The Hunting Season (3)
Strictly speaking, a Guardian is considered an independent participant regardless of his or her country of origin, otherwise, there would be problems with fairness in countries that do not have Guardians.
That's why there was no compulsion to attend. That's why I was able to skip the summit in my past life.
Conversely, it would have been possible to exclude the Guardians from the summit if only the attendees agreed.
But excluding the 'first walker' from the summit was no different from saying that you would lose to the monsters in the Great Rift incident.
But, how can there really be any attendees who would fall for such a trick to incite public opinion and push me out with an article that is nothing more than a rumor?
But my father's next words were different from what I expected.
"I have already received information that some of the attendees have promised to cooperate with the Third Prince. So I checked the reason."
My father paused for a moment.
"The Third Prince knows a lot about the Great Rift. So much so that there is no need for a 'first walker'.
"Ah..."
It's my fault.
Because I prophesied the Great Rift to Oslo.
For the attendees, this meant two people knew the same information. Naturally, it was thought that one person could be absent.
In the end. It was me who caused this.
"I am..."
My tongue was stiff with guilt and wouldn't move. I swallowed hard and continued speaking.
"Because I was foolish. I told the Third Prince about the future of the Great Rift."
I couldn't bear to look at people's expressions, so I lowered my eyes.
I guess everyone is disappointed in me.
"I'm sorry for disappointing you."
When I first started working on the future, I wanted to be honest with the people who admired me.
I am not as righteous as they think, nor do I have a great sense of duty as a guardian.
The future is just a way for me to make up for my mistakes.
But that didn't happen.
I'm afraid that the warm gaze directed at me will turn cold.
I didn't want to break the trust I had barely built up again. I hid the truth because I was afraid of the criticism that would pour in.
'I shouldn't have done that.'
I should have been honest with the people here. It was too late to regret it.
I lowered my head as if I was about to cry. My father's stern voice hit my head.
"Millenia, raise your head."
"Father..."
"When you were chosen as a guardian and lost your sight, your father could do nothing for you. How could I be disappointed in you?"
Even though I couldn't raise my head, Nicola smiled kindly and said to me.
"Miss, everyone makes mistakes. But few people admit their mistakes. It takes more courage than you might think."
"You're trying harder than anyone else to admit your mistakes and make up for them. You're doing well."
"No one here was disappointed in Young Lady."
The tears I had been holding back welled up in my eyes as I heard the voices of Rahon and Ian.
I don't know why I was so scared...
Some so many people take my side even though they know I'm wrong.
The me of my past life, when I walked alone into the desert amidst all kinds of insults and accusations, is different from the me of now.
"Thank you all..."
As I said that and smiled, the expressions of the people who had been worried brightened. The heavy atmosphere finally became lighter.
My father absentmindedly tapped my shoulder.
"The Third Prince will likely insist on excluding you as soon as the summit meeting begins. Your father will think of a way to do this, so just know that for now."
I held my father's finger and shook it gently.
"You don't have to do that. I've already thought of a way."
The solution is simple.
Just give me a reason why I can't be excluded from the summit.
Father opened his eyes wide.
"Already? May I ask what method it is?"
"There is something I started in EIdern. I will start with that."
***
By the time I finished eating after consulting with my father, darkness had fallen.
I returned to the bedroom and soaked in the bathtub for the first time in a long time.
"How is the temperature?"
"Warm and nice."
"Oh my, look at your tense shoulders. Relax. I'll massage them."
"Ugh I... Nadia, it hurts, it hurts!"
"Just hold on a little longer. If you let go now, tomorrow will be less difficult."
Nadia massaged my shoulders for a while. I groaned and leaned back against the bathtub, exhausted.
"I think Mr. Hugh's studio will be finished by today."
"Really? That's fast."
"They say there is nothing that money can't buy."
The art studio was my father's idea.
"Futureization, that's a great idea. I'll set up a separate workspace for Hugh to focus on futureization."
"I hadn't thought of that. Thank you, Father."
"But if he starts working on the painting now, I don't know when he'll be able to finish it."
"Don't worry. It will be finished on time."
It's not like we've been running around like crazy for the past week.
Hugh sketched the Great Crack. I described it to him whenever I had time, and now all that was left to do was color it.
"The butler has contacted every famous painter in the capital. He says he will pay a huge reward to anyone who comes to our mansion today."
If the painters get stuck in and start coloring, it wouldn't be impossible to complete a futuristic painting in one day.
Nadia shook her head with a look of dismay.
"When you were working with Mr. Hugh while suffering from motion sickness, I tried to stop you several times because I thought you wouId die."
"Was it so?"
"But you were good at holding back. If I had stopped you, you wouldn't have made it on time."
"If you are really short on time, you can just use sketch."
"But you want the future to be completed before the summit, right? Am I right?"
From now on, I plan to return what I have received from Oslo.
Since this is the first one, I wanted to present it in the most perfect condition possible.
"You know me too well."
"Of course, I've only served young lady my whole life."
"I wouldn't have been able to survive without you. I'm always grateful."
Nadia's blue eyes quickly widened. She sniffled.
"Hey... Our young lady, you're talking nonsense again. It's all over. Go out."
After taking a half-body bath for a long time, my body feels tired. Nadia dried my hair and quickly finished cleaning up.
"You've worked so hard. Go to bed early today."
"I will do that."
"I'll turn off the lights."
"No. I'll do it. Go and rest."
"Then, good night, Miss."
"You also."
After Nadia left. I sat there for a while and then quietly approached the window.
As I opened the terrace door, the fragrant smell of grass wafted in from the garden where darkness had settled.
"Baba."
I know Baba isn't here, because he doesn't have any distinct smell.
"Baba."
Still, just in case. I called out his name. Of course, there was no answer.
I wanted to know who the attendees were who met Oslo...!
Anyway, there is only one day left until the summit.
Even if it's Baba, it'd be hard to figure out who Oslo met in just one day.
Just as I was thinking that, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
"Nadia?"
"It's me."
"Are you Rahon?"
"Can I come in for a moment?"
"Ah... Yes, please come in."
I quickly closed the terrace door and sat down on the sofa. At that moment, Rahon came into the bedroom holding a teacup.
'But why don't you close the door?'
Rahon sat down next to me and pulled my hand towards him. Then he put a moderately warm cup of tea in my hand.
"This tea helps you sleep well. Drink it and sleep well."
"Did you get off the tea on purpose? Because you were afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep?"
"Yes."
"Wow, thank you so much, but... I don't have any money right now."
"Do I look like a money-crazy guy to you?"
"You weren't?"
"...Give me the road."
Pooh, laughter erupted. I laughed heartily and held the teacup with both hands.
"I'm joking. I'll enjoy the drink."
"..."
He looked at me quietly. His gaze was so heavy that it made my face sting. Soon, a slightly muffled voice leaked out from his plump lips.
"I have my power back. I will consult with your father and heal you."
"Oh, that's great. Thank you."
Now I will never hear my father's distinctive footsteps again. Thinking that made me happy but also sad.
"I'm going now. Drink all that and go to sleep. I put some expensive herbs in it."
"Are you leaving already?"
"It's not good for you to be with a man late at night. You should be careful, there's already a strange rumor going around about you and Kalit."
Oh, so that's why you left the bedroom door wide open and came in. So that no one would suspect you.
My heart fluttered at his deep consideration.
"It's okay, Rahon."
"..."
Rahon's lips were set.
"Why, because I'm not a man to you?"
"Ah, no, rather than that...”
"Shall I tell you what I think of you? Then you will see me as a man?"
"I don't understand why you're so angry. I guess you don't want me to think of you as a man either, Rahon."
"If I wish?"
"Yes?"
My hands shook in panic. Just before the tea water overflowed, Rahon snatched the teacup away from me.
"I want your heart to beat faster when you think of me, I want you to wait for a chance to hold my hand. I want you to do something to get the tea off so you can be alone with me."
"..."
"If you want to see me as a man, will you do so?"
The purple eyes that had been looking into the teacup turned to me.
I was so overwhelmed by the intense emotions swirling around in it that I couldn't even breathe.
Rahon wrapped his arms around the back of my neck and lowered his head. His lips slowly approached, lightly touching my cheek, and then pulled away.
"Be conscious of me, Millenia."
After sitting there dumbfounded for a while until Rahon left the bedroom, a dumb sound escaped my lips.
"Uh...?"
I stared blankly into space, then raised my hand to cup my cheek. The last whisper Rahon left behind did not disappear from my ears.
"Be conscious of me, Millennia."
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