Episode 11

A rattle.

Even as the creaking door slammed shut, Reynold didn’t look away from the gaze he’d cast out the window after Hestia.

There were so many things he’d wanted to ask her today, but he’d kept them bottled up.

It was part of the deal she’d made with her mother when she took over the family business.

To ask no questions about Hestia, to keep everything about her a secret.

“So far, so good…….”

How much longer could he wait?

A dark shiver ran through Reynold’s blue eyes at the thought of her.

“I…… Supreme Lord. If you’re a 14-year-old boy, would you ever…….”

“Well. I suppose there’s a chance, but…….”

Reynold turned slowly to look at the employee who had spoken.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep your eyes and ears closed if you want to work here?”

His blue irises glowed eerily in opposition to his beautifully slanted eyes.

“Sin, I’m sorry, I was just wondering if you had anything to do with the imperial family!”

Meeting Reynold’s eyes, the staffman could barely hold his trembling hands together as he bowed deeply.

“As long as I’m the top dog, nothing trumps the top dog, Artis.”

Reynold gently gripped his employee’s shoulders and slowly pulled him to his feet, smoothing out his crumpled collar as he spoke the rest of his words.

“You want to stick around for a long time, so be careful.”

The words were ambiguous as if he meant his life or his job.

“Yes, yes! Okay!”

The employee nodded, his face blank and his head dropping.

Only after hearing the employee’s answer did Reynold pat him on the shoulder in satisfaction and walk away.

* * *

Hestia grunted as she separated from Baia in the woods near her home.

“Ugh……. This is so heavy.”

After walking for a long time, dragging a basket full of things, Hestia finally made it home.

“Ouch. This is killing me.”

Dropping the basket at the door, Hestia patted her tired arms and stretched her back.

Only as I hurriedly grabbed the doorknob to see if I was too late did Hestia notice something was wrong.

The sun was already tilted close to the ground, and candles should have been lit immediately.

There was no light coming from outside the house. It was eerie and dark as if no one was there.

…… gone?

Even though it was only a one-night stand, it was still a shame to leave like this.

A strange feeling of sadness and loneliness swept over Hestia.

I thought these vain feelings had been burned away in a wildfire, leaving only ashes from the many betrayals and wounds she had suffered.

“Hah…….”

Hestia’s breathing was the only sound in the darkness.

Sighing and squeezing her eyes shut, Hestia pulled herself together.

It’s okay, it’s okay, Hestia, you’re used to this. Wake up.

She fought the feeling of being dragged down to the bottom and pulled herself up.

Hoo!

With a quick breath and a deep promise to herself, Hestia opened her eyes and yanked the doorknob open.

Pow!

The house was silent and dark. There was no sign of life.

“.…..What did you expect?”

Pisik, Hestia spat out a self-help mantra and came in dragging a large basket.

“I don’t know what all this is.”

Most of the items in the basket were meant for Theo, so she was at a loss for what to find,

“We’d better get a light before it gets darker.”

Hestia rummaged through the shelves for a new candle, not wanting to sink any deeper into her feelings.

And then.

A chirp.

Hestia’s heart sank at the unexpected knock on the door.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she spun around reflexively.

“You…….”

She gulped at the sight of someone she recognized.

The one she thought was gone.

Thought she was gone.

Thought it was just a speck…….

“I was just going to get cleaned up, but I’m running a little late. How are you?”

Chirp.

Shutting the door behind him, Theo took a step toward Hestia in the darkness. The boy’s golden irises glowed in the darkness.

“……Sleep, Kanman.”

Hastily, Hestia took a step back, hiding her face in the darkness.

She needed a moment, a moment to think. Her barely suppressed emotions were rising uncontrollably.

I didn’t want to show my weakness, to let myself be consumed by such trivial emotions. I didn’t want to be found out.

A pop.

The sound of an inexplicable drip filled the silent house and then dispersed.

“.…..Are you okay?”

The boy’s voice, not very high, not very low, reached Hestia.

A tap.

The tiny ripple of water woke Hestia from her emotional reverie.

The downward spiral of her mind rebalanced, as if a puzzle of empty spaces had been put together.

“Oh, yeah……. It’s okay.”

The first note shook slightly, but Hestia swallowed dryly and managed to steady her voice.

She heard Theo’s ragged breathing, followed by a cautious voice.

“May I approach …… now?”

But Hestia said nothing.

Can I come closer?

There was only one answer she could give to that question.

Many people had approached her with this kind of compassion and curiosity-yes, many people.

But there were always two outcomes.

Either they spat at her, accusing her of being a witch, or they died miserably when she stood up for herself.

What it’s like to wake up alone among their bodies…….

So Hestia could offer no affirmation.

Biting her bottom lip, Hestia gave her canned answer.

“.….. Stay there. Don’t come near me.”

Shaking off the painful thought, Hestia turned and searched the shelves.

“It’s dark…… it’s dark, and you could get hurt if you wander off. Wait a minute while I light a candle.”

Her voice kept trembling, but she put on her best face of nonchalance.

To her relief or not, Theo said nothing and didn’t move.

“Ah, I found it.”

Ding. Thud. Hiss.

The candle sparked, and a bright red glow lit up her vision in an instant.

The warmth of the light washed away her mixed emotions, and Hestia spun around, pulling the corners of her hardened mouth into a smile.

“You went somewhere, and you’re back.”

Unblinking, golden eyes held Hestia’s in silence.

Hestia hid her trembling fingertips behind her back as the gaze seemed to pierce through her, unable to understand what it meant.

“.…...”

Theo was still speechless.

A tap.

Once again, water dripped onto the floor and screamed.

Theo ran a hand roughly through his wet hair and opened his mouth.

“Are you sure, are you okay?”

Hestia curled her lips into a tight line at Theo’s lazy question.

Normally, she would have laughed, like a normal person, with normal worries and pains.

Strangely, in front of those eyes, in this flickering candlelight, it was difficult.

I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m fine.

I couldn’t bring myself to spit out those words of fake okayness.

* * *

After Hestia went out to the village.

Morning, with a sliver of sunlight streaming through the window. Theo was in a hurry.

He needed time to collect his thoughts, he needed to look around the house, and he still didn’t fully trust Hestia, but he was going to do what he could to repay her for putting him to bed.

She’d been thinking about it since she’d made the heavy choice to stay here a little longer.

I will protect my people.

I will take back what is mine.

I will not allow any more unnecessary sacrifices to be made for me.

“I will not be weak anymore.”

Theo’s voice held deep pain and anguish as he spoke each word as if it were etched into his heart.

I don’t even feel the pain of my nails digging into my tightly curled hands.

“.…...”

It was time to bury the past deep in my heart and move forward. I wasn’t going to try to understand them anymore.

Ha.

A heavy, uncharacteristically old breath escaped me.

How long had it been?

As my jumbled thoughts slowly untangled and organized themselves, I began to hear distant sounds.

The bustle of birds singing, the fresh breeze of early summer, the leaves dancing in the warm sunshine.

As I listened to the cheerful sounds of nature, as opposed to my dark thoughts and resolutions, my tense body began to loosen up.

“Let’s take a look around.”

This is somewhere around the mouth of the mountain.

To find out exactly, Theo pushed himself up from his chair.

Dull thud.

The chair wobbled with a loud clatter as his legs became unbalanced.

In truth, Theo was already so used to balancing that it didn’t bother him too much, but…….

“.…..in case he wants to sit down.”

Recalling the cabin’s owner, Theo reversed his plan and roughly rolled up his sleeves to tackle the chores that needed attention first.

A cursory glance revealed several areas that needed work.

From unbalanced chairs to squeaky door hinges, creaky beds, tilted shelves, and wooden walls with holes that let in the night’s chill.

I didn’t know how or in what order to fix them, and I had no experience.

“I‘ll try.”

After all, every step I take from now on will be an experience.

Theo had already vowed to conquer his fear of the unknown, and this small challenge gave him a boost of confidence.

A faint smile of excitement tugged at the corners of Theo’s mouth.

* * *

The clock tower in the plaza overlooking the town of Silio.

Under the shadow of the noon sun, black-clad figures gathered one by one in the tower.

“I don’t think it’s in this town.”

Four pairs of eyes turned to a single spot as if hoping for an answer.

“.…...”

Cool emerald eyes looked down on the village, scanning the people as they diligently went about their day.

Then, in the distance, a strange figure stood out in the stables at the far end of town.

The man focused on the figure of someone cloaked in robes and mounted on a well-balanced, solid brown horse.

“……you’re going to the next town over.”

His tightly closed mouth opened slowly.

His gaze was still toward the stables.

“Isn’t the captain coming with you?”

The vaguely familiar voice of the masked man questioned, shaking his head.

“I’ll follow you after one more check. Be careful.”

With that, the masked man threw himself down the clock tower and disappeared.

Even a small town’s clock tower would have been intimidating in its height, but he showed no hesitation or fear as he leaped.