* * *
The unannounced inspection concluded successfully.
The ring, one of the relics of Erdian that had been temporarily permitted for external use, was reclaimed by Raullet after the prayer meeting.
With no further reason to remain in the Duchy of Soznian, the party began repacking their belongings at the inn.
Before leaving the duchy, they released Marvin, who had been reluctantly acting as their porter.
Giselle subtly mentioned that it was upon Erdian’s orders, cautioning them not to travel with a potentially dangerous individual any longer.
Though the reasons weren’t clear, Marvin seemed eager to continue his porter duties.
However, Giselle and Raullet, bound by Erdian’s command, rejected him outright.
Ultimately, Marvin decided to leave quietly.
A few members of the group volunteered to see him off, likely due to a reluctant fondness that had grown from traveling together.
Justin discreetly asked Seo Woohyun if he’d like to join, but Seo Woohyun declined.
“It’d be awkward between us, honestly.”
Seo Woohyun and Marvin had rarely exchanged words.
Moreover, the circumstances of Marvin joining the group left Seo Woohyun feeling uneasy about the man.
Later, after seeing Marvin off, Malrangie approached Seo Woohyun to deliver a message.
“Marvin told me to say goodbye to you and wish you well.”
“Did he leave safely?”
“Yeah. When Justin told him they should never meet over something like this again, he nodded so hard I thought his head would pop off.”
The boy giggled as he fiddled with his straw hat.
Seo Woohyun, lacking more to say about Marvin, glanced around awkwardly.
With their belongings packed, the room was nearly empty.
Once the extra wagon wheels were loaded and everything checked, it would be time to resume their tedious journey.
“Malrang, when we need to sleep in the wagon, do you want to take Erdian’s seat?”
“Will we not see El anymore?”
“He said he has urgent matters to attend to. We probably won’t see him for a while.”
“Oh…”
The boy looked crestfallen, a mixture of sadness and nostalgia welling up in him.
After all, he had grown attached to Erdian despite the scoldings and tears shed.
Now, Erdian had disappeared without a word, and Malrang seemed disheartened whenever his name came up.
Seo Woohyun felt an uncomfortable pang of guilt seeing the boy pout.
He couldn’t entirely absolve himself of blame for Erdian’s abrupt departure.
“Well, if riding alone in the wagon feels lonely, how about riding with Giselle or someone else? Who would you like to ride with?”
Though Seo Woohyun wasn’t especially close with anyone in the group, he was willing to put up with the discomfort if it helped ease Malrang’s loneliness.
But the boy’s reply seemed to pierce through his thoughts.
“…You’re uncomfortable, right? It’s fine; I’ll just sleep in El’s spot.”
“No, it’s not that uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay.”
The boy’s straightforward response left Seo Woohyun at a loss for words. He could only smile weakly.
The journey back to the Holy City was quieter than ever.
With Malrang having one less person to pester with his playful antics, the atmosphere grew subdued.
When they reached the vicinity of the boy’s home, Seo Woohyun asked again if he wanted to return.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go back? Don’t you miss your parents?”
Lying on Seo Woohyun’s lap instead of the spacious sofa that used to be Erdian’s seat, Malrang grinned mischievously.
“Without me, you’d be bored, right? Who else would catch you snacks for your meals? You need me! Trust me!”
His bright blue eyes sparkled with innocence.
The pure, untainted affection struck a chord in Seo Woohyun’s heart—something he hadn’t expected to experience in this unfamiliar world.
“Do you really like me that much?”
“Of course!”
In a world where love wasn’t freely given, Seo Woohyun couldn’t help but ask, hiding a touch of insecurity behind his words.
“If I’m no longer a Saint, would you still want to stay with me?”
He needed someone who could appreciate him for himself, not for the title of Saint.
Malrang, however, took his question seriously, lowering his voice.
“Did you have a huge fight with El? Is he kicking you out?”
Despite Seo Woohyun’s earlier explanations, the boy still clung to the idea that they’d quarreled.
Seo Woohyun ruffled his hair with a sigh, closing his eyes.
Could it even be called a fight? In truth, it wasn’t.
When Seo Woohyun had learned the truth, he lashed out at Erdian in a one-sided tirade.
Erdian, for his part, merely listened calmly, nodding as if to understand and confessing everything he’d withheld until then.
‘“As if he was letting everything go…”’
Erdian left with a farewell urging Seo Woohyun to live freely, to do what he wished, and a promise that they wouldn’t meet for some time.
Every word lingered in Seo Woohyun’s mind.
Was it paranoia to think that Erdian, despite his divine obligations, was distancing himself after everything that had happened?
How could someone who had waited over 1,200 years leave so easily after a single rejection?
Lost in thought, Seo Woohyun remained silent, prompting Malrang to speak up again.
“That’s impossible. El really likes you. I’ve been watching, and I know. He wouldn’t do anything mean to you.”
“Really?”
“Yup. My dad looks at my mom like this all the time, and El looks at you the same way.”
“El looks at me like that?”
“You didn’t know? El only ever looks at you. He doesn’t use those eyes when he’s with me—it’s only for you.”
The boy imitated a doting gaze, playfully wriggling his fingers beside his eyes.
Seo Woohyun let out a soft laugh.
“Even if you’re not a Saint, I’ll still be your friend.”
“You’ll stay my friend?”
“Of course! If El tries to kick you out, I’ll tell my mom to stop him. She’d side with me, and I’d side with you. Trust me!”
Who would have imagined such comfort from a ten-year-old hatchling?
Seo Woohyun hugged Malrang tightly.
“Thank you, Malrang.”
“Hehe.”
The boy rubbed his cheek against Seo Woohyun’s chest, his warmth seeping into him.
The sincerity of Malrang’s words soothed the aching thoughts of Erdian’s departure.
‘‘Malrang, Erdian doesn’t love me. He only misses Ciel.’’
Seo Woohyun wanted to explain, but Erdian’s last conversation lingered in his mind.
‘“I won’t deny that I watched over you because you’re Ciel’s reincarnation. But as I did, I found myself caring about you—Seo Woohyun. I even tried to impress you because I knew you liked beautiful faces. Ciel never cared for mine.”’
Erdian’s words were strangely comforting, even if they left Seo Woohyun feeling conflicted.
‘‘I don’t want to think about him, but the more I try, the harder it gets.’’
As they approached the dense forest on their route, Seo Woohyun saw something that made his heart skip.
Amid a group of knights in shining silver armor, he encountered a familiar figure once more.
“I thought you’d already left. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
The young man who stepped down from the opulent carriage was none other than Prince Habios.
Surrounded by a retinue of knights and attendants, he approached the campfire Seo Woohyun and his group had lit, his steps exuding familiarity.
Once a downtrodden figure peeling potatoes alongside Marvin, stealing furtive glances at others, his current appearance was dazzlingly regal.
Draped in layers of clothing embroidered with gold and silver threads and adorned with vibrant gemstone brooches, his attire was unmistakably that of imperial lineage.
“Is Your Highness also on your way back to the Empire?”
Giselle greeted him with a polite question, to which Habios nodded.
“Yes, His Majesty was gracious enough to send an escort for me. I imagine we’ll meet again in the Imperial Palace soon.”
“Then it seems His Majesty has concluded his investigation?”
“…Yes.”
Listening to their conversation, Seo Woohyun deduced that Eridian’s stern warning had reached the Imperial Court.
While he didn’t know the full details, he had a strong feeling that the life of whoever had sent assassins after Habios in the mountains would no longer be a peaceful one.
“It’s good to see you again, Sir Ciel. I regret that last time, you had to witness such an unsightly side of me.”
Habios bowed deeply to Seo Woohyun.
“Not at all. It wasn’t intentional on your part… I’m relieved to see that your return trip seems well-secured.”
Seo Woohyun’s gaze shifted briefly to the knights standing at attention nearby.
Their rigid armor and ornate cloaks reminded him of the temple knights he was familiar with, yet these men radiated a sharp and intimidating aura, making them difficult to approach.
“These are members of the Imperial Elite Guard, sent by His Majesty for my protection,” Habios explained, sensing Seo Woohyun’s scrutiny.
After receiving Eridian’s wrathful message, the Emperor took the matter seriously and dispatched these elite knights to Habios.
The sudden appearance of the Emperor’s personal guards had shocked not only Habios but also his grandfather.
These were no ordinary knights but the finest soldiers solely responsible for guarding the Emperor himself.
“If you’re agreeable, why not travel with us? With the Imperial Elite Guard accompanying us, there’ll be no need for night watches, and we have ample supplies that could be shared for the journey. You saved my life, so this is the least I can do to repay you,” Habios suggested sincerely.
His offer was practical.
Whenever Seo Woohyun’s group had to rest in the carriage, Raullet and Justin had taken turns keeping watch, occasionally helped by Caro and Fin.
This arrangement must have been taxing on them.
Traveling together would indeed make the journey back more comfortable and secure.
“What do you two think?”
Seo Woohyun asked Raullet and Giselle, who were responsible for the group’s safety and logistics.
After exchanging glances, the two nodded in agreement.
Thus began their journey toward the Great Temple alongside the prince.
Meanwhile, in the distant realm of the gods, Eridian lay sprawled in a garden in full bloom, alone with a child-like figure.
“So it’s come to this,” he mused, staring at the embodiment of causality with a bored expression.
“And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?”
* * *
ERDIAN COME BACK BEFORE WOOHYUN GETS A REBOUND
Habios is recovering the time. 😗
👍