Chapter Twenty-Four – Stillness
Lumiere's POV
Janeya climbed onto the carriage immediately. "A mere warrior escaping Johan? A darn unusual one."
That was what Johan said. It was interesting. Was this young man a gift from the Moon Grace to me? Or a reminder of the one I searched for?
Everything I passed while leaving the mansion reminded me of her. Children playing around. The red decorative sash flowing in the wind. The swords at the hips of the warriors.
The day was becoming torture once again. I wouldn't sleep if I returned home like this. "Janeya, go meet Johan. I'll meet you two later."
The carriage stopped. She jumped down. "Take the carriage with you just in case."
Did she still think of those assassination attempts? "Where I want to go, I don't want a rider to take me."
She raised a brow. "Oh? I'll drop you there then." She smiled and hopped back onto the carriage. She didn't ask questions, and I wished she had.
I shouldn't do this, but I had truly expected her to show up today. Even if only for a glance. Looking curiously to see the new victim of the Disciples.
Sleep wouldn't come easily tonight. Rest was one thing my wolf wouldn't think I deserved. I closed my eyes along the way. My thoughts always shifted.
Red hair. Brown eyes. A wooden sword she lightly hit my head with whenever I got too excited.
Honest words spoken without hesitation or fear of consequence. Now I searched for those in all I met. I placed my palm on the carriage absentmindedly, looking at the ceiling.
"This is slow."
"Well," Janeya replied from the front, "we're going all the way to her district so it would b—"
The carriage bumped over a rock but stabilized. I didn't remember the roads around the Duke's estate being this bumpy.
"Huh? You really wanted to get there, didn't you?"
I looked out the window. I stilled.
We were already riding down the path to Cathy's place. I had only been here once, but I remembered. The presence of that Sin was no longer here.
"Did I do this?" I gripped the seat.
"You didn't know?" Janeya chuckled. "So you unconsciously used instant teleportation for the first time—and on a whole carriage? You're really far gone with this lady."
What was that supposed to mean? I watched the carriage move farther down the path. We were truly here within seconds. I felt my mana returning to me.
Janeya jumped down, grinning widely. "So what exactly do you want to do here?"
I looked away from her toward the house. We were a distance away. "I don't know," but my wolf had stopped stirring since the bump. She felt close.
"Well, hang around till you feel better. You feel more pressure now that you're a Duke." She started walking away.
"I'll get Johan. When you feel better, return to the mansion. I'll come for the carriage later." She was too understanding.
This was foolish. She should have made me return.
Why did I linger on her street? What conviction did I have that I would see her? What right did I have to want to see her?
Yet I didn't move, closing my eyes and resting my head on the seat. My wolf shifted. Not awake. Not conscious. My brows furrowed slightly.
He had never done this before. His inconsistency was rubbing off on me, making my thoughts worse.
I exhaled and closed my eyes, forcing my thoughts into silence. Instead of resting, my mind betrayed me. Red hair. Brown eyes. Hitting my head lightly and laughing.
My eyes opened again.
This was truly foolish.
But I stayed.