How will such a kind soul survive in this harsh world… Odelliana thought, reaching out to pat Matthias’s head.
He leaned into her touch, his mischievous grin softening as he nestled closer to her, enjoying the comfort. The sun had started to rise, casting a warm glow over them.
“It’s time for you to go,” she said softly.
Matthias sighed, a rare hint of reluctance in his voice. “Yes… I really don’t want to leave.”
She patted his back, comforting him. “But you still have to go.”
“…I know.”
Reluctantly, Matthias pulled himself away from Odelliana’s embrace. His eyes, filled with a quiet sorrow, gave him the look of a puppy abandoned by its owner, making her heart ache for a moment. The depth of his reluctance softened her resolve, and for a brief second, she felt a twinge of guilt.
But she quickly reminded herself. This was for his future, for his brilliance, and for her own safety. It was the right thing to do.
With a final glance at her, Matthias entered the annex to gather his belongings. Odelliana remained by the entrance, watching the scene with a mixture of emotions. As she stood there, Malena approached, appearing beside her without a sound.
“You’re here to see him off too?” Odelliana asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Malena replied with a slight shrug.
“I thought you didn’t like Matthias?”
“I don’t,” Malena said flatly.
“Then why are you here?” Odelliana tilted her head, confused.
“I wanted to watch him go, like a lamb being led to slaughter,” Malena said with a wicked grin.
Odelliana blinked in surprise. “So you got up at dawn for something as petty as that?”
“Petty?” Malena scoffed. “This might be one of the most satisfying moments of my life. And besides, I always wake up early.”
Amused by Malena’s strangely excited demeanor, Odelliana smiled, shaking her head. While she felt a bit sorry for Matthias, Malena’s excitement over his misfortune was oddly charming. There was something almost endearing about her, mismatched with her imposing figure.
Just then, Matthias emerged from the annex, carrying his meager belongings. The sight of his minimal luggage struck Odelliana—it was almost comically sparse. He had only a small bundle of dried meat, a water bottle, a flint, and a few pieces of kindling.
Odelliana felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry I couldn’t even provide a horse for you,” she said quietly.
“That’s alright. You don’t need to worry about me, Master,” Matthias replied.
“And that’s all the luggage you’re taking?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“This is more than enough,” Matthias said with a small shrug.
Odelliana sighed, feeling the weight of the moment settle between them. “…Take care, then.”
The words felt final, though they didn’t carry the same finality she had expected. Her chest tightened, a strange, restless sensation beginning to grow inside her. As she stood there, Matthias stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers. He studied her quietly, then gently pressed his forehead to hers.
For a long moment, they stood there, suspended in time. Then, with a small, reassuring smile, Matthias lifted the corners of his lips. “Just wait for me a little while. I’ll return, after securing the first step on the right path.”
“I’ll be here, waiting for you,” Odelliana whispered in reply, her heart a little heavier than it had been moments before.
Watching their dramatic farewell, Malena let out a disappointed sigh. The scene between Matthias and Odelliana felt overly sentimental, as if they were star-crossed lovers exchanging a tearful goodbye instead of simply parting ways for a while.
“What exactly is that boy to you, my lady?” she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. It was something she’d wondered for a long time, though never dared to voice.
The bond between Matthias and Odelliana wasn’t like any typical master-servant relationship. It was something deeper—more tenacious, and at times, it seemed almost obsessive. They had a connection that made them appear as though they could only see each other, as if they were the only two people who truly mattered in the world. Even now, the way they interacted felt more intimate than the usual hierarchy of their roles.
Odelliana, as if sensing Malena’s thoughts, looked over at her with a serene, almost distant expression. “Matthias to me is…”
“Yes?” Malena prompted, curiosity edging her tone.
“My one and only savior, lifting me out of this wretched life,” Odelliana said quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of something both wistful and grateful.
Malena blinked, caught off guard by the confession. She stood frozen for a moment, at a loss for words. Odelliana’s response was so unexpected that Malena could hardly process it.
Odelliana chuckled at the expression on her face. “You look rather foolish.”
“Well, I didn’t expect you, of all people, to have such a girlish sense of romance,” Malena remarked.
“Romance?” Odelliana repeated, amused.
“A savior? Hearing such a corny word come from you!” Malena scoffed. “Are you really planning to turn him into a knight in shining armor?”
The words reminded Odelliana of that moment when she’d impulsively shouted at Hermann, filled with a raw, protective energy.
Odelliana smiled, but didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, she simply turned and began walking back inside, her pace slow and measured, as if lost in her own thoughts.
Malena watched her, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. She followed her, her mind still swirling with questions. She couldn’t help but wonder if that boy, with his strange, unassuming presence, might one day bring Odelliana something more than just salvation—a title or a destiny rarely granted to someone with nothing.
