Rir, the head maid, had already left, leaving a few other maids waiting outside the door.
So there was no need for Hilda to lock the door herself.
The group crossed the courtyard, now shrouded in night, and walked back into the main residence.
As they stepped into the corridor, light once again fell on their faces, dispelling the veil of darkness.
Alan looked at Ghislaine, Rudeus, and Eris walking ahead, 'listening' to their normal heartbeats.
He quickened his pace.
Catching up to Sylphie, he tilted his head to look at her—he had noticed her head was hanging low as they crossed the courtyard.
Now, the white-haired girl was staring at her toes, lost in thought.
"What's wrong?"
Sylphie glanced at Alan. Her expression was a little lost, hesitant and uncertain. She opened her mouth slightly, her gaze flickering behind them for a second, but in the end, she just said.
"It's nothing."
Alan paused, then said no more. He looked ahead.
The classroom was close to the mansion's entrance. In the time it took to exchange those few words, the open classroom door was already right in front of them.
The lamps inside had been lit in advance, their bright glow spilling out around the doorframe…
So bright, so warm.
It made one…
…want to step inside without a second thought.
Chapter 170: A Door Yet UnknockedIn his vision, Eris, Rudeus, and Ghislaine had already entered the classroom and were turning around. Alan lifted his foot, about to step inside. A sigh. It came from Hilda, behind him. "Today…" He stopped and turned. He looked behind him. At this moment… In Alan's pupils… Hilda's face was finally clear. Reflected in his eyes, Hilda's expression was dazed. "Today… I was very happy." "It's getting late… let's end the lesson here for today." "Goodnight, Alan." "Goodnight, everyone." Her voice was as light as the wind. As if… …she was afraid that if she spoke too loudly… …the beautiful dream would shatter.
At the desk, the candlelight flickered.
Outside the window, a bird sang, its melody sweet.
Alan had once asked Edna the name of this bird that sang at night.
Edna had smiled and told him it was a bird active in the hill country. They were not numerous, and because of their beautiful song, they were often used in noble literature as a symbol of love.
A bird's song conveying love…
Its name was…
'Song Dove, please stop singing. I don't feel like listening today.'
The firelight licked at Sylphie's face.
The Song Dove ignored her request.
On the desk before her lay her diary.
Half an hour had passed since she had opened the book.
Not a single word had been written.
An hour had passed since the end of etiquette class.
Eris's excitement had quickly faded into exhaustion. Ever since she started skipping classes with Alan, besides the afternoon magic lesson where she would symbolically cast a few fireballs to 'play,' the rest of her time was spent practicing swordsmanship.
Under such a high-intensity schedule, she was usually tired and sleepy not long after dark, sometimes even falling asleep at her desk while Edna was still talking.
Today's dancing had prolonged her excitement, but that only meant that after Hilda left, she was so exhausted she could barely stand. In the end, Ghislaine had to carry her back to her bedroom.
Alan and Sylphie were also listless, with no desire to chat. After washing up, they naturally went their separate ways.
Sylphie stared at her diary with reddish-brown eyes, but her gaze was vacant.
Her thoughts were still on Hilda's tears from earlier that evening.
Hilda had offered no explanation, but Sylphie felt that something important had happened.
What would make Madam Hilda cry?
Was it because, while watching Alan dance, she once again saw the shadow of her own child in him?
But if that was the case, why at that specific moment?
Her mood had been fine before, and over the past six months, even when she mentioned her child, she would only look sad.
Eleven years.
She had already 'gotten used to it.'
And when she left, her expression seemed normal.
But based on their interactions over the past six months, her departure seemed too hurried. And her last words carried a…
…strange meaning…
She was clearly crying…
…but she said she was very happy.
"Ugh…"
Sylphie covered her face and sighed in frustration.
Somehow, thinking about it, she had the sinking feeling that she had messed things up.
The facts were laid out plainly before her.
She had made an effort.
The result of that effort was—
Madam Hilda was in tears, and Alan was dispirited.
Their relationship had not progressed at all.
Did the plan fail?
Should I go talk to Rudeus?
But where would I even start? By telling him I saw Madam Hilda crying?
But what clues would that give us for what to do next?
She slumped onto the desk, her expression weary, and let her mind go blank.
Before her eyes…
…were written words.
"So, I want to ask you a favor.
You, who are by Alan's side.
You, who can always see how he is doing.
Please help him."
A letter from Roxy.
Sylphie blinked and let out a breath.
She pushed herself up from the desk and gently patted her cheeks.
Be strong, Sylphie!
Calm down and think this through.
The situation isn't clear right now.
So, should I just tell her directly that Alan is, in fact, 'Alan'? And then persuade Alan to face Madam Hilda?
Sylphie frowned.
Her sixth sense told her that was the worst possible choice. Setting aside what Alan might think, what would happen if Madam Hilda learned that this was her child?
A reunion? And then bringing the fact that Alan is a member of the Boreas family out into the open? What would Lord Sauros think? Their current relationship was already like a string stretched to its breaking point. Lord Philip knew Alan's identity, and Lord Sauros knew it too, but they pretended not to.
That was the only reason Alan could remain in the Boreas mansion as a home tutor.
For Lord Sauros, this was the absolute limit of his 'indulgence,' allowing for this self-deception. If things went even slightly beyond that, it would likely exceed his tolerance. This was evident from the fact that the two had not spoken a single word to each other in six months and actively avoided one another.
Openly defying Boreas tradition was unacceptable to a lord who upheld the 'Iron Heart.'
If the day ever came when his identity was revealed, it would likely be the day Lord Sauros finally acted and decided to send Alan back to the capital.
Send him back to the capital…
!
Sylphie's eyes suddenly widened. She gasped.
In that instant, Hilda's reaction from the evening flashed through her mind.
The reason they don't acknowledge each other is because doing so would force Alan to return to the capital!
Madam Hilda was crying?
When was the last time?
The first day Alan arrived at the Boreas mansion, when she saw him and was struck by the 'illusion' of seeing her child.
So why hadn't she cried in the six months since?
Because she knew it was just an illusion.
And today?! Why did she cry today?
Because…
The illusion was no longer an illusion!
She saw her child.
Through his actions during the etiquette lesson, she confirmed Alan's identity!
But, the traditions of the Boreas family forced her to maintain her composure.
That's why she reacted so strangely.
With that thought, Sylphie shot up from her desk.
She ran to the door in a few steps, haphazardly pulling off her nightclothes and changing into a dress, completely abandoning the graceful demeanor she had cultivated over the past six months.
She was anxious and frantic.
She grabbed the doorknob, about to throw the door open and rush to Alan's room next door.
But just as she twisted the handle, she froze.
Sylphie blinked.
She slowly opened the door.
Her bare feet made no sound on the floor.
She walked to Alan's door.
For a moment, the corridor was so quiet Sylphie felt she could hear her own heartbeat.
And before her, Alan's room was just as silent.
She raised her hand, hovering it before the door.
Ready to knock.
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