“This is the Land of Blessing.”
The subjugation party arrived at the entrance to the Land of Blessing. Carnivorous flowers growing in strange, twisted shapes were visible.
The pitch-black and blue-dead trees, easily three stories tall, were similar to those I had seen in the Grand Duke’s garden before, but even more massive.
From inside the forest, a suffocating haze of dark energy flowed out.
“It feels more oppressive than when I came last time.”
While everyone else was made serious by the sight, I didn’t feel a shred of tension, thanks to the Grand Duke thoroughly unsettling my mind this morning.
In a daze from his confession, I had prepared as instructed, boarded the carriage as told, and walked until suddenly we were at the entrance to the Land of Blessing.
Get a grip.
As I sighed quietly, I noticed Demian nearby, turning his head toward me. I shook my head slightly to indicate I was fine.
I was mixed in among the Grand Duke’s attendants, near him. Sion, Demian, and Ante were also with me. There wasn’t much conversation, but their presence was extremely comforting.
Demian, whom I expected to immediately lecture me, stood quietly without saying much.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t properly greeted them.
Glancing around cautiously, I asked in a low voice.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“I have so many things to say that I’m contemplating where to begin.”
“I see. Suddenly, I feel like living in the Land of Blessing.”
I could feel Demian glaring at me. Sion awkwardly smiled and tried to mediate.
Just as Demian was about to launch into a lecture about the subjugation and everything else, Sion glanced behind us and said.
“By the way, Lady Lora, is it alright for us to be together like this?”
“This is the Land of Blessing.”
The subjugation party arrived at the entrance to the Land of Blessing. Carnivorous flowers growing in strange, twisted shapes were visible.
The pitch-black and blue-dead trees, easily three stories tall, were similar to those I had seen in the Grand Duke’s garden before, but even more massive.
From inside the forest, a suffocating haze of dark energy flowed out.
“It feels more oppressive than when I came last time.”
While everyone else was made serious by the sight, I didn’t feel a shred of tension, thanks to the Grand Duke thoroughly unsettling my mind this morning.
In a daze from his confession, I had prepared as instructed, boarded the carriage as told, and walked until suddenly we were at the entrance to the Land of Blessing.
Get a grip.
As I sighed quietly, I noticed Demian nearby turning his head toward me. I shook my head slightly to indicate I was fine.
I was mixed in among the Grand Duke’s attendants, near him. Sion, Demian, and Ante were also with me. There wasn’t much conversation, but their presence was extremely comforting.
Demian, whom I expected to immediately lecture me, stood quietly without saying much.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t properly greeted them.
Glancing around cautiously, I asked in a low voice.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“I have so many things to say that I’m contemplating where to begin.”
“I see. Suddenly I feel like living in the Land of Blessing.”
I could feel Demian glaring at me. Sion awkwardly smiled and tried to mediate.
Just as Demian was about to launch into a lecture about the subjugation and everything else, Sion glanced behind us and said:
“By the way, Lady Lora, is it alright for us to be together like this?”
Demian, who had just started lecturing me about my drunken behavior yesterday, paused.
He, too, had been concerned about it all along. The piercing gazes of Calix and Lindel.
Even without looking back, I had been uncomfortable with their intense stares.
Although we were wearing robes, not only Demian and I, but Sion too had met them before.
With the three of us gathered together, the probability of being recognized was high. Lindel might be one thing, but Calix had sharp eyes.
But, well, what can we do?
“His Highness said he would handle it if we were discovered.”
“I see.”
So we turned off our concerns. As we refocused on the dark, chaotic forest, I heard the Grand Duke commanding the priests at the front.
“Let us begin.”
With the Grand Duke’s instruction, the accompanying priests began to recite prayers.
The warm, familiar light I had now seen several times spread around the subjugation party members.
The Grand Duke still seemed fine. Though I was worried about when he might collapse again, there was no point in worrying in advance, so I just kept a watchful eye. Not that my watching would change much.
Suddenly, the Grand Duke turned around. I could see concern flashing in his eyes.
I flinched and instinctively avoided his gaze. And immediately regretted it.
“He seems conscious of me.”
As I muttered to myself and turned my head again, the Grand Duke had already withdrawn his gaze from me.
“Well, at least his complexion looks fine.”
Seeing me muttering to myself, Demian asked what was wrong, but I couldn’t answer.
As I waved my hand dismissively, I heard a sigh. Even without looking, I could imagine the sour expression he must be making under his robe.
Sion stared at me briefly, then silently gazed at the Grand Duke’s back before clenching his fist tightly.
“Sion, what’s wrong?”
As I asked while helping him unfold his pale fingers one by one, Demian pulled our hands apart.
“Don’t touch so carelessly.”
“Who are you talking to?”
When I snorted, Demian shook his head with what must have been his umpteenth sigh of the day.
Fidgeting with his hand and hesitating blankly, Sion opened his mouth.
“Did something happen between you and His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“Hmm…”
Ah, so that’s why he was glaring.
We ran through monster fields together, got kidnapped together, grabbed each other’s collars, danced at a party, I received his confession, made a drunken scene, and we kissed.
Since I couldn’t say all that, I rolled my eyes and gave a vague answer.
“Many things happened, really.”
“I see…”
Sion’s voice sounded dejected. I could almost see the rain-soaked puppy expression he must be making under his robe.
I seemed to understand why he was acting that way, but I absolutely couldn’t explain. As I kept my mouth shut, Sion sighed repeatedly.
As time passed, the priests finished their prayers. The sacred light that had enveloped the subjugation party didn’t disappear but lingered around. There was no special change, but the air that had grown heavy near the Land of Blessing became a little lighter.
“Let’s move out.”
Waaah-!
Just as the subjugation party was about to enter the forest amid cheers, Sion called me.
“Lady Lora.”
“Yes?”
“After this is over, will you return to the Eslina mansion?”
“Of course. That’s my home.”
When I answered casually as if wondering why he would ask such a thing, Sion paused.
Looking up at him, I saw that his previously dejected mouth corners had turned upward. He slightly lifted his robe and met my eyes, the corners of his eyes curving.
“Yes, you must return. To your home.”
With those final words, Sion didn’t mention the Grand Duke again.