Chapter 7 – Trauma (Part 8)

The next day, Ellerdin woke up in a good mood and stretched. Her entire body felt light.

Her senses, which had been abnormally heightened, had returned to normal.

She wanted to enjoy this refreshing feeling for a while, but suddenly work began pouring into the previously peaceful duchy.

Day after day, nobles started protesting, claiming that the monsters crossing over were all due to the Duke’s failure to manage the North, demanding compensation.

To make matters worse, wizards and temple priests began demanding that the duchy be opened, claiming they sensed the presence of a dragon.

Wizards couldn’t help but be thrilled by the existence of an ancient creature, and the temple reacted sensitively because a dragon’s existence could negate the existence of gods.

As a result, Ellerdin spent days helping Fernan process documents.

Knock, knock, at the sound of knocking, Ellerdin stopped what she was doing and turned around.

“Come in.”

Fernan entered with an awkward smile.

“Am I interrupting?”

“No. What’s the matter?”

Ellerdin put down the documents in her hand and looked at him.

Fernan couldn’t easily start speaking, shifting his gaze.

“The weather has been really nice lately.”

At the random comment, Ellerdin tilted her head.

“…Yes, it has.”

“The breeze is cool too.”

“Hmm… yes…”

“I heard from others that people are traveling a lot these days.”

Fernan continued as he approached.

“I see… Oh, is it an inspection of the territory? Certainly, accidents are more likely when there’s a lot of population movement.”

Fernan chuckled at her innocent eyes.

“Of course, that’s good too, but… right now, I’d like to spend time with you. It’s a good day for a trip, isn’t it?”

Fernan smiled, his eyes curving, and extended his hand.

Ellerdin reluctantly stood up as he politely bowed and made eye contact.

There was no need for him to do that.

He still felt sorry for her sharing his work.

‘I should tell him it’s unnecessary…’

She knew in her head, but her mouth wouldn’t open easily.

Lately, every time she saw him, she wanted to act spoiled.

She always told herself not to every night, but when she saw his face, that resolve vanished.

Ellerdin eventually placed her hand in Fernan’s. His large hand immediately enveloped her small one.

Startled by the warmth, she looked up to see him smiling brightly.

His mischievous expression made Ellerdin burst into laughter without realizing it.

“Why is your hand so warm?”

“I think it’s because I’m with you.”

Fernan spoke in a joyful voice as he went behind Ellerdin and held both her hands.

“Let’s put work aside for a moment and go have some fun.”

He whispered in her ear as if sharing a secret story.

It was like children promising to sneak out and play without their parents knowing.

It felt like his joy had flowed into her. Her heart thumped with excitement.

Ellerdin let out a light laugh and walked with a spring in her step.

***

After getting ready and coming down the stairs, Fernan and the servants were gathered in the first-floor lobby.

He was wearing a light shirt and pants, as if going on a trip to the South.

“Are you ready?”

Fernan asked with a joyful smile, extending his hand to Ellerdin.

Seeing his face made her heart start pounding again.

She tried to hide her flushed ears as she placed her hand on his.

“Madam, have a safe trip.”

Mollek said jokingly, wiping tears with a handkerchief.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Ellerdin said with a bright smile.

Next to her, Celine grabbed her hand tightly.

“Don’t think about anything and just rest. I’ll take care of things here.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After confirming all the farewells, he gently wrapped his arm around Ellerdin’s shoulder.

“Then let’s depart.”

‘Huh?’

Isn’t this an unusual way to walk? 

Just as she was about to comment on his escorting style, a bright light shone.

Feeling her feet lift off the ground, Ellerdin instinctively hugged Fernan’s waist tightly.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself not at the Duke’s castle but in the middle of an island surrounded by a vast blue sea.

Surprised by the sudden change in scenery, Ellerdin looked up at him.

“Oh… right now…”

Fernan, flustered, covered his face with his hands.

Having used the massive magic of teleportation, his appearance had changed from his usual look.

The sharp teeth visible beyond his covered hand and the small scales and fur-like features on the back of his hand were apparent.

Since this was the first time he had shown his demonic form to her while conscious, Fernan turned his body to hide the transformed areas.

Watching him rub the scales as if trying to make them disappear, Ellerdin chuckled and went behind him to hug him.

Feeling her small body embrace him, Fernan’s body stiffened.

“Thank you for bringing me here. It must have been a difficult choice.”

She knew how much he didn’t want to show his demonic form.

Yet, he had transformed for her sake.

Ellerdin silently looked around.

The island was quite small, with the blue sea stretching out in all directions. Furthermore, the waves crashing in the distant sea seemed so fierce that no ship could pass through.

Realizing that no one else could enter this place besides Fernan and herself, Ellerdin tightened her embrace.

“It’s your secret place.”

Fernan chuckled and turned around to face Ellerdin, embracing her.

“Do you like it?”

It was the first time he was showing it to someone.

“…This is my first time at the sea. It’s so beautiful.”

Fernan and Ellerdin sat on the island’s sandy beach, quietly gazing at the sea.

They had long since taken off their thick clothes.

The sunlight was warm, and the gentle breeze playfully tickled their faces.

Feeling the soft sand beneath her feet, Fernan spoke to her.

“How about going in once?”

“…”

“No one can enter here. And if anyone does, I’ll take responsibility and eliminate them.”

“Pfft…”

His cool way of saying he’d eliminate them made her laugh. However, Ellerdin couldn’t easily go in and fidgeted with her fingers.

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust his words or felt burdened.

It was just that the compulsion to show her true form didn’t easily go away.

Having never shown it to anyone before made it even harder to reveal.

Knowing that her silence was one of hesitation, he patiently waited for her answer.

Even after quite some time had passed, Fernan silently waited for her response.

“…I’ll try going in once.”

Ellerdin slowly dipped her feet into the water.

The cold water lapped at her feet, but she didn’t feel cold.

However, she could understand why her mother longed for the sea so much.

It was a different dimension compared to the lake in the Duke’s garden.

Just the water up to her feet.

Even with just the water touching her feet, she wanted to dive right into the middle.

It felt like the sea was pulling her in.

Ellerdin slowly walked into the sea.

After walking slowly for a while, she suddenly plunged into the deep sea. The resistance that had been holding her back disappeared, revealing her true form.

‘Refreshing.’

In the slowly submerging water, she opened her eyes and swallowed a breath inwardly.

The inside of the sea was freer than she had imagined.

In the vast sea unfolding before her, she felt a liberating sense of freedom for the first time.

Looking up, she saw sunlight filtering through the surface above.

Creatures she had never seen before gathered from afar, swirling around her as if welcoming her presence.

No one rejected her; they all welcomed her.

It felt cozy, like being in her mother’s arms.

The endlessly expanding sea was a space no human could invade.

As soon as she realized that fact, an overwhelming sense of liberation and freedom enveloped her.

Like a dog whose leash had been removed for the first time, spinning around its surroundings, she hurriedly escaped the sea, gripped by sudden fear.

Seeing her hasty exit, Fernan was startled and approached Ellerdin.

“What happened?”

But even at his words, Ellerdin stood with a dazed expression, as if in shock.

Then, without a word, she burrowed into Fernan’s arms and buried her face in his shoulder.

Not being the type to act like this, Fernan was flustered by her sudden action and gently embraced Ellerdin.