🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19
By the time Orte returned to her room, the sun had already risen.
She skipped her meal, closed the curtains, and buried herself in her blanket. Maybe it was because she had woken up so early, or because the dream had drained her emotions, but a deep mental exhaustion came over her, and she fell asleep easily.
After falling asleep, Orte opened her eyes.
It was a completely white space.
The place felt both familiar and unfamiliar to her.
[Orte.]
That voice.
Soft, gentle, and full of affection.
[You’re crying again.]
At those words, Orte touched her cheek.
It was completely dry, without even a trace of moisture. Feeling confused, she lifted her head, and something white and thin brushed past her eyes.
Soon, a large and warm hand gently stroked her cheek.
[Why are you crying this time?]
It sounded as if she had cried many times in front of him.
Orte realized her lips were moving. As she tried to say something, a faint smile appeared on his white face.
[No matter who hurts you, don’t forget this—that I am always watching over you.]
He pulled Orte into a warm embrace, just like his hand.
When Orte placed her hand on his back, she suddenly flinched. Something touched her hand, so she pulled her head back slightly.
Then she was startled.
There was something attached near his shoulder blades.
There were two of them, and they looked torn.
Orte felt something strange.
It wasn’t because of how strange they looked.
It felt like… something was supposed to be there.
Something so beautiful and shining that it would capture her eyes and her heart at once.
[Orte.]
His voice flowed into her ears like a soft melody.
[Since you found me, this time I’ll come find you.]
As always, after his mysterious words, Orte woke up from the dream.
She stared at the familiar ceiling, then raised her hand and touched her cheek without thinking. It was dry, but for some reason, she felt like she had been crying.
Just like he had done in the dream, Orte gently stroked her cheek.
At that moment, her complicated thoughts cleared, and the painful memories that had been bothering her faded away like fog.
If she focused a little more, she felt like she could even remember that soft voice again, so Orte closed her eyes.
But at that moment—
Knock. Knock.
The sound of knocking broke the silence.
Orte frowned slightly.
“Miss. A gift has arrived from the temple.”
At Sef’s voice, Orte slowly closed and opened her eyes.
Thinking Orte was still asleep, Sef continued speaking.
“Um, it seems the lady is still sleeping. If you come back later—”
“She’s still sleeping?”
Orte’s eyes opened wide.
Yones?
It was clearly Yones’ voice.
Hearing a voice that shouldn’t be here, Orte quickly got out of bed and opened the door.
Bright light poured in, making her squint, but it wasn’t hard to find Yones.
“Miss.”
Sef bowed when she saw Orte.
Yones looked her over with a cold gaze and said,
“Come to the drawing room.”
It sounded like an order, not something a guest would say.
Without waiting for her answer, Yones turned around and left.
After thinking for a moment, Orte looked at Sef.
“Bring my shawl and slippers.”
Sef quickly brought them. Orte put them on and headed to the drawing room.
When she opened the door, she paused for a moment.
The combination of the Weekend Duke family and Yones felt very strange.
She had never imagined it before.
Yones basically hated nobles, and he especially disliked the Weekend Duke family because he believed the Duke of Weekend had taken the Saint’s life.
There had only been one time he came here on his own.
That was when it was revealed that Orte was fake.
Because of that, Orte suddenly wondered if Yones had somehow found out the truth much earlier this time.
After calming her breathing, Orte sat across from him.
“The Pope and His Holiness sent a gift.”
Since it was something that came every year, Orte nodded.
At the same time, she felt something strange and looked at Yones.
He had lowered his eyes slightly, as if lost in thought.
That was strange.
Why is he so calm?
Today was the Saint’s memorial day.
The day for the Saint, whom Yones loved and followed like a mother.
Normally, the temple would send items along with a priest. But this time, it wasn’t Johan, and the priest only greeted them briefly before leaving.
This was the first time Yones himself had come.
Orte concluded that he must have come to vent his anger at her.
Then why isn’t he angry?
It was strange.
Yones was always angry at her, and today of all days, he should be even more sensitive and furious.
But he wasn’t.
Without realizing it, Orte looked at his face carefully.
Yones had deep blue hair that stood out. It matched his cold appearance very well.
Once, Orte had liked his hair. It was easy to spot him even from far away.
Compared to a few days ago, his face looked sharper. He also looked tired, like he hadn’t slept for days.
Ah… maybe because of the memorial day.
Anyway, compared to how she remembered him, he looked a bit younger, but still just as cold.
“…Right?”
“Hm?”
Orte realized late that Yones had been looking at her.
Because she asked back, his brows slightly furrowed.
“I asked why you said that to me.”
Orte blinked.
She hadn’t said anything since entering, so she didn’t understand what he meant.
“What did I say?”
Yones frowned.
“Did you already forget something you said just a few days ago? What you said to me in the forest.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Orte remember.
“I don’t have any plan. I just realized a very small truth. I won’t do anything that bothers you anymore, Vice Captain. So you don’t need to pay attention to me either.”
Orte recalled her words and spoke.
“You can take it exactly as I said.”
“What?”
Yones let out a short laugh.
“Did you change your method? You used to approach me with those disgusting, fake-friendly titles, and now you’re saying you won’t bother me anymore?”
His reaction felt strangely familiar.
When she thought about it, she remembered the people of the Weekend Duke family.
They had reacted the same way when she changed how she addressed them.
Before explaining, Orte spoke what first came to her mind.
“Did you come all the way here just to ask me that?”
“Just answer the question. Don’t change the subject.”
She didn’t mean to avoid it, so Orte answered directly.
“I told you. I just realized a very small truth.”
But Yones’ expression didn’t soften.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Then what is that truth? What made someone like you—who used to cling to people without any pride like a pitiful beggar—change?”
It was harsh, but accurate.
A pitiful beggar without pride.
At that one sentence, Orte let out a quiet laugh without realizing it.
She didn’t look shocked, hurt, or sad—she just laughed.
Yones’ gaze deepened.
“It’s nothing special.”
Before he could speak again, Orte continued.
“Like I said, it’s just a very small truth.”
She stood up and walked toward the window.
When she opened it, a warm breeze from the changing season blew in, gently moving her hair.
When she looked down, the height felt more dizzying than she expected.
Orte sat halfway on the window frame and turned her body.
Her hair covered part of her face, so she couldn’t clearly see Yones’ expression.
She felt a little disappointed. She wanted to see his reaction.
But without fixing her hair, she continued speaking.
“For example… even if I throw myself from here.”
“You…”
“That small truth is—”
“—that none of the people I loved would be sad.”
