chapter 04
As Seniel unfastened the buttons of his shirt to change into something more comfortable, a sharp tap-tap-tap reached his ears.
“…That sound?”
His ears perked up. A split second later, he dashed toward the window.
Outside, Shell was frantically pecking at the glass with her beak.
“Shell! Why are you here at this time of year…? Did something happen to my sister?”
His face turned deathly pale as he hurriedly untied the letter fastened to the bird’s leg.
I’m staying at the Dawn Inn beside the plaza. If you have time, come see me. I’ll wait for one week. —R
As he read, the color gradually returned to Seniel’s face.
Then his eyes fell on the date.
His expression immediately crumpled with alarm.
“Today’s the seventh day?! No!”
With a cry, he bolted downstairs, letter still clutched in his hand.
“Young Master! I’ve already prepared your bath! You still need to have dinner!”
“I’ll be late! Tell Mother for me!”
“Young Master!”
Before the butler could stop him, Seniel sprinted out of the house like a gust of wind, disappearing almost instantly.
Left without even learning where his young master had gone, the butler stood frozen in the doorway, blinking in bewilderment.
I sat on a lonely bench in a quiet corner of the plaza, reading a book.
When I noticed the sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, I lifted my head.
“I guess he’s not coming today either.”
I stretched my stiff neck with a faint sigh.
I’d said I would wait a week.
Today was the final day.
Unable to leave despite my disappointment, I wondered if I should stay a few more days—
Then thunderous footsteps echoed through the plaza.
“Sisteeer!”
I snapped my book shut and sprang to my feet.
Seniel came running straight toward me, wearing a smile so bright it was almost blinding.
Without slowing down, he wrapped me in a fierce embrace.
“What happened? If you’d told me in advance, I wouldn’t have made you wait. I didn’t even know you’d come. I was away training in the capital!”
His delight was so pure it reminded me of a child who had just received the perfect surprise.
Without realizing it, a smile crept onto my own lips.
“The old lady died.”
Up until now, Seniel believed I’d been adopted by an eccentric old woman living in some distant province.
“Huh? Then that means you’re…”
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
“I’m alone now.”
His expression shifted strangely.
His eyes drooped with sadness before his brows knit together in thought.
A moment later, determination filled his gaze.
“Then come home with me, Sister. If I ask Mother, she’ll let you stay with us. She’s wanted to see you too.”
I chuckled softly.
“Stay with your family? What, should I ask them to adopt me too?”
“Why not?”
The afternoon sunlight caught in Seniel’s silver hair, making it shine brilliantly.
For someone like me, who had spent her entire life walking with her back to the light…
It was dazzling.
Too dazzling.
Shielding my eyes with one hand, I slowly shook my head.
“What about your father? He doesn’t like me.”
“I’ll convince him.”
“No.”
I refused without hesitation.
“I’m an adult now. I don’t need a guardian anymore.”
His shoulders slumped again.
“…Then where are you going to live?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”
His eyes suddenly brightened.
“Perfect! Then how about staying at my friend’s villa? It’s not too far by carriage.”
“Would that really be okay?”
“Of course. You can stay as long as you want. The house has plenty of empty rooms.”
His smile softened.
“And… I’d really like it if you stayed by my side for a while.”
Since it wasn’t his home, maybe it wouldn’t be imposing.
I still hadn’t decided what to do with my future, and this was the first real vacation I’d ever had.
To be honest…
I wanted to spend a few more days with Seniel too.
Just the two of us.
Without worrying about anyone else’s opinions.
“Then… I’ll trouble your friend for a few days.”
“Really? Really?! I can’t believe it! I get to see you for several whole days!”
Overjoyed by my answer, Seniel couldn’t stop grinning as he hurried off to hire a carriage for us.
After climbing aboard, I settled comfortably into my seat, unfolded the blanket beside me, and draped it over myself.
“Wake me when we arrive.”
“…Sister?”
Seniel stared at me in disbelief.
“You’re going to sleep already? We haven’t seen each other in six months!”
As I leaned against the carriage wall and closed my eyes, he leaned closer, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“We’ve already greeted each other.”
“I’ve been waiting outside for you all day. I’m tired.”
I gently pushed his face away and closed my heavy eyelids again.
“At least keep your eyes open while we’re talking! I want to know everything! How have you been? I’ve got mountains of things to tell you…”
Unfortunately…
There was nothing I could tell him.
The way I’d lived these past years…
That secret would have to follow me into the grave.
I didn’t want to lie to him.
So I simply pretended to be asleep.
The problem was…
I actually fell asleep.
The instant I felt someone shake my shoulder, my eyes snapped open in alarm.
Out of habit, I reached for the sword that was always strapped across my back—
My hand grasped nothing.
“What startled you so much, Sister? We’re here.”
The irritation in Seniel’s voice suggested he was still sulking about me sleeping through the journey.
The tension drained from my body.
For once, I was glad I’d left my sword behind.
Stretching lazily, I looked out the window.
An enormous stretch of green lawn spread before an elegant old manor.
The sheer size of the estate made me frown.
“Your friend’s a noble?”
“Yeah. A fallen noble, though. He doesn’t hold a title anymore.”
He scratched his cheek.
“And don’t worry. He lives here alone.”
The unease I’d felt at the thought of having to deal with difficult aristocratic elders vanished instantly.
“That’s good.”
Did Seniel really have a friend with a villa like this?
I didn’t remember reading anything about it in the reports.
Still puzzling over it, I watched as the manor doors opened.
An elderly gentleman with graying hair emerged alongside a young man.
Smiling brightly, Seniel extended his hand toward me.
“Come on, Sister. I’ll introduce you.”
I could have easily jumped down from the carriage myself.
Instead, I quietly took his hand and stepped down.
“Welcome, Lord Seniel.”
The dignified elderly man bowed respectfully.
“And who is the lady accompanying you?”
Standing between us, Seniel made the introductions.
“This is my older sister.”
He gestured toward the elderly man.
“This is Pendelric, the steward of the estate.”
Then to the young man.
“And this is my friend, Orbis.”
“Oh, wow! I never thought I’d live to see the day Seniel actually brought his sister here.”
Orbis’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Do you know how curious I’ve been? I’ve heard so much about you that my ears practically grew calluses. Actually…” He rubbed one ear dramatically. “Maybe they really did. Want to check?”
…Just how much had Seniel talked about me?
From Orbis’s expression, I somehow sensed two completely opposite emotions at once—
Genuine excitement…
And complete exhaustion.
Avoiding his overly curious gaze, I extended my hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you can speak casually.”
His grin widened.
“By the way… how do you feel about younger men?”
As Orbis bent to kiss the back of my hand, Seniel abruptly grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him away.
“Have you lost your mind? Don’t touch my sister.”
“Hey! What did I do? It’s just a normal greeting!”
“Not even that.”
“I figured you’d say that.”
Watching the two bicker back and forth filled me with an unexpected sense of peace.
I’d always known Seniel had grown up well.
But seeing him laugh so freely with a close friend…
It made me genuinely happy.
Under Pendelric’s guidance, Rosia personally chose the room where she would stay for the next few days.
After sharing tea and a brief conversation with Seniel and Orbis, she excused herself, saying she was tired, and retired upstairs.
Wrapped in the fresh bedding Pendelric had prepared, Rosia quickly fell asleep.
Outside her bedroom door, however, Seniel had remained standing for hours.
With his arms folded, he leaned against the wall.
Every so often, he quietly cracked open the door just enough to peek inside and watch Rosia sleeping.
Eventually, Orbis came upstairs and gave him a light shove on the shoulder.
“Aren’t you going home?”
“I already sent word that I’m staying the night.”
“And how long are you planning to stand here?”
“You know the answer.”
His eyes remained fixed on Rosia.
“For ten years, I’ve only been able to see her once a year.”
“And even then, it was only for an hour or two.”
His voice softened.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen her asleep.”
“I get it. You’re attached to her.”
Orbis sighed.
“But there’s something we need to discuss. Come downstairs.”
Only then did Seniel finally turn away from Rosia’s room.
His expression hardened.
“…All right.”
He lowered his voice.
“Watch your footsteps.”
Careful not to wake her, the two quietly shut the door and tiptoed down the stairs, practically walking on the balls of their feet.
Inside the room, Rosia opened her eyes the moment they left.
Neither of them noticed.
By the time they reached the first floor, Seniel’s gentle expression had vanished completely.
The warmth in his eyes had frozen into something sharp and cold.
Seeing the transformation, Orbis clicked his tongue.
“I swear, you’ve got two different people living inside you. Anyone who’s only seen your cheerful side would never believe this.”
“Watch what you say.”
Seniel’s voice turned icy.
“My sister knows nothing about what we do.”
He looked straight ahead.
“To her, I’m someone who walks the righteous path.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Orbis shrugged.
“And technically that’s true.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“His Highness will soon become justice itself.”
The two entered the study.
On the luxurious maple desk lay every report that had arrived over the past week.
Orbis picked one up and tossed it toward Seniel.
“Read it.”
“They lost the map to the Great Thief’s hideout.”
“…That’s impossible.”
Seniel’s eyes widened.
“His Highness went there personally.”
“He did.”
Orbis’s expression darkened.
“And he still failed.”
He let out a slow breath.
“Looks like that Raven Guild guy they call Prince is even more capable than we expected.”
“Damn it…”
Seniel clenched his fists.
“Do you know how hard His Highness worked to obtain that map?”
His eyes flashed with fury.
Bang!
His fist slammed onto the desk hard enough to make it tremble.
“That bastard Prince…”
His voice was filled with murderous intent.
“I’m not letting him get away with this.”
“How do I find him?”
