I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 118
59. — Return Ceremony (2)
Along with the child’s words ringing in my head, a forgotten memory resurfaced.
The lark, with warm, earthy brown feathers, soared up into the sky and headed towards Cain. The bird seemed to land gracefully on the ground, disappearing into the distance. In its place stood only the knight who always guarded Cain’s side.
Lyle, the knight who guarded Cain’s side!
He was the person I had set up as Cain’s aide.
Lyle, who was dying from a severe wound, was discovered by Cain, who saved his life. After feeling indebted for his life, he stayed by Cain’s side, eventually being moved by him and pledging his loyalty.
As the forgotten memory resurfaced, I recalled the lark flying outside the window of the reception room of the Winder’s mansion. If my guess was correct, then the lark I saw back then was definitely Lyle. Perhaps under Cain’s orders, he called the imperial knights to the Winder village. Why hadn’t I thought of Lyle’s existence until now?
I asked, quickly walking towards the direction where Lyle disappeared.
“Noya, do you think you can find that bird we just saw?”
He blinked for a moment at my urgent question before nodding.
After rummaging through his pockets for a moment, he swiftly fastened a leash around his neck. His arms and legs, which had looked like those of a child, suddenly became short. His previously fine white hair soon transformed into fluffy white fur, and pink ears perked up on top of his head.
Noya, with his cute tail curling around his back and his pitch-black eyes shining, dashed through the crowd. I quickly followed behind him, calling out to Lily.
“Lily! Go to Madam Passe and get the publishing contract date!”
“Yes? Now, wait a minute, Young Lady!”
I could hear Lily’s voice, mixed with embarrassment, coming from behind.
̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊
The sound of voices was heard through the dense forest path.
“Are you planning on making that face even when we get to Aren?”
“….”
“Why don’t you stop being so grumpy and relax your face.”
“…I’m not grumpy.”
“Put the protruding part of your mouth back first and talk.”
“Michael!”
At Irene’s raised voice, Michael shrugged his shoulders. Seeing her standing still and glaring at him, he opened his mouth.
“Don’t just subtly stop like that.”
“….”
“Do you hate parting ways with me that much?”
“….What?”
At his playful words, a look of bewilderment crossed Irene’s face. The mischievous smile on Michael’s face vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
Still locking eyes with Irene, he spoke earnestly in a low voice.
“I’ve said it many times. Not everyone in the world can be as upright as you are.”
“….”
“It means that some people may be driven by their own gain and advantage rather than compassion or empathy for others.”
“…I know that.”
“You do?”
In response to Irene’s murmured words, he spoke in a voice that seemed to comfort her. Her eyes filled with strength and lit up at the sight of him treating her like his little sister.
Seeing her looking at him with sharp eyes, Michael raised the corner of his mouth and asked.
“Then, you should lighten your expression, Saintess. Why do you keep crumpling your face?”
“I know it in my head that the Emperor wants to use my return to the capital as a symbolic gesture, conducting a return ceremony.”
“….”
“I understand it in my head, but whenever I think about it, I can’t shake the feeling of all the people we haven’t saved yet. If we had enough money to throw a return ceremony, we could have fed hundreds of people we didn’t save.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“….”
“We all know that it’s the right thing to do, Irene.”
Irene pursed her lips at his serious demeanor.
Michael, who was quietly looking at her, spoke with calm eyes.
“But, if you were a wealthy noble of this kingdom and the Emperor, who would you donate to? A saintess whose country even throws a festival to celebrate her return or a saintess who returns to the capital quietly without anyone knowing?”
“….”
“Don’t say the saintess who returns to the capital without anyone knowing. You know that’s not the answer.”
Irene kept her mouth shut as he asked her.
To her, he was someone who could bend but not break. She thought that was different from herself. And at times like this, she wondered if he was a person of much higher status than she realized.
Michael turned away from Irene, who had lowered her head.
Through the gaps in the leaves, glimpses of the castle walls appeared. His brow furrowed as he quietly gazed at the castle walls.
“What’s wrong, Michael?”
“…We’d better hurry.”
“Huh?”
“It seems like something has happened.”
“What do you mean? Something happened?”
“Let’s go first. There’s no need to wait for that pot-bellied person.”
“Michael, you shouldn’t talk like that…”
Ignoring Irene’s murmured protest, Michael hurriedly moved forward.
He really hoped what he had seen wasn’t true.
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