A person who needed to continuously draw spell formations in the forest wouldn’t want to miss such a good opportunity.
“That’s right. It’s part of my usual work, so there’s absolutely no problem.”
Elliot also raised his voice, welcoming the chance to shift the troublesome task onto someone else.
Although it wasn’t his intention, he had effectively helped my plan.
“Then… I’ll ask you for the favor.”
“What should I be looking for?”
“Just bring the seiran that grows in the forest.”
Elliot quickly chimed in.
“Isn’t that an ingredient for an antidote?”
“She says she needs it. And a fresh one, just dug up.”
He casually added a sarcastic remark, sitting sideways and lifting his teacup, as if the matter was now out of his hands.
I still remembered him speaking ill of Klen during the spell formation search.
Does he have several lives? I wonder if I can confirm how many he has.
“I know where it grows. I will go and return right away.”
“Once you find it, don’t come here. Go straight to him.”
“Yes.”
Rodney, like a knight, bowed and quickly left the area.
My eyes involuntarily narrowed at his hurried appearance, as if every second was precious.
Since he was going on my orders, he could easily make excuses for staying longer.
Misremembering the location, getting lost because it wasn’t there, or perhaps thinking he must find it because a fragile person had specifically requested it.
‘Wow, I’ve improved too, haven’t I?’
The excuses that popped into my head were quite plausible.
And I could vividly picture Rodney spending a little more time there, drawing spell formations.
I wondered when he would return.
That was another curious matter.
‘What was that?’
I briefly caught a glimpse of a shadow moving after him as he left.
That shadow, which ordinary people wouldn’t notice, paused for a moment, bowed to me, and then followed Rodney again.
“Well then, since my business is finished, I shall take my leave.”
As I finished the remaining tea and stood up, Elliot, with the most lively expression I had seen on him today, rose with me.
It was as I was turning my back, receiving his send-off.
“Ah, by the way…”
“What is it?”
“How was the healer?”
I turned back to look at him.
His face wasn’t etched with worry.
But his expression was subtle, not entirely disinterested either.
“Visits are forbidden, so I couldn’t see her either.”
“Was she said to be that unwell?”
His face subtly hardened, and a slight worry seeped in.
Even if their relationship wasn’t good, he seemed concerned.
I casually threw the social circle rumor at him as a joke.
“That’s what happens when you dance.”
“Ugh. I didn’t ask her to dance…”
Elliot’s shoulders slumped.
The fact that he asked if I had come to pick a fight immediately upon meeting suggests he was well aware of the social circle rumors, after all.
And he seemed to believe the rumor surprisingly.
Deciding to stop teasing him, I spoke lightly.
“Anyway, they said it wasn’t serious. She seems likely to start working again tomorrow.”
“Is, is that so?”
“Yes. So you don’t need to worry.”
I lightly patted his slumped shoulder and this time, truly turned and walked away.
“Please go carefully.”
Yet, Elliot’s voice behind me was still devoid of spirit.
Quite a bit of time had passed because I had stopped at various places.
I looked up at the sky.
The creature that said it would show me how fast it was showed no sign of returning yet.
Although it wasn’t a weight to be concerned about.
As the warmth that had pressed against my shoulder disappeared, emptiness filled the space.
When I returned to the room with heavy steps, the bright faces of the servants who greeted me instantly turned pale.
“Lady Adrian. ……Where is Aren?”
“Where did Aren go?!”
Linda’s and Bis’s eyes, fixed on my shoulder, were violently shaking.
I wasn’t the only one feeling the emptiness of Aren’s absence.
The frozen servants, with their eyes glued to my shoulder, didn’t budge, as if their souls had flown away.
Just as I was about to reach out my hand, thinking they might have fainted standing up, I felt a presence approaching from behind.
“Adrian? Did you just return?”
“Yes.”
That calm presence was Klen, of course.
Perhaps sensing that my reaction was strange, he approached quickly and stood next to me.
And he tilted his head, looking at the servants who stood frozen in front of the door.
His gaze returned to my face, then slowly moved down until it reached my shoulder, where it stopped.
He stared intently, as if searching for something in the empty space.
His expression rapidly began to harden.
“……Aren?”
“……”
First, I quickly pulled the three people, who seemed to have turned into statues, inside.
“Aren just, left for a moment.”
To tell the truth, I would have to reveal that Aren was a Divine Beast.
Even if not a Divine Beast, I would have to say it wasn’t an ordinary bird.
No matter how discreet our servants were, revealing that to anyone other than Klen now was dangerous.
That’s why the explanation turned out to be very subtle and strange.
“Did it not like the house after all?”
“Or maybe the bird feed wasn’t to its taste.”
The two wore serious, hardened expressions, deep in thought.
Linda carefully examined the woven bird’s nest and the tree, while Vis lifted the bowl as if analyzing the bird seed to see if anything was wrong with it.
They clearly didn’t believe the bird had just gone out.
“……Was the name so bad?”
Klen joining their gloom was unexpected.
Could this also be acting?
I glanced at his face, which was set in such a serious expression that it was hard to tell.
‘I gave it the name, though?’
Did Klen perhaps prefer CleAn, RenAh, or RenLy more? Or maybe RiRen?
In any case, the decided name couldn’t be reversed, and I had to comfort these people who were in despair.
“Hmm, no. It felt like he just stepped out for a walk, so he’ll be back soon. Don’t worry. Since Klen is back too, shall we have dinner?”
“Ah… Understood.”
“I will help as well.”
Linda and Vis left slowly, dragging their heavy feet. I hadn’t expected the two of them to be so shocked.
It seemed I would have to caution Aren not to go far for a while after he returned.
The small sound of the door closing echoed, leaving only Klen and me in the quiet room.
Usually, the environment where acting wasn’t necessary brought a sense of comfort.
But today, the scene I had conjured up for a sad thought lingered in my mind, making my heart heavy.
“You seem to have come home early today. How is Elder Brother Fabian?”
“He seemed better than expected, as it’s something he goes through every time there’s a ball. It seems he’s simply tired of the gossip that inevitably arises, no matter how well he handles things.”
I watched him and cautiously asked.
“Did you hear anything about the ball?”
“……Lord Willoway did mention his regret.”
That was the part I was truly curious about.
So that was it.
The father of a beautifully dressed daughter, whom he went to see faster than anyone, must be disappointed that I danced with my wife and then disappeared without a word.
“Did it bother you?”
“……”
“Lady Madeline wouldn’t have expected a dance with me anyway. I will make sure there is nothing for you to be displeased about, so don’t worry.”
Come to think of it, Madeline had tried to ask me to dance the moment she appeared before us.
Did she never directly ask Klen to dance, even though she mentioned seeing him at the ball or hoped he would attend?
