Chapter 29 (1/2)

“… I can’t remember any of them….”

“Wouldn’t he have gone back to his entourage after Duke Evendell was injured? A knight? Or maybe…”

Tennon, musing over this, glanced at Rashid. However, Rashid was calm and did not reveal his emotions.

“Send a letter to the Duchess.”

“Ok, I’ll have him do that and deliver it to the Ducal House of Evendell.”

“Peyton, what have you heard so far?”

Rashid, who was leaning his head against his desk, looked up in annoyance.

“It’s hard to reach her there.”

“Then where…”

Rashid picked something up from the table.

A small, pointed piece of wood.

Doubts, uncertainty, and a desire for victory showed in Peyton’s master’s bloodshot eyes.

“The dukedom’s deepest, most remote area, where one can enter and exit only by burying things like this.”

*********************

“Yes!”

The baby swan’s eyes were teary.

I couldn’t help but hug Haniel because for once, she had slept well.

“Baby, are you up?”

Yes, this is it! A hug that was cozier than the softest of clouds.

The best thing about adopting Haniel was that I didn’t have to hesitate anymore when I wanted to hug her.

As I closed my eyes and furiously rubbed my cheeks against her’s, Haniel burst into laughter; perhaps it was ticklish.

“Mommy? Mom?”

“Of course!”

“Isn’t it ticklish?”

“No, Mommy.”

I’d always wanted to say this.

I endured the feeling of seeing her tears long enough.

Nonetheless, my thrill didn’t last long due to someone who was overly practical.

“Madam, I shouldn’t say this, but you’ve only been having fun today.”

“Then you shouldn’t have said it.”

“Oh, I’ve been up all night thinking about it and I’m not sure I’m suitable for this.”

The dark circles under Selene’s eyes came down to her chin, possibly because she had stayed up the entire night.