“Ugh……”

<Don’t make excuses. It just makes it more pathetic.>

“Ugh……”

<…….>

“……”

<So, you’re really not going to say anything? Wow, seriously.>

What was I supposed to do?

I instinctively opened my eyes wide, then sighed and relaxed them.

I reached out to pick up Rick, who flailed his arms and legs in surprise.

<Let me go! I’m still mad!>

“I’m sorry.”

I held Rick under his arms to meet his eye level and sincerely apologized.

“I’m really sorry, Rick. In the future, even if something like this happens, I won’t let anyone take you away. Trust me. You’re mine.”

<What, what…….>

“Right, Selena?”

I turned to Selena, frantically signaling her with my eyes. Come on, back me up here!

<Oh, uh, right. Yeah. Terry’s teddy bear…….>

Selena, with a somewhat peculiar expression, looked back and forth between Rick and me before nodding in agreement.

Meanwhile, Rick stiffened as if he really had turned into a teddy bear.

What was going on? Worried, I gently shook his body.

“Rick? I’m sor…….”

<……It’s fine. Stop it.>

“Oh. You’re not mad anymore?”

<Yeah, I guess I’m not. Why is that……?>

Rick seemed as puzzled by his own attitude as I was, but it was a relief that he was no longer angry.

I was about to breathe a sigh of relief and smile when I heard rustling sounds rapidly approaching.

A wolf, covered in leaves, suddenly leaped toward us.

“Ah!”

I screamed reflexively and fell on my backside.

The wolf enthusiastically licked Rick’s face, who was cradled in my arms, and my cheek as well.

I mean, I get it with Rick, but why me?

“Wait, hold on.”

“Woof!”

“Okay, okay. Good boy.”

After a while of enthusiastically greeting Rick and me, the wolf finally sat down calmly on the ground, wagging its tail.

Selena, who had been watching the whole situation unfold, muttered that we were a strange bunch and shook her head.

As the sky turned orange, we hurried out of the forest.

“Huff, huff.”

I had no idea why it was following us, but it was kind of cute. Couldn’t I just keep it? Oh, but the Duke’s house probably couldn’t afford that.

* * *

Crack.

The quill in Valerian’s hand crumpled as he listened to Sebastian’s report.

Black ink stained his white gloves, but he merely set his face in a terrifyingly stern expression.

“What did you just say?”

Sebastian, standing before him with his head bowed, spoke in a grim voice.

“It’s a report that Miss Teresia has…… disappeared.”

“And you call that an explanation…….”

Hadn’t he sent both the captain and the vice-captain just in case?

He even assigned Mina, fearing the Emperor’s twisted mood might affect the child.

And now, what? She disappeared?

“Damn it.”

Valerian muttered a curse under his breath. A fierce killing intent, akin to what one might feel on the battlefield, emanated from him.

Though Sebastian had felt Valerian’s aura before, he couldn’t help but feel cold sweat trickling down his neck and swallowed hard.

Valerian threw his glasses aside irritably and ran a hand through his hair.

“Gather all the knights.”

His eyes were on the verge of turning completely cold, like he was ready to sever heads on the battlefield.

* * *

I left the forest with Rick, Selena, and Sooty – yes, I named it.

As we emerged from the dense forest and entered the town, the atmosphere was chaotic.

I looked around and saw Mina up ahead, running toward me and calling my name as if in a scream.

“Miss!”

Oh, thank goodness she found me quickly!

I waved at Mina with relief, and she immediately pulled me into a hug.

“Huh? Mina?”

Surprised, I flailed my arms in the air. I heard Rick sigh as he got squished between Mina and me.

Unlike her usual self, Mina didn’t let go even though I was flailing. Instead, she tightened her grip around me.

The area around my right shoulder, covered in dirt and dust, became damp.

“I was so, so worried… sniff.”

Uh-oh…

Mina sat down on the ground, holding me tightly, and burst into tears.

I swore, this was more bewildering than hearing the murderers’ voices in the forest.

What do I do? I stood there stiffly, my eyes darting around.

Meanwhile, knights, looking just as disheveled, hurriedly gathered around us.

“Miss! We found you!”

“Oh, thank goodness… really…”

The knights didn’t cry like Mina, but each of them panted with relief, their faces twisted with anxiety.

They might not have noticed, but I could see everything clearly, and it was truly bewildering.

In a half-dazed state, I held Mina’s hand and returned to the mansion, surrounded by knights.

“Woof!”

Sooty wagged its tail enthusiastically by my side.

Earlier, when the knights tried to draw their swords at Sooty, I was horrified and stopped them.

“Miss, but…”

“Sooty! Answer me!”

“Woof!”

“Wow, it even responds well! See? It’s a smart one, isn’t it?”

…Wasn’t it just barking?

That was the look on their faces at first.

But soon, seeing Sooty wagging its tail like a puppy finding water, they made strange faces and let go of their sword handles. It was a real relief.

The distance between the Everdeen mansion and the commercial district wasn’t far.

In front of the mansion’s gate, bathed in the sunset, people were gathered. All the servants of the Duke’s house, led by Sebastian.

At the very front, the Duke was pacing with an anxious expression. Sensing our presence, he quickly turned his head. His eyes widened when he saw me.

“Terry!”

The Duke called my name in a voice filled with desperate urgency and rushed toward me in an instant.

He reached out as if to embrace me, then hesitated and awkwardly stopped himself.

After clenching and unclenching his fists a few times, he slowly withdrew his arms.

Instead, he held out a crumpled piece of paper, as if he had been holding it in his left hand all along.

“I was worried.”

“Oh.”

Seeing it, I let out a short sigh.

The ink, smeared all over, and the paper, crumpled from cold sweat.

It seemed to perfectly reflect the Duke’s current feelings.

‘Really…’

At that moment, I had no choice but to admit what I had been denying since reuniting with Mina.

They truly, sincerely, worried about me.

Even though from the moment I arrived at the Everdeen mansion, or even before that, all I could think about was leaving.

“…I’m sorry.”

For making you sweat with worry, and for all the trouble I caused before. All of it.

I added silently, bowing my head.

The Duke looked down at the top of my head with a troubled expression, then let out a helpless chuckle.

“It’s alright. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Ugh, this feels weird.

Feeling like tears might come, I shook my head more brightly and spoke from the heart.

“Your Grace.”

His golden eyes turned toward me at my sudden call.

I met his gaze directly and spoke clearly.

“I am Teresia Everdeen.”

“…”

“So, you don’t have to hold back anymore. It’s okay to do what you want.”

Now that I’m part of the Everdeen family.

Whether it’s the betrayal of trusted retainers or the Emperor’s malice.

I hoped he no longer had to endure unjust things.

“…”

Understanding the meaning behind my words, the Duke’s eyes widened in surprise.

See, he’s not oblivious. I smiled slightly and extended my hand as if to shake his.

With eyes that seemed like waves, he looked at me, then finally smiled faintly and took my hand.

“…Thank you.”

His whisper, almost like a soliloquy, scattered softly into the air.

For the first time, our bare hands clasped together felt as warm as the color of the sunset above.

* * *

“Have you found her?”

A voice, cold as ice, echoed in the room.

Baron Ganess flinched, his shoulders jerking out of habit.

“Well, uh…”

“Yes or no. Just answer with one of those. Why is your tongue so long, William?”

Count Arietta glared coldly at Baron Ganess from across the desk.

—
T/N: *Dies more because of the wholesomeness*