Sebastian’s revelation of his inner thoughts struck Sylvia like a bolt of lightning, sending a flurry of thoughts swirling in her mind.

Did he find out? This is bad, how…

As she muttered to herself in a daze, Sylvia slowly raised her head and looked at Sebastian, her face a mask of confusion.

“…How?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking, given how long we’ve been together?” Sebastian replied, his expression suggesting he found the question absurd.

“I realized it when you suddenly decided to eat despite your dreadful appearance. Honestly, I suspected you would do something reckless, but it turns out that my worry was justified… Even Elder One must have known you would act like this. Although I doubt he expected you to be so stubborn as to not give up after all this.”

“…”

“I thought you might have a hard time leaving, so I discreetly gave the guards a drink laced with sleeping pills a moment ago. I used a strong dose, so they should be out cold in no time. If you’re going to leave, do it then.”

Sebastian spoke to Sylvia, who was wearing an expression that was beyond words.

“But Miss, what were you planning to do about the magical tool on your ankle? …I hope you weren’t thinking of cutting it off, were you?”

“W-well…”

Sylvia flinched at his pointed question, prompting Sebastian to exhale deeply, as if he were losing his mind.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy… Don’t you think about how I’ll feel if you do that? If you just leave one ankle behind and it gets cut off, it’s a good thing Elder One entrusted the key to me… Just extend your ankle. I’ll free you.”

What on earth am I going to do with this troublesome person?

With that look of exasperation on his face, Sebastian gestured for Sylvia to extend her ankle, and before she knew it, she found herself doing so instinctively.

Then, as he knelt down and pulled a key from his possession, she questioned him.

“…Is it really okay to do this?”

“…Honestly, I am a bit scared. Since it’s against Elder One’s orders, there’s a guarantee I’ll face punishment. But it can’t be helped, can it? If I leave you as you are, you’ll spend your life looking like you did earlier, not eating properly. I want to see you smiling brightly, not living like that.”

“…Sebastian.”

“I’ve told you before, right? I’m not on Astra’s side; I’m on your side. So, I’m fine with this.”

Sebastian said those words in a nonchalant tone while kneeling, stirring an emotion in her chest. However, that was not what she meant to convey.

Her question was not for that reason.

So Sylvia asked Sebastian once more.

“…Sebastian, that’s not what I mean. I’m asking if this is truly okay for you.”

Sylvia was not asking about that.

She knew of his loyalty.

I’ve known all along that despite any consequences, he would side with her and answer me that way.

But that’s precisely why she asked.

She wanted to know his feelings, whether it was really okay for him.

Whether it was permissible for him to tolerate her taking such a dangerous path, despite being the one most concerned for her well-being.

“…”

And at those words, Sebastian fell silent.

She felt his hand trembling around her ankle.

His hand that held the key fumbled several times before abruptly stopping.

“…There’s no way it’s okay.”

Then, from his bowed head came a response filled with tension.

“The truth is, I want to beg you to stop right away. I’m terrified of what might happen to you. I wish you could just stay in a safe place. More than anything, your safety is the most important thing to me, so I want to ask you not to go…”

His voice was filled with worry, anxiety, and fear.

Yet, despite his trepidation, he spoke to Sylvia.

“But I know… I know better than anyone that you are not the kind of person who can be easily dissuaded by that.”

“…”

“I know that no matter how hard I try to hold you back, once you’ve made up your mind, I can’t stop you. Even if I manage to prevent you from going this time, you’ll do something even more reckless, like cutting off your own ankle, just to get out. You may seem obedient, but unless you achieve what you genuinely desire, you won’t be satisfied. You are that kind of person.”

“…Sebastian.”

“So I didn’t stop you. I knew it would be useless anyway, so I decided to help you leave as safely as possible. But still, it doesn’t feel right. I’m afraid I’m putting you in danger. I worry that you won’t come back…”

Sebastian’s trembling hands shouted out in despair, but then he muttered pleadingly.

“So, I ask you for just one promise. Please promise me you will return safe and sound, so I can rest easy…”

In that moment, Sylvia could recall the image of him being stern when she made a mistake, yet forgiving her at the end by asking her to promise not to do it again.

So, she cupped his cheeks in her hands and made him look at her, stating firmly.

“I promise, Sebastian. I will definitely come back safe.”

“…You won’t break this promise, right?”

To Sebastian, who asked anxiously, Sylvia answered with a dazzling smile.

“Why would I ask, Sebastian? When have I ever broken a promise to you?”

And at her words, Sebastian gave a wry smile and muttered.

“…No. You always kept your promises, come what may.”

So having uttered those words, Sebastian took a deep breath and, without hesitation, inserted the key into the lock on Sylvia’s ankle bracelet.

Turning the key, a click echoed as he unfastened the bracelet from her ankle.

With great care, as if he might scratch her ankle, he removed the bracelet and bowed his head toward Sylvia.

“I’ll trust you, as always.”

“I’ll keep my promise. Just like always.”

In response to Sebastian’s words, Sylvia replied with a smile.

It was only natural that he would worry.

It was something to be thankful for rather than blame him for it.

It meant he cared for her that much.

So all she could do was respond to his trust with her own.

I will definitely come back without incident.

In a form that he can smile at as he wishes.

With that resolution, Sylvia turned her head to glance out the window.

She could see the guards sprawled out, sleeping in the yard of the mansion.

With a smirk at the sight, Sylvia turned to Sebastian.

“It looks like the guards are asleep. I had initially thought to fight and knock them out while escaping.”

“Oh dear, that’s fortunate news for the guards. They must feel relieved, as you are quite strong.”

“Really?”

Sylvia chuckled at Sebastian’s words and picked up the bundle that had been on the desk, asking.

“So, what’s in this?”

“I couldn’t pack much in haste. Just some medicine, a magic pouch for generating water, and emergency food.”

“Emergency food? What kind?”

At Sylvia’s curious inquiry, Sebastian answered with a mischievous grin.

“It’s something that came about during the development of next-generation combat rations.”

“Wait, you mean that? The one that has a ton left over because of its terrible taste?”

“Yes, that’s the one. The taste may be terrible, but its nutritional value compared to its size is unmatched.”

At his words, Sylvia cradled her head in her hands and shivered.

“My goodness… I never thought I’d find a day where I have to put that abominable thing in my mouth…”

Seeing Sylvia genuinely despairing, Sebastian chuckled and added,

“I knew you’d say that, so I also packed a few macarons. You’ll need to savor those.”

“…! Of course, Sebastian, you really know what I want.”

Upon hearing that there were macarons included, Sylvia’s face brightened.

Both of them laughed heartily at the situation, then quickly composed themselves and said.

“Well then, I guess it’s time for me to go. Thank you, Sebastian.”

“Not at all. It’s my duty to work for you.”

The window swung wide open.

The bracelet was removed, and the guards were gone.

The prison that had confined Sylvia now revealed the azure sky.

Before leaving, Sylvia turned to her beloved retainers and family, smiling brightly as she said,

“I’ll be back, Sebastian.”

“Take care, Miss.”

As Sebastian bowed politely behind her, the starlight cut through the sky.

Moments later, after the starlight faded, Sebastian raised his head, quietly praying as he followed the trail left by the vanished starlight.

May that shining star,

like the language of the chamomile he had offered her,

bring strength even in adversity.