The temple guards were also surprised, but the one most astonished was none other than Roen.

“Really?”

“Yes. I was thinking of experiencing the world a bit. If the pilgrimage is risky, it might be better to go together.”

Roen was left bewildered for the first time. Naturally, her words weren’t impulsive.

“Jeremi, is this sincere? If you’re saying this impulsively…”

“Wasn’t what you said to me yesterday sincere and not impulsive?”

For the first time, Roen was taken aback. Naturally, her words weren’t born out of impulsive feelings.
“Of course not. I was never impulsive.”

Jeremi wore a satisfied smile.

“I feel the same way.”

Only then did Roen seem to sense Jeremi’s sincerity.

It wasn’t just something said casually; it was a genuine desire to be together.

Roen’s temple guard colleagues, who were standing nearby, initially had their mouths wide open, but when someone nudged the person next to them, they regained composure, and one of them spoke playfully.

“Being on a pilgrimage with Roen means the end of freedom. Still, you’re really going?”

Soon after, Jeremi’s words silenced the temple guards, who were looking at her as if questioning how this could happen.

“It’s okay. I plan to live tightly bound to Roen. I like being restrained.”

Although the temple guards didn’t say it outright, they thought Roen had found a good man.

This was the moment Roen fell for Jeremi. She believed she had met a truly wonderful person.

“Is your stomach okay?”

Of course, her stomach was fine. It was just that she couldn’t bear to look at Sicar’s face.

Unfortunately, due to the vivid memories of yesterday, she couldn’t meet Sicar’s eyes.

“I was lucky. Stew was on the menu today. Eat and recover from yesterday’s injection.”

Rather than saying something, the situation had become more uncomfortable because Sicar hadn’t said anything all this time.

However, even in such a situation, eating the warm stew seemed to ease her stomach a bit.

After finishing the meal, Sicar silently took the tableware and left.

To this extent, there had never been a time when he was so silent. Was he very angry?

Until Sicar returned after putting the tableware away, I quickly washed up and changed clothes.

Now that I thought about it, today was the last day here. Initially, it was uncomfortable to share the same room with Sicar every day, but now, I felt somewhat reluctant to leave this place, which had become familiar.

The ringing of bells that inevitably echoed during prayer time, the sight of temple guards running around to avoid being late for prayer time, and all the things I would miss when I returned to Blake.

Once again, while packing each item, Sicar came in with milk tea. Even on the last day, he continued to bring me my favorite milk tea.

“Kian has already finished all the preparations for departure. We should finish this tea and get up as well.”

“Right, we should greet Roen and Jeremi.”

“Since we’ll meet them again someday, it’s better to greet them formally as our original status then. So, let’s just leave this time.”

That made sense too. It would be better to reveal our identity later and exchange formal greetings at that time.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“Don’t be too disappointed, and when the time allows, come back again.”

After packing all the luggage, Granny and Kian were waiting for us together as we came out.
Upon seeing me, Kian shouted, “Mother!” and was about to run towards me but hesitated, then walked calmly and greeted me with a polite bow.

“Mother, did you have a good day yesterday?”

I extended my hands to Kian as if asking for a hug.

“Well, it seems that the only memory Kian missed was seeing me.”

“I felt the same way, Mother!”

Kian laughed joyfully and embraced me tightly. Sicar, who was an adult when standing behind me, pretending to be an adult, turned into a child again when beside me, muttering that I was being an adult, but his words sounded somewhat disappointed to my ears.

Perhaps because I hadn’t personally put Kian to bed during my recent stay here, it felt like Kian had grown a bit taller.

“Hmm? Kian, somehow you seem to have grown a little taller.”

“Rest assured, Mother. I will protect you after growing taller.”

At Kian’s dignified response, my heart swelled with emotion.

After the warm hug with Kian, I proceeded to greet Granny.

“Granny, we apologize for not being able to spend more time with you during our volunteer period, especially when we came to see you.”

“What nonsense is that? We have already spent enough time together. And this time, spending every night with Kian was so wonderful.”

Kian wrapped his arms around Granny’s legs and closed his eyes tightly.

“I feel the same way, Great-Grandmother. Even if I go to Blake, I won’t forget your scent.”

Although Granny reassured us, her eyes seemed a bit regretful, slightly reddening her eyelashes as she spoke.

“Won, talking like it’s a farewell forever.”

Parting like this made my nose tingle as well. I wanted to go with Granny, but I couldn’t.

If that wretched illness could improve quickly, and I could spend time with Granny in Blake, how wonderful would that be?

We took turns embracing Granny in a farewell hug. Granny whispered something to Sicar, but I couldn’t hear what she said.

Judging by Granny’s temperament, I assume she repeatedly urged him to treat us well.

After seeing Granny go inside first, we turned our steps towards the carriage. Even as we turned our steps, I kept glancing back with a feeling of regret.

If I come back here someday, I quietly prayed that it would be with Granny, who had fully recovered from dementia.