Side Story 4

Reibella declared firmly and added.

“So, I would like you to come with me. But if you like your current life, I don’t want to force you.”

It was a meeting with a loyal retainer she had thought was dead.

She wanted him to join the newly starting Felicity. But as she told him, she had no intention of taking him against his will.

He was someone who had already shown sufficient loyalty to Felicity. He had done his best to save the only heir until the castle was engulfed in flames and turned to ruins.

But……

“However, if you ever want to serve Felicity again, come to the castle of Reliccarve then. Although it’s now reduced to ashes, it will soon become a magnificent castle.”

Surely, right now it’s a space full of gray as if it had bypassed the flow of time alone, but in just a little while, a majestic castle no different from the past will stand in that place.

Imagining that time, Reibella smiled brightly.

“Then, Felicity will start anew.”

At her declaration, Lionel took a sharp breath. Looking at his eyes filled with excitement, she felt she knew the answer even without hearing it.

Reibella playfully smiled and whispered to him, who was too moved to continue speaking.

“Please take care of me and my fiancé, Levi.”

As she gazed at Calyx outside, his eyes, which had been moist with overwhelming emotion, became marked with shock and froze like ice.

* * *

“Then, when you’re settled, please come to Reliccarve, Levi.”

Before boarding the ship at the port, Reibella said her final farewell to Lionel.

They could have parted at the house, but he insisted on accompanying her to the port, saying he would see her off. Even then, not feeling reassured, he asked her several times.

“Are you sure it’s alright if I don’t go with you?”

“It’s fine. So don’t worry and come at your own pace. I’ll be waiting.”

Despite her reassurances, Lionel’s eyes still showed concern as his gaze slowly turned to Calyx standing next to Reibella.

He still had a confused look.

‘Our Miss has a fiancé……’

When he was thanking her for growing up well earlier, his face had been full of shock at the news of her fiancé.

That face was very similar to the one her father had shown when her mother asked, ‘Who will our Rel end up marrying?’ Reibella couldn’t help but laugh.

“……Please take good care of our Miss.”

Lionel bowed respectfully toward Calyx.

Calyx answered his request in a solemn voice.

“I will escort her safely to the territory, so please don’t worry.”

Lionel’s lips moved as if he had something to say, but in the end, he silently bowed his head.

His face, when they met again, still looked complicated.

“I’ll see you in Reliccarve, Miss.”

With his final greeting, they stepped onto the ship.

And before moving away from land, she turned around once more to look at Lionel. He bowed his head with a solemn face, wishing for their safe journey.

Reibella smiled at him, then moved according to the sailor’s instructions while holding Calyx’s hand tightly.

When they returned to the deck after being shown to the storage room that would serve as their quarters, the ship was already far from the port. Lionel was no longer visible.

As Reibella gazed at the port with lonely eyes, Calyx embraced her shoulders. As if to say he was by her side. Then he carefully opened his mouth.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be able to see him again soon.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Reibella smiled freshly and leaned against Calyx. Then she quietly enjoyed the wind blowing while looking at the blue sea.

It was a wind full of moisture, but under the blazing sun, it was precious.

Reibella brushed back her fluttering pink hair and asked him.

“The wind is full of salt, but it’s refreshing, isn’t it?”

“……Yes. It’s refreshing.”

‘Isn’t it fun? The vast sea! The fresh breeze brushing against your cheeks!’

‘It would be a salty breeze.’

‘Even if it’s salty, it would be a refreshing breeze! Make sure to check if I’m right later. Okay?’

At a moment when it seemed all dreams and hopes would be lost.

In a space full of dust and cobwebs, a small boy and an even smaller girl had dreamed.

Even though the future was filled with such terrible darkness that they couldn’t see an inch ahead, they believed there would still be happiness.

Believing in that dream, they walked vigorously, and walked again.

And finally, they were able to come out into a world so vast they couldn’t see its end, escaping from the narrow room of the old palace abandoned in the forest.

The path they had walked had not been in vain.

That only happy things would fill their future.

Feeling the wind blowing as if gently embracing them, Reibella smiled brightly, as if certain of the future to come.

* * *

Early morning.

The sound of hooves echoed loudly, cutting through the quietly settled air. The horse that had passed through the deserted streets at a fast pace stopped in front of the largest and most splendid mansion in the capital.

The gatekeeper, recognizing the familiar horse, quickly opened the gate. When the horse, covered with dawn’s dew, finally reached its destination, the rider stepped onto the marble stairs.

He removed his hood, revealing beautiful silver hair to the world, and uttered his first words.

“Where’s Rel?”

“She’s still sleeping.”

“Well, it is quite early.”

With a slightly disappointed face, the owner of the splendid mansion, Royan, handed over his gloves and said to the butler.

“I’ll wash up before Rel wakes.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Though he had planned to meet his sister looking neat, his plan was foiled by his lovely sister who appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Brother, you’re here?”

“Rel.”

As he spread his arms and approached her, Reibella giggled and came down the stairs. Then she immediately fell into his embrace.

“How has my sister been? You seem to have lost some weight. Did the food not suit you when you went to the sea?”

“It’s because I haven’t seen my brother for a long time.”

“……Is it my fault?”

Haha, Reibella laughed again and looked at Royan after leaving his embrace. The warm emotion revealed in her green eyes always made Royan happy.

But today might be the last day to see such a cute sister in this house. That fact made one corner of his heart feel heavy with regret.

The desire to wholeheartedly congratulate his sister on her wonderful future, the desire to block the difficult path she would have to walk, and the feeling of wanting to protect her as his sister for a long time—all mixed together, still confusing him.

“Brother, why are you looking at me so seriously? Someone might think I’ve committed a great sin.”

“I guess so,” Royan replied briefly and asked.

“Are you ready to go to Reliccarve?”

“Yes.”

Reibella nodded and grinned.

“My brother, your expression is like a cloudy sky. Are you worried that this sister might run the territory better than you?”

“Of course you’ll do better than me. That’s not even a question.”

“Not true. Brother, I heard that lately people in your territory are praising, ‘As expected of the Young Master!’ My brother is amazing!”

It was just like Reibella to tease playfully while not forgetting to compliment.

His sister naturally led him to the second floor, to his room, while chattering with a voice as pleasant as a canary’s.

As they were about to climb the stairs, there was a small commotion at the entrance he had just passed through. When he turned his head, his father, Cassius Vicheravali, appeared.

Perhaps he had just finished sword training, as he had a sword in his hand.

“Dad!”

And naturally, his sister ran past him without hesitation to her father.

When Reibella hugged her father, he showed an awkward expression, neither embracing her nor pushing her away.

“I must smell of sweat.”

“You only smell good.”

“……What?”

“Dad, did you finish training well? I was going to bring you a towel, I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. It gives your dad more joy for his daughter to sleep even one minute longer.”

Reibella gave her father an innocent smile, then quickly turned her head to look at her brother whom she had momentarily abandoned.

At the same time, her father’s gaze also turned to him.

“Father, I’ve returned.”

“Welcome back. Have you eaten?”

“I’m about to. Will you join us?”

“Of course.”

Both he and his father gazed at Reibella while continuing their calm conversation.

Reibella, seemingly aware that the atmosphere was becoming heavy because of her, smiled even more broadly and linked arms with both Cassius and Royan on either side.

Then she led the atmosphere with a voice raised even higher.

“Well then, let’s all wash up and meet again!”

At his sister’s bright smile, Royan decided to set aside his worries for now and focus on the comfortable feeling of this moment.

That was the happiness Reibella had taught him.