila inside the birdcage and voiced her curiosity. Emil, wearing a worried expression, stood by the window, looking far into the east where the Bella Rune Empire lay.

For a head of a noble house, official trips were common, and so the mansion remained as peaceful as always.

The gardeners trimmed the bushes with large shears, the servants carried on with their assigned tasks, and the butlers managed affairs related to the mansion and the estate.

The daily routine had begun as usual that morning.

Silia, too, was merely curious about her father’s sudden departure but did not feel any particular worry or unease. She had not been informed about anything regarding the saintess.

Among the many inhabitants of this vast mansion, only three people carried anxiety and worry in their hearts—Gelion, Jichel, and Emilia.

“But who was that person wearing the hood?”

Silia asked while picking up a cookie from the tray. Emil, who had now taken a seat at the table, also grabbed one of the sweets Silia had brought.

She had decided to eat well, sleep well, and take care of herself while waiting.

Taking a bite, Emil’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You made these cookies yourself?”

“Oh, yes! I learned from Jichel. I wanted to make them for you… Hehe, do you like them?”

She wanted to tell her that it was the saintess and that it had all been a false prophecy, but Emil deliberately changed the subject.

Since it was something Rosell had chosen to keep secret, she could not bring it up.

Fortunately, Silia quickly forgot her curiosity.

Blushing slightly from the compliment, she giggled shyly.

“They’re delicious. Really. Lady Silia, is there anything you can’t do?”

“Hehe, I was worried they wouldn’t turn out well…”

“You could even open a pastry shop.”

“Eek! T-That’s too much praise…”

Even as she waved her hands in protest, Silia’s smile stretched wide in delight.

Seeing that adorable expression, Emil’s lips naturally curled into a gentle smile as well.

Whenever she was with Silia, she found herself smiling like this.

“By the way, have you said goodbye to Roden yet?”

“Huh? Goodbye? What do you mean?”

“…?”

With a cookie still in her mouth, Emil furrowed her brow and looked at Silia in confusion.

But Silia seemed completely unaware.

“Goodbye? Roden? Is he going somewhere?”

“Oh… I guess you haven’t heard yet.”

“Heard what?”

“Roden will be leaving in a few days to accompany Duke Lucillan to the northern lands.”

“…What?”

Emil’s words made Silia drop the cookie she was holding. Her hands froze mid-air, and her pupils gradually widened at the sudden news of her friend’s departure.

“N-Northern lands? Roden?”

“Yes. Duke Lucillan took a liking to him and decided to take him along.”

“Roden…? Wait, taking him along means…?”

“Duke Rosell agreed to let Roden go as part of building trust for his future plans. Until those plans are completed, Roden will stay with Duke Lucillan.”

“Using Roden to build trust…? So that’s why…!”

Silia abruptly stood up and slammed her palm against the table.

For days now, Roden, who always followed her around like a shadow, had been nowhere to be seen.

She had simply assumed he was busy.

But now, it was clear—he had been avoiding her.

She had thought it was strange.

This mansion wasn’t large enough for them to go days without crossing paths.

Moreover, since Roden was officially her bodyguard, it was practically impossible not to run into him.

Unless he was deliberately running away.

“L-Lady Silia?”

With her lips pressed tightly together, Silia furrowed her brows.

She felt betrayed.

Roden, who had been with her since infancy, was the only person in this mansion she could truly call a friend.

The one person who made her dull aristocratic life bearable.

That’s why, despite their constant bickering, she had always trusted and relied on him.

And now, he was leaving for the northern lands without even telling her?

She was furious.

“That bastard Roden…! He didn’t even tell me…! I’m going to find him!”

“Oh—alright…”

Thud! Thud!

With heavy, determined steps, Silia stormed out of the room in search of Roden.

‘Ugh, how do I even explain this…?’

It had all happened so suddenly.

Roden was now set to leave for the northern lands under Duke Lucillan.

He had acted nonchalant in front of his lord, but in truth, he was terrified.

A vast, endless land of snow.

A life where every day would be like surviving in the wild.

Leaving behind the comfort of this grand mansion for such a harsh place was daunting for a thirteen-year-old boy.

No, even a grown man would hesitate.

But if it was for the sake of his lord, to whom he owed his life twice over, then he had to do it.

Duke Lucillan had granted him a week.

A week to settle his affairs here and mentally prepare himself for the northern lands.

But Roden had chosen to spend it as if nothing were happening.

What was the point in saying farewells?

He planned to bid his goodbyes the day before he left and depart quietly.

Especially to Silia.

‘I have to avoid her today too…!’

That morning, Roden had once again resolved to steer clear of Silia.

If he saw her, she would surely see through him.

She was sharp-eyed and observant—she would immediately notice his awkwardness.

And he wasn’t sure he could handle seeing her sad.

Of course, she would probably scold him.

[You weakling, do you really think you’ll survive in the northern lands? Hmph, don’t die on me!]

She would sneer at him.

But he knew.

Beneath her scolding, there would be worry and affection.

That was just who Silia was.

She seemed aloof, but deep down, she cared more than anyone.

The thought of disappointing her, of making her sad, weighed heavily on his heart.

And suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

She was just a friend.

Why did he need courage to say goodbye?

He thought about it for a moment.

But the only answer that came to him was—

Because she was a dear friend.

Losing a friend was always painful.

Even if it wasn’t forever, even if it was just for a few years.

Because she was important to him, the thought of making her sad was unbearable.

Had he not sworn to always protect her?

One might dismiss it as a childish promise from a boy who had barely come of age, but to Silia, that vow had never been a mere joke.

And just because he was leaving now didn’t mean he was abandoning that promise.

It was simply that this decision would likely bring her disappointment and pain, and that was what made him hesitate. That was why he needed courage.

Lost in his tangled thoughts, Roden was busy mopping the hallway on the first floor of the annex when someone called out to him.

“Hey, Roden.”

“Huh?”

It was Nella, a fellow servant his age.

She had short, straight-cut hair that gave her a sharp look, yet the lingering baby fat on her face made her seem endearingly youthful. She was still fresh to the mansion, having arrived only six months ago.

Nella had been carrying a basket wrapped in thin cloth, on her way to the laundry area, when she spotted Roden and approached him.

“Lady Silia was looking for you.”

“W-What? Why?”

“I don’t know? She seemed a little angry, though.”

“Ugh… And did you tell her where I am?”

Nella pursed her lips and shook her head.

Roden raised a finger to his lips and whispered urgently.

“You didn’t tell her I’m here, right? Nella, keep it a secret.”

“…Are you playing hide-and-seek with Lady Silia or something?”

“No! It’s not like that… It’s just… never mind.”

Nella snorted, unimpressed by his vague excuse, and wrinkled her nose before continuing on her way.

Left alone in the hallway, Roden glanced around, then dipped his mop into the bucket before resuming his cleaning.

‘If she’s angry… does that mean she already found out?’

Silia was looking for him in a rage.

He had made an unnecessary attempt to keep it a secret from Nella, but he knew it wouldn’t take long before he was found out anyway.

The moment he had been avoiding had finally arrived.

There was no point in hiding.

This mansion wasn’t large enough for him to truly disappear. He had known all along that this was inevitable, yet he had avoided Silia because he hadn’t wanted to see the sadness on her face.

‘Well… it was bound to happen anyway.’

She must have already found out.

That was why she was suddenly looking for him.

He had hoped she wouldn’t hear about it so soon, but unfortunately, she had.

‘She’s going to be furious, isn’t she…?’

Knowing Silia’s personality, he could already imagine her stomping her feet in outrage.

She would demand to know why he hadn’t told her first.

‘Maybe I should have told her myself…’

As he continued mopping the hallway, Roden regretted it.

If she was going to find out anyway, he should have just told her.

‘Was it Sir Gelion who told her?’

Only Duke Rosell, Gelion, and Duke Lucillan had known about his departure to the northern lands.

That had made him complacent.

But at this point, it didn’t matter how she had found out.

Now that the moment had arrived, he had no choice but to face it.

“Well… guess I should head to the second floor.”

Grabbing the handle of his water bucket, Roden dragged his mop along as he made his way toward the stairs.

But then, he froze in place.

Just as he set foot on the first stair and lifted his head, he saw her.

Silia.

She was already at the top of the staircase, glaring down at him with a furious expression.

Roden instinctively averted his gaze and slowly stepped back.

“Ah, come to think of it, I already cleaned the second floor.”

He had not.

“Oh, wait. I haven’t cleaned the second floor yet. Gosh, I must be so distracted lately.”

He had.

“Well then, maybe I should go check on the main mansion.”

As he muttered excuses to himself and turned to leave, clutching his oversized water bucket and dragging his mop behind him—

Naturally, he didn’t make it very far.

A voice boomed through the first-floor hallway like a divine decree from the heavens.

“HEY!! DELRODEN RODEN—!!!”

Roden, Roden, Roden.

His name echoed through the hallway.

Silia only called him by his full name when she was truly furious.

The last time had been over a year ago, when he had accidentally walked in on her while she was bathing.

Now, after so long, he heard his full name once again.

Thud, thud, thud!

The sound of stomping feet reverberated through the wooden staircase.

It sounded as if the very steps might break under the force of her rage.

And before he knew it, that terrifying sound was right behind him.

“HEY! Roden! What the hell is going on?!”