Chapter 17 - Promise (1/2)

Chapter 17 – Promise

Nabel did not make Ronée wait long. He returned to her immediately after hanging out urgent orders.

“Ronée.”

“Nabel.”

Ronée was gazing out of the window. Even just a few hours ago, she could never have imagined that things would turn out like this.

Bell should have recovered her strength a little, but she was curled up in Ronée’s arms with her tail hanging, the same as before. After staring at Bell for a while, Nabel opened his mouth.

“Do you remember the forest that was like an ocean?”

Ronée widened her eyes. As did Ryne, who was combing her hair. Only the maid of this foreign mansion, who was standing beside them kept her head bent low, showed no reaction.

“A place where the dense leaves stretch on endlessly and ripple like ocean waves when the wind blows.” Nabel’s gaze brushed Ryne briefly and then fell. It was a story that Ryne had told the two of them once when they were younger.

It was a scene that was difficult for Ronée, who had been born far inland, to picture. A forest as wide as an ocean… She had tried to multiply the image of the few trees she could see from her window in her mind to visualize the breathtaking scene.

“I know that place. I want to go there together,” Nabel murmured quietly.

Ronée had no reason to refuse. She could not return to the Rieda household nor could she go anywhere else on the Eastern Continent. Or at least, not anywhere where the Church had a hold. What was more, they had even killed an inquisition officer…

Ronée’s expression darkened. Will we be okay?

She, who had been branded a demon, would be treated as an enemy of the Church wherever she went. She may have to watch out for mages for the rest of her life.

But what about Nabel?

“You’re worried.” Nabel, who had approached at some point, lightly placed a hand on her cheek. His gray glove brushed her skin.

“Ah.” As though realizing something, Nabel pulled off the gray gloves with his teeth. They dropped onto the floor.

The maid from that mansion widened her eyes at that. She had known her master to keep his gloves on at all times.

Now barehanded, Nabel again smoothed the worried creases forming at the edge of Ronée’s eyes. “If it’s the incident with the inquisition officer you’re worried about, you need not. Did I not promise you?”

So long ago now.