Chapter 24
Soft morning sunlight slipped through the carriage windows, bathing the interior in a warm golden glow.
Outside, the carriage wheels rolled steadily along the long road, their rhythmic creaking blending with the gentle sounds of the morning breeze.
Surrounding the carriage, ten mounted guards rode in a disciplined formation. Their sharp eyes continuously scanned the surroundings, ensuring the Count's family could travel safely without interruption.
Inside the carriage, an unusual silence lingered.
Elina sat quietly, her gaze drifting toward Eldern.
The boy had been staring out the window for quite some time now.
His green eyes seemed distant.
Lost.
Troubled.
A faint frown rested on his face as he watched the scenery pass by.
Seeing this, Elina couldn't help but grow concerned.
Damnern, seated beside her, had noticed it as well.
"Eldern."
Damnern suddenly called out.
The boy slowly turned his head.
"Look at this."
A small sphere of light appeared above Damnern's palm.
The glowing orb floated gently in the air.
It pulsed softly, illuminating the carriage with shimmering particles.
Eldern looked at it.
For a moment.
Only a moment.
"Cool, right?" Damnern asked with a grin.
"..."
Without saying a word, Eldern turned back toward the window.
The silence returned.
Damnern blinked.
His smile froze slightly.
Elyra, who had been watching the interaction, furrowed her tiny brows.
What happened to Eldern?
She thought hard.
Very hard.
Had something happened?
Was he sick?
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out.
Then—
"Stop here!"
Elina suddenly called out.
The carriage immediately slowed.
"Dear?" Damnern asked curiously.
A mounted guard approached the carriage window.
"Is something wrong, Countess Elina?" he asked respectfully.
Elina glanced outside.
"Where are we now?"
"We are near Natle Village, still within Valdwess Region."
The guard answered promptly.
Elina looked beyond him.
A vast grassland stretched toward the horizon.
The morning breeze caused waves of green to ripple across the fields.
A peaceful sight.
Turning back toward her family, she smiled.
"How about we stop for a while and get some fresh air?"
The guard instinctively looked toward Damnern.
Damnern simply nodded.
"Understood."
The guard immediately turned toward the others.
"Secure the area."
The remaining nine guards spread out at once.
Several minutes later, after thoroughly inspecting the surroundings, the guards returned.
"The area is safe, Countess."
"Good."
Elina stood up before looking at Eldern.
"Eldern, come with me. Let's take a walk."
She offered him a gentle smile.
Then she glanced at Damnern.
Damnern raised an eyebrow as if saying,
I'll leave this to you.
"Hm?"
Eldern looked confused but eventually stood up and followed her.
As they left the carriage, Elyra watched them.
Then she slowly turned toward Damnern.
Damnern looked back.
Smiling.
A very cheerful smile.
I don't want to be alone with this person...
Elyra thought immediately.
"Mama! I wanna come too!"
She hurried toward the door.
"No."
Elina rejected her instantly.
"Ehh?"
Elyra froze.
Just like that, she was abandoned inside the carriage with Damnern.
The little girl could only stare helplessly as Elina led Eldern away by the hand.
Two guards followed behind them at a respectful distance.
Once they were far enough from the carriage, Elina stopped.
She crouched down until their eyes were level.
"Eldern."
The boy looked away.
"Do you have a problem?"
Silence.
Elina patiently waited.
"Did you argue with your sister?"
"N-No..."
Eldern answered softly.
"Then what happened, sweetheart?"
Elina gently touched his cheek.
For a long moment, Eldern simply stared into his mother's eyes.
Then slowly...
He began explaining everything.
About Ryker.
About Elyra.
About the hug she rejected.
About how she had happily gone to Ryker instead.
About how things felt different now.
When he finally finished—
Elina burst out laughing.
"Pfft—"
Eldern's face instantly turned red.
"Sorry, sorry."
Elina covered her mouth.
"But that's why you've been upset?"
Eldern puffed his cheeks.
"S-Since Elyra refused my hug..."
His voice grew smaller.
"And she chose that boy instead."
The bitterness in his tone was impossible to hide.
"Before this... she never rejected me."
The last sentence came out almost as a mumble.
Elina couldn't help smiling.
She gently pinched his cheeks.
"Eldern."
The boy looked up.
"Your little sister still loves you more than anyone."
Eldern remained unconvinced.
"If you don't believe me..."
Elina leaned closer.
Then she whispered something into his ear.
As she spoke, Eldern's eyes slowly widened.
By the time she finished—
A tiny smile had appeared on his face.
Several minutes later, they returned to the carriage.
Meanwhile—
Inside the carriage.
"Elyra, look what Papa can do."
Damnern proudly produced another floating ball of light.
It danced around the cabin.
Spinning.
Glowing.
Sparkling.
Elyra stared at it.
Expressionless.
Please come back already...
She thought desperately.
The carriage door opened.
"Mama!"
Elyra immediately rushed forward and hugged Elina.
Elina laughed softly and embraced her.
Elyra then turned toward Eldern.
"Ed—"
But before she could finish—
Eldern walked past her without even looking in her direction.
"Eden?"
No response.
The boy simply continued walking.
Elyra stood there for several seconds.
Confused.
Then slowly lowered her hand.
Two hours later.
The carriage finally arrived at their home in Willowess Estate.
As soon as they stopped, Elyra hurried toward Eldern.
"Eden! Let's pla—"
Before she could finish—
Eldern climbed down from the carriage and walked away.
Ignoring her completely.
Elyra stood frozen.
Her small lips trembled slightly.
Then she turned toward Elina.
"M-Mama..."
"Hm?"
"What's wong with Eden?"
Elina shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Ehh?!"
Meanwhile, Damnern leaned forward.
"Elyra, how about playing with Pa—"
"I don't want to!"
Elyra immediately rejected him.
Then she climbed down from the carriage and ran after Eldern.
Damnern froze.
The smile on his face cracked.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He turned toward Elina.
"Dear..."
"Yes?"
"What's wrong with Elyra?"
Elina shrugged again.
"I don't know."
Damnern stared at her.
"..."
For the first time that day, he felt that perhaps he and his daughter truly shared the same suffering.
Both of them had just been ignored.
That night, the atmosphere around the dining table felt strangely different.
The long dining hall was illuminated by warm chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, casting a soft golden glow over the room.
Servants quietly moved back and forth, refilling drinks and clearing empty plates.
Eldern sat quietly throughout the meal.
His attention remained fixed on his plate.
Occasionally, Elyra would glance at him.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Maybe he would look at her.
Maybe he would smile.
Maybe he would call her name.
But none of that happened.
The distance between them felt larger than the dining table itself.
Eventually, Eldern finished eating.
He gently placed down his utensils.
"Excuse me."
Without waiting for anyone's response, he stood up from his chair.
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Elyra's eyes widened.
Her spoon froze midway.
"Eden..."
The boy didn't turn around.
Not even once.
As his figure disappeared through the doorway, panic suddenly gripped Elyra's tiny heart.
She immediately pushed herself off her chair.
"Eden!"
She hurried after him.
"Elyra?"
Elina called out in surprise.
"You haven't finished eating."
But Elyra didn't respond.
Her small feet carried her out of the dining hall as quickly as they could.
At that moment—
Countless thoughts filled her mind.
What did I do wrong?
Did I say something bad?
Why won't he talk to me?
Why?
Why, Eldern?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.
No answer came.
Only fear.
A fear she had never felt before.
A fear of losing someone important.
Without realizing it, tears began forming in her eyes.
One drop slid down her cheek.
Then another.
Her vision gradually blurred.
Yet she kept running.
"Eden..."
Her voice trembled.
The memories they shared flashed through her mind.
The person who always carried her.
The person who always played with her.
The person who always smiled whenever she called his name.
The thought of that person suddenly ignoring her felt unbearable.
Painful.
Terrifying.
The tears flowed faster.
She wiped them away with her sleeve.
But they wouldn't stop.
Inside her heart, a lonely fear quietly surfaced.
A fear she had buried long ago.
What if...
What if he doesn't love me anymore?
What if...
He leaves me too?
Elyra's breathing became uneven.
Her small fists tightened.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
As she stared down the dimly lit corridor where Eldern had disappeared, a heartbreaking thought echoed inside her mind.
What about you...?
Are you going to leave me too?
End of Chapter 24