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~Chapter 24~
The boy with the hat ran desperately through the pitch-black mountain road.
His determination to reach the empire’s capital kept him moving.
“Huff, huff, huff…”
Sebastian’s leather boots sank into the snow, but since he’d lived his whole life in the duke’s lands, he didn’t slow down at all.
Far off, he heard wolves howling.
When Sebastian reached the lower part of the winter mountain, a rough man’s voice rang out.
“Who’s there? Are you a monster or a person?”
A lantern shone on Sebastian.
The new man was a local hunter from Winter Castle who hunted monsters nearby.
“Aren’t you Sebastian? What are you doing out here this late? It’s almost dawn and it’s dangerous. People can carry guns here—you might get shot if you’re not careful. And what happened to your clothes? You look like a beggar!”
“Ah, haha… Sir…”
Sebastian laughed awkwardly.
When he looked at the hunter, he realized the news about him being locked in prison hadn’t spread.
If he got caught here, he’d probably be executed on the spot, so he quickly made up an excuse.
“Your lantern’s too bright. Could you point it away?”
“Oh, okay. Where are you going? It’s not another monster hunt like last time, is it?”
“Chef Alex suddenly needed some dried lamb. You know him, right? The honest cook with a wild imagination.”
“At this hour? That cook’s weird.”
Sebastian couldn’t waste any more time.
Even now, they might discover his empty cell at Winter Castle. He hurried his steps.
“Sorry, I’m busy. Please say hi to the people under the mountain for me.”
“Okay, but be careful of guns and come back early!”
“Yes…”
Sebastian walked away, then turned back.
His face was serious.
“I’ll hurry back. As fast as I can.”
He really meant it this time.
“I’ll get rid of that woman. For myself, and for everyone.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing. Goodbye.”
And just like that, Sebastian ran away from the winter mountains.
Feeling a beast-like sense of unease, Blake returned to his office.
“…”
He sensed something was off.
The air felt heavier.
The room looked the same, but many things had changed—faint footprints on the floor, bits of dirt…
He recognized the way of walking. It was definitely Sebastian.
Sebastian thought he’d pulled off a perfect crime, but no one could fool Blake’s animal instincts.
‘How did Sebastian get out of the dungeon? Maybe security was weak since no one’s been locked up lately. Decades ago, we used to lock up spies from the capital there.’
Blake followed Sebastian’s trail inside the office.
The footprints stopped in front of the desk drawer.
What had he taken?
He opened the drawer and checked the news flyers he’d put away earlier, but one paper was missing.
It was the missing person poster promising a reward for Lily’s return.
“…That little brat.”
Blake quickly turned around.
Was Sebastian planning to reveal Lily’s whereabouts at Winter Castle?
He could call for the knights and chase Sebastian down the mountain right now—they were all expert trackers.
But just as he was about to shout for everyone,
Blake stopped in his tracks.
“No. Wait. This is…”
This was the best opportunity. For both him and Lily.
They had argued so much, they hadn’t even discussed what Lily would do after a year.
But now, this incident could solve everything in one move.
He hesitated for a moment, then grinned fiercely in the dark.
“Sir, why are you smiling like that?”
Aide Il Dexter had followed Blake.
“Why are you so happy by yourself in the dark? It’s scary.”
“What do you think?”
“Are you thinking about giving me a promotion?”
Il Dexter grinned.
Blake smacked the aide on the head and left the office.
“Ow! Why’d you hit me! I’m telling Lily! She told me to ask where you’re going since the main character left the party again.”
“I’m going back. Besides, the party’s going for several days. What’s a few hours away?”
At Winter Castle, the banquet was all about everyone gathering together.
It only happened once a year, so it lasted for days.
“Hey, Carpenter Taylor, look over there at the boss.”
In the noisy crowd, a knight pointed out a spot in the dining room.
Under the lion statue, Blake and Lily were talking happily.
“That’s amazing… I’ve never seen the master smile like that.”
Blake was a decent boss.
But it didn’t mean he smiled at his subordinates. At best, he’d give a little smirk.
A knight muttered,
“I’d be satisfied if he announced they were getting married.”
“The captain’s already past the usual marrying age. If he lets a woman like that go, he’s worse than a dumb goblin.”
“And besides, didn’t Captain Blake say after this incident we’d need more shamans, not just Mr. Il? If he marries Miss Lily, that problem’s solved.”
It was a win-win situation. And shaman’s children are likely to become shamans too.
“There’s another good reason. Whenever the captain gives us a hard time, we can complain to Miss Lily!”
The perfect solution!
The knight was serious. In his opinion, Lily was the only one who could win against Blake.
If she wanted to stay forever, they’d do anything for her.
They’d even plow the ground all night to write, “We welcome Miss Lily with open arms.”
Plenty of others kept glancing at Blake and Lily too.
That’s how close they’d become.
Ever since they made up, Blake had become a little bit softer.
“Would you like a cocktail?”
Blake offered Lily two drinks.
“People drink so much here, but there’s still cocktails left?”
“I heard while someone was making cocktails, they accidentally spilled a whole barrel of vodka in, so they added more liquor to match, and now there’s enough to fill the room.”
“Oh! I hope someone spills something into the bread dough next time. Sugar would be perfect for a big mistake like that.”
“If you ever want lots of bread, just ask. If we’re out of supplies, we’ll send a wagon to get more.”
Lily squinted at him.
“You’re being very kind today.”
She felt really strange!
Normally, he’d be nagging her by now.
Lily thought to herself—
If he were his usual self, he’d talk endlessly, like an academy principal, about how survival in Winter Castle wasn’t as easy as she thought.
Lily wondered why Blake had suddenly changed.
Did his soul get switched or something?
No shaman in history could do that, but she seriously considered it for a moment.
Maybe Blake was just in a better mood since she’d promised not to mention Sebastian anymore.
‘Well, that’s a relief.’
Meanwhile, Blake had his own plan.
It had already been a day since Sebastian ran away.
At first, the knights wanted to chase him down right away, but Blake refused.
—What could he do? Just make sure news of his escape doesn’t reach Lily Hedwick.
—But…
—That’s enough.
When Blake got really serious, people felt like they were being strangled.
The knights had no choice but to back off.
Blake muttered to himself.
‘By now, Sebastian’s probably out of the duchy.’
He hoped the boy would hurry to the nobles. He wanted the whole capital to know Lily was here.
Then, the ducal house could be officially tied to Lily Hedwick, making it easier to handle things for her.
Blake wouldn’t even have to tell Lily to stay forever—she just wouldn’t have to go back to her old hell.
It was a perfect plan.
Things might get messy, but it was a problem they’d face someday.
And it was a great chance to make Lily’s ex-husband pay for his crimes too!
‘Sebastian… It’s a shame you have no money for the train after leaving the duchy.’
Then Blake’s red eyes flashed fiercely.
He would never forgive Sebastian.
That boy had always been greedy. The people of Winter Castle cared for him, but his nature never changed.
Blake regretted thinking he’d grow up just because he was getting older.
‘Once this is over, I won’t let you off easy.’
If Lily had died the day Sebastian attacked, Blake would have strangled the boy himself.
Still, thanks to all this, Blake realized how he felt about Lily. He couldn’t deny it anymore.
He wanted Lily to stay.
As Blake was lost in thought, sipping his red cocktail, Lily looked up at him with curious, clear blue eyes.
