“Not very close.”

Not very close.

Although Deon’s expression twitched, he didn’t pick a fight. Then, after shaking my black hair with his hand, he asked Morgan.

“Can you tell something to my younger sister for me?”

“Huh? Lord? If it’s about that, I shouldn’t be the one to…-.”

Philip backed away, intimidated, when Deon opened his eyes.

The fiery red eyes were intimidating.

“To Leche?”

Morgan scratched his cheek. There was nothing he couldn’t do.

It was inconvenient to be entangled with Leche like this.

Rather than the camaraderie between the Roadwick siblings, avoiding death was more important to twist fate.

‘Because of the fate entwined with Leche, it seems like death finds me faster when I’m with her. At this rate, Leche might get involved too.’

Fortunately, they were trivial things. But it was already a few times that I had been in moments where my life was threatened with Leche.

Thinking about such things, I was reluctant to encounter Leche repeatedly.

Although I can’t refuse Miss Leche’s request, can’t I refuse Lord Derkedion’s request?

“Well, you know. We also have eyes from our academy’s perspective. I’m a little hesitant to say this, but our academy and the Imperial Academy of Roksha are in a competitive relationship. It would be better if you didn’t meet with Leche as much as possible. How about having Vice Instructor Philip convey the message?”

“No.”

However, Morgan’s refusal, mixed with excuses and persuasion, scattered into the air with one word from Deon.

“I’d like it if you did it. Morgan Dial.”

Deon stared at Morgan with burning eyes, putting strength into his name.

‘Iandwein Gerweyr.’

I wasn’t curious about the reason for changing the name. However, I couldn’t forgive the attitude that seemed to draw a line with Leche.

If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have approached Leche in the first place.

“Oppa, Ian disappeared…”

Making my younger sister cry for several years.

Now, just when I thought she was starting to forget and brighten up.

Looking at Deon like that, Philip sighed inwardly.

‘It might be faster for my lord to apologize to Miss Leche in person…’

“What should I tell Tarishe?”

“……. ”

“Instructor?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“But apologies should be made in person-.”

“You’re probably partly responsible for this situation.”

“I understand.”

In the end, Morgan couldn’t overcome Deon’s momentum and left to find Leche.

“Tarishe? Haven’t seen her?”

…
“Morgan Dial, soldier. If you come to the academy dormitory like this, won’t the professors at Udwic Academy be worried?”

…

“Ah, that lovely lady! She didn’t come today.”

However, finding the missing Liche was not easy. No one knew Liche’s whereabouts. Although the city of Ksephon was not small, Morgan expected that there would be witnesses since Liche was noticeable.

“Meow.”

A cat appeared in front of Morgan, who was wandering the streets, and meowed.

It was unmistakable since he saw it just yesterday. Familiar gray fur and a choker around its neck.

“Instructor Castley?”

“Looking for Tarishe?”

A human voice came out of the cat-shaped Castley’s mouth.

It wasn’t a scene to get used to just by seeing it once. Castley expected Morgan to be surprised, but…

‘Not surprised? Boring.’

The sparkling golden-haired handsome man remained calm.

For Morgan, who knew Zeckbert and Pythons, familiar with animals speaking was not a strange thing.

Morgan asked Castley, “Have you seen Tarishe?”

“Saw her.”

Castley swayed his tail. He wouldn’t have told Morgan about it if it were an ordinary day. However, he needed to resolve this so that Tarishe could focus on her preliminary assignment again.

She obediently pointed in the direction Tarishe had gone.

“That way.”

Morgan walked toward the direction Castley indicated.

It was a road separated from the downtown area and residential areas.

‘Were there places like this in Ksephon?’

After walking for a while, a large park appeared. The path along the deserted promenade was lined with tall trees.

Morgan walked along the promenade. If Tarishe had walked in this direction, there wouldn’t be any other place to go.

And Morgan found Tarishe.

“…”

“Oh, just leave Roadwick!”

A scene visible through the trees.

Tarishe was sitting by the spacious lake in the park.

Beside her, Pythons scolded loudly. Since the voice was quite loud, Morgan unconsciously looked around.

It still didn’t feel like someone noticed. Fortunately, it seemed that people didn’t come to this place. Well, he didn’t even know there was such a park.

“Go to another duke! Hibetzman or Seldia, both will welcome you with open arms!”

Morgan smiled bitterly at Pythons’ words. It felt like six years had passed because it was so realistic.

Gerwer has completely disappeared now.

Even in Tarishe’s memories, Iandwein didn’t seem to know that he spent only a short time together in his childhood.

Now he’s just not remembered, that’s all.

“…”

Without answering Pythons’ words, Tarishe seemed to be holding back tears.

She also threw stones into the lake from time to time.

‘She seems not to be relieved of her anger.’

Morgan sat down against the tree, waiting for Tarishe to show signs of feeling better.

Because she needed to feel better to concentrate on Deon’s apology. Even if she didn’t accept it, if that was Tarishe’s choice, he had no intention of persuading her.

‘Three years…’

Morgan again thought about the time left for him and Tarishe.

After that time passes, can we survive safely? Can I confess my identity to you? Will you welcome me warmly then?

‘Maybe Tarishe will feel awkward.’

She might not recognize me, seeing a stranger.

But that’s okay. At that time, it won’t be Morgan but Iandwein in front of Tarishe.

Morgan leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes for a moment.

Just having Tarishe in the same space changed the air around him. It felt like the breath was coming out in a life that had been lived as if always being chased.

Plop!

“Kwack!”

Then, the sound of a splash and Pythons’ scream were heard.

Morgan opened his eyes wide.