HTWBB Chapter 40

'Child, where's the sister who came with you?'

'She said she was stopping by another region and would come back.'

Even those who'd been uncertain at first now seemed inclined to believe he'd been abandoned. However, when the inn fees were never late, supposedly sent regularly by that 'sister,' they nodded for now and continued watching Melian.

Melian found that gaze uncomfortable. Rietta never made pointless promises normally. She had the disposition of never even uttering words she couldn't keep.

She was running a bit late now, but she would definitely return.

'If you ever can't pay the inn fee, be sure to tell me. Understood?'

That would be the day they rushed to the guard. Melian opened his backpack. The day someone couldn't bear it anymore and reported him—be it the innkeeper or a server—seemed closer than the day the money would run out.

Melian hoped Rietta would return before an annoying situation arose—just imagining it made him anxious. He was confident that he could wait. Even if several years passed, as long as she didn't abandon him.

Today, once again, he deliberately ignored the half-withered marigold. Left alone, the anxiety he couldn't fully erase slowly rose.

'I went down to the dining room on purpose.'

Melian exhaled deeply and stared at the unchanging morning sea. The beach, now bathed in sunlight, was dazzlingly beautiful. As he gazed blankly at the sparkling ripples, he suddenly turned his head.

The hallway was noisy somehow. When he listened carefully, he heard the servant shouting something, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps gradually drawing closer.

Melian quickly threw the backpack he'd been holding under the bed. Those weren't ordinary shoes, but rather, the sound of the military boots knights wore.

"...Seriously! I said he hasn't done anything."

"What business could you possibly have with that little kid?"

"That's why I'm saying I just have something simple to say to that tiny kid."

Melian clasped his hands together. If it were the guard, at least it would be reassuring. Groups other than the ten knight orders also wore such military boots.

The temple's holy knights, too... Recalling the cold armor with almost no luster, Melian broke out in cold sweat.

Melian turned around. The sea visible through the open window never changed position. Would jumping down hurt a lot?

While seriously contemplating, knock knock, two concise raps thundered out.

"You're Melian, right? Can we come in for a moment?"

"What, you think you can do anything just because you're an Imperial Knight Order? How can you be so unreasonable...!"

"Unreasonable? I'm kindly knocking and everything."

The Imperial Knight Order. Upon hearing these words, the color returned to his pale face. The faint trembling also stopped like a lie. Melian set aside his mind that had truly been about to leap out and approached the door.

The knight standing with the door between them continued to speak casually to the servant. Not disgustingly polite, formal language. Melian abandoned his hesitation and stretched out his arm to grab the doorknob.

The first thing that entered his view was burning red hair.

"See? You responded to my kindness."

As the drooping eyes narrowed into slits, the black pupils sank and disappeared completely. With the earring hanging from one ear and the beauty mark embedded slightly above the corner of his eye, he was a knight who looked extremely delinquent.

The man who roughly swept back his disheveled hair stared intently down at Melian, who was far below his height.

After moving his gaze up and down as if thoroughly observing for a while, he suddenly bent at the waist. Whoosh.

"Wh-what?"

"Hmm... Smells sweet. Well, never mind. You'll have to come with me, kid."

After sniffing around, he shrugged his shoulders. Melian stepped back and glared at the man.

"Who are you, mister?"

"...'Mister,' not 'big brother'?"

"Talking like that, as if anyone would follow you. Move aside."

"Margot, do I look like a mister to you?"

"Ugh, get lost!"

The man who'd been blocking the door disappeared to the opposite side as if pushed. The woman with light brown hair who replaced his position bent her knees.

Only then did Melian see their attire. Black knight order uniforms with thin red lines. The unmistakable uniform of the 9th Knight Order.

Watching Melian's eyes dart around, the woman called Margot smiled kindly.

"I know it's sudden, but we were told to bring you."

"...By who?"

"She said you'd know if we mentioned 'Rietta.'"

This time, Melian, who'd been planning a detailed escape, urgently grabbed Margot's sleeve.

"Where is that?"

Behind him, the bunch of marigolds stuck in the vase stretched out their drooping petals in full bloom as if yawning in the sunlight.

Rietta savored the air filling her lungs. She didn't know exactly how many days had passed since she dived into the sea, but judging by the heat carried on the wind, several days had clearly passed.

Inside the shipwreck, she'd thought only two or three days had been delayed at most. Because, despite struggling in various ways due to her injuries, she had never rested for very long.

The flow of time had clearly changed due to El Nas's magic. Rietta hastened her steps toward the inn where Melian would be waiting.

"Aren't you uncomfortable, Rietta?"

"With what?"

"In general."

"No. Speak clearly so I can understand."

Despite scolding, she didn't even glance at him. Abel inwardly chuckled while looking at the wet footprints marking each of her steps.

Though water still dripped from her hair and clothes, she didn't seem bothered at all.

When no answer came immediately, she who'd been walking ahead slowed down and slightly turned her head back. Meeting those indifferent brown eyes, he finally exhaled.

"...Never mind. I'll handle it myself from now on."

She truly was an incomprehensible woman. Excessively sensitive in some areas, yet so easygoing in this aspect that it could be called dull.

She'd clearly seen him dry his body at the coastal rock, yet said nothing. No help, no orders.

Abel took a large step toward her who'd started walking ahead again. A sudden wind whooshed up from beneath his feet. Having blown away all the moisture clinging to Rietta in an instant, he stood at an appropriate distance beside her.

"Where are we going?"

"Blue Wave Inn."

"Ah, that nymph kid is waiting, you said."

It was quite far from the center, on the outskirts, so it was hard to see the houses where people lived. Only a single path wound through the area, passing cliffs of varying heights and an untidy field.

Rietta swept back her thoroughly dried forehead. After finishing the contract, they'd headed straight for the suspicious current Rietta had originally ridden.

Though it flowed in one direction and the current was excessively fast, once Abel returned to his true form, ascending against it took little effort.

But somehow, where they emerged wasn't the middle of the open sea but near coastal rocks lined along the shoreline.

"We should head that way first."

Houses clustered cozily together were visible in the distance. Rietta moved her legs a bit faster.

The coastline of Clémora was inconsistent, including the recessed harbor. Even behind the village they were heading toward, a cliff with a rough surface jutting out completely blocked the path beyond.

Rather than wandering aimlessly, determining a direction was the priority. Since they would be somewhere in Clémora anyway, she planned to find someone and ask for directions to the harbor.

Perhaps because the terrain wasn't flat, the distance was much farther than it looked. Rietta was able to set foot in the village when the sun had fully risen and was hanging obliquely in the sky.

Fortunately, there was a small fruit shop right at the entrance, so there was no need to go far.

"May I ask something?"

"Ah, yes! Please ask!"

A boy who'd been boredly picking at his nails beside an apple crate whoosh lifted his head, then jumped up in surprise.

He appeared to be around the same age as Melian would be if he grew a bit more. Rietta smiled faintly and opened her mouth.

"Which way should I go to reach the harbor?"

"Uh... You mean Lefora Harbor? If it's there, just go outside and head straight south."

The boy scratched his cheek with a face flushed red.

Rietta recalled that Clémora's largest harbor had a name with a similar ring. As she thanked him and tried to turn around, the boy urgently stopped them.

"You're going to walk? You'll need to budget two to three hours!"

"It's fine."

Rietta nodded and truly tried to turn away. But before she could even step forward, the way ahead was completely blocked.

Sliding her gaze diagonally, her face reflected on a well-maintained, gleaming surface of a sword.

This brutish greatsword, about two hand-spans wide, was not an unfamiliar sight. The sword's owner was a very petite woman.

And that woman's superior...

"Lady Le Bleu."

Rietta slowly closed her eyes and opened them. The voice of the expected person fell from above her head. An extremely low baritone.

Of all places, she hadn't expected to run into him here. Hiding her sense of displeasure, Rietta slowly raised her head.

The black uniform with thin red lines had no disheveled parts anywhere, immaculately kept to an almost obsessive degree.

"What brings you all the way here?"

A strong jawline and lips like a drawing, a slightly thin nose bridge. Raising her gaze a bit more, distinct eyebrows and shortly cropped platinum hair were positioned like a masterpiece painting.

Rietta finally met his gaze. His fresh green eyes met hers straight on.

"Alcaide."

The last she'd seen him had been immediately after they escaped Brynhildr's tomb. Rietta reluctantly spoke his name:

Alcaide Kedelion. He was the commander of the 9th Knight Order and the 15th prince of the current empire.

At the voice flowing along red lips, surprise appeared on his rugged face. His eyes traced below Rietta's chin.

"...Yes. You received, treatment?"