* * *

Thud.

Returning to his room, Ed, who would usually head straight for his desk, stumbled to his bed and collapsed onto it.

In one hand, he clutched a slightly worn notebook as if it were a treasure.

“What could His Highness mean by those words…?”

Despite the ambiguity, Ed felt an inexplicable sense that completing this notebook might change something between him and His Highness.

“Well… judging by how much space is left, I’ll need to fill about a third more. If I plan to work on this with His Highness, I won’t have time to go to the temple.”

It was then that Ed realized something he hadn’t fully acknowledged before—deep down, he wished to stay in the North.

“Looking at how easily I’m giving up the idea of leaving, even if I had gone to the temple, I’d have rushed back at the first excuse. If I’d gotten a letter saying Ronen sneezed, I’d have packed immediately.”

Resolute, Ed sprang from the bed and left his room.

“The priest said he’s leaving tomorrow at noon. He’s probably packing right now. I should talk to him before it’s too late.”

Knock knock.

Ed gently rapped on the door to the priest’s room.

When invited in, he cautiously opened the door.

The priest, unfazed by the unexpected visit, seemed as though he had been waiting.

“Ed, have you decided to stay?”

Ed was taken aback by how the priest anticipated his decision.

“How did you know?”

“I’ve watched you closely. If you planned to leave, you’d have spent today bidding farewell to those who helped you, packed in the morning, and come to me last. But you’re here now, which means you’ve chosen to stay.”

Ed nodded, offering a small bow.

“I’m sorry for declining your kind offer.”

The priest dismissed his apology with a wave and handed Ed a stack of papers from his desk.

“These are notes I’ve compiled with the other priests on the herbs of this region.”

Ed held up his hands, refusing.

“I can’t accept something so valuable. The information you’ve already shared has been incredibly helpful.”

“The others have copies of these records. I’ll use those. This is for you. You’re not thinking of giving up your herbal research, are you?”

The priest’s probing gaze made Ed relent.

Accepting the notes, he expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you so much. This will make my research much easier.”

“I have high hopes for you as an herbalist. Think of this as an early investment. If you ever get stuck or need help, write to the temple. It may take time to hear back, but I’ll ensure you get a helpful response—along with updated research.”

They continued discussing herbs late into the night.

When Ed finally left, it was nearly dawn.

As he approached his room, he noticed someone standing in the hallway.

“Who could it be at this hour?”

He quickened his pace.

“Jaynon?”

“Ah, Ed.”

Jaynon, leaning against the wall, opened his arms and pulled Ed into a half-embrace.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Yeah… a bit…” Jaynon slurred before Ed clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Jaynon, your voice is too loud. What’s going on?”

“Going on? You’re the one planning to leave the North!”

“Lower your voice.”

“Why should I? Huh? You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Ed, startled by Jaynon’s outburst, silenced him again.

“Where did you hear that?”

“I saw your notebook! You were debating whether to leave for the temple.”

“Oh, that.”

“‘Oh, that’? You were with the priest for hours, and now you’ve got documents stuffed under your arm.”

“I decided not to go.”

“…What? Not going?”

Jaynon blinked, his fiery energy suddenly extinguished. Ed smirked.

“Were you worried I’d leave?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why were you lurking outside my room?”

“Just couldn’t sleep, that’s all.”

“Jaynon, you care about me more than you let on.”

“Shut up!”

Jaynon turned and stormed off toward his room, with Ed trailing behind.

“Good luck looking me in the eye tomorrow morning,” Ed teased.

“I’ll manage,” Jaynon huffed. “Watch your step. There’s another stair here.”

Ed followed to ensure Jaynon got to his room safely.

As Jaynon collapsed onto his bed, Ed tucked him in.

“Good night, Jaynon.”

Without opening his eyes, Jaynon muttered, “I’m not trying to stop you. But if you ever decide to leave, tell me first. I need to be ready… I’ve had enough of people disappearing without warning.”

“I’ll let you know. Sweet dreams.”

With Jaynon already asleep, Ed smiled softly, turned off the light, and left.

“So that’s why everyone’s been acting so odd lately.”

As he walked down the cold halls, Ed took a deep breath.

And, as expected, Jaynon kept his distance for the next few days.

---

One evening, Ed was walking with a stack of books when he ran into Tens.

“Hey, Ed! Did you have a good dinner?”

“Yes. Have you seen Jaynon?”

“Jaynon? No, why?”

“I need to ask him something, but I haven’t seen him around.”

“If it’s something he knows, I might be able to help.”

“Actually, I was reading this book…”

As Ed opened the book, Tens suddenly remembered an errand.

“Ah! I forgot to fix the carriage door. Sorry, Ed! Later!”

Watching Tens flee, Ed chuckled.

“Running away from books, huh?”

Ed, having put the book away, took another step forward.

As he walked across the long corridor and onto the skybridge leading to the outer castle, the cold breeze that had grown chillier over the past few days brushed against his body.

“Ugh, my hands are already freezing.”

Wiggling the hand that was holding the book, Ed quickened his pace and climbed the stone steps, now familiar to him, before entering his study.

“I wonder if they’re growing well.”

He set the book down on the table and looked over at the potted plants lined up by the window.

Not long ago, he had planted seeds sent by the Herbalist Association, testing them out by planting them together with the Duke.

“They said they’d grow well even in cold climates.”

He was growing one seed in two different environments: one in the greenhouse and the other in the study, carefully observing their progress.

Just the day before, a leaf had sprouted from the gap in the pot’s soil.

It was such a delightful and fascinating sight that Ed had been visiting the study whenever he found the time since then.

Gently poking the soil with his finger, Ed gave a small nod.

* * *