Chapter 6

The next afternoon, I went back to the West Tower to retrieve the bow, only to see a maid carrying it at the bottom of the stairs, preparing to go downstairs.

Where are you taking it?

The waitress stopped in her tracks.

“Storeroom. Miss Lydia said that you have already moved the boxes away, and these remaining ones are not needed for the time being, so it will make room for them.”

I looked at what she was holding.

Besides the bow, there was my quiver and the old cloak draped over it.

My injured wrist throbbed slightly.

"Put them down. I'll take them with me."

The waitress quickly placed the things on the bench and opened the door to the small hall for me.

The table by the window has been moved.

My map used to be spread out on that table. In winter, when the daylight hours are short, I would always mark the forks in the road and ferry crossings that I hadn't yet figured out before sunset.

Now there is a soft chair there, with Lydia's shawl draped over the armrest.

Beside the fireplace, two chairs were placed close together, with a chess set still in play between them.

I recognize that chess set.

The year we became a couple, I bought it from a passing merchant, thinking that the winter nights would be long and I could spend them with Rowan.

He only played half a game with me.

"I already have so many things to think about during the day, let me go back to my room and rest."

Later, I put the chess set away in the cabinet and never took it out again.

“Alpha accompanied Miss Lydia until very late last night.” The waitress followed my gaze. “Miss Lydia said that having someone with her helps her stop thinking about the past.”

I stood there for a while before letting go of my right hand that was bracing against the door frame.

So it turns out he can actually play this game of chess.

"Who told her to redecorate this place?"

"Alpha said that Sita could make her own decisions about things."

The waitress's voice gradually lowered.

I didn't ask any more questions.

"Give me my things first. And the same goes for everything else."

"Yes, Luna."

I asked her to wrap the bow and quiver in soft cloth and hand them to the coachman waiting outside the courtyard, so that they could be delivered to Finn's caravan.

After the bow was taken away, there was nothing left here that I planned to take to the beach.

***

That evening, the castle hosted a banquet for several guests from the neighboring community.

Two of the mentors were people I had known for many years. I had already agreed to attend, and I would like to see them one last time before I leave.

Mei only allowed me to sit for a while, telling me to protect my injured hand and come back when I got tired.

When I entered the hall, Rowan was pulling out a chair for Lydia.

That was the seat next to him.

For the past four years, whenever there has been such a banquet, I have sat there, remembering the guests' purpose and taking care of the trivial matters they were unwilling to discuss.

As Lydia sat down, the gold chain on her wrist swayed gently.

Rowan looked up and saw me, his smile fading for a moment.

"Clara, why didn't you have someone tell me?"

"I promised I would come."

A servant had already stepped forward, but stopped after seeing the seating arrangement at the table.

"Luna, your location..."

Lydia seemed to realize she was sitting in the wrong place and quickly grabbed the edge of the table for support.

"I didn't know this was Clara's place. I'll just go somewhere else."

Rowan pressed down on her shoulder.

"Sit down, why are you moving around like this?"

He turned to his attendants.

"Add another chair."

The servant glanced at the long table, which was already full, and didn't move for a moment.

The conversations on both sides quieted down.

Rowan finally realized something and reached out his hand to me.

"Clara, come to me."

I did not go there.

"I'll sit over there."

At another long table near the fireplace, someone had already stood up and made way for me to easily enter and exit.

They were those two guides.

I thanked them, handed the cloak to the servant, and sat down.

Rowan was still looking at me, even though we were two tables apart.

In the past, when something like this happened, I would always wait for him to explain. Even if he just came over and whispered to me, "Don't overthink it," I could still reluctantly sit back down next to him.

This time, I turned my gaze away first.

"I heard you're injured." The guide beside me looked at my bandages. "A silver trap?"

"The teeth were inlaid with silver, but the bones were not injured."

“It will take time to heal.” He frowned, then moved the water bottle closer for me. “When the road opens up to the north next spring, can you take us there again? No one knows that old road better than you.”

"I won't be taking on any work here next spring."

He was somewhat surprised.

I continued, "I've given Owen the map and information on the villages along the way. If you need to arrange manpower later, you can contact him directly."

Rowan happened to walk to the table.

"She just needs to go out and rest for a while." He put his hand on the back of my chair and replied with a smile, "We'll talk again when she's healed."

“I’ve already handed the road over to Irving.” I looked up at him. “This matter doesn’t need to wait for me to come back.”

His smile faded slightly.

"Clara, we can discuss this later."

I didn't argue, but simply called Owen over and introduced him to the guide.

Soon, they began talking about the first mountain pass that would be passable after the start of spring.

The questions that used to plague me have found new places to go.

Rowan stood to the side, never saying a word.

He didn't remove his hand from the back of the chair until another guest came over to offer him a drink.

"Don't stay too long. Let me know before you leave."

I nodded and picked up my water glass.

***

Halfway through the banquet, I got up to fetch my cloak.

Lydia followed her out.

Clara.

She stopped under the eaves, her gaze first falling on my left hand, then quickly shifting away.

"You saw what's in Theta, right? I just thought it was too empty there and wanted Rowan to be more comfortable. I didn't expect it to upset you."

"My bow has already been taken away."

“I didn’t intend to throw it away; I just wanted someone to put it away for now.”

"Ask me first before you touch my things in the future."

She pursed her lips, her smile somewhat forced.

Are you still upset that I took your seat?

I looked at her.

Laughter drifted through the doorway from the hall. Rowan was talking to a guest and didn't look in their direction.

Lydia turned around following my gaze, then lowered her voice.

"Actually, you don't need to be so nervous. Rowan said that he is very grateful to you for taking care of the wolf pack all these years."

gratitude.

My fingers slowly tightened around the cloak.

Seeing that I didn't speak, she moved a little closer.

"You two became partners because you were the best person to help him with these things, right?"

"That's what he told you?"

Lydia paused slightly.

"He just said that you've always been very capable, and he can only feel at ease leaving many things to you. I thought you two were already used to this kind of relationship."

Looking at her, I suddenly understood why she insisted on coming out with me tonight.

My things can be put into storage, and a seat can be temporarily added to my place.

Now, even that four-year partnership is being portrayed as something else entirely.

“I agreed to be his partner, not to take care of his problems for the rest of my life.”

Lydia's smile faded.

"You've misunderstood. I didn't mean anything by it, it's just..."

She lowered her eyes and gently fiddled with the gold chain on her wrist.

“I used to be so close to Rowan, I’m not used to him having someone else around him.”

I stared at the gold chain he had fastened for her yesterday, and after a moment, I loosened my grip on the cloak.

“We’ve been partners for four years, Lydia.”

She looked up.

"You're only now realizing you need to get used to it."

Her lips moved, as if she wanted to explain.

I put on my cloak and walked out the door.

Lydia suddenly called out to me from behind.

"Are you really going to the beach? Rowan said you won't be staying long and will be back."

I stopped in my tracks.

The caravan will set off in five days.

It turns out that he not only decided where I would sit tonight, but also what I would do after I left.

I turned to look at her.

"That's what he said."

"I never agreed to that."