The Knight of Clingy Young Ladies

22.

The mansion of the Racatus family was bustling from morning.

Preparations were underway for the departure of a boy, with whom they had now grown familiar enough to shatter preconceived notions of class.

The unusual relationship began with Ebam, Brussel, and the servant Deuse.

A boy who could speak his mind freely, even before the head of the household, leaving an enormous mark on the Racatus name.

Among those who carried the Racatus name, there was not a single person unfamiliar with the tale of the boy’s and girl’s adventures.

Now that the time to part had come, the gap they created was becoming all too real.

Amidst the bustling servants of the mansion, the boy and the girl were still in the quiet room, just as they had been since the day they arrived.

The young serving girls, including Emma, strained their ears, trying to gauge what was happening beyond the door.

Wouldn’t even a single word seep through?

What was being exchanged between the two?

Each girl imagined scenarios in their own ways, but none more so than Emma.

Behind the closed door lay a world of stories unknown to them.

Stories far too stimulating for the young maidens.

*

Eliana could not bring herself to leave Kalen’s embrace.

It was always like that, but now that the farewell was certain, it was worse.

But soon, even this would be impossible.

“Will you come back…?”

“Yes.”

“Mm… If you don’t return, I’ll come looking for you…”

“…”

Kalen found himself a bit dizzy from being persistently questioned every time Eliana became anxious.

Still, considering that Eliana had spent years isolated, she would surely bounce back quickly. There was no reason she couldn’t endure it now.

How much time had passed?

Sensing it was time to go, Kalen finally rose.

As Eliana no longer met his gaze, for she had seen through the window that the carriage provided by Everchant was ready.

Kalen left parting words of caution and encouragement, intending to leave the room.

“Kalen.”

His steps halted upon hearing Eliana’s voice.

Though somewhat different from usual, there was a hint of seriousness in her tone.

Eliana walked slowly—awkward and hesitant steps—with her cheeks flushed red when she reached Kalen.

“Kalen.”

“Yes, Miss Eliana.”

She had her hands clasped behind her back, as though hiding something. He wondered if it might be a farewell gift, something he hadn’t noticed while sitting beside her on the bed.

“Kalen, are you my personal bodyguard?”

Technically, no. That deal was ended after their trip around the Winter Island.

Kalen debated whether or not to tell her the truth.

“It’s fine. For now, that will do.”

Eliana continued slowly, very slowly.

Perhaps she was trying to delay the inevitable. Kalen wasn’t omniscient, but he realized she was doing her best not to delay her words.

The pauses and hesitation in her speech were an attempt to be accurate. Preventing it meant slowing down what she was saying.

Kalen waited calmly as usual.

“This. It’s a thank-you gift.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever expressed my gratitude this way before…”

Surprisingly, Kalen remained calm in his speech.

The thing presented by Eliana was far from what he had expected.

On her small clasped hands rested the brooch given to her by her mother on her first birthday while she was ill.

It was engraved with the Racatus crest.

“Why this…?”

“My world is no longer tied to it.”

Eliana smiled shyly and approached Kalen again, clutching the brooch.

She then grasped the cord connecting Kalen’s glasses near his left eye and ear.

Although not particularly long, the cord was not overly short either. Eliana attached the brooch clip to it.

Despite its small size, the brooch wasn’t out of place. Quite the contrary—it gave his otherwise plain glasses a distinctive touch.

“Yes. For now, just… this is our promise that you’ll return, alright?”

Recalling Eliana’s explanation of the brooch’s significance, Kalen decided to leave it at that.

“This is a letter Duess, the servant boy, requested I deliver… and this is from the maid, Emma. I don’t understand why I am running errands for everyone.”

“Thank you.”

Deckawm Racatus was the one who saw Kalen off. He volunteered because he had something to say.

“Did you greet Father?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Deckawm handed over various last-minute requests, then lingered.

“No, this is something you should hear directly from Father when you return.”

“Father?”

“Yes. You’ll understand when you do.”

Deckawm smiled awkwardly, showing the utmost respect due to their guest and benefactor.

“Take care. Once more, thank you for saving Eliana.”

“Yes.”

With that brief farewell exchanged, Kalen boarded the carriage.

Deckawm Racatus watched the carriage as it distanced itself, then shifted his gaze to his own hands.

“I hope our paths cross again.”

The muttered words rode the wind, drifting far, far away.

*

Indeed, Blamia seemed far from the grandeur one might attach to the label of Great Wizard.

Having stayed at the Racatus mansion for a while, Kalen couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast.

Living alone with Cinat in a small cottage, having no servants before Kalen arrived, contrasted sharply with his past life as the head of a grand family.

There must be countless inconveniences.

Still, it was just a cottage.

Traditionally, a nobleman was associated closely with grandeur, splendor, art, and the delegation of manual labor to hired help.

This was especially true for a family like the Racatus, one of the highest-ranking noble houses.

Recalling the interior of the Racatus mansion, Kalen quietly made his way across the field toward the lonely cabin.

The sight was familiar yet oddly foreign, making him chuckle softly.

Considering his early life of hardship, wandering the streets, not even remembering his parents’ faces, he hadn’t lived a life of ease.

Shaking his head as if to dismiss a full stomach, Kalen eventually reached the cabin.

“Kal… Is that Kalen?”

At that moment, a fresh voice called out from behind.

Before Kalen could react,

Whoosh!

“Kal!”

Instead of a fresh voice, the smell of someone’s body tickled his nose.

In his arms was the familiar form of a girl.

“How long do you intend to stand like that?”

“It’s my heart’s desire~ Isn’t that right, Kal?”

“Umm…”

Polite speech had become natural to him.

Kalen felt slightly awkward and lowered his head discreetly.

Months of a certain environment were like blood and flesh, erasing some of the habits from the years spent in the cabin.

Polite speech intended for Eliana had unintentionally crept into his address to Cinat.

Actually, it wasn’t too unusual. However, Cinat disliked being spoken to formally.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”

“Sorry, things got a bit complicated.”

“The apology is irrelevant. So, I’ll add two extra hours?”

“…Alright.”

If Eliana’s appearance could be compared to a clear sky, Cinat’s could be likened to the night sky, thought Kalen.

Her glossy sapphire hair.

A fresh but mysterious girl.

Especially when recalling her smile on the hill dyed by the setting sun, she wasn’t one to be easily categorized as lively.

“But Kal, what’s this?”

Upon hearing her question from below, Kalen looked down again.

Cinat was fiddling with the brooch attached to the cord of his glasses.

“I was going to compliment you on how well your glasses and cane match, but isn’t this the crest of the Racatus family? Why do you have it?”

“Miss Racatus gave it to me out of gratitude.”

“What?”

Cinat wriggled out of Kalen’s embrace and, supporting herself with her arms, leaned her face close to Kalen’s.

“How could she give you that? The family crest?”

“Just a thank-you gift.”

“Kal, people don’t just give away family emblems out of gratitude. Especially this, which looks quite expensive—”

“You gave me a cane too, one you made yourself.”

“…”

Cinat started to say something but stopped, then turned her back on Kalen and leaned her head on it.

“Hmph. Anyway, I know.”

“Can’t you see me?”

At the same time,

A grumble from nearby caught their attention.

“Sorry, Master.”

“Forget it. Neither my granddaughter nor my student seems to amount to anything. Just go start a life together.”

Even while muttering, his voice lacked any sharpness.

Knowing this well, Kalen found it comforting.

He was certainly exhausted.

Though his ears were tired, his heart felt lighter.

Homeland.

Kalen had always believed he had no such place. People usually refer to where they were born and raised as their homeland, but that place never felt like home to him.

Rather, here.

Here with Blamia and Cinat felt more like it.

Not a place, but the people.

Kalen’s home existed in the people.

“Aya.”

Still, Cinat seemed to be pulling herself away after two extra hours.

“Is something wrong?”

“Hmm? Nothing.”

When Kalen noticed something off and asked, Cinat hastily hid her hands behind her and made excuses.

However, Kalen noticed. The nails of the hastily hidden hand were barely touching the skin, and the area was covered with fresh scabs.

Another injury from studying magic, likely due to her habitual carelessness.

Given her embarrassment in hiding it, Kalen decided not to pry unnecessarily.

“Anyway, it’s great that you’re back, Kal! Finally, I can play with a friend!”

Cinat stretched once, then with a bright smile, hugged Kalen who was still sitting.

It was what she called an expression of friendliness, as she used to say.

Then came a slight prick.

Thinking it strange, Kalen turned his head.

“What?”

“Something pricked me. What happened?”

“Hmm? No… Maybe static electricity?”

Considering her reasonable explanation, Kalen agreed.

If her expression had betrayed any mistake, it would have shown when he turned his head. It seemed Cinat’s explanation of static electricity was correct.

Kalen let go of the matter.

He no longer wanted to dwell on trivialities; he seemed a bit tired from the details.

Kalen quietly closed his eyes and indulged in the warmth of the embraced reunion.

Unfortunately,

Due to their current positions, Kalen couldn’t see Cinat’s current expression.

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