The Hero’s party was also treated to a lavish meal, but the lord of Kelato was interested only in the wealthy noble Peruan and knew nothing about the Heroes. Because of that, he paid them no attention at all. Peruan, noticing him, tried to look after the Heroes separately, but Geloman shook his head. They had to leave first anyway. After reminding them to keep the matter confidential and escort the elf safely, Geloman called Tom over and asked him several questions.

“We absolutely have to meet again later, Ren.”

Cedric hugged Ren tightly.

They were saying goodbye. From here on, Ren’s group planned to ride horses to the capital. After the investigation concluded, Seka and Cedric intended to stay here a few days before returning to Tempesto Village, while Beta and Kenta, who had declared they would go to the capital as well, would remain part of the procession led by Peruan. Beta and Kenta had already said their farewells earlier.

“Ah, so I just send letters to Lord Luman?”

“Yeah. To the royal castle.”

“Wow, the royal castle. That’s insane.”

Cedric lightly punched Ren’s arm as he joked around.

But Ren did not react. Cedric scratched his head while looking at his sunken face.

“You worried about something?”

“No.”

“Fine. You’ll talk when you feel like it later. Anyway, I’m writing you, so make sure you reply. Ahem.”

Cedric spoke with his ears slightly red. Saying something embarrassing like he would write letters made him too awkward to properly look at Ren’s face.

“Cedric.”

Seka approached as he called his name.

“Oh, you’re here, hyung? You came to say goodbye to Ren too?”

“He helped you. As your brother, I should express my gratitude.”

At the word brother, Ren flinched. He lifted his eyes and met Seka’s red gaze.

“One whose ‘Aras’ is clear.”

“Hyung? What are you suddenly talking about?”

Cedric looked bewildered, but Seka paid him no mind. Ren also remained calm, since this was not the first or second time he had heard something like this.

Seka continued while looking into Ren’s green eyes, dark like leaves dried beneath sunlight.

“Special people often find themselves facing unforeseen circumstances. You will not be able to avoid them either.”

“Hyung! What are you talking about?!”

Seka’s words were meaningful in ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ an unsettling way. Cedric tried to stop his brother from saying strange things, but both of them looked so serious that he eventually shut his mouth.

“Thank you very much for saving my younger brother.”

Seka bowed deeply. Cedric made an embarrassed face.

“It’s fine. Cedric helped me a lot too. You don’t need to thank me like this.”

Ren shook his head. But Seka did not withdraw his thanks.

He straightened from the bow and looked directly at Ren. Meeting that upright gaze, Ren felt strange.

“Aras......”

Ren muttered unconsciously. The old apothecary and Priest Kirky had often told him that his “Aras” was clear and pure, but Ren honestly did not know what that “Aras” even was. He could neither feel nor see it. Still, he had heard it ever since he was very young, so it did not feel unfamiliar. He had simply thought of it as something like the wind. Something simply there, something you felt.

But somehow, Ren felt as if he finally understood what it was.

He felt something like that from Seka.

Seka smiled faintly. As a smile spread across his face, carrying a gentle light, he gave off an intensity like the sun itself. Seka’s friends described him as embarrassingly kind and soft-hearted, but Ren thought he seemed extremely firm, even cold in some ways. The gentleness he showed on the surface did not seem naturally born.

“When the day comes that you require my help, I will gladly step forward and aid you.”

Cedric wore a strange expression, unable to join the conversation at all. They were saying things he could not understand, yet Ren also seemed to have realized something.

But Ren did not truly understand Seka’s words either. Still, what Seka said did not sound like a vague promise to help someday. It sounded like a prophecy.

As if something would absolutely happen, and when it did, he would step forward to help him.

Ren looked at Cedric standing beside him.

“No.”

Seka’s pupils widened. It seemed he had not expected such a firm refusal.

“I don’t want something like that.”

“Then what is it that you want?”

Seka asked seriously. Ren’s eyes turned toward Cedric again. Seka followed his gaze to his younger brother. His face looked as though he had realized something.

The reason he had said those words was surely because there would come a time when Ren needed his help. Whether prophecy or instinct...... perhaps it would not even be help for Ren himself, but for someone Ren cared about.

But Ren did not want that help.

“What I want is......”

It might be childish and ridiculous, but sometimes Ren simply could not bear things like this.

“Just for brothers to stay together.”

“......What does that mean?”

Cedric frowned as he asked.

Ren bit his lip while looking at the two brothers standing together, so alike, then turned away.

“Cedric. If your brother comes to help me, you two might end up separated forever.”

“What? What are you talking about right now......?”

“.......”

“Ren! Do you even understand what you just said?!”

Cedric shouted angrily. But Ren knew words once spoken could not be taken back. He had not said that because he wanted to. It had burst out of his mouth like vomit. It felt as though words he could never swallow, words lodged in his throat for who knew how long, had transformed and spilled out. Ren pressed a palm hard against his violently pounding heart.

“I’m leaving. Be careful on the way back.” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

“Ren!”

Ren did not look back even at Cedric’s shout.

‘Why did I say that just now?’

Why would he say something that sounded like a curse? He did not even know what kind of thing Seka meant by helping him!

The wind violently scraped across Ren’s face. A farewell that should have been warm only clawed at each other’s hearts instead.

Ah, I should’ve told him to hold onto his brother tightly......

Ren thought blankly.

“Did you finish saying goodb...... Ren. What’s wrong?”

Luman, who had been idly stroking a horse’s mane while waiting for him, grabbed Ren. Ren’s face looked so pained it was difficult to meet his eyes.

“Did you fight? Did someone say something cruel to you?”

Even though he knew the brothers would never do such a thing, Luman could not help asking.

“It’s not that. Just...... just let’s go already.”

“......Ren. Are you sure you don’t want to say goodbye to Peruan?”

“Just...... let’s go. Please.”

“All right. Ren, there’ll be a snowstorm tonight. The final snow of winter. Then spring will come soon enough, the frozen lakes will melt, and flowers will bloom. The cold days will pass quickly, so everything will be all right. Ren. The capital is close. You only need to lean on someone.”

His voice sounded like he was singing a lullaby.

Luman could not ask what had suddenly caused him such pain without warning. Perhaps it was because he feared he would not be able to answer whatever Ren asked in return.

Nor could he say that he had finally brought out the gift he had hesitated to give because Ren had seemed in such low spirits.

The note and present he had left beside him at the inn—the things that ultimately never reached him—had been retrieved by Jepeto and returned to him. Luman had been waiting for the right moment to bring them out, and he had undoubtedly chosen the worst possible timing.

But did something like that matter?

Luman crumpled the letter he had written and shoved it into his pocket before spreading his cloak over Ren’s shoulders.

What mattered was keeping Ren warm.

The heavy cloak, lined all around with thick fur and made from expensive fabric, wrapped warmly around Ren’s body. The bluish cloak already held warmth inside it.

‘Maybe I should have bought green. He looks even paler.’

He had chosen it carefully, yet regrets still remained. Even so, swallowing down the thought that it suited him well, Luman walked ahead. He was going to fetch a water bottle for Ren to use as a hand warmer.

“Ren, I’ll give you a warm-colored one. They had all kinds of colors.”

“.......”

“Ren?”

When Luman turned around, it felt as though all the blood drained from his body.

Ren, slowly stumbling toward him, was clutching his heart as his face twisted in agony.

His lips were torn open, showing blood, as though he had bitten them in pain. His body was bending more and more, his knees giving way......

Luman’s heart pounded with dread. Watching Ren’s body slowly tilt, he could not even scream as he ran over and caught him as he collapsed.

What in the world was this, with no warning at all?

Catching Ren’s soundlessly collapsing body, Luman froze like a winter lake, unable to move.

Peruan, who had come out to say goodbye, smiled while hiding his loneliness. After all, he thought he would see him again soon in the capital. He was a man who could make the impossible possible—would he really be unable to see one face he longed for in the capital? Still, this desperate feeling was new to him, and difficult to grow accustomed to.

Peruan thought he should hold Ren tightly and endlessly tell him how unwavering his feelings were. Ren had seemed very anxious lately, but from Peruan’s perspective, once Ren locked his carriage door and stopped coming out, there had been no way to approach him. If Ren had been a physically healthy boy, Peruan would have tried other methods, but knowing how unstable he was, Peruan could not bring himself to use cruel means. So all he could do was call Ren’s name from outside the carriage and ask after him.

Thankfully, perhaps because today was the day of departure, Ren had come outside.

Peruan could not afford to show the pathetic sight of pushing his work onto Ren, so after leaving only a few words behind, he hurriedly finished his business and came back out.

“It’s going to be terribly cold today.”

Haaah. Worry kept piling up. There was supposed to be a snowstorm tonight, so why insist on leaving tonight of all nights? Peruan understood they had urgent business, but secretly, he wished they would leave Ren behind.

Though he knew that was impossible.

He had no interest in royal castle politics and intended to remain uninterested in the future as well. But now that Ren was the Hero’s younger brother, Peruan had a feeling he would no longer be able to stay indifferent.

I should scatter these complicated thoughts so I can focus on saying goodbye to my angel.

The moment he thought of Ren, Peruan felt a sharp ache in his chest.

Ah, why must I part with my love?

Quickening his pace, Peruan searched for Ren in the garden.

“Ren?”

His eyes narrowed. His steps slowed for a moment, then Peruan suddenly broke into a run.

“Ren? Lord Luman, what are you doing ri...... Tom!”

Peruan’s violet eyes froze.

“Yes! Young master!”

“Bring a physician. Inform Lady Coco’s party as well. Their group has a priest. If they hear the news, they’ll come running.”

After calmly giving orders, Peruan caught hold of the collapsing figure.