The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 240

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

That day, through that whisper, she began to contact Priest Mana personally, and after several exchanges and incidents, she ran away, she said. She is currently staying here with Priest Mana’s help.

“…That’s what happened.”

Roina, who had listened to Neilla’s entire story, sighed with pity.

“I still don’t know if I did the right thing. My father said he loved me…”

Neilla trailed off, dropping her head. Roina gently patted her shoulder.

“No. That doesn’t matter.”

Neilla raised her head at Roina’s words. Her eyes were still filled with tears.

“It doesn’t matter…?”

Roina nodded firmly.

“The fact that your father loves you and the fact that you want to go where you want to go and not have a marriage you don’t want are largely unrelated.”

“Really, do you think so…”

Neilla said, her shoulders drooping slightly. Roina gently stroked her shoulders.

“Actually, from what I see, it seems like your father loves the image of himself as a loving father, rather than loving his daughter.”

“……?”

Neilla’s eyes widened. She was a cute and gentle-looking girl with round eyes and neatly braided hair. She was truly pretty, and having just come of age, she hadn’t completely shed her childishness.

The fact that her fiancé tried to do such a thing to this child made Roina resent him.

“Neilla. You don’t need to be bound by such things. Even if your father truly loves Neilla with all his heart, Neilla doesn’t have to listen to everything he says. Those are separate matters. Nothing will happen even if your relationship with your father gets a little worse.”

Roina, feeling herself saying more than she intended, frowned slightly and smiled. It was because she realized that these were words that came from her experience before transmigrating into this world.

How similar her parents were to him. Just because someone is a parent doesn’t mean they should be revered if they don’t even know how to respect their child as an individual. No matter how much they give what they think is good, what use is it? They don’t even properly listen to their child’s words and just think as they please.

“It’s okay. I won’t reveal the fact that you’re here unless you want me to.”

Roina then embraced Neilla. Warmth was transferred through the fabric.

“You did a really good job leaving home. It was absolutely necessary.”

As Roina became closer to Neilla, the three men standing nearby twitched their fingers. They were probably worried that Neilla might be in danger around Roina.

“But think about it. Since you ran away without saying anything, it’s not really a proper resolution. It seems like you’re still worried about it.”

Roina said with a sigh-like laugh.

“Stay here for a while and listen to your own voice about what you want to do.”

At Roina’s words, Neilla raised her head. Perhaps it was the first time someone had said this to her, and she looked slightly surprised. And she held Roina’s hand that was embracing her. Wanting to feel the warmth. Just wanting to feel this comfort.

As Neilla quietly felt the warmth, she burst into tears without realizing it. Like a child, just like that. For a while, sobs and whimpers were heard from Roina’s embrace. Roina just closed her eyes and stroked Neilla’s back. Thinking that it would have been nice if someone had said this to her when she was young.