"It seems like enough time has passed now."
“I suppose that’s probably true.”
“...”
“...”
Alicia tried to force a smile but gave up and relaxed her shoulders.
Now, trying to speak in a friendly manner to him just felt awkward.
It was then.
“Mum!”
Michael, who had come running from afar, clung to the hem of Alicia's skirt.
"Michael? What’s wrong all of a sudden?"
"Mum. I-I... I woke up, but Mum wasn’t there..."
Michael's grip was filled with strength.
Alicia stroked the sniffling child's head with a tender touch.
"It's okay. Michael. Mum is right here."
"Heu-eug, hik, M-mum… left me… I thought Mum was gone…”
“That can’t be. Mum wouldn’t leave Michael behind and go anywhere.”
“Really?”
"Of course. So, why don’t you quickly show Mum your face? Mum wants to see Michael's face."
As she soothed him with her soft voice, Michael's head slowly turned upward.
Alicia gently caressed the area around the child’s eyes as he cautiously raised his face.
The damp, wet area around the eyes was slightly swollen.
"My dear Michael. I thought you were all grown up, but you’re still a crybaby.”
"Bu-but… Mum...!"
Michael couldn't hold back his sniffling cries and buried his face in Alicia's skirt.
No matter how mature he was, Michael was still only a child.
"Don't worry. Mum is right here. I won’t disappear even if you don't hold me that tightly."
"I-in my dream, Mum showed up..."
"Dream?"
"Pe-people... to Mum... they… said bad things to Mum… Waaaaah!"
"Calm down, Michael. It was just a dream."
Alicia cupped Michael’s cheek and made him look at her.
Having cried so much that the skin around their eyes was red and chafed, the startled, gasping child looked truly pitiful.
"Look at Mum.”
“...”
"It's okay. Nothing happened — no, whatever happens, Mum will never let anything bad happen to Michael."
As she spoke clearly, articulating one word at a time, Michael's sobbing eased a little.
Alicia skillfully guided Michael to take some deep breaths while wearing a gentle smile on her lips.
"I promise. Mum will always protect Michael."
"Then, what about Mum? Who will protect Mum?"
Michael anxiously clenched his hand.
Even though he knew it was a nightmare, his whole body trembled uncontrollably.
It felt like the skeletons with hollow eye sockets would rush at him any moment to grab him.
He felt like he would be separated from his mum forever.
"Stop crying. You’re troubling your mum."
Michael's head turned at the indifferently thrown words.
A man who was as tall as a pole was looking down at him with a very displeased expression.
That fact made his mouth dry up.
He was scared.
At first, he thought that man was just a strong person, but after seeing him cut down a person without a single expression, he suddenly felt a new sense of distance.
It was only then that he understood why Cabelenus said the sword was a weapon.
In the end, Michael couldn’t withstand Cabelenus's gaze and hid behind Alicia.
"You said you want to protect your mum. So you shouldn’t be crying over something like this..."
Cabelenus pressed his lips tightly shut at Alicia’s glare.
Her icy, hardened gaze felt sharper than a hundred words.
"…We’ll leave as soon as the portal is ready. If there’s anything you need to bring, let me know in advance."
"We don’t have any important luggage. It’s just that…"
Alicia looked at Michael.
She had made up her mind to go to Schwarhan, but something still weighed on her mind.
"Are you worried about something?"
"It’s just…"
Could she say it?
Alicia slightly furrowed her brow.
As expected, it felt too reckless to reveal everything all at once.
She still couldn’t fully trust Cabelenus.
"You don't have to say it if you don't want to."
Cabelenus’s gaze briefly swept over Michael, whose eyes were slightly swollen.
It would be a lie to say there were no doubts.
That day eight years ago, Alicia’s disappearance and the monsters vanishing from Schwarhan — there were too many suspicious elements for it to be dismissed as mere coincidence.
It wasn’t for nothing that Zerpheus was fixated on that point, nor was Alicia’s effort to hide Michael’s existence without reason.
That small child had a secret.
But that was all.
At this moment, he couldn’t bring himself to ask anything. No, he didn’t want to.
He had his doubts, but he didn’t want to be certain.
Sometimes, there were truths better left untouched.
If it were possible not to know, it was better for the child to grow up never knowing anything at all.
A peaceful life was far better than a life soaked in the smell of blood.
Unable to look at Michael any longer, Cabelenus turned his head, using the approaching footsteps as an excuse.
Behind him stood Gazeff, who was pondering how to join the conversation.
"Is the portal preparation all finished?"
“Yes. Everything is complete. I think we can depart soon.”
“Then we must depart immediately. Make sure to hurry.”
“Yes, I understand."
Even as he gave the order, Cabelenus observed Alicia’s expression.
Though they had agreed to leave together, the anxious feeling was inevitable.
“It’s time to go now.”
"Yes. I suppose so."
“…Mister, where are you going?”
Michael, who had been hiding behind Alicia, cautiously peeked out.
Cabelenus was frightening, but hearing that he was leaving, a feeling of regret came first.
“You’re coming too.”
“…Where are we going?”
“Schwarhan.”
“Schwarhan?”
The name sounded familiar, but his memory was fuzzy.
Michael scrunched his nose.
“Where is that?”
Cabelenus quietly looked at the child’s face, mixed with anticipation and fear, then turned his head.
And then, in a low voice, he muttered.
“The place where you will live from now on.”
・・・・・
With the clattering sound coming to an end, the carriage’s shaking stopped.
Gazeff discreetly slid open the window to check outside.
"We’ve arrived without any issue. This is Schwarhan."
“Already?”
Michael, who sat on Alicia’s lap, opened his eyes wide.
Gazeff smiled faintly, finding Michael adorable.
"This carriage is enchanted with magic."
“Magic?”
"Are you interested in magic, young master?"
"I’m not 'young master,' I’m Michael. Michael Nus."
Michael puffed out his chest and spoke confidently.
“Ah, I understand. Lord Michael.”
"Not Lord Michael, just Michael."
“Ah, I see. That was my mistake. Michael.”
When Gazeff apologised, Michael finally wore a satisfied smile.
He quite liked this kind man, unlike a certain someone.
"You seem like a good person, Mister, so I’ll forgive you."
"Yes, thank you."
“But, did we really arrive?"
“Of course.”
With that reply, Gazeff quietly slid the window open.
Michael instinctively frowned at the gust of cold wind, then let out a gasp of awe.
"Wow, how did you do that? Is it really magic?"
"Yes, it’s magic. And in Schwarhan, there are many magical wonders even more amazing than this.”
“Really?”
"Of course. I’m sure you’ll like Schwarhan, Michael. Once we enter the castle, I’ll show you each one."
“Really? You promise?”
"If you don’t believe me, shall we pinky swear?"
Gazeff smiled warmly and played along with Michael’s rhythm.
Unlike his tactless superior, the competent aide knew exactly whom he needed to win over.
"Mum! Mum! Look! There’s so much snow here! Should we go out and build a snowman?"
"Michael, don’t lean too close to the window. You might fall…"
Alicia tried to stop Michael, but she gasped involuntarily at the cloak suddenly thrust toward her.
"Put this on. It’ll be cold outside."
"I’m okay."
"Even if we head straight into the castle, it'll be cold until then. Put it on — you’ve always been sensitive to the cold."
“...”
He still remembered that.
Alicia slightly lowered her gaze, not knowing what to say.
It was just a coat, yet she couldn’t bring herself to take it.
“Thank you.”
“...”
While Alicia hesitated, James moved first, taking Cabelenus’s coat and gently covering Michael.
Then, without hesitation, he took off his own coat and draped it over Alicia's shoulders.
"You don’t have to do this. You’ll be cold too."
"I’m not as sensitive to the cold, so I’m fine. Just keep it on. What if you end up catching a cold for nothing?"
“…What are you doing right now?”
"It seemed like the child was cold."
James gave a calm, faint smile.
Cabelenus clenched his teeth at the trace of another man on Alicia’s shoulders.
He had absolutely no intention of bringing that troublesome painter, yet here he was, seated beside Alicia as if it were only natural — it couldn’t have been more infuriating.
"Shouldn't you be leaving now?"
The moment they set foot in the castle, that cheap coat would be tossed aside — and only the finest things would touch her shoulders.
Cabelenus glared at James, silently steeling himself with his resolve.
“I cannot leave until I confirm that Alicia and Michael will not be harmed by Your Highness.”
James held his gaze firmly.
He barely managed to persuade Alicia to let him come along.
He had not the slightest intention of facing this with a half-hearted resolve.
If Cabelenus tried anything foolish, he was determined to protect Alicia and Michael no matter what.
"What right do you have to judge that?"
"At the very least, I have more right than Your Highness."
"Ridiculous. Someone like you—"
"That’s enough."
Alicia frowned slightly as she looked at the two of them.
Cabelenus stopped mid-sentence and clamped his mouth shut.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to. Michael, that’s enough from you, too.”
James quickly apologised to Alicia as he pulled Michael, who was hanging from the window, into his arms.
But the corners of the child’s mouth, lifted as high as they could go, showed no sign of coming down.
"Uncle, have you ever seen this much snow?"
"If you stay in Schwarhan, you’ll see it all the time."
“All the time?”
"It’s always winter here. It’s very cold and bleak. There isn’t much to see in this land."
James deliberately hardened his expression as he spoke.
He knew it was childish, but if possible, he hoped Michael wouldn’t take a liking to Schwarhan.
"Why? I like the snow. I can make snowmen, have snowball fights, and what else... oh! We have to eat shaved ice too!"
Michael curled his fingers one by one, then suddenly lifted his head.
The excited child seemed to have completely forgotten the shock of the earlier attack.
"You’ll be able to do whatever you want to your heart’s content, so why don’t you stop making a fuss and come down already?"
"When did I ever make a fuss?!"
In response to Cabelenus's blunt remark, Michael pouted.
"You’re the only one darting around here."
"Th-that's...!"
He wanted to argue, but had nothing to say.
Michael pursed his lips as he came down to the carriage floor.
Unbothered by Michael’s reaction, Cabelenus opened the carriage door.
When the door opened, the view widened far beyond what the small window had offered.
"If you want to run, do it outside."
"I was going to get off even without you rushing me!"
Michael stuck out his tongue and jumped down from the carriage with a bounce.
The ill-fitting coat caught on his feet, causing him to trip after only a few steps, but since the snow was piled up thickly, he didn’t feel any pain at all despite the fall.
Instead, the crunching sound of the snow underfoot made him let out a giggle.
"Mum! Look at this! There’s so much snow! Come out quickly!"
Fun things were always more fun when done with his mum.
Michael beamed and waved both arms enthusiastically toward Alicia.
"Let’s get off as well."
After saying that, Cabelenus lightly stepped down from the carriage, and the others followed one after another.
Now, the only one left was Alicia.
"Grab my hand."
"Want me to help you down?"
The moment Alicia stood in front of the door, the men’s hands simultaneously reached out.
Alicia scrunched up the bridge of her nose.
Her face burned under their expectant gazes.
"It’d be better if I just carried you down."
Cabelenus started to climb up into the carriage first.
He wasn’t about to hesitate and let someone else beat him to it.
Alicia, feeling the distance closing in, hurriedly grabbed her skirt and jumped out of the carriage.
“...”
"I can easily handle this much on my own."
Alicia smiled awkwardly and quickly hurried ahead before Cabelenus could say anything else.
Although she knew they had to slowly rebuild their relationship for Michael’s sake, she still found being close to Cabelenus uncomfortable.
Every time their eyes met and their skin touched, old memories she had tried so hard to forget resurfaced, making it hard to control her emotions.
She wanted to take a moment to compose herself until she could get her emotions under control.
For Michael’s sake, she had to stay as rational as she could.
"Mum! Over here! Look!"
Michael hopped excitedly while calling out to Alicia.
Alicia swallowed hard as she looked at the endless snowy field stretching out beyond Michael.
In the end, she returned.
She ultimately returned to the harsh, frozen land she had vowed never to return to.
‘It’s still cold here.’
Alicia roughly tidied her wind-tousled hair with her fingers.
Though eight years had quickly passed, Schwarhan was still blanketed in snow, and she still couldn’t get used to the biting cold that seeped into her bones.
‘And somewhere out there, they must be waiting…’
No matter how much she looked around, all she could see was pure white snow.
Despite that, Alicia couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
It felt as if monsters with shining golden eyes would burst out of that snowy field at any moment.
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