# 59
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“Agares, will you keep your promise to me?”
"naturally."
Elinor made a pact with Agares.
In exchange for Agares taking care of the child, Elinor will bring him whatever boarders he wants.
“Plants are acceptable, but if possible, prefer an animal.”
“Are small animals suitable?”
“Yes, anything tainted with black magic, use this scroll to send it to me.”
“Take good care of the child. If the child is discovered...”
“Do you want me to take him to the Wizards’ Tower so that the Duke or his family cannot reach him?”
Elinor nodded.
Agares smiled.
“Leave it to me.”
Elinor kissed the child's forehead, then packed her things.
As she was walking out of the room to join the waiting people, the golden bird, which had been staying next to the child, suddenly flew towards her.
Biiii-biiii-
“Holy beast, take good care of the child.”
Elinor also greeted the golden bird.
But the bird landed on Elinor's shoulder.
"I have to go now. Go to the baby."
But the golden bird did not leave Elinor.
Even when Elinor tried to shake him off her shoulder, he stubbornly returned to her.
Agares whistled.
“He seems to want to accompany you, Eli.”
Biiii-
The golden bird shouted as if in agreement.
Elinor was puzzled.
If this was a sacred beast summoned by the child, wasn't the child supposed to be its master?
So why does he follow me?
“Take it with you for now. It might be useful.”
Anyway, she couldn't leave him because he was going to come back to her.
Eventually, the golden bird became part of Elinor's company.
In front of the main gate, the Hilliard family members had already gathered.
“Brother, you should protect my sister-in-law well.”
said Tidian, who had come to bid farewell to Matthias and Elinor, gravely.
"Never let her get hurt. Even if you have to get hurt, you must protect her."
"Don't worry."
Matthias fiddled with Tidian's hair.
“I was going to do it anyway.”
“The border is a place where even Brother Logan suffers.”
Cornelia grabbed Tidian's shoulder and said:
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
“Thanks for the concern, Corey.”
“It's not you, it's Elinor, don't let her get hurt.”
"… Good."
“Don't forget that safety comes first for both of you.”
The Grand Duchess, who had come unnoticed, approached and took Elinor's hand.
Her hand, wrinkled with age, was weak but warm.
“You've already given us so much. So don't feel overburdened and be careful.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess.”
“We will take care of the baby safely. I will take care of it myf with my ladies-in-waiting. So don’t worry too much.”
Elinor turned her head.
She extended her hand to the maid who was carrying the child, and the maid handed the child to her.
“My little one.”
Elinor took a deep breath.
The soft baby scent engulfed her like a warm blanket.
“Kya, appa.”
“I'll be back. I'll be back soon.”
So, until I get back, please be safe. Please.
* * *
The carriage carrying Elinor had completely disappeared.
The people who had come to bid farewell to the Grand Duchess and the child returned to the palace one by one.
Tidian intended to return to his room.
But at that moment, Cornelia screamed.
"Yes!"
“Sister, what’s wrong?!”
Cornelia frowned and took something out of her pocket.
“I was going to give this to the sister but I forgot.”
Cornelia, who called Elinor “sister” when she wasn’t around, had taken out a hand-embroidered handkerchief to wish her well.
It was decorated with a blue laurel crown and a blue eagle, Hilliard's symbol.
Since they were leaving the next day, I stayed up all night making it.
But while she was bidding them farewell and advising them to be careful, she forgot to give it.
“It hasn't been long since they left, so they haven't gone far. I'll go give it to him.”
"Really? Would you do that?"
"Yes! If you ride a horse, I'll catch up quickly. There! Get a horse."
A servant brought a horse from the stable.
Tidian jumped on the horse.
“Please, Teddy.”
“Trust me. Come on!”
After placing the gift he had received from Cornelia in his chest, Tidian began running at full speed to pursue the carriage.
The path to the border was the same as the path to the Five Color Garden.
Near the Garden of Five Colors, to which entry was once again forbidden, it was quiet without anyone.
The cart should be visible now, so why can't I see it?
Tidian made a sound with his tongue to urge the horse to run faster.
But at that moment, a person suddenly appeared from among the grasses.
"Yes?!"
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
The terrified horse raised his front feet.
Tidian quickly grabbed the reins.
“Calm, calm. It's okay!”
Fortunately, Tidian succeeded in calming the horse.
What in the name of the Creator of Heaven is this? It made me panic.
"Hey! This is a restricted area!"
Tidian frowned and jumped off the horse.
“The period for visiting the Five Color Garden has already ended. How dare you enter an unauthorized area? Let me see your face...”
Tidian suddenly stopped as he moved forward angrily.
There was a gorgeous woman, the likes of which he had never seen before, standing before him.
She was a young woman with bright blonde hair held high, looking about the same age as Cornelia.
She was wearing a light pink silk dress decorated with ribbons and pearls, luxurious but fitting her perfectly.
So much so that the place looked like a dance hall rather than a mountain.
“Ah…”
Am I dreaming now?
Why is a beautiful woman wearing a ballroom dress in the mountain?
In this strange situation, Tidian froze in confusion.
At that moment, he heard a sound like the voice of a nightingale.
“The visit to the Five Colors Garden is over?”
"What?"
“Are you going to make me repeat?”
The woman frowned impatiently.
But even her frown was beautiful.
Tidian barely regained consciousness and said:
“It's over.”
“Finished?”
“It's over... ma'am.”
In contrast to her beautiful appearance, she had a strangely powerful aura.
Tidian, who had learned the feeling of defeat from Cornelia, felt submissive.
The woman crossed her arms impatiently.
“What is this? I came to this remote place to see her.”
“Hilliard is not a remote place...”
“What?”
“But who are you?”
Tidian asked cautiously.
“Are you a noble? If so, I can ask my mother. Maybe you can visit the Garden of Five Colors for a little while.”
"Your mother? Oh, are you from Hilliard?"
The woman approached Tidian with interest.
It smelled of sweet flowers.
Tidian's heart beats fast.
“Now I see, you look alike.”
"with whom?"
“With your brother, of course-”
At that moment, the nearby grasses moved, and a silver-haired man appeared.
In contrast to the woman in her luxurious dress, the man was dressed relatively simply.
But there was a long sword hanging on his waist.
As a sword fighter, Tidian knew that the man was very skilled.
Tidian took a cautious step back.
On the other hand, the man did not care about Tidian.
He looked at it as if it were a pebble on the road, then approached the woman.
“How do you go before me?”
“I was bored waiting for you.”
Charlotte, who straightened up, smiled cheerfully.
“You shouldn't have left me.”
“…I said I was going on a short mission.”
"Hahahaha."
Charlotte laughed out loud.
"I even know where the dots are on your body. What are you trying to be polite about now?"
“Charles.”
“Okay, okay, I understand, Holy Steel Knight.”
Charlotte laughed lightly.
The Holy Knight sighed deeply.
As Tidian watched, he asked without thinking.
“Are you two married?”
They both turned to him at the same time.