Thinking back, it was a very cold night, but there was a lingering warmth in my body. More than just sleeping, it felt like I had slept deeply.

Once again, I looked at the sleeping Duke.

‘Did I crawl into the cloak covering His Highness?’

Bran said,

“Well done.”

He stretched out and then looked outside the cave.

“We should return to the castle soon. That’s the only way to properly treat His Highness.”

“That’s true. But moving him in his current condition might strain him further.”

“The knights must be looking for us, right?”

“Yes, they should be. Either we find them or they find us.”

“…Impressive. That’s reassuring.”

I felt awkward at his admiration.

“Should we wake His Highness?”

“No, let him sleep more. He’s recovering.”

I quietly gazed at the sleeping Velpast.

Bran drank some water from the bowl and then sat down beside me, leaning against the cave wall.

I refilled the bowl with water.

“Esdel.”

“Hmm?”

“I wonder if the castle is okay? That red caterpillar… did he really escape?”

I had completely forgotten about the caterpillar.

I sighed involuntarily.

“Hopefully not.”

“If he’s not in the transmission stone, he must have escaped the prison.”

“Probably.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but it was likely.

“I hope nothing happened at the castle. What if…?”

Bran’s face was suddenly filled with worry.

He was not concerned about the knights nearby but the faraway castle.

Suddenly, I wondered.

“Is there someone you’re worried about?”

“!”

“If he did escape, the caterpillar, that guy is an assassin. Someone might have been hurt.”

I bit my lip.

I didn’t want it to be true, but I had to accept the possibility.

“An assassin?”

Bran’s voice trembled.

“Yeah. I hope Yora is okay.”

I didn’t care about catching the caterpillar, as long as my people weren’t hurt. And also Lewine, the steward.

I remembered entrusting her with my video stone.

Before coming here, I activated the stone and asked the steward to keep it. Whatever happens, please record it as evidence.

I thought she was the only one who knew the Duke’s castle as well as I did.

But did I do the right thing?

What if she’s in danger?

“Bran… is Miss Nugent okay? Even if he rampaged, she’d be safe locked in her room, right?”

Bran’s sudden remark made me look at him.

“Julia Nugent?”

“Yeah, Nugent’s young lady.”

Bran sighed deeply, the usually cheerful Bran Ophelit.

“Bran.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you like the young lady?”

“…”
“Oh, what? Hey, why are you suddenly saying that?”

Bran was extremely flustered by my question about whether he liked someone.

‘Does he have feelings for her?’

I hadn’t suspected it at all.

But suddenly, Bran got defensive.

“What’s with that expression? Are you suggesting I’m coveting someone beyond my reach?”

“Bran.”

“Sorry.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“?”

“It’s good, Bran.”

“What’s good? What are you talking about?”

“…”

“What are you saying? Sometimes you talk in riddles, you know?”

“Liking someone means the possibility of a new future. It’s good that you have that future too.”

“…A future?”

“Yes, a future.”

I’m glad, Bran.

I’m really glad to have returned and met you again.

I’m happy to know you might have another tomorrow. Though the fact it’s with Julia concerns me a bit.

Bran sniffled awkwardly.

“It’s not a suddenly newfound future. I’ve liked her for… quite some time.”

He trailed off.

I looked back at the sleeping Duke.

‘Sleep well, Duke. It seems small hopes are blossoming.’

In my previous life, Julia probably was a woman unloved.

But in this life, Bran is alive. Perhaps the future of the Duke and Julia won’t be as tragic as in the past.

‘Really, it’s fortunate.’

“Bran, we need to find our people.”

I said with determination.

His eyes widened.

“How? Where do you think they are?”

“They must be looking for us. So let’s make some noise to let them know we’re here. It might be loud.”

Meanwhile, the bowl was again full of clean water.

Leaving Bran curious, I took another mouthful of cold water and then swallowed it.

‘The Duke might be more conscious today.’

I carefully brought the bowl to the Duke’s lips and slowly poured water in.

And he drank.

‘Thank goodness.’

There’s hope for me too.

“Bran, he might wake up now! I’m going to climb up the hill and will be back soon. Keep giving him water, carefully, okay?”

“Leave it to me!”

Bran nodded energetically.

I hurried to the top of the rocky hill.

The vast expanse of land stretched endlessly below. Fortunately, there were no monsters in sight.

I drew my sword.

‘If they can’t find us, we’ll make them find us.’

The summit of the rocky hill wasn’t sharp but more like a broad plateau.

I moved as far away from the cave where the Duke was as possible.

‘This should minimize the vibrations.’

I had told Bran to protect the Duke with his life if anything happened.

I infused my sword with energy, making it four times longer than usual.

With all my strength, I thrust the sword into the edge of the plateau, into the cliff below.

One corner of the massive rocky hill began to crumble, slowly but steadily, and loudly rumbling.

‘Hopefully, they’ll see this and come find us.’

I quickly returned to the cave.

When I returned… the Duke was awake.

Leaning against the cave wall, he looked at me and smiled like sunlight. It was a warm, beautiful smile.

Ah…

I couldn’t immediately rush over to him, so I stood at the cave entrance.

How should I greet him, with what words, what face?

The Duke said,

“Thank you, Esdel. Are you alright?”

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

He was worried about me, even though he was the one who was hurt. I felt like crying and laughing at the same time.

“Seeing you like this, I am fine now too.”

I finally broke into a wide smile.

Then he also smiled broadly at me. Brighter than any smile I had seen before.

For the first time, I saw Zion Velpast smiling like that.

I slowly approached the Duke.