And then I had Tanya make preparations as I headed back to the royal capital.
As I needed to prioritize mobility, I took the smallest amount of personnel with me that was possible.
While on the road, I reminisced about that excommunication event so long ago.
Back then, I think that it was Dean who helped me.
…Well, not just back then. Many times over.
But Dean wasn’t with me now.
I had tried to avoid these thoughts, but now they came up within me.
There was no way for me to know that he was safe.
That made me worry even more…my heart felt the pain.
However, reality had invaded me, pushing such emotions deep down inside and preventing me from dwelling on them.
But sometimes it would rise up again, showing its face. And it is those times, when I feel like I’m being crushed by anxiety, that I squeeze tight this pocket watch.
…If I could, I would go out now and search for him.
But I cannot. There is no way that I can do that.
The only thing that I could do…was to wait for him.
If I did move, I would never forgive myself.
As if to shrug off the anxiety, I clutched the watch tightly.
When we arrived in the royal capital, the change that came over it made me gasp.
Had the royal capital always been so dreary…?
Ryle and Dida looked around cautiously.
They must have sensed a stronger danger here than on the road, because they suddenly seemed much more nervous.
We continued in this state for quite some time, until we reached the mansion.
I sighed with relief upon seeing the familiar faces and then headed straight to my father.
He said with a smile. But he looked weak.
His frame was visibly thinner than before.
And he looked like he could barely sit upright.
The only saving grace was that some color had returned to his face.
I was a little embarrassed by her kind words.
But I immediately switched gears when my father continued.
Really, how did they know…they knew the precise words that I had wanted to hear.
Father muttered apologetically. I shook my head.
My heart was filled with something warm after talking with father and mother.
Believe in yourself, without doubts…they said.
Oh, how encouraging it was.
And so I went to my room.
She nodded silently to my question.
Her words gave me a certain calm that spread through my chest…just like when Dean was next to me.
I slowly bring a hand to my chest. The pocket watch was hanging underneath my clothes as usual.