Chapter 51: The Sinister Sword (4)

Chapter 51: The Sinister Sword (4)

When I returned to the inn with Sirien, Isha was curled up asleep in the corner.

Judging by her appearance, it seemed she had been anxious the whole time we were gone and finally collapsed from exhaustion.

Well, from her perspective, it was understandable.

If someone had suddenly opened that door and walked in, her life would have been in immediate danger.

Even though Requitas’ inn was known for its strict confidentiality regarding its guests, there was no guarantee that it would remain so under these circumstances.

Of course, we had the confidence to rescue her immediately if the worst happened.

We had reassured her that everything would be fine before leaving, but it seemed she hadn’t fully believed us.

Sirien gently tapped Isha to wake her up.

“Isha? We’re back.”

“Ah! I wasn’t sleeping!”

“Uh, it’s obvious you were.”

“...”

Such an awkward sight.

Sirien looked at Isha with a blank expression, while Isha averted her eyes, embarrassed by the scrutiny.

“Come on. Let’s get you changed.”

Isha followed Sirien more easily than she did me.

It wasn’t that she ignored or disrespected me—after all, I was the one who had directly rescued her, and she clearly felt gratitude and tried to be polite.

But there was a subtle fear in her demeanor, as if she found me difficult to approach.

She tried hard not to show it, which made it hard for me to ask about it.

Still, it was fine for now, as Sirien was taking good care of her.

Even back at the castle, Sirien had always been good at looking after her younger siblings.

Despite pretending otherwise, she had a caring nature.

Isha soon returned in fresh clothes, and we laid the food we had brought onto the table.

Isha nibbled on her sandwich, while Sirien and I, having already eaten on the way back, sipped tea with light snacks.

Sirien had brewed the tea herself.

She still wouldn’t allow me to make it.

Honestly, I didn’t think there was that big of a difference.

The only difference was that my tea lacked a bit of aroma and had a slightly bitter taste.

But Sirien had the nerve to call it “sewage water.”

‘Maybe next time, I should brew it and trick her into thinking it’s from somewhere else. Even she wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.’

After all, tea is tea—how different could it be?

Even though Isha must have been hungry, she was only picking at her food.

It looked like she had something on her mind.

I waited patiently, and eventually, she opened her mouth to speak.

“Um, I have something to confess.”

“C-Confess? Out of nowhere?”

Sirien jumped in surprise.

Isha looked even more startled.

“No! Don’t do it! Absolutely not!”

“Huh...?”

Despite Sirien’s outburst, Isha gathered herself and decided to continue.

She hesitated, glancing nervously at Sirien, who was now avoiding my gaze, her face flushed.

“Why did you come? To scold me?”

“I should scold you, but I’ll put that off for now.”

Russell draped a thick coat over Isha’s small body.

Then, he wrapped his arms around her.

For once, his tone wasn’t harsh. His voice was soft and gentle.

“I think I’ve pushed you too hard. Has it been difficult for you?”

“...Yes. I don’t want to train anymore. I don’t want to fight and get hurt, and I don’t like how the uncles look at me like I’m some kind of monster.”

They talked a lot that day.

Isha had expected to be scolded, but instead, Russell shared a meal with her and spent time together.

For the first time in a long while, Isha truly felt happy.

The next day, training resumed as usual.

But Isha could endure it, because of one promise.

If the day ever came when she couldn’t take it anymore, she would leave a message on the rock on that hill.

And her father promised he would listen earnestly.

* * *

The place Isha led us to was an untended field.

There were a few small hills and the occasional flash of red camellia flowers.

Camellias were Sirien’s favorite.

A flower that blooms even in winter. When they bloomed in the snow-covered garden, people in the castle would whisper that the flowers resembled the lady of the house.

The Duchess used to watch the scene with satisfaction, and Sirien never shied away from the affection she received.

In Rehaim, there was never a winter garden without camellia trees.

Remembering that, I picked a flower and handed it to Sirien.

At first, she looked surprised, but soon enough, she broke into a wide grin.

There’s truth to the saying that women appreciate flowers as gifts.

“Razen, do you know what the camellia flower symbolizes?”

“No idea. Other than the famous ones like roses, I don’t know any. Why, is it something strange?”

“No, it’s not strange. But I’m not telling you. If you’re curious, find out yourself.”

Sirien was in an unusually good mood.

She tucked the flower into her hair and wore a bright smile all the while.

“I’m going to keep this flower when we return. I’ll press it and use it as a bookmark.”

“I didn’t realize you liked flowers so much. I thought you preferred trees when we were kids.”

“Huh? Why would you think that?”

“Well, you rarely went into the flower-filled parts of the garden. You always walked toward the trees.”

Even when we stayed in the cabin, Sirien had said she liked the scent of pine trees.

That’s why I always assumed she liked trees more than flowers, but her response to the camellia was surprisingly positive.

“Our garden was always filled with a strong floral scent. That’s why I preferred walking along the edges where the trees were. You remember that?”

“It wasn’t that long ago.”

“Hehe. True. Still, you deserve a reward for remembering. Come here.”

What I received was another camellia, just like the one she’d tucked in her own hair.

She gently placed it in my hair, mimicking her own gesture, and for some reason, I felt embarrassed.

With Sirien’s soft laughter and smile, I didn’t have the heart to take it out.

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