Chapter 60

Cornell headed to Phyllis’s room with a letter in hand. It was a letter addressed to Juliana, who had returned to the dormitory the day before.

“Phyllis. Can I come in?”

She had deliberately taken the letter from the maid. Carefully, Cornell opened the door. Contrary to her expectations, there was no one in the room. Curious, Cornell stepped inside.

‘Where could he have gone?’

She hadn’t heard anything about him going out. She could have just left the letter, but Cornell sat at the table, holding it tightly.

Fortunately, footsteps were heard not long after. As soon as she turned her head, Phyllis opened the door.

“Ah, Phyllis.”

“……”

“A letter came for you. Where did you go?”

Phyllis, who had paused upon seeing Cornell, took his time before responding.

“I went to your room.”

At the unexpected response, Cornell blinked. The sound of the door closing snapped her back to reality. Phyllis walked over and sat in the chair opposite Cornell.

“Why were you in my room? Is something wrong?”

Cornell asked, feeling oddly happy yet uneasy.

She knew Phyllis had been busy lately. She was the same, but Phyllis’s schedule was even more demanding. It felt like he was pushing himself to his limits.

She wanted to believe there wasn’t a significant reason. Holding her breath, Cornell waited for Phyllis’s answer.

“……Cornell.”

After a long silence, Phyllis finally spoke heavily. His expression wasn’t much different from usual. If anything, he looked more peaceful and calm than ever.

Paradoxically, Cornell instinctively realized from that look.

This was the moment she had been waiting for the past few days. And whatever Phyllis was about to say would make her regret those days.

Phyllis stared down at the empty table. His calm eyes wavered, and the silence was broken in an instant.

“I’m sorry.”

As if the calmness from earlier was a lie, Phyllis’s voice trembled. It was as if that one word was all he could manage, and his lips showed no sign of opening again.

Cornell slowly let out the breath she had been holding. She felt nothing. No, she couldn’t think at all.

Phyllis’s head drooped lower until his face was buried in his hands.

‘……I’m sorry, Cornell. And thank you.’

It felt as though she could hear those words overlapping with his voice. But there was no longer any gratitude in his words. Frozen like a stone, Cornell opened her mouth. A breath she hadn’t swallowed escaped.

“What……”

The single word she managed to utter didn’t continue.

Phyllis’s shoulders were trembling slightly as he kept his head down. He was crying. Trying not to let it show, he clenched his teeth and held his breath.

Cornell looked at him. Her hand, which she unconsciously raised, stopped above his shoulder.

‘It’s okay, Phyllis. I’m here.’

The words of comfort she had spoken countless times didn’t come out this time. It was a misery she had brought upon herself. Cornell silently swallowed the resentment she felt toward Phyllis.

What remained between the two was only regret.

***

Flowers that had bloomed early were falling one by one. Petals fluttered outside the window. Despite it being late afternoon, Karina was lying in bed. Soon, there was a knock, and the door opened.

“Miss. Are you feeling better?”

Becky approached the bed, carrying a tray with a wet cloth and medicine.

Karina half-opened her eyes. She saw Becky looking down at her with a worried expression. Normally, Edel, who would be lying in a corner of the room, was circling around, whining.

“Excuse me for a moment. Your fever seems worse…… Does your head hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

Karina replied in a hoarse voice, and Becky sighed as she folded the wet cloth. Karina sat up, wrapped in her blanket, swallowed the medicine with water, and lay down again. The cold cloth was placed on her forehead, and the heat that had been warming her face seemed to dissipate.

“Are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”

Becky asked, and Karina nodded.

Karina had suddenly developed a fever the night before. Even her parents, who had been sleepless with worry, had asked the same question, but Karina’s answer remained the same.

“I’ll get better with some rest. I must have been tired lately.”

Even though she said it was just a mild cold, the concern around her didn’t fade easily.

“All right. Please get some more sleep. You must be tired.”

“Okay. Wake me up for dinner.”

“Yes, Miss. Rest well.”

Before Karina even closed her eyes, Becky tiptoed out of the room.

As soon as she heard Becky’s footsteps fade, Karina threw off the blanket and sat up. Beneath the blanket, she was already dressed in outdoor clothes and holding a hand warmer.

‘Maybe I held it against my face for too long.’

She felt like she had only made Becky worry more. Karina discarded the now-useless hand warmer. Passing Edel, who wagged his tail as if happy his owner was energized again, she made her way to the door.

The hallway was empty, likely because Becky had sent everyone away. Karina quietly descended the nearest staircase and slipped out through the garden exit. She emerged onto the back path where she had previously encountered Noah’s wolf, and a carriage was waiting.

“You’ve arrived, Miss Karina.”

A knight named Ron greeted her with a subdued demeanor. He was a knight who often accompanied her whenever she went out. Especially for visits to Noah’s residence, including the last one, he was almost always there.

Karina gave Ron an apologetic smile before boarding the carriage.

“I’ll be back before dinner. Even if I get caught, I’ll take responsibility.”

It was an unreasonable request. Ron and the coachman nodded reluctantly. Soon, the carriage started moving, and Karina sank into her delayed thoughts.

After encountering Noah in the city, Karina had felt lethargic. About a week later, she realized something.

‘Don’t come looking for me again.’

In the seemingly hopeless words Noah had spoken, she found an unexpected glimmer of hope. Noah had clearly told her not to come looking for him “again.” That meant he was aware that she had come looking for him before.

Realizing this belatedly, Karina was certain. Noah had been keeping an eye on her. She had other reasons to be sure as well. Thinking back, Noah had only shown up when Karina was in the city.

‘Let me stop by the city for a bit. Alone.’

‘I think I’ll stop by the bookstore.’

Most importantly, both times, she had been wandering alone without company.

It might have been speculation, but she wondered if perhaps he had deliberately shown himself.

“Miss. We’re approaching the residence. Shall we stop here?”

Ron cautiously addressed Karina as she was deep in thought.

“Yes. Please stop by that tree over there.”

“Understood.”

The carriage stopped, and Karina quickly stepped onto the forest path. Ron followed her, exchanging glances before heading a bit further into the forest.

Ron held a crossbow in his hand. It was part of Karina’s plan to ensure minimal safety.

‘Does anyone here know how to use a bow or crossbow?’

Having decided to visit Noah one more time, Karina first sought out a knight.

To meet Noah, Karina had to go alone. But wandering through the forest alone in such circumstances was dangerous. She needed someone to protect her while making it seem like she was alone.

Ron, whose face she recognized, had hesitated but eventually agreed to her request. In a way, it was less of a request and more of a veiled threat.

‘This will be the last time.’

‘……’

‘If you help me just this once…… I’ll really give up then. Please.’

Karina had taken the risk to come here because she had a strange certainty. Even though she was ignoring Noah’s words and seeking him out again, she somehow felt he would still be somewhere nearby.

Walking slowly, Karina stopped in front of the door she had knocked on several times before. There were still so many things she wanted to hear. Without hesitation, her hand knocked on the door.

***

Noah turned his head. Footsteps echoed outside the firmly closed door. Soldiers were guarding the hallway. It was both surveillance and protection that had continued since the end of the trial.

‘The residence is already prepared. Move there as soon as possible.’

This was the command Essis had given Noah a few days after the trial had concluded. Until now, it had been fine since he was detained, but once news of the trial’s conclusion spread, it could become dangerous.

Noah, who had been sitting on the floor, stood up. He approached the door and knocked.

“Is everyone outside?”

“…….”

However, as soon as Noah’s voice was heard, the hallway fell deathly silent.

Having been alone for three days straight, he was extremely bored. Noah leaned against the adjacent wall, sulking.

If he had his way, he would have followed Kaya to fetch Reed, but he had been forcibly confined to the room.

They called it “protective custody,” and it turned out to be true. Noah was diligently undergoing his punishment.

‘I wonder where the new residence is.’

As he sat idly imagining his new home, he sensed the hallway growing slightly noisy. But it was only for a moment. Before long, the surroundings fell silent once again.

“Your Highness, this is the 1st Knight Commander, Mathis Ketch.”

At the same time, a familiar voice called out to Noah.

Somehow, the soldiers had been dismissed, and no other presence could be felt. Noah moved toward the door. After a brief pause, Mathis spoke in a heavy tone.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has sent me with a message for you.”

What could it be? 

Noah took a step back and told him to come in. However, the door did not open immediately.

After a moment, the door opened just a crack, and through the small gap, a glint of silver caught Noah’s eye. Instinctively, he dodged and pulled the door toward himself before pushing it back.

A hand holding a dagger was caught in the gap of the door. Noah immediately kicked the blade away with his foot. Then, with the door separating them, he locked eyes with a familiar figure.

“……It’s been a while.”

Through the crack in the door, Mathis glared at Noah with bloodshot eyes.