YWPWYLFDM 85

Chapter 85

When Scott heard the address, his face brightened.

“Ah, I know that village well! Back when I was an apprentice learning carpentry, I stayed there for several months building a house. It was decades ago, but country villages don’t tend to change much.”

At those words, the worry disappeared from Ayla’s face. What a relief it was.

“You must be talking about the mansion at the entrance of that village. If it’s there, I should be able to find it somehow.”

“That’s truly a relief…!”

Ayla wiped away the tears welling in her eyes, overwhelmed with joy.

And so, that night came.

For both the couple and Ayla, it was the last night in the beloved cabin. The last night before leaving behind a home they might never return to.

Debbie chose to spend that precious night not with her husband, but with Ayla. Even though there was hardly enough time for her and Scott to look into each other’s eyes and share their tender memories.

“Want to sleep with me tonight?” she had asked, and so Scott had been driven off to the small guest cot Ayla had been using.

“Ayla, are you asleep?”

Debbie whispered toward the girl beside her. But no reply came.

She had so many questions. Was “Ayla” her real name? How had such a young child become entangled in such dangerous circumstances?

But instead, she simply stroked the girl’s soft hair as Ayla breathed peacefully in her sleep.

“Everything will be all right, Ayla. For you, and for us too.”

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid.

She had lived half a century, and the world was still filled with things to fear.

Yet Debbie—and perhaps her husband Scott too—had, thanks to Ayla, experienced genuine happiness these past two months. For the first time since losing their son, decades ago.

The gaping hole in their hearts could never be completely filled. But Ayla had soothed their wounds, even if only a little.

So when it came to Ayla’s request, even if some parts were hard to trust, they had to follow it.

Even if it meant abandoning their home and leaving for an unknown place.

Debbie gazed at the sleeping girl’s lovely face for a while longer, and before she realized it, she too drifted off into sleep.

Knock, knock.

A sound of knocking echoed through the remote cabin in the woods.

The three of them, who had been sitting apart in silence staring into the void, flinched at the sound from outside.

Scott turned to Ayla, and when their eyes met, she gave a nod.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me. I’ve come to take Ayla.”

It was Capella, claiming to be her mother.

“Ah, p-please come in.”

Scott hurriedly fumbled to open the door.

He was no actor, just an ordinary man who had lived an honest life with no reason ever to deceive anyone. Watching him, Debbie couldn’t help but think, If he keeps that up, he’ll give us away.

Fortunately, Capella paid no attention to Scott’s awkwardness. She rushed straight inside and threw her arms around Ayla tightly.

“Ayla, Mommy’s here.”

“You’re here… Mom?”

The word “Mom” stumbled awkwardly off Ayla’s tongue.

She had never once been able to call even Ophelia by that name, and now she had to use it for Capella. Inside, it felt like her heart was rotting away. But unlike Scott, she didn’t let the awkwardness show.

Sadly, she was far too used to such performances.

“You took longer than expected. Did things not go well?”

Debbie smiled kindly, while at the same time stomping firmly on her husband’s foot out of sight—a silent signal to behave.

“Ah, well… there were debt collectors watching my sister’s house. I barely managed to contact her in secret, and she helped me settle in a village a bit farther away.”

Capella was just as skilled an actress. She lied so smoothly it was startling.

The story of a nonexistent sister, mixed with details about debt collectors staking out her house, sounded all the more convincing.

If Debbie hadn’t already known the truth from Ayla, she too might have been completely fooled. Her hands clenched tightly under her apron.

“That’s wonderful news. Isn’t it, dear?”

“Y-yes. Very good news indeed.”

Startled by his wife suddenly seeking his agreement, Scott stammered. Suspiciously so.

“…Is something wrong? You don’t look well.”

Capella tilted her head, her crimson eyes flashing with a predatory glint as she scrutinized him. Scott nearly fainted from terror.

“He’s just sad, that’s all. We grew attached to Ayla, and parting is hard.”

“My wife is right. Ayla’s such a sweet girl. Once she’s gone, the house will feel so empty, I don’t know how we’ll manage.”

Quick-thinking Debbie supplied an excuse, and Scott nodded in agreement. At last, their act didn’t seem so awkward.

“…I see. Thank you for being so kind to my daughter.”

Capella smiled enchantingly and placed a hand on Ayla’s shoulder.

Suppressing the urge to shake off that touch, Ayla rose and bowed politely.

“Thank you very much for everything, ma’am, sir.”

Please, let us meet again alive.

She couldn’t say it aloud in front of Capella, so instead she blinked, praying her unspoken wish would be conveyed.

Praying the couple would safely reach the hideout Winfred had prepared.

“Yes, Ayla. Take care, stay healthy… and if you ever have the chance, please come visit us again.”

Debbie smiled warmly, tears brimming in her eyes as she waved.

“Come along, Ayla.”

Capella tightened her grip on the girl’s shoulder and led her out of the cabin.

Ayla couldn’t help glancing back every few steps, her eyes filling with the sorrowful faces of the couple. She could hardly bring herself to move forward.

“…What are you doing, young lady? The master is waiting.”

Capella whispered sharply in her ear. Pressed by the constant urging, Ayla had no choice but to walk on.

After some time walking the forest path, they reached a flat road where a carriage stood waiting. Beside it was Cloud.

“When will you take care of it, Cloud?”

As he held the carriage door open for her, Capella asked in a commanding tone.

“At sunset… I’ll take care of it immediately. Please wait in the carriage.”

He answered in his usual curt, expressionless voice.

Ayla searched his face, trying desperately to read his heart.

What choice had he made? Would he obey Byron’s order and kill the couple—or heed Ayla’s plea and show them mercy?

But Cloud gave her no answer, no matter how desperately she looked at him.

The anxious hours passed, and as the sun set, the sky began to turn red.

“…I’ll be back.”

Cloud mounted his horse as he spoke.

“Ai, I don’t even know what to pack.”

“We’ll need some travel money, won’t we? Scott, check inside the wardrobe. Under the winter blankets, there’s a pouch of coins.”

After Ayla left, the couple hurriedly packed their things.

It felt awkward—they hadn’t prepared for a journey since settling here.

“Ah, here it is. Do you think this will be enough? I’ve no idea what prices are like nowadays.”

Scott pulled out a coin pouch from beneath the thick blankets, smacking his lips in thought.

They had occasionally gone to the general store in the village beyond the mountain, exchanging animal hides for salt and other necessities they couldn’t find in the woods. But their last trip had been two years ago. They had no idea what the world outside was like now.

“If it’s not enough, we’ll just manage somehow. Clothes seem fine… Let’s hurry, dear.”

Debbie hastily bundled up some spare clothes. Scott shoved the coin pouch deep into his pocket and picked up his hunting crossbow and dagger.

The time had truly come to leave their cherished home.

From cutting the trees to leveling the ground, they had worked with their own hands to build it. Every piece of wood bore their touch.

And now they had to abandon it.

They still couldn’t understand what had suddenly thrown their peaceful lives into such turmoil.

“…Let’s go, Debbie.”

Scott reached out his hand with a gentle smile.

Though years had added wrinkles and turned him into a middle-aged man, in that smile was still the same carpenter’s charm that had once made Debbie’s heart race.

“Yes, Scott.”

She took his hand, and together they started toward the door.

But just then—

Bang!

The cabin door burst open.

A massive figure filled the doorway.

A body of hard muscle, a stony face, a deep scar running vertically down his cheek, and eyes so fierce they looked capable of killing with just a glance.

At once, the couple froze.

Had they taken too long?

Should they have left the money? Should they have abandoned the clothes and simply fled?

Would they now be unable to keep their promise to Ayla—to meet again alive?