The last escape route

A few days passed since that night, and neither Severin was found nor Dr. Reeve was caught. It was a pity, but nothing for me to agonize about. Since there was something else that made me stressed out more than Severing and Dr. Reeve, it was easy for me to put those minor issues to the back of my mind.

Plus, my plan was only to create a reason for the young master's room to be cleaned before the Silver Moon Essence could be fully activated, which means before the night ends, and I reached that goal by... setting the room on fire. Yeah. They cleaned the room because of that thus all of that powder was removed.

Now, the thing that made me worried more than anything was the trip to the empire.

'Gah, how am I going to sneak out and run away with Ranger around?'

That old man was keeping an eye on me the whole time as if I was some kind of serial killer. Dude, what do you mean by I've changed a lot? I've just regressed a few times, nothing more than that!

"Phew!"

I exhaled a deep breath, tightened my grip around the trail of food, and knocked on the door before entering the young master's room. It was my first day at work after that incident, and also the day before we departed the county and embarked on our trip to the empire.

'I wonder if he will share his food with us again...'

Food. That was my only motivation right now.

"Ah, Ian! Come in!"

The young master softly greeted me. He was wearing some simple and loose clothes and sitting at the dining table, seemingly waiting for his lunch. I placed the trail of food down on the table and began arranging the table, sending deer-like glances at the young master occasionally. When I was about to finish setting the table, I noticed that the edges of the young man were twitching slightly as he looked back at me.

"You are free to dive in!"

"..."

Was I that obvious?

I swallowed my saliva and glanced at Ranger, who seemed to be planning my murder in his mind, and immediately sat down on a chair with a smile.

"Thank you for your generosity, young master."

"There is nothing to thank me for. I can't finish these all by myself anyway... and as much as I know they throw the leftovers away... such a waste."

"Yeah, such a waste."

I waited for Alaric to pick up the first piece of steak before I attacked the food on the table. Alaric invited Ranger to eat as well, but the old man refused the offer and stood behind Alaric's chair stiffly, leading the atmosphere to become awkward in the room.

"Ahem, so... How are you feeling, Ian?"

After some time, Alaric coughed and started a conversation. Unlike how he appeared on the first day of losing his memories, he was now eating food more elegantly, or at least he was trying to act more elegantly. However, after a few minutes of watching me stuff food into my mouth like a bear, the young master dropped all formalities and also started to fill his mouth with food in an ungentlemanly manner, making Ranger look even scarier.

"Thank you for your concern, young master. I am better... but.."

"But?"

"...But I'm not sure if I can be of any help to you in your trip to the empire..."

'I'm sick and frail, useless and clumsy. Can you please leave me here and go to that ceremony by yourself?'

I held back those words and instead showed Alaric an embarrassed smile.

"Ah, you aren't fully recovered?"

"Not yet." I shook my head. "It'll take a while for me to get fully healed, and I'm afraid I might hinder the others in the meantime if I follow you to the empire."

"Ah!"

Something glowed in the young master's eyes as his face got shadowed with guilt. He stopped eating food for a second and lowered his head to think for a few seconds, before raising his head up and smiling at me.

"I think it'll be fine if you don't come to the empire. Stay in the mansion and rest until you get better."

A mixture of joy and delight arose in my chest in an instant, leading to the edges of my lips rising up uncontrollably as soon as the young master's words were over. That was the exact answer I wanted to hear from Alaric. That's the very thing I wanted!

"I'm ashamed, but I am really grateful, young master!"

"Don't be like that! I don't really need that many people to follow me-"

"Young master Alaric!"

Alaric flinched and cut off his words as he flinched and sat up straight, frozen on his spot with his lips still parted since he was interrupted while talking. I was not much different from him as I hurriedly put down my fork and straightened my back.

After giving us a fright with his loud and cold words, Ranger took two steps towards the table, glared at the top of my head, and continued his words with the same tone.

"You will be needing attendants as you will be staying at the palace for a while after reaching the empire. You will also need them when taking part in the ceremony, and also on your way to the capital. Severin has run away, and there is no time to train attendants and teach anyone else the proper behaviors they need to show in the palace and train them to become your personal servant. As we are in lack of manpower, we can't efford to let Ian stay behind. He might not seem like it but he can do a proper job. And, I'd be glad if you didn't dismiss your servants before thinking through everything."

"...."

"...."

Neither Alaric nor me said anything even after the old man was done talking. He was still glaring at me and at Alaric as well, but none of us raised our heads to look back at him. After observing us, who were sitting on our chairs with our backs straightened and our heads low, for a few minutes, Ranger took two steps back and stood at his previous spot with a satisfied smile.

'I made a grave mistake!'

How could I not think of this? Not worried about Severin's absence as it was none of my business?

It's the same fucking thing that closed any of my escape routes!