Chapter 48 -

The village we arrived at this time was remarkably large. For the first time in a while, I awoke well-rested in the comfort of a pleasant inn room.

Having finished my morning preparations with a refreshed spirit, I descended to the dining hall. There, Amon—who seemed to have already concluded his meal—waved at me with a warm smile. I instinctively took the seat beside him and began my breakfast. Such occurrences had become second nature to me by now.

While savoring the soup brought by the innkeeper, I glanced at Amon. He was perusing the day's newspaper, his appearance as impeccable as ever. His silvery hair shimmered faintly, and his face bore no traces of weariness.

'How does he do it?'

It had been the same even when we spent nights in the mountains. Whenever I would rise groggily, hair disheveled and face haggard, he would greet me with an unperturbed, composed expression.

'Is it because he sleeps so soundly?'

Yet, a fleeting memory surfaced—the sight of Amon slumped over a table in our hideout, fast asleep. His cheek had been squished against the surface, and his hair was messily tousled.

“Why are you smiling all of a sudden?”

Startled, I realized I had been smiling unconsciously. Amon, now folding his newspaper, observed me with curiosity. I quickly waved my hands in dismissal.

“Oh, it’s nothing. The soup is simply delicious.”

“Is that so.”

Setting the newspaper aside, Amon retrieved a map from his coat.

“We’ve covered about half the distance already.”

“Truly?”

The news was a welcome surprise. While the journey had its moments of delight, it was undeniably exhausting. I was eager to reach Fedel.

Amon unfolded the map and turned it toward me for better visibility.

“We’re approximately here,” he explained.

At the map’s top was the island housing the Knights’ Order from which we had departed, while Fedel lay at the very bottom. Amon’s straight finger pointed to a spot roughly midway along the left edge of the map.

A direct route south would have been faster, but it required crossing multiple mountain ranges. Thus, we chose the more circuitous path to the left.

“We’ve come quite far. It seems we’ll arrive sooner than I expected.”

“Thanks to your remarkable adaptability, my lady, we’re progressing faster than anticipated. On that note…” Amon hesitated slightly before continuing.

“If you wish, we could make a brief detour.”

“A detour? To where?”

I tilted my head, puzzled by his suggestion. His long fingers tapped a point near our current location on the map.

“There’s a coastal village nearby.”

A seaside visit? For sightseeing, perhaps? As I stared blankly at the map, Amon elaborated.

“It happens to be the former domain of Baron Reitz.”

“Oh…”

The Barony of Reitz—the land governed by my family before its annihilation by Russell. The place where my family home once stood. The place where I—no, where Julia—had spent her childhood.

'So it was nearby.'

I hadn’t even considered the idea of visiting. Had Amon planned this detour with this very possibility in mind?

I couldn’t help but recall that dream—the boundless plains and the faces of Julia’s parents as they gazed upon her. A time of happiness.

In truth, exploring the Reitz estate might do more for recovering my memories than reaching Fedel. Yet, I hesitated.

'It’s likely the Duchy of Bolev’s territory now.'

It was as much a place of sorrow as it had been of joy. It was where Russell had waged war for a mere flower and where Julia’s parents had lost their lives.

“Of course, if you’d rather not, we don’t have to go,” Amon added, as if sensing my inner conflict.

'What should I do?'

A whirlwind of emotions stirred within me—a desire to see it clashing with a reluctance to revisit.

"But we’ve come this far."

It had already taken us five days to journey here from the island. Who knew when I might have another chance to visit? It was also an opportunity to confront my memories directly.

After a moment’s hesitation, I nodded.

“Let’s go. I want to see it.”

We left behind the village where we had spent the night and ventured along the mountain paths. As we reached the outskirts of a new village, I did not require Amon’s notice to sense it.

'This is it.'

A faint trace of the sea lingered in the air—an aroma both familiar and nostalgic. I took a deep breath, but my muscles tensed, and my hands grew clammy. I wiped the sweat on my trousers nervously.

Even as we entered the village, Amon remained silent, allowing me to absorb the surroundings at my own pace. I glanced around cautiously. The quaint little settlement, aside from its ocean scent, bore nothing extraordinary.

Small homes with neatly maintained gardens dotted the area, children playing gleefully in the yards. A vibrant marketplace bustled with townsfolk, their chatter filling the air.

'Thank goodness.'

I had feared Russell’s conquest might have left the village in ruins, but it seemed my worries had been unfounded.

“It’s so… peaceful,” I murmured, almost to myself.

Amon responded, his tone measured and calm. “I’ve heard that little has changed here since the Barony of Reitz governed this land. After all, Russell was not interested in the estate itself.”

“I see.”

Bitterness welled in my chest. Would it have been easier to accept if his actions had been motivated by greed for the land? No, regardless of the reason, the outcome would have remained the same.

“If you wish, we could stay in the village overnight. What do you think?”

Unable to answer immediately, I hesitated. Amon, ever perceptive, added gently, “Would you like to see the sea first? That is where the Reitz manor used to stand.”

Though his voice was cautious, it carried a deep consideration for my feelings. Of course, the manor would no longer bear the Reitz name.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”

Amon urged his horse forward toward the sea. We passed through the heart of the village and entered a dense forest. Beyond the towering trees, the faint shimmer of the ocean came into view, and the salty tang in the air grew stronger. My memories sharpened with every step forward.

Yes, we had lived in a house overlooking the sea. The ocean’s salty scent had always lingered, even in our meals. In the summer, we would plunge into the waves as soon as we awoke, and in the winter, we’d gaze at the moonlit sea in silence.

I remembered gathering countless seashells and diving into the water to catch fish, only to be scolded by Mother after swallowing too much seawater. And then…

"Please, Julia. You must go as far as you can."

"No, I can’t!"

"This child must survive."

Fragments of haunting memories came flooding back.

“Wait. Please, wait.”

A wave of nausea surged through me. I clutched Amon’s arm, and he quickly halted his horse.

“My lady, are you all right?”

I gasped for air, trying to steady myself. The memory had struck with brutal clarity—it was the last one tied to that house.

“Amon…”

“Shall we rest for a moment?”

“Yes, I think… I think that would be best.”

Amon guided his horse deeper into the forest until he found a shaded clearing. Dismounting gracefully, he helped me down with care. It was the first time I had accepted his assistance since the start of the journey—a clear indication of how shaken I was.

“I’m fine, truly. I just… I was startled.”

“I understand,” he replied simply.

He spread his handkerchief over a flat rock and gestured for me to sit.

“If you wish, we can turn back. There is no need to force yourself.”

“Let me just… take a moment here,” I whispered, planting my hands firmly on the rock and focusing on my breathing.

Amon watched me intently before speaking. “I shall check if there’s a stream nearby to refill the canteen. I won’t be long.”

Even though I knew the canteen still held water, I appreciated his unspoken intent—giving me space to compose myself. He disappeared into the woods with his horse, leaving me alone in the clearing.

“Haah…”

I buried my face in my hands.

"Mother, Father!"

"Go, hurry!"

The memories invaded without warning, raw and vivid.

When Russell came to destroy the Reitz barony, Julia’s parents made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure her survival. They had sent her away alone, believing it would divert pursuit.

'And so, Julia was the only one who survived.'

What had their final moments been like? Had they received proper burials?

Anger toward Russell burned anew in my chest. I should have been the one to end his life, to see him suffer, to hear his cries of pain.

'I am not Julia. They’re not my family.'

I repeated the mantra, desperate to steady myself. But the words felt hollow. A lump rose in my throat, threatening to spill over.

I couldn’t afford to let Amon see me like this. I had to regain my composure before he returned. As I exhaled deeply and tilted my head toward the canopy above, I sensed movement in the forest.

Quickly, I wiped my tears and straightened up. But the figure emerging from the trees was not Amon.

It was a man I’d never seen before.

He stopped abruptly, staring at me with wide eyes before raising a trembling hand to point at me.

“What…?” I muttered, furrowing my brow.

The man’s voice, charged with emotion, rang out loudly.

“Julia Reitz?”

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