On the way, we rode horses instead of a carriage.

He said he chose a faster mode of transportation because he needed to return before sunset, but Helena still couldn’t shake the feeling of being chased.

However, since there was nothing she could do about it, she silently followed him.

“We seem to have arrived earlier than expected.”

Ian, who dismounted first, naturally extended his arm and wrapped his hand around Helena’s waist.

This time too, Helena accepted his touch willingly, as staying still was the best way to help.

As soon as she placed her hand on his shoulder for support, her body was lifted lightly and brought down to the ground.

“Aren’t I heavy?”

“Not at all. If you’d allow me, I could carry you all day long.”

Though she had expected it, hearing it directly was quite embarrassing. It seemed like there was nothing he couldn’t say.

Helena looked around to shake off the awkward feeling.

The unfamiliar bustle only then registered. It was the shopping street near the inn where they were staying.

Since they had to go a bit further in to return the borrowed horses to the exchange, the two started walking, leading the horses.

‘He’s not in a hurry here.’

Unlike in the upper town, Ian took his time. Thanks to this, Helena could leisurely observe the stalls lined up along the way.

Though the items on display were modest, she just wanted to blend into the bustling atmosphere of people.

Ian slowed his pace to match Helena’s steps.

Soon, the exchange came into view at the edge of their sight. By then, Helena had stopped in front of a stand displaying various accessories.

‘Oh…?’

One ordinary brooch particularly caught her eye. It was shaped like a thorn bush with red jewels set at the end of each branch.

As if entranced, she approached and picked up the brooch. Suddenly, with a slight pain, a child’s voice echoed in her head.

⌜Hurry and go. Today, even the moon is hidden by clouds, so there’s less risk of being caught. The path is a bit rough, but if you cross through the thorn forest, you’ll come to a river that leads directly to the Srail Sea. I pray for your safe journey.⌟

⌜Go, hurry. Run without looking back.⌟

In a dark field, she was tightly holding someone’s hand. She couldn’t feel the sensation, but somehow it seemed it would have been warm.

‘A childhood memory?’

Wondering if more might come to mind, Helena stared intently at the brooch. However, no matter how many times she closed and opened her eyes, no new scenes unfolded.

It was unavoidable to feel frustrated like this occasionally, even though she usually lived without paying much attention to it.

Helena put the brooch back down, slightly disheartened at not gaining much insight.

But instead of the hard wooden surface, she felt something soft. An open palm had caught the brooch instead.

Having finished the purchase while she was looking, he turned around, holding her hand.

And the next moment, her index finger was between his lips.

The sensation of the soft, warm mass was unfamiliar. A gentle tongue slowly brushed against the sensitive fingertip.

Surprised, Helena stared at him, unable to say anything. Ian released the lightly sucked finger.

“You were so focused that you didn’t even notice you pricked yourself. You’re bleeding.”

“That doesn’t mean you had to…”

Instead of answering, he untied Helena’s cape. The loosened fabric was soon gathered again with the thorn bush brooch.

Only after neatly arranging her attire did Ian face her, still with traces of surprise on her face.

“I’ll replace it with a real jewel later.”

Helena shook off her surprised expression and let out a small sigh. Really, there was nothing he couldn’t say.

“Don’t obsess over trivial things.”

“Because it’s trivial, I can do it more easily. Won’t imitation jewels break over time? I want you to keep it for a long time.”

“Why?”

Helena asked while wiping the still round blood droplet on her fingertip with a handkerchief she had found rummaging through her bag.

“So that every time you see it, you’ll think of me.”

Not knowing he would drop yet another impossible line.

Her movement of pressing the handkerchief to her fingertip stopped without her realizing.

Helena looked up at him. For some reason, her brow furrowed. Inwardly, she blamed the dazzling sunset unnecessarily.

“…Are you confessing right now?”

“I’m just saying it’s not bad to create a small memory or two.”

Ian wrapped the reins around his hand once before continuing to instruct her.

“The exchange is just ahead, so I’ll pay the fee and stop by the general store. Please wait here for a moment.”

Ian pulled the reins with hurried movements. His broad back gradually receded from Helena’s view.

Helena stood in place until his figure was completely out of sight. This was the second time he had left her alone and gone somewhere.

And not sneaking away while she was asleep, but leaving her freely like this.

‘Does he trust me now?’

If he had gained such confidence, how did she end up giving him that assurance?

Helena felt uneasy, as if deliberately pondering a question with an obvious answer.

She sniffled for no reason, and the smell of earth was strong. The moisture in the air was gradually thickening.

It seemed like it would rain soon.

‘I hope it doesn’t rain before he returns.’

Helena thought, looking at the mass of dark clouds rolling in from afar.

It would be good if they reached the inn before then, but it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared just in case. She looked around for a place to take shelter from the rain.

While doing so, she bumped into someone.

“Ah, I’m sorry, young lady.”

The man she had collided with turned around immediately. He quickly apologized after supporting Helena’s arm as she stumbled.

He bowed his head so deeply that his high-tied blue hair fluttered.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

When Helena nodded in response, the man smiled broadly, saying it was a relief.

Even at first glance, it was evident that he fit the definition of a refreshing man perfectly.

His tone, expressions, and every gesture exuded a cool energy. Even the greatsword on his back, taller than himself, added to that atmosphere.

He tightened the leather belt that crossed his torso to secure the greatsword, then looked around, just as she had done earlier. His blue hair, like a horse’s tail, swished back and forth with each turn of his head.

Helena watched him from a few steps away.

He narrowed his eyes and looked out at the main street, then scratched his head.

His head turned sharply again.

Helena quickly averted her gaze when their eyes met for a moment. However, the man approached her vicinity without hesitation.

Finally, as his shadow fell right in front of her, Helena gently faced him. Though not as sturdy as Ian, he was so tall that she had to tilt her head back.

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask you something?”

His tone was quite polite, contrary to his consistently large movements. There was also a faint, refined accent that gave off the impression of a knight.

Even so, she couldn’t hide her suspicious gaze. He too seemed to read Helena’s expression and waved his hand as if to ease her wariness.

“It’s nothing major. Actually, I’ve been circling this area for two hours, unable to find my way back to my lodgings.”

After letting out an embarrassed laugh, he pointed upwards with his finger.

“My companion said to turn left when I see this green shop, but,”

The man, after reconfirming the green roof, suddenly began to explain while moving about busily.

“I can’t figure out if it means left when I’m standing here, or left when I’m standing there, or left when I’m standing over there.”

He crossed his arms and tilted his head. Inwardly, Helena wanted to do the same.

‘Don’t people usually understand it as the direction when first told?’

She had a feeling that his sense of direction was unusual. Helena pointed to the left and right in turn, explaining more in detail than the average level.

“Your companion probably meant based on facing the front of the shop. Anyway, going this way only leads to the sea. So the left from where you’re standing now is correct.”

“No wonder, no matter how far I went that way, all I saw was sand. I thought I had been abandoned by my companions overnight.”

The man burst into laughter, then bent down to pat his trouser legs. Dried sand grains fell off in droves.

He was a truly honest human type, as if he had densely written proof of ‘I am this kind of person’ all over his body.

“Anyway, this way, right?”

The man, having readjusted his attire, pointed in yet another new direction.

Helena suddenly recalled the words of a knight at the Grand Duke’s residence, saying that if someone seems the same on the outside and inside, they’re either a fool or extremely calculating, so be careful.

…For some reason, the man before her seemed closer to the former.

Helena grabbed his arm, which was pointing in the wrong direction, and pulled it to face the correct way.

“No, this way.”

“Ah, I see. Whew, I hope I arrive properly this time.”

He affirmed cheerfully, without any sign of embarrassment.

Although it probably wouldn’t be much help, Helena also took out a map from her bag and gave it to the man.

After memorizing the direction with her confirmation once again, he disappeared into an alley for a moment. When he reappeared, he was leading a horse.

Although Helena wasn’t an expert on horses, it was clearly a rare breed even at a glance.

Its large eyes were clean without a single speck of dirt, and its golden mane flowed with luster, indicating it was a well-cared-for steed.

The man, who had leapt onto the saddle after stepping on the stirrup, stroked the horse’s side.

“Helios, let’s go.”

The horse whinnied softly in response. The man, maintaining his beaming smile, bid farewell to her.

“Thank you, kind lady.”

He lightly urged the horse by pulling the reins and rode along the road. Fortunately, it was the correct direction.

Still, worried he might go astray midway, Helena watched the receding gold and blue horse tails until they became tiny dots.

As she was doing so, a ticklish breath suddenly brushed against her cheek from behind.