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Chapter 38
“Those people are surprisingly unique too.”
Perry made a sharp remark, but I sighed deeply, unable to argue.
“Vanessa, you’re going to read mine first, right?”
“Sherry, have you forgotten your literature class grades? Vanessa, that one will just make you sleepy.”
“Dave wouldn’t know!”
“I don’t even need to see it to know.”
Amid their childish quarrel, the Count didn’t miss a chance and waved an envelope toward me.
“Vanessa, read your father’s first. Look at the opening line. I described how happy your father was when you came to the Feard Manor, but that day, even his dreams were strange. This letter from your father—if you read the first line, you’ll see that your father couldn’t sleep the night before you arrived at the Count’s house…”
Father… My father… My father… I absentmindedly reached out my hand, listening half-heartedly to the Count’s continuing words. I’d felt this way before.
“…Just give me everything.”
These people are such a nuisance.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to Cent.”
I had dozed off in the carriage, my head drooping, and now we had arrived in Cent.
Getting out, I took a deep breath, filling my chest with air until it rose and fell.
“I’ll do it too!”
Perry flew up alongside me and mimicked my breathing.
“Sss! Hah! Sss! Hah!”
As we did our breathing exercises side by side, Perry suddenly spun around.
“Cent! Cent!”
He teleported, green light flashing as he appeared and disappeared.
I frowned at his erratic behavior.
“Behave.”
“Huh?”
Donna, who had been beside me, blinked wide and asked.
Yikes, I need to be careful. Sometimes I forget someone is nearby and end up talking loudly with Perry. I lightly tapped my mouth with my hand.
“Don’t mind me. Just talking to myself.”
I scrunched my nose and laughed playfully, deflecting the situation. Donna tilted her head but seemed to understand.
“You often do that, right, boss? Talking to yourself in the air.”
At that moment, a familiar voice brushed past my ears.
Before I knew it, more carriages from the Feard Company had arrived in Cent, and Kaian stepped down. He strolled toward us with his hands in his pockets.
Donna, sensing hostility in Kaian’s demeanor, glanced at him with displeasure. Receiving her look, Kaian smirked sideways.
“You’re lucky to be loved. Did you read the letter?”
That was definitely sarcasm.
Kaian raised an eyebrow like it didn’t matter to him and shrugged.
“Can you see me? Can you see me?”
Perry flew right up to Kaian, waving his hands, but Kaian didn’t even notice.
As I watched calmly, I noticed Robert stepping out of the carriage behind Kaian’s shoulder.
He glanced around casually, and our eyes met briefly. His eyes widened in surprise, then softened as he approached warmly. I quickly looked away.
Ever since that day, I had no idea how to face Robert. If he confessed again, I’d have to refuse—it was too awkward.
For a moment, I caught sight of Robert stiffening like a stone, looking serious. Had I been too blatant? I clapped my hands dramatically as if to shake off the thought.
“Ah! Speaking of which, Kaian, has there been a response from Minister Dustin regarding the Cent schedule?”
Kaian replied with a sullen expression.
“Yes, it’s fine, and we’ve received a positive response to proceed as planned.”
Luckily, no rescheduling was needed. I scratched my head, feeling oddly unsettled.
Tomorrow, meeting Evan… what expression should I wear? How can I act calmly and professionally? I had no idea.
Shaking off the worry, I looked at Kaian as he gazed at the winding mountain ridges, clearly intrigued by the region.
“Ambassador Salis arrives in Cent tomorrow, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Good.”
Kaian, who had been answering nonchalantly, sensed something odd and raised an eyebrow.
“Are you nervous?”
His blunt question was typical of him. Hesitating briefly because I felt weak, I answered honestly.
“Well… a little?”
“Don’t do anything unbecoming of someone who doesn’t usually get nervous.”
I blinked, unable to hide my surprise. Kaian frowned, apparently irritated by my gaze.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Encouragement?”
“I… think I misheard something.”
Kaian’s face twisted, and his dark brown eyes were full of genuine emotion.
Hmm. No, right? Yeah, probably not.
“Never mind.”
“Yes, nothing.”
What a cheeky person. I forced a smile and glanced away, hoping Robert’s eyes were no longer on us.
After finishing the schedule, we went to our respective lodgings to prepare for the next day.
I stayed at the Feard villa where I had been about a year ago, and they stayed at a nearby inn.
The sand survey Perry had found was completed, and the next day’s plans were perfectly set. My duties were done.
I slowly opened my eyes, brushing the blanket from my neck, and rose. Looking down, the folds of my dress, creased from lying for so long, caught my attention.
Pressing them wouldn’t smooth them, so I left them as they were.
“Good thing I’m already dressed.”
I had quietly changed into my outing clothes, hidden from Donna and Perry, lying on the bed. Changing early had raised Donna’s suspicion, but I had dismissed it.
I sent Donna off early so I could visit the night market. Pretending to sleep, I endured a sudden urge to sleep, thinking of the market. Going out late the night before work—if Donna knew, she would have stopped me.
Perry would have thrown a fit if he were awake, wondering why he wasn’t coming along.
“Finally asleep.”
Perry was soundly asleep in his cradle by the window, holding the corner of a magazine. His hair shimmered like moonlight on a lake.
“Sorry, Perry, but I’ll have to go alone.”
I recalled a conversation with Perry about letting the Ambassador feel his magic through the sand without revealing Perry’s presence.
“Perry, can the Ambassador feel your magic as that of a sand fairy?”
“No! I won’t! It’s hard to switch forms! Using up all my magic?!”
“It’s not impossible, right?”
“But I don’t want to!”
“Perry, after this, even if I collapse, I’ll give you energy and lots of chocolate cookies.”
“Lots…?”
“Yes, lots. You said you wanted those shoes from the promotional book, right?”
“Then I’ll specially show my greatness! Not just for cookies and shoes!”
That’s how we agreed. Perry couldn’t overexert himself for tomorrow.
I tiptoed toward the door like a cat to avoid making a sound.
“Where are you going!”
“Huh!”
Perry jumped like a cat in surprise, scrunching his shoulders. My legs went numb, and I turned slowly.
“Mmmn.”
He scratched his neck and smacked his lips in his sleep. Relief washed over me as I silently slipped out of the villa.
“Good work.”
I paid the carriage driver and turned, no longer attached to the idea of returning to the villa via the old way.
I strolled leisurely around the bustling night market. Families, couples, and friends enjoyed the hot excitement of the market, lanterns strung in a row, glowing in various colors.
“I wanted to come back here, and now I have the chance.”
The place reminded me of when I first met Evan. A place impossible to forget. Maybe that’s why it constantly came to mind.
“Crazy. Why does his name pop into my head here?”
I shook my head and looked ahead. A warm summer breeze stirred a wooden sign that read “Welcome.”
Shall we go in? I stepped into the entrance of the night market.
“Ah!”
“Kyaa!”
No, I had just stepped in—something barreled into my lower back. Rubbing the dull pain, I turned to see a girl face-down on the ground.
“Eeek—”
Beside her, a small fluffy white dog circled, worried about its owner, whining softly. The girl, embarrassed from falling in public, lay still with red ears.
“Are you okay?”
I knelt and slid my arm under her armpits to help her up.
“Come on, stand up.”
The girl glanced around, saw no one watching, and wobbled to her feet.
“Woof!”
The dog circled her feet encouragingly. The girl had short pink hair, round eyes, and a round face, her cheeks blushing.
“Are your knees hurt?”
She nodded a couple of times and wiped the dirt from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
