Yelena stopped walking. She stopped and stood in the middle of the garden’s walking path and stared at Edward with a flustered face.
“…What are you talking about? Who said that was a lie? Mielle? Was it Mielle who said that?”
“Yelena. I know you.”
Edward had also stopped walking and locked eyes with Yelena.
“Most of my memories with you are of us beating each other up, but still, we came from the same womb and grew up under the same roof.”
“…”
“You think I wouldn’t be able to tell when you’re lying? Back then, everyone in our family could tell that you were lying.”
Yelena was at a loss for words. She hadn’t known. She thought she had deceived her family seamlessly with her acting.
“…Though of course, that excuse doesn’t seem to be a complete lie at the moment,” Edward mumbled under his breath. He took a deep breath and continued speaking.
“In any case, the important thing is that you acted stubborn for the first time in front of Father… That’s why he acquiesced in your request.”
“…”
“And after we received your letter, he deeply regretted his decision. He reproached himself.”
“As I said before, the kidnapping didn’t particularly have anything to do with the duchy…”
“I know. I kept thinking about it after you said that the first day I was here. I admit I was being irrational. And I can no longer deny that you’re the safest here.”
“…”
“I’m not telling you to come back home,” Edward continued calmly. It was a rare sight to see him so composed.
“Meet with Father personally. Meet with him and persuade him yourself. Reassure him.”
“…”
“It’s much better than me relaying the message. You know this, don’t you?”
Yelena and Edward locked eyes. Yelena was quiet.
“It’s all I ask of you. Please.”
Shortly after, Yelena quietly said, “…Give me some time to think about it.”
***
A few days later, Yelena decided to visit the capital. Kaywhin’s opinion also helped cement her decision.
“Perhaps you should go.”
“Why?”
“You haven’t seen him since the wedding. You can use this opportunity to spend some time with him too.”
“Hm…”
“To be honest, I also fear that I will be hated if I don’t send you, Wife.”
“Hated? Whom, you? By who?”
“Your family.”
“So what if they hate you? You have no relation with them.”
“I know I have no relation with them, but…”
“…”
“For some reason, I still want to look good in front of them, the people who love you.”
Yelena fiddled with her earlobe. The conversation gave her a strange, bashful feeling.
Then Sidrion spoke. “It’s ready.”
Yelena stared at the ground, where a tremendously complex pattern was drawn in a circular shape.
“Is this a magic seal?”
“Yes, for teleportation,” Sidrion answered, standing in the middle of the seal. “No matter how I think of it, using a magic seal to help teleport several people to the capital would make things easier.”
It would take one week to get to the capital by horse carriage.
Without even pretending to consider the carriage ride, Yelena had summoned Sidrion and Sidrion was to teleport five people in total to the capital.
Yelena and Edward.
Colin, Thomas, and Max.
For reference, Sidrion was not only in charge of bringing Yelena to the capital, but also being her bodyguard during her stay.
So, Yelena had considered separating herself from the three knights, but Thomas and Max had sensed this and had promptly fallen to the ground in protest, canceling Yelena’s idea.
Colin had watched them and then timidly joined in.
‘Goodness, they were just born to protest.’
Yelena sighed. Then, her gaze suddenly fell to Edward. He was observing the magic seal with a fascinated glimmer in his eyes. Yelena gave a smug grin.
“Did you see?”
“…See what?”
“How competent my husband’s friend is. He’s teleporting all of us to the capital at once. Not just anyone can do that. You know that, right?”
At first glance, it sounded like Yelena was complimenting Sidrion, but upon closer look, the focus was actually on “husband’s friend.” In other words, she was saying that even her husband’s friends were impressive.
“…”
Edward looked at Yelena with dumbfounded eyes.
“We will be departing now. Everyone, please gather inside the magic seal,” Sidrion said.
“Have a safe trip.”
Merry waved her handkerchief as Edward and the others started to step inside the magic seal. She had decided to stay at the castle. She had expressed her intention to serve Yelena like before.
She had informed Yelena that she had broken up with her longtime boyfriend. The nuance of the news implied that something might have happened to the man that did not leave him in good condition before she left to come to the castle.
‘But I’m sure he’s still alive.’
After briefly worrying about the status of the young man, Yelena looked at Kaywhin.
“I’ll go and come back.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
His sweet voice filled her ears. She suddenly realized that she wouldn’t be able to hear this voice for the next few days.
‘I won’t be able to see his face either.’ The thought filled her with regret, and her regret mustered a spark of courage and impulse.
“…Oh my.”
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