Chapter 23
Meanwhile, inside the private dining hall...
"My n-na—"
Before Elyra could finish—
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her.
"Tight."
Eldern pulled her into a firm hug.
His green eyes stared directly at Ryker.
Cold.
The room instantly fell silent.
Ryker's extended hand remained frozen in midair.
Elyra blinked.
Confused.
Eldern tightened his hold slightly.
His gaze never left Ryker for even a second.
The pressure in the room became strangely heavy.
Ryker swallowed.
For some reason, Eldern's stare made him feel as though he had committed a terrible crime.
The boy's lips trembled.
His eyes gradually became watery.
A moment later—
"W-Waaaahhh!"
Ryker suddenly burst into tears.
The loud cry echoed throughout the dining hall.
Elyra froze.
"...Huh?"
She stared blankly at the crying boy.
Panic immediately rose inside her.
Oh no.
What am I supposed to do now?
She had dealt with assassins.
She had dealt with political schemes.
She had even faced life-and-death situations before.
But comforting a crying child?
That was far beyond her experience.
Elyra awkwardly looked between Ryker and Eldern.
"Uh..."
Her small body squirmed slightly as she tried to escape Eldern's embrace.
"Eldern..."
She glanced at him.
"It'th otay."
Her voice carried genuine confusion.
"Why you acting wike(like) dis?"
After a few moments, Eldern reluctantly loosened his hold.
The moment she was free, Elyra walked toward Ryker.
The crying boy quickly wiped his eyes, though tears continued flowing down his cheeks.
Elyra hesitated.
Then she gently patted his head.
"My name is Ewywa Sowv."
Her voice sounded soft,struggled to pronounce it.
Ryker looked up.
His tear-filled eyes widened slightly.
Meanwhile, Eldern stood silently nearby.
Watching.
The sight of Elyra comforting another boy made an uncomfortable feeling spread through his chest.
It hurt.
A lot.
What is this feeling...?
His thoughts drifted.
For some reason, it felt as though something precious was slowly moving further away from him.
The Elyra who always smiled at him.
The Elyra who always talked with him.
The Elyra who belonged beside him.
The thought alone made his chest tighten painfully.
Meanwhile, Elyra continued trying to comfort Ryker.
Honestly...
What was I expecting from children?
She sighed inwardly.
"A-Awe you otay now?"
Ryker sniffled.
Then, after gathering his courage, he looked directly at her.
"C-Can I caww(call) you Ewywa?"
The question surprised her.
"Huh?"
Elyra blinked.
Then nodded.
"O-Of couwse."
Ryker's expression immediately brightened.
His tears slowly stopped.
A small smile appeared on Elyra's face.
"Gud."
She extended her tiny hand toward him.
"let's be fwiends, Wyker."
For a brief moment, Ryker simply stared.
Then his face turned red.
Slowly, he reached out and shook her hand.
Elyra nodded in satisfaction.
Then she pointed toward Eldern.
"Now you too."
Both boys froze.
Eldern stared at her.
Then at Ryker.
Then back at her.
The meaning behind her words was obvious.
She wanted them to shake hands.
Eldern remained completely motionless.
Ryker became nervous again.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Just as the atmosphere threatened to become uncomfortable once more—
The dining hall doors suddenly opened.
"Are you all alright?"
Derrick's voice echoed through the room.
Damnern stood beside him.
The two father figures had returned.
Derrick looked around.
Ryker was wiping away the remnants of his tears.
Elyra was patting his head.
Eldern stood nearby with a complicated expression.
"...What happened here?"
Derrick asked.
Before anyone could answer—
Another voice spoke.
"Oh?"
Cecilia and Elina had returned as well.
A smile appeared on Cecilia's face.
"Did you all become friends already?"
Ryker immediately became embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Elina's gaze quietly settled on Eldern.
Something was wrong.
The boy looked unusually quiet.
When Eldern noticed her gaze, he immediately turned his head away.
Elina narrowed her eyes slightly.
But said nothing.
Soon afterward, everyone decided it was time to leave.
Night had grown late.
Outside Restaurant Neltan...
The Berwyn family stood together as they watched the Solv family's carriage being prepared.
The cool night breeze swept across the streets.
Countless lanterns illuminated the city.
For a moment, the scene almost felt like a farewell.
Derrick suddenly leaned toward Ryker.
"You really are hopeless."
Ryker blinked.
"Huh?"
Derrick lowered his voice.
"You actually cried in front of the girl you like."
Ryker's entire face instantly turned bright red.
"F-Fawther!"
Derrick laughed loudly.
"I enjoyed every second of it!"
"Dear!"
Cecilia immediately smacked his arm.
People nearby were already preparing to sleep.
There was no reason for him to shout.
Meanwhile, Elina smiled warmly.
"It was nice meeting you, Cecilia."
Cecilia returned the smile.
"The feeling is mutual."
Nearby, Eldern remained unusually silent.
Damnern noticed.
Without saying anything, he simply lifted Eldern and placed him inside the carriage.
The boy didn't resist.
Before Damnern could lift Elyra inside—
"Wyker!"
Ryker immediately looked up.
Elyra smiled.
"Don' fowget me, otay?"
Her voice sounded cheerful.
Of course, the real reason remained hidden.
One day, I'll come back.
And when that day arrives...
I hope you'll have plenty of useful information for me.
Ryker's face turned crimson.
He nodded repeatedly.
"I-I won't!"
Inside the carriage, Eldern heard every word.
The uncomfortable feeling inside his chest worsened.
His eyes became slightly red.
A single tear escaped.
He quickly wiped it away before anyone could notice.
Moments later, Damnern lifted Elyra into the carriage.
Then carefully helped Elina inside.
As the family prepared to leave, Derrick watched quietly.
At least look at me once, you bastard.
He thought.
Almost immediately—
Damnern suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Then, surprisingly—
Damnern gave him a small nod.
Derrick froze.
Before he could react, Damnern entered the carriage.
The horses began moving.
The carriage slowly disappeared into the distance.
Derrick watched silently.
A nostalgic smile appeared on his face.
"That kid really grew up..."
For a brief moment, he remembered the cold fourteen-year-old boy he had met years ago.
Back then, Damnern had looked completely detached from the world.
Now he had a wife.
Children.
A family.
Cecilia looked at her husband strangely.
"Are you his father or something?"
Derrick immediately glared at her.
The next morning...
The sun rose over Valdwess City.
Ten royal guards stood in formation around the carriage.
Their horses snorted softly as they prepared for departure.
Near the city gates, Damnern was speaking with one of the guards.
The man's shoulder remained heavily bandaged from the injuries he had suffered during the Raiders' attack.
After a brief conversation, Damnern nodded.
Everything was ready.
Inside the carriage, Elina looked toward Eldern.
The boy had barely spoken since yesterday.
"Time to go home."
She smiled gently.
Trying to cheer him up.
Unfortunately, it had little effect.
Eldern merely nodded.
Across from him, Elyra secretly observed his behavior.
Why is Eldern acting like this?
She couldn't understand it.
Ever since last night, he had been unusually quiet.
Had something happened?
After everyone boarded the carriage, the journey finally began.
The carriage rolled forward.
Ten royal guards rode alongside it.
Leaving Valdwess City behind.
Together, they began their long journey back toward Willowess Region.
End of Chapter 23