[On... Rii isn’t here, so why did I wake up? I mean, I’ve been waiting for Rii.]
[It is the woman you mistook for Rivena who woke you up. She’s Rivena’s daughter.]
[Rii’s daughter...?]
Undi sighed and looked at Irene.
At first, he thought she was definitely Rivena, but then she turned out to be someone else with a similar aura.
When he realised the truth, his tears flowed like a waterfall.
[Uuhhuu.]
[Undi, do you know what happened that day?]
Undi’s movements, who’d been trembling at On’s question, stopped. Soon his body began to shake again. His complexion turned pale as if it were a memory he didn’t want to recall.
[You are the spirit that has been with Rivena the longest. What happened that day.]
[...]
[No! Bad! I’m going to find Rivena!]
[Uh? Hey, wait! Undi!]
On hurriedly tried to catch Undi flying through the window, but Undi disappeared without looking back. On, who had lost Undi in an instant, looked back at Irene with a troubled face. Irene looked at On, embarrassed. Hopefully now...
[I missed it.]
She couldn’t believe she missed the spirit.
Irene, lost for words, hesitated and asked On carefully.
“Is he going to come back...?”
On answered her worried voice, he averted her gaze slightly.
[Well...?]
Irene was taken aback by his unpredictable words. She had a hard time finding him, and now when she was on the brink of finding out how her parents died, she Undi slipped past her.
But it wasn’t On’s fault. It would be difficult for the spirit to accept the sudden death of his precious Contractor.
Seeing Irene’s silent gaze, On added cautiously.
[Maybe Undi will come back.]
When Irene raised her head and looked at On, he glanced away and said,
[Because Undi really liked Rivena.]
♔♔♔
“Irene, can’t you sleep?”
Late at night, she had been to bed for a long time, but Irene could not sleep easily. Several thoughts had taken over her head.
“Are you worried that the spirit won’t return?”
With a rustling sound, Noel turned to look at her. As his silver-grey hair brushed across his cheeks, down to his eyes, Irene reached out and slid his hair to the side. Noel’s eyes followed her fingers.
“That too, but… I am concerned about the conversation between Ascardo and Riel. The same goes for Noel’s older brother….”
Of course, it was also true that she was worried that the disappeared Undi would not return, but rather than that, she was more concerned about how she would behave in the future with Ascardo and Riel and how the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Imperial Family would be. More than anything...
The Emperor said he knew that I was the daughter of the former Emperor and his wife.
In the diary of Viscountess Friedan, the Emperor was ferocious and cruel. In fact, the Emperor rebelled and stained the road to the throne with blood. She was worried about how he would accept an orthodox heir who might threaten him.
“Sorry. I’m only worrying about nothing, and your work schedule is full, so go to sleep.”
Tomorrow Noel said he would have a meeting with his vassals about the source of the bow. It was an important meeting that was convened early in the morning, which was paramount. She was worried that Noel’s condition would be ruined because of her.
“I am okay. Rather, Irene, you must be tired because of your spirit and familial matters, so go to sleep.”
“Yes...”
Irene nodded slightly, closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep. However, it did not befall her easily. Far from falling asleep, only her thoughts piled up, and her mind was complicated.
Something came into Irene’s mind, which had been tossing and turning for a while.
“That’s…”
‘Jump.’
“Irene?”
Suddenly Irene raised her body, and Noel looked at her with startled eyes.
I’m not wrong.
It was snowing outside her window. This Irene knew at once that those eyes were no ordinary eyes. It was because she felt the energy of the Snow Tree somewhere.
“I’m sorry, Noel. I will go out for a while.”
“I’m afraid it’s not safe for you. Where are you going in the middle of the night?”