When the atmosphere of the banquet hall was getting warmer, Rune left the place under the pretext of getting some fresh air.
She stayed next to Drial until all the prepared dishes were served, and in order not to break the mood, she even clapped for the knights' exaggerated sagas and Cookie's remaining tricks.
She formally introduced the castle managers to Drial and did not break the mood with her expressionless face. This was enough.
Rune came out to get some fresh air, but she had no intention of going back. Rune was convinced that people would have a better time with Drial without her.
The dark hallway was quiet.
When she was pregnant, she knitted a swaddle for the baby's hands and feet. These were hand wraps and foot wraps that were so small that she could feel their loveliness just by looking at them.
She vowed to raise him with care. As much as she was not loved by anyone. She will make him the one loved by everyone in this world...
At that time, the dark side became bright.
Rune looked up, certain that Lares was patrolling the hallways.
The golden eyes on his face glowed softly like the honey-colored lig toht of a lamp.
Surprised, Rune stopped walking.
Drial approached and illuminated the area around Rune with the light of his lamp.
"You said you were going out to get some fresh air, what are you doing here?"
It wasn't a reprimand. Rune avoided Drial's gaze and grabbed the doorknob of the office.
"So you are."
"I was sad to hear that my wife was going to get some air, leaving her husband, who is the spirit of the wind, alone, but I waited patiently, but no matter how long I waited, You never came back."
Drial pushed the door open with his palm as if to prevent her from entering the office.
Rune looked at the large hand gently pressing the door and then turned her head as if to look away.
"Go back to the banquet hall."
"Alone? Let's go together. Everyone is waiting for you."
"It's you that people are waiting for, not me."
"No way. Everyone liked you very much. The managers did the same. They survived this long in Arhon because of you."
The castle managers were proud of Rune. Even though they were drunk and rambling, the fact that they respected Rune did not change.
But Rune ignored Drial's words. She was sure she would ruin the mood at the dinner party.
"If you say I went back because I was tired, everyone will think so."
"No. I can't lie. You know."
Drial blocked the way as if he had received a revelation to take Rune Helid to the banquet hall.
"You saw it too. The guys in the knight corps were like idiots when they saw us entering together. Everyone is expecting that our relationship will improve just as Arhon has changed."
"What will change if our relationship improves?"
The muttering voice was empty. Rune did not make eye contact with Drial until the end.
Drial closed his mouth and stared at Rune in silence.
He said that one must live even if one is aimed by one's brothers and friends on the battlefield.
Living is the most important thing.
But who did it then?
"You killed my brother yesterday. I killed my already dead poor brother again! I wish someone would please kill me. How do I live... How on earth do I live?"
He couldn't remember what he had said to his sobbing colleague. The comrade could not stand the fight with the revived ones and hung himself.
Drial's heart chilled as he thought of his colleague who committed suicide.
Drial was afraid that Rune would become like that. It was so terrible that he was the one who pushed Rune into a corner.
He had to say something to lighten the mood. He felt like he had to make stupid noises and pretend to be a clown to relieve his anxiety.
But Drial could not open his mouth. It was impossible to talk carelessly even after looking at Rune's dark, sunken eyes.
"Nothing changes just because our relationship changes."
In a quiet voice, Rune firmly pushed Drial away. Drial was helplessly pushed away.
As she was about to enter the office, she heard other footsteps coming from the end of the hallway.
Lares deliberately walked loudly as if to announce that he was approaching. In one hand he held a cage.
Lares approached with a relieved expression on his face that he didn't know the lord and his wife were there.
"You both are here. It worked out Just fine. Captain Zenon, who went to Emur Village, sent a treasure trove..."
Lares raised the cage high. A red string was tied around a bird's ankles.
In an instant, Rune's face turned cold. Red was to be used only in emergencies.
"It looks like something comparable to a monster attack has happened in Emur Village."
Lares pretended to be worried and looked at the lord and his wife in turns.
"Would you like to leave now?"
Drial tilted his head at those words.
"Where is Emur Village?"
Drial asked Lares if he wanted to understand the situation.
"Emur is the furthest village from Arhon Castle. It's a recently built village. It's very busy with reclamation. Monsters often appear here, so it is also a place where skilled mercenaries reside."
"Why did Zenon visit Emur Village?"
"I'm sorry, but even this old man doesn't know that."
Lares, who was kindly explaining things, passed on important answers to Rune.
Rune, who had a serious expression on his face, finally raised his head when he saw the gaze. Drial was looking at her with an eve asking her to share the matter.
Rune, who was about to respond obediently, closed her mouth.
Drial was on the battlefield until a few days ago. He would have to work diligently as a lord to make up for the three years he had left Arhon, but now was his time to rest.
"You have nothing to worry about."
Rune mumbled dryly as she passed Drial.
"Now go back to the banquet hall. Everyone will be waiting for you."
She was about to order Lares to prepare for departure, but a long, thick arm blocked her path.
Drial didn't grab Rune's wrist and twist it to stop her, nor did he get angry. He simply extended his arm with a cautious gesture to stop Rune.
Rune was about to say something but pursed her lips when she saw Drial's expression. Drial looked a little lonely.
"I know I'm not trustworthy. All wind spiritists are like that. We're born loose-fitting. But your husband, even though he looks like this, is not useless because he is a war hero."
Rune's complexion darkened at the mention of the hero.
Drial withdrew his outstretched arm and faced Rune.
"I know that red is only for urgent matters. I am the lord of Arhon, and I have a duty to know everything that happens in my territory."
Duty...
Drial, who wanted to live freely by letting go of all responsibilities, mentioned duty.
Rune was caught in shock. She didn't know that Drial, no one else, would say that.
Rune, who was embarrassed, only licked her lips. When she couldn't say anything, Drial felt bitter.
"Or are you going to make me a scarecrow lord? If possible. It would be better to have a face than a scarecrow. You know that. I'm handsome."
Drial did not take his eyes off Rune. He looked at Rune seriously, as if he wanted to know all of the other person's thoughts and feelings.
"Let's do it together, together. Huh?"
"But you.."
"Look, Rune. I'm not the kid I used to be. Dreal, the brat who whined that his life was ruined because of you, was rehabilitated on the battlefield."
Rune Helid faced Drial Stein with trembling eyes. The mature golden eyes twinkled deeply.
Drial's efforts to fulfill his responsibilities to Arhon without abandoning his duties were cool and perfect.
Should she be happy about this? Rune felt unsure.
Drial was the wind.
A wind that can blow anywhere. The desire to hold nothing in one's hands in order to be free.
The wind said that it would fulfill its duty to protect Arhon.
Rune quietly despaired. People have a destiny. Just as birds of prey cannot live by pecking at fruit, they are destined to live that way.
Drial was destined to live like the wind, but Rune ruined it. And Drial submitted to the fate ruined by Rune. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The blue eyes could not stare at Drial for long and dropped their gaze.
Feeling like she wanted to run away, Rune took several steps back.
"... A body has disappeared from the Emur village cemetery, so an appeal has been posted asking for help in finding it...."
Rune, who could not bear this moment, told the truth. Drial's expression quickly hardened when he heard that the body was gone.
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