Afterwards, I searched thoroughly throughout the mansion for a long time to try to find Rue. However, for some reason, Rue was not in sight. It was as if he had evaporated into the air, leaving no trace.
—Hey, Miss Daisy! What are you doing? You should be resting!
Lenya scolded me.
—Have you seen Rue?
—What? The C-Calepa...
She seemed like she didn't understand what I was talking about, so I decided to ask Malcolm, who was quietly having tea in the reception room.
—Grandpa, where is Rue? He's not at home. Did he go out to buy ingredients or something?
Or could it be that he left me and returned to Weatherwoods first? Rue wouldn't be so cold, but knowing him, it could be possible...
—He's gone.
He really left!
—Remember if you're really desperate.
You say something like that and then you leave first? What the hell was he thinking? Was he just trying to tease me?
—When did he go to Weatherwoods?
—No, he didn't go to Weatherwoods. He went to Rogue. He probably won't come back.
Rogue? "He won't come back?" It was a statement difficult to accept. The situation didn't fit at all for him to suddenly disappear in that way. I quickly swallowed the medicine Lenya had brought me and took a seat across from Malcolm.
—Why did he go back to Rogue? Did something happen there?
—I can't say. I didn't ask and I don't dare speculate on his reasons.
You're a timid old man.
—But how can you be so sure he won't come back?
—After entrusting you to me, he even urged me to take care of you until you reached Weatherwoods. Considering he even took the assassins who entered our mansion with him on the way to Rogue, it seems he intends to use them as his henchmen. He won't be back. That was the atmosphere I felt, and I'm sure.
If Malcolm, a member of Rogue, was so sure... I closed and opened my eyes slowly. "Why?" Was there any special reason for him to leave so suddenly? Or was it simply because he felt like it? As soon as I came to my senses, the walking I had done made my head spin. Taking a deep breath, I decided to organize my thoughts calmly and without haste.
"Rue... the mage who gave me my past life as Andert."
But I had completely forgotten about it because of the oath of "forget this moment." Surprisingly, I hadn't had difficulties with the oath in the last fourteen years. That meant Rue's oath was powerful.
"Then why did the oath's effect suddenly disappear?"
I checked the inside of my arm. The mark of the oath I made with Rue was still vivid. It was a sign that it was working well. Since I wasn't a mage, I lacked the ability to interpret such exceptional situations, but Malcolm might know or at least have an idea.
—Grandpa, is there a possibility that…? Well, sometimes an oath made long ago breaks on its own?
—Is it about you?
How did you know?
—Well, yes.
—Normally, that's not the case. The oath is the highest form of magic, one that exists above all other magics. It is absolute. However, for Miss Daisy, it might be a bit different. Since your soul is shattered.
I was baffled. How did he know my soul was broken? What surprised me even more than myself was that Lenya seemed more surprised.
—Master! To suddenly bring that up…!
—It's okay, Lenya. Judging from her expression, Miss Daisy already knows, right?
Wait, Lenya also knew? When did the rumor spread?
—So do you mean that because my soul is shattered, the Oath has a lesser effect?
After hesitating for a moment, Malcolm turned to me as if he had already made a decision.
—This will be a long story. Miss Lenya, bring some hot tea and food to Miss Daisy.
—Yes, yes.
The story Malcolm told me while tea was brought was quite diverse and surprising. The meaning of the second stage of unity of body and mind. Why my physical body couldn't heal because of my shattered soul. The goals that Rogue pursues and the purpose that Mephisto's army seeks. However, there was a part of his story I couldn't agree with.
"Mephisto's army never captured me or subjected me to biological experiments. He has a very wrong idea about the process of destruction of my soul."
The reason for my shattered soul. I had had a clear awareness of it since the moment I returned to life after death. Yes, death. I died and was resurrected. I was annihilated in the fight against Mephisto, and death was the very origin of my shattered soul. Looking back, it seems that, at that time, sneaking into Mephisto's castle was instinctive, even when I knew I was overdoing it.
"Because the transformation magic was maintained at the cost of my life expectancy. I only had ten years left before my life expectancy was completely exhausted."
To somehow complete my revenge before my life ended. It was quite in character for me. "Somehow, my broken soul was put back together. The unknown power that resurrected me from death... I need to know the true nature of that power."
—Tell me you want to live.
—A stage actor? If you think about it, shouldn't you be more desperate than them, Miss Daisy?
I could only understand the meaning behind the words subtly thrown by Rue belatedly. He wanted me to live. Stimulating me and awakening the memories from fourteen years ago was probably part of that purpose. And I couldn't help but have deeper doubts about his departure. "Rue didn't actually leave..." Could it be that he was calling me? To that mysterious land, Rogue. They are calling me to go there.
—…By the way, where is the diary of Dian Cecht?
—The Calepa took it. Don't worry.
What? You're telling me not to worry? After having gone through so much trouble, that damn brat took it? If that was the case, I had no choice but to go to Rogue to get the diary back. That scoundrel. That thief brat.
—And I informed the head maid of Weatherwoods about Miss Daisy's condition. I told her you got hurt a lot while helping me, so you can take one more day off.
—Master, is it really okay that it's only one day? Miss Daisy has serious injuries…
—Didn't the Calepa heal her? One day is enough. It's the power of God. The power of God.
Healed me? "Ah, yes? Now that I think about it, my shoulder is almost completely healed." Even if he used healing magic, it would be impossible to completely heal such deep wounds in a single day.
"Could it be that he used his own lifespan?"
There was no way to be sure and it was frustrating from beginning to end. That day I stayed up all night thinking about the future. It wasn't because Rue had left my side. Definitely not.
The next morning, I prepared to return home as soon as I finished breakfast. I decided not to ask about Dian Cecht's eyes that were stored in the Weatherwoods mansion because of the oath I shared with the head maid weighed on my mind. Malcolm, pretending not to be curious, chatted about several things while preparing the luggage by my side.
—So, do you intend to leave your job as a maid?
—No.
—Hmm. Well, since this place is no longer safe, as soon as we send Miss Daisy back to the Weatherwoods, we'll start planning the migration to Midwinterre. We'll settle in a place near the Weatherwoods' mansion.
It's true. I even deviated from the plan to recover the diary. Someone else stole it again. "But how can I get to Rogue?" I'd have to go there personally to get the diary back.
—If it's okay with Miss Daisy, I'd like to teach you about my line of work along with Lenya. Being a maid is exhausting and doesn't pay well. Learn something more unique and future-oriented with me…
—Grandpa, is Rogue far from here?
—You weren't listening at all.
Sighing briefly, Malcolm patted my back and replied.
—I understand your disappointment, but give up on seeing the Calepa. He's like that. Consider him a passing acquaintance.
I hated it. I grabbed Malcolm, who was acting like a saint who had given up all mortal desires of the world, and extracted dozens of pieces of information about Rogue. Was it because of the incident with the royal vault? Malcolm was very kind to me. Well, I went through a lot of trouble, so he should at least have a conscience.
When I was about to leave the mansion, Lenya, who had come out to see me off, came out with a pile of luggage.
—Why do you have so many things in your hand?
—This is what the master has prepared for you! This is a box for storing valuable objects. There is also a lock here. In this bag are cosmetics and oil to protect your skin from housework, and here are some handkerchiefs…
Why was he so generous? Was there something that worried him? With no reason to refuse, I accepted everything. How lucky I was!
—Ah, and this is…
Finally, Lenya handed me a letter she kept in her pocket.
—The master said he had summarized what might interest Miss Daisy in the letter. It also includes dangerous information, so you must burn it and discard it after reading it. Understood?
Dangerous information? "This is quite interesting." I got lucky twice.
—Yes, thank you.
—See you later. Take good care of yourself and make sure to eat healthy and well.
I said goodbye to Lenya and got into the carriage. The destination is Westwinterre train station.
—We came together, but I'm the only one returning.
I thought I was already used to being alone, but today I felt a little disappointed. Rue and Gavroche. I arrived at Westwinterre with a light heart, but ended up having to return with unexpected problems. In truth, the life of a maid was not easy.