[Chapter 149] Good Memories

Creating good memories again...

"What's wrong?"

"If the poison had really existed, what would have happened?"

"The soup? I know it didn't exist. Ren-senpai just said it to calm us down."

"I see. But what if I had accidentally eaten it? If I hadn't called out to Fayel, I would have just eaten it, wouldn't I?"

Cledwin's eyes darkened. Nellis's heart sank.

If she hadn't misinterpreted, there was sorrow and fear in that darkness.

She knew what that sorrow and fear were. His childhood had been shattered by the same tool, in the hands of the culprit of this incident.

She didn't know if she had gone too far. Nellis averted her gaze.

"...I won't lie."

She knew he was watching her. Without seeking any understanding or explanation... she had pushed him too far. He was a person who could understand many things on his own, but some things were clearly beyond his authority.

Nellis thought that the reason he tolerated her actions to this extent was because of his inherently upright heart.

"He's someone who trusts me."

She was truly grateful that she had met Cledwin after going back in time. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have made it this far.

Only someone who is trustworthy can trust others.

Creating good memories again...

"What's wrong?"

"If the poison had really existed, what would have happened?"

"The soup? I know it didn't exist. Ren-senpai just said it to calm us down."

"I see. But what if I had accidentally eaten it? If I hadn't called out to Fayel, I would have just eaten it, wouldn't I?"

Cledwin's eyes darkened. Nellis's heart sank.

If she hadn't misinterpreted, there was sorrow and fear in that darkness.

She knew what that sorrow and fear were. His childhood had been shattered by the same tool, in the hands of the culprit of this incident.

She didn't know if she had gone too far. Nellis averted her gaze.

"...I won't lie."

She knew he was watching her. Without seeking any understanding or explanation... she had pushed him too far. He was a person who could understand many things on his own, but some things were clearly beyond his authority.

Nellis thought that the reason he tolerated her actions to this extent was because of his inherently upright heart.

"He's someone who trusts me."

She was truly grateful that she had met Cledwin after going back in time. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have made it this far.

Only someone who is trustworthy can trust others.

Cledwin, seeing Nellis's expression relax, smiled and gently lifted her hand. He then slowly pressed his lips to the back of her hand, his gaze fixed on hers.

A soft, gentle breath escaped from between his lips, accompanied by an intense, yearning gaze.

"I, I'll get up."

Nellis's spine tingled. She awkwardly spoke, trying to stand up. Cledwin released her hand, and the dangerous expression from earlier was replaced by a gentle smile.

"I know. We'll see each other again anyway."

"Yes, that's right."

Nellis felt the fear of being physically separated from the person she liked in an environment where they couldn't be apart. It was too difficult to bear. Unlike her previous thoughts, she couldn't hide it anymore.

Now, it was too natural for him to approach her. His voice could be heard from anywhere, and it felt right for him to hold her hand. If this continued, who knew how far things would go?

"Thank you."

Cledwin cheerfully called out to Nellis's retreating back. She stopped at the greenhouse entrance and turned around to face him.

"What's going on? Ah, are you going to take revenge?"

"No."

The sunlight poured onto Cledwin's face, casting a warm, golden glow through the leaves.

He smiled comfortably, like a young boy who had once laughed in this greenhouse.

"Let's create good memories here again."

He had buried his childhood toy in the garden while renovating the greenhouse, placing it under the big tree. Nellis didn't know what expression to make, so she turned her head away and responded in a awkward tone.

"...See you later."

Laughter echoed behind her as she hurried away.

***

"It's too sad to part like this, Nellis."

Ren said this for the umpteenth time, his face as pitiful as a puppy being separated from its owner.

It was a clear autumn day, perfect for traveling, and the last chance to depart before winter arrived in the Papal State.

Even with three elite knights from Maindlandt standing guard behind him, Ren's gentle and harmless atmosphere remained unchanged. To Nellis, it felt overly casual, almost burdensome.

However, Ren's eyes, gazing at her with a mixture of sadness and longing, were as sincere as ever.

There must have been various reasons why he had become so famous without relying on his family's influence over the years. Nellis couldn't fathom those years.

And yet, despite his busy schedule, he still showed affection towards her.

"Be careful on your journey, senpai."

Since he had requested it, Nellis didn't use the title "sir." Ren smiled, seemingly pleased with the fact, but Cledwin didn't appear to be.

"Are you leaving already? It's going to be a long journey."

Cledwin, who had insisted on seeing Ren off alongside Nellis, said this with a hint of annoyance. Ren responded with an angelic smile.

"You're worried about me, Your Highness. This is a great blessing. Fortunately, the next village isn't too far, so I should be able to arrive before sunset."

"It seems like you're saying that because you don't want to leave me behind."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I'll take care of myself."

Ren didn't want to be seen off by many people, and among the few who were present was Talprin, disguised as a soldier. Talprin let out a quiet snort. This guy had really grown up in a peculiar way.

Ren continued to maintain his reputation, appearing humble and unassuming in the secular world. Anyone who saw him would be captivated by his innocent face, and it was hard to resist his charms. However, hadn't he sent away a high-ranking noble the moment he arrived here?

Even now, he was still trying to manipulate Cledwin's nature, saying things like "I'm worried" and "Thank you" while pretending to be innocent.

"Nellis..."

Ren repeated his sad farewell, reaching out to take Nellis's hand. It was a common gesture for a priest to bless their follower's hand, so Nellis didn't think much of it.

The one who did think twice was on the other side.

"Okay, that's enough. Let's go."

Cledwin, who had been watching, suddenly took Ren's hand instead. Ren's expression momentarily froze.

The gazes of the two men briefly clashed, but Ren quickly regained his composure and smiled brightly at Nellis.

"I'll be off now, Nellis. It's getting windy. Go inside quickly."

The wind wasn't blowing, but Ren seemed to be trying to make a genuine farewell in his own way, so Nellis nodded.

"Thank you for coming. If anything happens, contact Maindlandt."

"Got it."

Although it seemed like Cledwin and Ren didn't get along, Nellis knew that they were capable of cooperating when necessary. This recent incident was a perfect example of that.

With a reluctant Ren, the carriage departed, accompanied by only a few attendants. It was a surprisingly simple and humble procession.

'He must have received the protection of the Temple of the Gods to have come this far. There might be some hidden guards as well.'

Now, Ren Fayel was not just the last descendant of a fallen noble family, but a prominent figure who drew attention. Every move he made would be the subject of gossip.

And this image of him would stay in people's memories for a long time, far longer than the golden decorations of the Omnitus Palace.

"Let's go in."

Before Ren's carriage had even left the castle gates, Cledwin quickly took Nellis's arm and said this. Nellis smiled and agreed.

"Yes, let's go in."

Ren departed for the Papal State, leaving her behind.

Each of them would pursue their own goals from their respective positions.

***

The White Swan Castle's northern tower, where special attention was required to imprison particularly notorious criminals.

The soldier guarding the northern tower yawned.

It was night, and the sky was filled with clouds, making it difficult to distinguish the surroundings.

A torch was lit at the tower entrance, but its light was insufficient to ward off the approaching winter chill.

Many prisoners would likely die this year as well.

The soldier thought indifferently. The prisoners in the northern tower had to be kept alive until their sentences were carried out, so he had to be extremely cautious.

Just then, someone approached the soldier.

"You're working hard at this late hour."

A man with a southern accent, wearing a bright smile on his face, waved his hand. Behind him stood another person, their face hidden by a hood.

The soldier raised his guard, drawing his sword.

"This is a restricted area."

The man with the southern accent seemed to have expected this level of severity, as he patted the pouch at his waist. The pouch was clearly filled with something heavy.

After a brief moment, the two men entered the tower, with the soldier's permission.

As the door closed behind them, the hooded man chuckled.

"Third floor, right? The old man who's been enjoying his life is locked up in a place like this, he must be furious."

"That's right. What do you think, sir? Are the Maindlandt people already..."

The man with the southern accent trailed off, glancing at Adrian. Adrian chuckled.

"He won't die easily. He's been tortured, but he's still alive. They're just afraid to meet him, that's all."

"That's right."

The two men passed through the door with the number 3 written on it and finally reached the staircase. They then confirmed the faces of the prisoners on the third floor through the window.

Soon, they arrived at the room they were aiming for. An old man, sitting on a simple bed, looked up at them and quickly stood up.

"Oh, oh...!"

The old man, namely Duke Tiphian, let out a mixture of amazement and despair. He approached the iron bars and grasped them with both hands.

The middle-aged knight in the next room also stood up. Although he had been imprisoned for a long time and looked disheveled, he spoke to the duke in a clear voice.

"Please, Your Excellency. I told you that the imperial family would not abandon you, didn't I? That Adrian wouldn't betray you?"

The old man nodded. After being tortured, his body was in shambles, and he had cursed those who had betrayed him thousands, tens of thousands of times. Especially Adrian, who had come to visit him in this place and had continued to mock him during the banquet.

However, the only person who could possibly get him out of here was Adrian. The knight in the next room had taught him that.

The duke's subordinate, who had been imprisoned in the tower since the previous winter, had been loyal to the duke for a long time. The duke had tried to distance himself from him since the first day of his imprisonment, fearing betrayal. However, since they were in adjacent rooms and the knight's attitude remained respectful, the duke had gradually begun to listen to his words.

"What kind of situation is this?"

Adrian clicked his tongue, standing a little away from the iron bars. The duke couldn't even open his mouth. He didn't have the energy to speak.

Instead, the knight in the next room explained.

"The meals are just rough bread and a cup of water once a day. Not even a fork or knife is provided. It's extremely strict."

"Ha! They're not giving you anything that could be dangerous, are they? Trying to prevent suicide?"

The duke finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"That's right! Me, me, stupid fool, do I know how to commit suicide? This is Duke Tiphian, and I won't go down easily...!"

"That's right."

Adrian clicked his tongue.

As they conversed, the duke sensed something from Adrian's unyielding attitude, which never got close to him. A ominous feeling crept up on him.

With the greatest sympathy he could muster within the bounds of his own nature, Adrian gazed at the duke and said,

"You would have been better off if you had committed suicide."

In the next instant, the duke saw his loyal knight, who had been with him since childhood, stretch out his hand through the iron bars.

It happened in an instant. The knight, expressionless, tightly strangled his lord, the powerless old man.

As his vision faded, the duke wondered what had happened.

His life had been magnificent. Born into a wealthy and high-ranking family, he had enjoyed a higher status than others throughout his life and had cleverly worked to elevate it further.

His efforts had borne considerable fruit. Most of those who opposed him had been eliminated, and only success lay ahead.

How could he have known that his life would end in such a miserable prison, betrayed by his own subordinate?

The knight carelessly threw the lifeless body to the ground.

"I've waited a long time."

The knight bowed his head at Adrian's solemn words.

"No."

"Your lord would also be proud."

"I wanted to report about the treasure, but I couldn't find an opportunity. I have nothing to say."

"It's all right. I already know."

The dark side of Princess Camille, Eun-wol.

The knight, who had been waiting for an opportunity under Duke Tiphian, bowed his head deeply, as if he had finally achieved his goal.

Adrian smiled satisfactorily.

"Well, let's get out of here. We all have to go to a higher place."