Chapter 55

In truth, Vivi had no say in the matter.

She had no choice but to leave for the Papal States with Alres, and once the decision was made, everything moved quickly.

The shopkeeper frowned and asked her several questions when she said she was leaving. But when Vivi didn’t respond, he turned his back on her. He waved his hand dismissively, as if telling her to pack up quickly if she was going to disappear.

“I’ll be leaving the village soon. I’m sorry.”

After that, she stopped by the house of the Madame who lived under the elm tree. The Madame looked visibly flustered at her words.

“……I see. Of course, with everything that’s happened.”

The Madame understood why Vivi was leaving, especially after the Sampio incident.

“My son will be very upset. Because of Irini.”

Hearing Irini’s name made Vivi’s heart sink as well. She couldn’t explain her situation to the Madame, but Irini’s future…… was still undecided.

In her heart, Vivi wanted to take Irini with her to the Papal States.

〈We’re on the run. A cat will only get in the way.〉

But Alres had firmly refused to let Irini come along.

Alres didn’t overlook any possible scenario.

When he asked what they would do if the cat moved or cried at a critical moment while they were hiding, Vivi couldn’t come up with a solution.

‘Irini…….’

In her heart, she wanted to entrust Irini to Costance, but she didn’t have the courage to face him again.

“Madame.”

“Yes?”

The Madame flinched and looked at her. Vivi hesitated before mustering the courage to speak.

“I…… I can’t take care of Irini anymore due to my circumstances.”

“……What?”

“I’ll compensate you, of course. But would you be able to take care of Irini? Your son likes Irini, and it seems like the best environment for her. I’m sorry to ask you this so suddenly.”

The Madame didn’t answer immediately, clearly conflicted. Taking responsibility for a living being was no easy task. But since Irini hadn’t lived with Vivi for very long, she was still in the process of adapting to her environment. Vivi wanted to minimize the stress Irini would experience.

“I’ll take care of her!”

The boy, who had been inside the house, overheard their conversation and interrupted.

“I’ll take care of her! I can do it well!”

“Son…….”

“Mother, I’ll do it! I’ll feed her every day and play with her! Please?”

The boy clung to the Madame’s arm, pleading stubbornly. The Madame glanced at Vivi before gently pulling the boy away.

“Vivi, I’m sorry, but could you give me some time to think about it? You’re not leaving the village right away, are you?”

“Of course. Take your time and let me know.”

The Madame pushed the boy back inside and closed the door. Vivi stared at the closed door for a moment before turning to leave. In three days, she would leave the village.

Alres was working hard to find the shortest route to the Papal States. The Papal States were located on a large island beneath the empire. To get there, they would have to take either a ship or an airship.

Using their fake identities to board an airship was the best option, but it was also the riskiest. Airships required thorough inspections, and there were always police or soldiers monitoring the passengers.

If they were caught on an airship, they would have nowhere to escape and would be captured mid-air.

The second option was to head south to the port and take a ship. While inspections were less strict and tickets were easy to obtain, this option also had its risks.

The journey to the south wasn’t easy. Even with a car, it would take at least two full days of driving. There might also be checkpoints along the way.

“Alres?”

When Vivi entered the house, she found Alres sitting in a corner. He had a map spread out on the table and was deep in thought, planning their route to the Papal States. From the radio, the voice of an announcer delivering the news could be heard.

“Driving a car there is too dangerous. Vivi.”

Alres muttered softly.

“Should we take a train?”

“We’d need someone to buy the tickets for us. Using IDs is too risky.”

Alres picked up a pen and circled the train station marked on the map. The route he had mapped out would take at least five days to reach the Papal States.

“We’ll have to use all forms of transportation—short trips on trains, cars, and ships…….”

Vivi sat across from Alres. He turned the radio dial, switching to another announcer delivering the news. Seeing how focused he was, she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt him.

Under the table was a bag Alres had packed. It contained money, water, small pieces of bread, a pen, paper, and other minimal supplies.

Through the window, the moon was visible. The dimly lit interior of the house, illuminated by a single candle, felt eerily quiet and unsettling.

Vivi held Irini in her arms. She buried her nose in Irini’s fur, trying to calm her racing heart.

“If…… I know I shouldn’t say this, but if we’re caught, what will happen?”

At her words, Alres, who hadn’t moved an inch, raised his head.

“Vivi.”

“Toramde will force me to create destructive weapons. They’ll keep someone by my side to prevent me from escaping and monitor me constantly so I can’t take my own life.”

“…….”

“And once NOK One is completed, what will happen to us?”

Alres’s gaze darkened. He lowered his eyelashes, pondering seriously before speaking.

“A new war will begin.”

His voice was deep and heavy.

“Even if we avoid war now, 10 years later, or 20 years later…… maybe even for the rest of our lives, our descendants will live in constant fear of a war that could break out at any moment.”

That’s why we have to end this conflict in our generation.

Alres spoke firmly.

It was an unbearably heavy and overwhelming responsibility.

That night, Vivi sat by the window, clasping her hands together, and made a wish. Beneath the falling stars, she silently recited her heartfelt prayer.

‘Father, please grant me luck. The right to live as a human being.’

To make friends without worry, to meet a lover…… and to live a life where I no longer have to part ways with anyone.

Father.

I hope Costance isn’t too sad because of me. I hope he doesn’t despair, that he overcomes this gracefully, meets someone better than me, and receives everyone’s blessings.

Father.

I hope Costance meets Eugene. I hope they don’t miss each other. I hope they become brothers who support each other, as much as they were forced to part ways before.

I hope they never have to part again. Not even the Marquis Orsi should be able to separate Eugene and Costance.

Father.

I hope this world finds peace. We’ve endured too much because of war. So many people couldn’t even recover the bodies of their loved ones and had to bury only their belongings in graves. They’ll spend their lives crying and longing over those keepsakes.

The pain of hunger is too cruel. It drives people mad and blinds them.

Father.

Even if it’s something small.

Please share happiness.

Please give us hope.

Just as you wished, Father.

Please atone.

***

Canary Village Naval Headquarters.

It had been weeks since Rando’s provocation.

There had been no further provocations or experiments since then, so the heightened alert had eased somewhat, but the navy remained busy. Above all, the situation was complicated for the operations officer at the Naval Headquarters’ Operations Office for another reason.

“Captain, are you sure nothing happened?”

“Nothing happened, Sir.”

“Phew, Captain Orsi.”

“There’s nothing to report. I’ll take my leave now.”

It was all because of Costance Orsi, who had returned after a brief break. His colleagues had hoped that Costance would resume his former brilliance in the military, but reality was different. The Costance who had returned acted like a soulless man.

His eyes were empty, his words were few. Costance Orsi, who once brimmed with life, now worked like a machine, emotionlessly completing only the tasks assigned to him.

After finishing his duties, Costance returned home without greeting anyone.

“Costance!”

Worried about him, Captain Elvin from the Logistics Department and Lieutenant Finn from the Operations Office visited Costance’s home late at night. At Elvin’s call, the tightly shut door opened.

“……Why are you here?”

Costance looked at Elvin and Finn and spoke calmly.

“We were worried about you. What’s wrong with you? Acting like a corpse. How long are you going to keep this up?”

“Captain Elvin is right. Everyone is worried about you.”

At their words, Costance let out a sigh.

“I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”

“Costance!”

Elvin quickly grabbed the door before it could close and forced his way inside. Finn followed closely behind.

“……What the hell is this, Costance?”

Elvin and Finn were horrified by the sight inside Costance’s home. The lights were blindingly bright, and the TV, three radios, and a phonograph were all blaring different sounds. The house was overly bright, and the floor was excessively clean.

As they tried to make sense of the bizarre scene, Elvin realized that all the small items, apart from the furniture, were missing.

Elvin hurriedly turned off the radios and the phonograph. Finn helped him, turning off all the lights.

“Have you lost your mind, Costance?”

“……If I don’t do this, I keep hearing it.”

The two looked at Costance, who seemed tormented, with grim expressions.

“In reality and in my dreams.”

At Costance’s murmuring, Elvin understood and frowned.

“You crazy bastard.”