Chapter 62
Boom—. Pop.
Su stared blankly at the fireworks decorating the night sky.
“I should’ve been watching this with the young lady…”
Tears welled up in Su’s eyes.
“Where could she have gone?”
“Don’t cry. It’s exhausting.”
“Ah, yes!”
As Su sniffled, Bedol also looked up at the sky.
Anger, worry, resignation—it was an endless cycle of emotions.
“Still, think of it this way. She trusted you and me, that’s why she left us with all this and went off.”
“Do you think so? Young master, do you think the young lady is safe?”
“She went out on her own two feet. She’ll be fine.”
“Yes. Sniff.”
“For someone who just finished bawling, isn’t this a bit much?”
Bedol looked exasperated at the pile of trinkets Su was carrying in his arms.
“Since the young lady couldn’t enjoy the festival, I have to bring things back for her to see instead. She was so excited about going on a trip with you, young master…”
“Listening to you, it sounds like she was driven out. She went somewhere else on her own, you know? And do you really think these ugly dolls and cheap ornaments will entertain her? Looks like they’ll just end up in the trash.”
Bedol was scolding him, but every time Su wandered from stall to stall and mentioned Belia’s name, Bedol had silently opened his wallet.
“What are you talking about! The young lady loves these kinds of things! She may not say it, but she collects them! She even has a display cabinet for them in her dressing room!”
“She collects this kind of junk? I wouldn’t take it even if someone gave me a whole carriage full.”
“That’s only because you don’t have any sense of sentiment!”
“Well, good for you. Is that why you didn’t even notice our lady slipping out?”
“Ugh—.”
Su shut his mouth, frustrated.
Even while bickering, the two of them faithfully carried out Belia’s wishes.
At least, I don’t sense anything…
As they moved through the crowd, Bedol kept a sharp eye out for anyone tailing them.
There was definitely no pursuit.
Except for that young lady, of course.
Bedol glanced at Lady Saroni, who was nearby, watching the fireworks.
“I really can’t tell if she’s following us or just here to watch.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s go. Mission’s done for today. Go guard the room like we agreed. I’ll slip out later.”
“Yes.”
Su nodded and got up to follow Bedol.
Behind them, Lady Saroni watched their backs intently.
“Young lady, aren’t you hungry? Here, I bought some snacks. Try one!”
“He’s not the kind of man who’d normally act that gentle…”
Saroni narrowed her eyes.
“By the way, the only nobles staying at our hotel are from the Arpedi family, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Here, ah—.”
As she bit into the sweet pastry her maid offered, Saroni fell into thought.
“So he’s not a noble?”
“Is he someone you like, young lady?”
“No?”
“Really? Then why do you keep following him? You know your feet are swollen, right?”
“…I just find myself interested, that’s all.”
“That is liking someone!”
“It’s different.”
Ignoring her chattering maid, Saroni walked on.
Countless young men had sought her favor, drawn by her status as a princess raised under the imperial family’s protection.
But Bedol—blunt, rude, and ill-mannered—was refreshingly different.
And above all—
“I like Belia.”
Saroni carefully stroked the stuffed bear she’d been given as a gift.
“Bring your horses to the designated positions.”
Before entering the forest, the knight commander addressed the troops.
Dense fog obscured the woods, filling them with an eerie atmosphere.
“Visibility is poor. Each squad leader will confirm their members regularly. If you encounter a monster, do not break formation! Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights’ powerful shout made Belia shiver slightly.
“Knights are really brimming with energy, aren’t they?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Ha-ha…”
Carlton, who spoke as if they were long-time friends, made Belia smile awkwardly.
“But isn’t this kind of march tough for a noble lady?”
“It is, but I knew what I was signing up for, so it’s fine.”
“You can ride a horse?”
“Yes.”
“Or, why don’t you ride with me?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Really?”
Even though the conversation kept faltering, Carin was persistent.
“Can I ask you something?”
Belia gave him a look, as if to say you’ve been prying into every little thing since earlier, what’s with the sudden permission?
“Sure. What is it?”
“Aren’t you curious about me and Carlton?”
“…What?”
“I mean, don’t you wonder what’s between us? Hasn’t Carlton told you all sorts of things already?”
“Uh…”
Carin tapped his chest with confidence.
“Go ahead, ask. I’ll answer anything.”
Belia glanced toward the distant figure and let her face fall.
Whenever she asked Carlton questions, he always gave vague, evasive answers.
Whether it was about the past, about Vane, or about things she might not remember—they were always half-answers.
That was why she’d wanted to ask Carin today.
But—
“Ah…”
Belia clutched her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m trash.”
“…What?”
Carin blinked, baffled, as Belia’s ears turned red.
The fact that she had forgotten that night had clearly disappointed Carlton.
She didn’t need him to say it; she could see it in his eyes.
Even after they had grown closer, he had looked at her with such coldness.
He’s sulking.
Belia pouted.
Maybe the very things she wanted to ask Carin now had already been answered by Carlton that night of the banquet.
She could vaguely recall his warmth, his familiarity, even though most of the memory was hazy.
She must have asked him all the questions then, resolved all her doubts.
But she had forgotten.
“What do you mean, ‘trash’? What were you going to ask, something weird?”
“Huh? No, that’s not it…”
“Then ask! Aren’t you curious? Even if Carlton told you, you probably don’t understand. Vane? The past? I know him better than anyone. He’s never straightforward—always speaking in riddles only he understands.”
Carin clicked his tongue toward Carlton in the distance.
Belia’s expression turned gloomy.
Of course she had questions. Dozens of them.
But not here—not within earshot of Carlton.
And besides, ever since the moment Carlton turned away in disappointment, her conscience had been pricking at her.
“Ah!”
Belia buried her bright-red face in her hands.
If she had forgotten everything, it would only have been sad.
But to remember only crying and being comforted—while forgetting the conversation—was unbearably shameful.
Why!
Carlton’s face came vividly to mind, close to hers.
That night, drunk, she had leaned on him.
Not because she liked him, but because she had let her guard down.
Through all her repeated regressions, she had never once shown weakness to him.
But that night, she had broken down.
She had cried, been comforted—then forgotten it all.
Selfishly, she remembered only the comfort, not the words exchanged.
And if Carlton knew that?
“He’d probably rather I had forgotten everything.”
Carin narrowed his eyes at Belia’s depressed expression.
“Mm…”
Rubbing his chin uneasily, he glanced back and forth between Carlton and Belia.
The way Carlton’s massive frame stiffened ever so slightly—it was obvious where his attention was.
The atmosphere itself was suffocating.
Don’t tell me they actually have feelings for each other?
Carin’s face turned ice cold.
“Huh?”
At that moment, Belia suddenly froze. A chill ran down her spine.
Alarmed, she scanned her surroundings.
After dying and reviving four times, she could sense killing intent instinctively.
Her eyes swept around, and then landed—on Carin standing right in front of her.
“…What?”
His sharp, narrowed gaze was unsettling. Belia quickly shook her head.
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
Since the other knights hadn’t reacted, it must have been her imagination.
“Prepare to move out!”
The commander’s loud order made Belia step forward.
“Looks like it’s time. Let’s go.”
“No.”
“…What?”
“Calling you ‘young lady’ doesn’t seem right.”
“Just call me Bel—hm, Rai.”
Since others saw her as a boy, Belia corrected her form of address.
“But it looks like there isn’t a horse assigned for Rai.”
“…What?”
“Look closely. The number of heads and the number of horses don’t match. Off by exactly one!”
“That can’t be…”
If it was Allendora, he wouldn’t forget to assign her a horse, even if she’d joined late.
While Belia was counting the riders, Carin’s lips curved into a sly smile.
The stablehand managing the horses beside the knights turned pale.
“Well, nothing we can do. Let’s go!”
“Huh?”
Without waiting, Carin grabbed Belia and pulled her into the group.
