Carriages were lined up across the vast garden—larger and more imposing than your average personal ones, built more for war than leisure.

Next to the row of carriages stood warhorses, and alongside them, people stood in neat formation. Probably only about a third of the full force was present here.

The rest had already departed for the outer borders about two weeks ago. By now, they’d likely arrived.

At the front of the gathered crowd stood Father and Sir Lukas. They weren’t in full armor but wore light attire reinforced with pieces of leather armor.

Ah… so they really are leaving.

I stood at the doorway for a long time. It was only after my eyes met Father’s, far in the distance, that I began to slowly move. Drops of rain still clung to the grass, dampening my shoes.

The wet earth and dew reminded me again and again that this was real.