Chapter: 233
Sebastian had caught the shock of Sylvia’s true feelings, and a whirlwind of thoughts swirled in her mind for a moment.
“Got caught? This is bad, how did this happen?”
As she mumbled to herself in a daze, Sylvia slowly lifted her head and looked at Sebastian with an utterly bewildered expression.
“…Uh, how?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking, Miss? We’ve spent years together.”
With a look that seemed to say “What a silly question,” Sebastian replied.
“I realized something was up when someone looking like they were on the verge of death suddenly decided to eat. I thought you might do something reckless, but it seems like I shouldn’t have underestimated you… The First Elder must have suspected too that you would act this way. Though he probably didn’t think you would go this far without giving up.”
“…….”
“I thought you’d have trouble leaving, so I just gave the guards some drinks laced with sleeping pills a short while ago. They’ll be sound asleep shortly since I used the strong stuff. If you want to leave, you should do it then.”
As Sebastian spoke to Sylvia, who wore a speechless expression, he seemed deeply exasperated.
“By the way, Miss, what were you planning to do about the magical tool on your ankle? Please tell me you weren’t thinking of cutting your ankle or something like that.”
“W-well….”
Sylvia shuddered at the blunt question, and Sebastian facepalmed with a sigh.
“Hah, this is insane… Miss, have you considered how I would feel if you did that? If you’re only left with your ankle, the First Elder would definitely assign the key to me… Please show me your ankle. I’ll loosen it for you.”
What a troublesome situation this was.
With that expression, Sebastian gestured for her to extend her ankle, and Sylvia unconsciously complied.
As she knelt and leaned forward, probing Sebastian with a question, he pulled out a key from his pocket.
“……Is it really okay to do this?”
“……Honestly, I’m a bit scared. I’ll definitely get in trouble for disobeying the First Elder’s orders. But what can I do? If I leave you like this, you’ll starve yourself again feeling miserable for the rest of your life. I want to see you smiling brightly, not stuck like that.”
“……Sebastian.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I’m on your side, not Astra’s. So I’m okay with this.”
Sebastian stated this in a completely unconcerned tone while kneeling.
A response filled with heartwarming sincerity.
But, it wasn’t that simple.
Her question hadn’t been about that.
So, Sylvia asked him again.
“……Sebastian, that’s not it. I’m really asking if it’s okay for you.”
What she wasn’t asking for was that.
She knew of his loyalty.
She understood that he would choose her side despite any consequences, and she had already anticipated such an answer.
But because of that, she needed to ask.
Whether it was okay for him, if it was truly acceptable for him to allow her to take such a dangerous path.
“……”
And at those words, Sebastian fell silent.
She could feel his hands trembling as they held her ankle.
His hand gripping the key wavered, stumbling a few times.
Then, it abruptly stopped.
“……Of course, it’s not okay.”
And with his head hung low, those words slipped from his mouth.
“In fact, I want to talk you out of this right now. I’m scared of what could happen to you. Can’t you stay in a safe place? More than anything, you matter to me, so can’t I beg you not to go…?”
His voice was filled with worry, anxiety, and fear.
Yet, despite this overwhelming fear, he spoke to Sylvia.
“But I know… More than anyone, I know that you’re not someone who can be held back by that….”
“……”
“No matter how much I try to stop you, I know I can’t dissuade you once your mind is made up. Even if I prevent you this one time, next time you’d do something crazier than cutting your ankle, just to get out. It may seem like you’re listening, but you’re the type who won’t be satisfied until you get what you truly want. That’s who you are.”
“……Sebastian.”
“So I didn’t try to stop you. I figured it would be useless anyway, so I chose to help you leave in the safest way possible. But I’m still scared. I’m worried about putting you in danger. What if you never come back…?”
Sebastian trembled as he spoke, and then he whispered like he was pleading.
“So, I want you to promise me one thing. Please promise that you’ll return safely. Just so I can feel at ease…”
And Sylvia, seeing his earnest plea, recalled how he would sternly scold her for her mistakes but end up forgiving her with a promise that she wouldn’t do it again.
That’s why Sylvia cupped Sebastian’s face in her hands, making him look at her as she said,
“I promise, Sebastian. I will definitely return safely.”
“……You won’t break that promise, right?”
Sebastian asked uncertainly, and with a charming smile, Sylvia responded.
“Would I, Sebastian? When have I ever broken a promise to you?”
And at her words, Sebastian let out a wry smile and muttered.
“……No. You’re someone who keeps your promises no matter what.”
After mumbling that, Sebastian took a deep breath and without hesitation, inserted the key into the hole of the bracelet on her ankle.
And with a twist, the bracelet clicked open and fell from her ankle.
Cautiously, as if afraid of leaving a scratch, Sebastian removed the bracelet and bowed his head toward Sylvia.
“I trust you, Miss. Just like always.”
“I’ll keep my promise. Just like I always have.”
Sylvia beamed in response to Sebastian’s words.
It was only natural for him to be worried.
If anything, it was something to be delighted about.
It meant he cared for her that much.
Therefore, what she could do was only to respond to his worried faith with trust.
She would definitely return unharmed.
And just as he wished, she would be able to smile brightly.
Having made that vow, Sylvia turned her head and peeked out the window.
She could see the guards sprawled out in the yard, sound asleep.
Seeing that made her chuckle as she said to Sebastian,
“It seems like the guards are asleep. I originally planned to knock them out and escape.”
“Oh, that’s good news for the guards then. You’re quite formidable, Miss.”
“Is that so?”
Bursting into laughter at Sebastian’s compliment, Sylvia picked up a bundle from the desk and asked,
“By the way, what did you pack in here?”
“I couldn’t pack much in a hurry. Just a bit of medicine, a magic container that generates water, and some emergency rations.”
“Emergency rations? What kind?”
Sylvia asked with curiosity, and Sebastian replied with a playful smile.
“There’s that experimental combat food we developed in the next generation.”
“Wait, you’re not talking about that, are you? The one with the horrible taste that we have a backlog of?”
“Yes, that’s the one. The worst taste, but in terms of nutrition for size, nothing can beat it.”
At his words, Sylvia clutched her head, shivering.
“Oh my… I never thought I’d have to eat something so insulting…”
Seeing Sylvia genuinely despairing like that, Sebastian chuckled and said.
“I figured you might say that, so I also included some macarons. Just make sure to savor them.”
“…! As expected of you, Sebastian. You know exactly what I want.”
Sylvia’s face lit up at the mention of macarons.
Seeing each other’s amusement, the two of them shared a brief laugh before settling down.
“…….Well then, I guess I should get going. Thank you, Sebastian.”
“No need to mention it. Helping you is my role.”
The window swung wide open.
The bracelet was removed, and the guards were absent.
The prison that had held Sylvia captive now revealed the clear blue sky.
Before stepping out, Sylvia turned to face her precious retainer and family.
Smiling brightly, she said,
“I’ll be back, Sebastian.”
“Safe travels, Miss.”
*
With a polite bow from Sebastian behind her, starlight pierced the sky.
After a moment, once the starlight had vanished, Sebastian raised his head and quietly offered a prayer, following the fading trail of starlight beyond the horizon.
May that shining star, like the language of the chamomile he once brought out,
“Give me strength even in adversity.”
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.