Chapter 81
Something he could neither turn back nor revive—because he felt no regret.
So even when this darkness lifted and dawn broke again, the cold stillness filling this room would never disappear.
It would only continue to bind his body like a prison.
And then, at that moment, a strange noise pricked at his senses.
Tap, tap.
“……”
Tap, tap.
Something was knocking on the window.
Considering that the knights’ quarters were located halfway up a mountain and often received visits from all sorts of beasts, it wasn’t all that unusual.
But the oddly familiar rhythm bothered him.
Then the same sound came again.
Tap, tap.
“……”
Celesto sprang up from the bed.
He rushed straight to the window. Beneath the small pane of glass, he saw a small, pale fist.
He flung the window open. The moment he saw what was illuminated by the moonlight, a small gasp escaped him.
Roarna was hanging onto the window frame.
“Y-You… why are you here?”
He asked, unable to even raise his voice.
But the more flustered the other person became, the calmer she grew—she had exactly that kind of personality, one that could drive people mad. She simply answered coolly.
“Can you ask me that later? I can’t feel my arms right now.”
“Then why are you hanging there in the first place?!”
Unable to hide his disbelief, Celesto slipped his hands under Roarna’s arms. Her small body lifted easily into the air.
Only after setting her down safely inside the room did he notice that both her arms were trembling uncontrollably.
He froze on the spot. More than the reality of having brought a woman into the knights’ quarters, the fear that Roarna might have been hurt tightened around his throat.
Meanwhile, Roarna simply tapped her forearms lightly, as if nothing had happened.
“I thought I was going to die from exhaustion. If it had been any other scholar, they would have given up long ago, really.”
Her voice was completely devoid of any sense of crisis.
Only then did Celesto’s mind begin to function properly.
Celesto grabbed Roarna’s chin. And just as he had done a very long time ago, he squished her cheeks with his fingers.
“Do you know where you are? How did you even get up to the second floor?”
“Since I know exactly where this is, I sneaked in avoiding people. I used basic physics knowledge to climb up.”
“That’s not what I’m saying!”
Celesto put strength into his hand. Her soft cheeks distorted within his large hand.
Perhaps because the texture was strangely different from what he was used to, a sense of reality belatedly washed over him.
The first emotion to return was, of course, ‘astonishment.’
“Where did you come in from? This is a place where even regular people aren’t allowed entry.”
“Do you think I’ve only ever gone to places I’m not supposed to go once or twice? Of course I chose the spot with the fewest people and snuck in.”
Saying that, Roarna pointed to the letter paper on the floor.
“And I knew your room location.”
“…”
Celesto let out a long sigh.
He had thought seeing Roarna’s face again would be as difficult as death.
Perhaps because they had reunited in such an absurd way, a sense of melancholy finally raised its head.
“…Why did you come here in the first place?”
Celesto asked in a brusque voice.
“You hate anything that strains your wrists except reading and writing, yet why were you hanging from a windowsill? Did you want to see a place where women aren’t allowed?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? You didn’t answer my letter.”
“…I told you I don’t need your help anymore. Besides, since that day… the symptoms have disappeared.”
“What?”
Roarna shrieked. Celesto urgently covered her mouth.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no one around, and no sign of anyone outside.
Relieved, Celesto stood up.
He headed to the wardrobe in one corner of the room. Then he lifted it and carried it to the door.
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