Ray’s face turned deathly pale for a moment.

Normally, he was not someone who would ever make such a mistake.

He tried his best to remain composed, but the fact that Zahid might die had clearly shaken him.

“...First of all, I apologize for unintentionally overhearing your conversation.”

Abraham spoke politely to Ray.

“But from what I could roughly gather, is it correct that Rosie wants to go to the Kingdom of Itaa in order to save Duke Zahid Dyfenril?”

“...That’s correct. Sadly, that’s exactly right.”

Ray answered politely.

However, contrary to his courteous tone, his blue eyes glinted menacingly.

“Marquis, I followed Rosie here prepared to do whatever it takes for her safety.”

It was the first time I had seen this aggressive side of Ray.

“Even if the Divine Beast of Water’s power isn’t what it used to be, the Renda River still flows through here. If you intend to do anything that could harm Rosie, then the Duchy of Water will...”

“There’s no need for threats. I don’t plan on doing anything harmful.”

Abraham waved his hand dismissively at Ray, signaling him to stop.

Cutting Ray off like that, he then turned to look at me.

“Rosie.”

“Yes?”

I sniffled as I looked up at him.

At this point, trying to ask him to keep it a secret or claiming there were circumstances behind it all would just seem ridiculous.

“I’m just an old and sickly man who’s been holed up in the Marquisate of Sinese. I honestly know nothing about the situation in the capital or the Temple’s movements.”

Now that I thought about it, we’d been running our mouths in front of Abraham without filtering anything—saying things like "handing over my location to the High Priest" and such.

Not to mention, I had used divine power in secret even though I wasn’t a priest. If he wasn’t a fool, he would’ve realized that we were in conflict with the Temple...

The more I thought about it, the more I felt like Ray’s threat using the Divine Beast of Water was justified.

“...I’m sorry.”

I sniffled as I spoke.

“We were the ones blabbering everything in front of you, and then we go and threaten you for hearing it... That’s really the height of villainy...”

“That’s true. But the Young Lord of Water did it for your sake. Don’t take it too harshly.”

It felt like we had somehow swapped lines, but still, it wasn’t a bad sign.

Abraham, who had been gently patting my shoulder, spoke softly.

“In any case, I wanted to tell you that I wish to offer some sort of recompense to the one who healed my illness...”

Recompense at this point?

I blinked, not understanding what he meant.

“Five hundred years ago, the Sinese family sheltered High Priest Oteron when he was being pursued by heretics.”

I’d heard that story about ten times already since coming here...

“To the Kingdom of Itaa, that is.”

My eyes widened instantly at those words.

Abraham looked straight into my eyes with a face full of resolve.

“If you go down the hidden staircase in the marquisate, there’s a narrow waterway connected to the Renda River. If you follow it, you can secretly cross the border into the Kingdom of Itaa.”

The Renda River was the largest river crossing the continent and also connected to the Kingdom of Itaa.

“You’ll have to travel in a very small boat that can only fit one person, but I intend to open the same path that High Priest Oteron used to escape five hundred years ago.”

Abraham smiled kindly and whispered to me.

“A secret must be returned as a secret. Keep this between us. It’s fine to keep your distance from the Temple, but if open conflict begins, I fear the people of my domain may suffer.”

“Marquis...”

“I may not be able to solve all your problems, but doesn’t this at least take care of sneaking into the Kingdom of Itaa?”

My eyes filled with tears again.

Ray seemed about to say something, but Linna, who had quietly approached, placed her hand over his mouth and interrupted.

“Go for it, Rosie.”

Linna gazed at me with her golden eyes and spoke.

“Do as you will. Don’t listen to anyone else. Follow what you want, what your heart tells you. That’s what I want to say to the master to whom I pledged my loyalty.”

“...Linna.”

I mumbled, moved, as I looked at her.

“The truth is, I’ve always done that...”

Even when Ray told me not to reveal my identity upon arriving here, I completely ignored him.

Ray said he couldn’t let me go for the sake of my safety, but Linna said she believed in me and told me to go.

I knew both of them were acting out of care for me. So, I smiled at the two of them whose opinions had diverged and said,

“Ray, Linna. Thank you, both of you.”

Ray still looked displeased, but his expression said he already realized he couldn’t stop me.

Even after Linna took her hand away from his mouth, he didn’t say anything.

No comments like "It’s already too late," or "How will you even find Zahid in such a large kingdom as Itaa?"

“Well then, everyone, follow me.”

Abraham said with a resolute face.

“Seems like our send-off location is going to change.”

He took the lead and walked back into the marquisate.

Without hesitation, we followed him.

* * *

Abraham, no longer burdened by leg pain, guided us skillfully.

We passed through the garden of the marquisate and walked a long winding path connected to a small gardener’s yard.

To be honest, I’d been worried the secret route would be a dark and narrow underground tunnel, but thankfully, it was quite nature-friendly.

After taking several turns through the twisting mountain path, a small stream came into view.

And by the stream floated a small boat—barely large enough for one person and a bit of luggage.

“Follow this waterway and you’ll be able to enter the Kingdom of Itaa.”

Abraham said as he untied the rope securing the boat.

I quietly stared at the boat, covered in magical inscriptions.

“Invisibility spells, auto-navigation magic... It’s perfect for secretly fleeing across a border.”

Even though I had no talent for magic, after spending nine years at the Magic Tower, I could recognize it to some extent.

“That’s the very same boat used to send off High Priest Oteron.”

Abraham added as he loaded a basket of food, water bottles, and all sorts of magical camping tools onto the boat.

“In truth, this route was created to secretly evacuate the heir of Sinese during wartime. Almost no one in the marquisate knows about it—it’s been passed down only among the heirs.”

Ray, holding Athena in his arms, slowly nodded.

“Most old noble estates have these kinds of secret passageways.”

Of course, as far as I knew, there was no such passage in Noart. Probably because it wasn’t all that old.

“Usually, you don’t share it with outsiders, but what’s important is that Sinese opened this route not for an insider—but for the High Priest.”

Abraham explained with a gentle smile.

Even when Ray had admired the tapestry earlier, Abraham hadn’t looked particularly proud—but now he was suddenly showing off his family’s history.

“And so this boat has come to be called a symbol of steadfast loyalty that supported the Temple from behind the scenes without ever stepping forward.”

Then he took my hand and helped me onto the boat himself.

“Now, go quickly. It may already be too late, but the sea route to Itaa is still faster than the land route.”

I nodded deeply.

I knew well that I was already late.

But unlike me, Zahid had gone by land—and since he’d have to cross the border without permission, he might face even more annoying procedures than I would.

All I could do now was give it my best effort.

“Thank you, Marquis... We’ve barely even known each other, and yet you’re opening your family’s secret path for me...”

Reignited with resolve, I wiped away my tears and bowed respectfully.

“You’re really weak to blood ties, aren’t you? But for the two families to end up like this... my grandmother must’ve been a truly awful person.”

“Well now, Rosie.”

Abraham gave a faint smile and shook his head.

“Five hundred years ago, the head of Sinese had a half-day conversation with High Priest Oteron and vowed to devote himself to his cause, opening this path for him.”

His wrinkled hand held mine tightly.

“You and I have also spoken for half a day—so I understand that feeling now too.”

His low voice was more solemn than ever.

“For generations, we never forgot our loyalty to the Temple. I suppose Penelope took Caliban’s hand because she wanted to abandon that history...”

Suddenly, I felt like I understood what he meant.