TCRDG 17

If Biddler really starts a rebellion, then of course Seniel would get involved too.

A rebellion is something you risk your life for. I can’t let Seniel get caught up in that.

“What about the Great Blade’s map?”

“We’re still keeping it.”

“Never hand it over to the Second Prince. It’ll become a seed for war.”

“Let’s just watch and see how the board plays out for now.”

After finishing the serious conversation, Rayleigh gently tucked my hair behind my ear and asked with kindness,

“How about you? Have you made up your mind? With the situation like this, it’s hard to wait too long.”

Looking into Rayleigh’s deep green eyes that always calmed me, I slowly conveyed my decision.

“Sorry for the timing… but I want you to take over the guild. I’m retiring. I’m thinking of running a shop or something.”

“Wait. I get the guild part… but a shop? What kind of shop?”

As expected, Rayleigh’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.

“My aunt left me some land. The place I stayed as a kid.”

Rayleigh was the only one who knew about my childhood, so I had no reason to hide it.

“I told you before, didn’t I? My parents used to run a store there.”

“You’re going to take over?”

“Not exactly take over. I just think it’d be nice to live quietly there for a while.”

When I visited the place a few days ago, I thought—it was where I felt most at peace. I wanted to spend time again in the place where I was happiest.

“That’s perfect. Then let’s use it as a new branch of Raven.”

“Huh?”

“Sophia suggested it before, remember? That you should manage a branch. You can run your store the way you want while staying connected to us. Isn’t that a good idea?”

When I didn’t respond and my lips tightened—since I had no such intentions—Rayleigh tugged at the corners of my mouth to make me smile.

“I figured you’d turn down the Guild Master position. But you’ll always be Raven.”

My chest ached with emotion.

“My aunt said… either become the Guild Master or leave completely.”

“The Queen is dead. You can follow your heart now. You don’t need to be bound by her words anymore.”

“…You’re right.”

Honestly, after over ten years of sharing life and death with my comrades, I didn’t want to cut ties with the guild completely.

To me, they were another kind of family.

If my absence would leave a void, I wanted to help in whatever way I could.

“Let’s talk again about the branch. I’ll come visit with Sophia next time.”

Rayleigh smiled warmly and patted my shoulder.

“I’ll miss living with you, but I actually like this too. Now I can see you in the light.”

“…Sorry, Rayleigh.”

The position I turned down would naturally go to Rayleigh.

I felt guilty, like I was shifting the burden onto him for my own sake.

“What are you sorry for? I’m excited to become the Guild Master. You know I’ve always coveted the Queen’s seat since I was a kid.”

“I’m not worried. You’ll lead Raven better than anyone.”

“When I retire someday, I’ll come work at your store. You’ll hire me, right?”

“Hmm, I only hire competent people. I’ll test you first and think about it.”

“How heartless.”

I chuckled and pushed him on the back.

“Go on, before someone sees us.”

“Keep in touch often.”

Rayleigh said he liked seeing my face in the daylight—but honestly, the light suited him more.

I didn’t know when I’d see him looking that ordinary again under the bright sky, and the thought made my heart heavy.

Rayleigh liked guild work, but being the Guild Master was a different level of responsibility.

I watched until his back, weighed down with burden, disappeared from sight, then sighed.

As I sat idly in the garden, I heard a horse neigh near the front gate.

Moments later, hoofbeats approached the back of the estate. The one who appeared was Biddler.

He stopped when he saw me.

“You’re still here.”

“I was just about to leave. I’m glad I got to say goodbye.”

Biddler’s brow twitched noticeably at my words.

“That wasn’t meant as a command to drive you out. If you’ve got nowhere to go, you can stay longer.”

“No, I’ve decided where I’m going.”

I tilted my head at his now gentler tone.

“You’re really leaving? Where to?”

Instead of looking happy like I thought he would, Biddler seemed oddly flustered.

Wasn’t he the one who always wanted me gone from Seniel’s side as soon as possible?

As I watched him with confusion, Biddler pulled a small bottle from his coat.

Bottles like that usually held strong liquor. He drank deeply, perhaps from thirst.

“Can I have a sip?”

I pointed at the bottle instead of replying.

“…Here.”

As I raised it to my lips, a sharp taste hit me. The liquor was strong enough to make me frown.

Biddler stared at me the whole time I was drinking.

“It’s bitter.”

“It tastes sweet to me.”

I couldn’t agree with that, but it wasn’t entirely bitter either.

Once the harshness faded, it left a deep woody aroma.

“I’m opening a shop. You should come visit. I can’t serve you for free, but I’ll pour you a lot.”

Maybe it was because I liked the liquor more than I expected, but I smiled sincerely as I handed the bottle back.

Biddler’s pupils dilated as he stared at me in a daze.

“You’re not taking it?”

“Ah.”

He seemed frozen for a moment, then took the bottle. His fingers brushed mine—they were surprisingly warm.

I had a lot I wanted to ask Biddler.

Is he really planning a rebellion? Why is he gathering forces? Why is he so obsessed with Seniel?

And is he truly the Guild Master of Aid?

But I couldn’t reveal my identity, so I’d have to find all those answers myself.

Instead, I said the only thing I could as Seniel’s older sister.

“Please take care of Seniel. If he gets hurt, I won’t sit still. He’s all I have.”

A warning disguised as a request.

It might have seemed trivial to someone like him.

But instead of laughing it off like I expected, Biddler nodded seriously.

“I’ll treat him with care.”

His sincerity gave me a bit of relief.

It didn’t seem like he would use Seniel and then toss him aside.

That evening, Seniel came to visit for the first time in a while, after Biddler had left.

There were a few knights with him I hadn’t seen before—they said it was a regular gathering day.

I’d already finished preparing to leave, so I was just waiting for the event to be over. I planned to tell Seniel today.

Much later, when I went down to the parlor, Seniel and Orbis were still exchanging drinks, faces flushed.

“Where’s His Highness?”

“He left. Hiccup.”

“You two should stop drinking too.”

“Hehe. Sorry, sis. I couldn’t visit for a while, and they were upset I was away for so long.”

“It’s okay.”

Seniel was clearly drunk.

“I saved this one. It’s expensive liquor. Hiccup. Let’s drink together.”

Judging by the table, they hadn’t even drunk that much, but he was already like this.

“You’re just like Dad—can’t handle your liquor.”

“Siiis! Here! Drink!”

I accepted the glass he offered and lightly nudged the dozing Orbis.

He slipped from his chair and mumbled in his sleep on the floor.

I waved to the butler watching from afar, got a blanket, and threw it over Orbis before sitting in his spot.

Watching the smiling, tipsy Seniel made me smile too.

“What’s so funny?”

“Because I’m with you. Doing all the things I couldn’t for a while.”

I took the glass from his hand before he could pour more.

“You’ll still smile like that when I leave, right?”

“Huh? Sis, you’re leaving?”

I thought he was totally drunk, but his eyes cleared up for a moment.

I gently patted his head and spoke softly.

“I have to. This is your space now.”

“Then stay with me. Hiccup. Or I’ll leave too.”

I knew better than anyone—it wasn’t drunken talk or said lightly.

If I asked, Seniel would really come with me.

So I couldn’t. Seniel belonged in the light, unlike me.

“I have to work too. Aunt’s gone now. I can’t keep wasting time.”

“You don’t have to work, Sis. I can support you.”

Even though he was old enough now to drink like this, Seniel still looked at me with the same eyes he did ten years ago.

“Seniel, I visited our old home.”

Seniel’s slowly blinking eyes came into focus.

“Huh?”

“I wasn’t sure, so I went to check. It was the place. Even the graves were still there.”

“How did you find it? I tried so many times and couldn’t.”

“You did?”

“Of course. Our parents’ graves are there. But I couldn’t find a single trace.”

If not for the deed Aunt left me, I might not have found it either.

But I couldn’t explain the deed or anything about Aunt to Seniel—so I glossed over it.