Episode 584
“Roel! Vivi!”
Viviana shook the children urgently, trying to wake them. Vivi rubbed the drool from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and got up, but Roel still had his eyes closed, unable to fully come to.
Startled, Viviana grabbed Roel’s shoulder and shook him. Is he even breathing? Her eyes trembled with worry just then, when she heard Roel’s faint, strained whisper.
“…I’m okay.”
“Mom, what’s wrong all of a sudden? Haaah.”
“Did you both hear anything strange last night while you were sleeping?”
“Strange? Like what?”
“Like the door opening, or anything at all!”
Vivi adjusted her tiny glasses and shrugged. She’d been out cold, so what strange sounds?
As Vivi scratched her head in confusion, Viviana pressed her lips together, frustrated. She couldn’t tell the kids that Philia was missing.
“We didn’t hear anything. Slept like a rock. Haaah.”
“And Roel?”
“……”
Roel blinked blankly, staring into space. Anyone could tell he wasn’t fully awake. Viviana shook her head and gave the children instructions.
“Get ready quickly and pack your things lightly. We’re going to the palace.”
“The palace? Why?”
“To help your father with his work. Come on, be good. Change your clothes and get ready.”
Philia was gone. Romandro and Viviana had heard the door open in the middle of the night, and judging by what they overheard, she must have stormed out in shock.
But the problem was, she hadn’t come back even though the sun was shining bright.
“Yay! The palace! I love the palace!”
Philia was a responsible person. Even if she’d run off in a moment of emotion, she would have come back—for herself, for Roel, and for Ian. That’s why Romandro and Viviana had stayed awake for hours, waiting.
‘What on earth happened?’
Tears welled up, but Viviana held them back. Romandro had gone to report Philia’s disappearance to the guards, and Viviana was planning to move the children safely to the palace just in case. If Philia wasn’t coming back on her own, it meant danger was lurking nearby. They had to prepare.
Then—
“You mustn’t tell Father.”
“…Roel?”
Viviana was just about to take down a large suitcase from the top of the wardrobe when she turned to Roel. The boy was still staring blankly into space, murmuring.
“If Father finds out, he’ll come up to the capital with the Cheonryeo warriors from Hielo. If that happens, Hielo will fall. A great war is slowly approaching from below.”
“What are you talking about, Roel? Do you know something?”
“Even if Father comes to the capital, there’s nothing he can do. Mother is fine. So please don’t tell anyone in Hielo. The Cheonryeo are guarding Hielo right now.”
Hee. Vivi sniffled and moved closer to Roel, while Viviana sat down, stunned.
A single tear slipped down Roel’s calm face. Vivi quickly wiped it away, but Roel kept staring into the void, as if seeing something no one else could.
“Roel, are you okay?”
“……”
Strangely, he was crying but not sobbing. Roel sat up straight without a flicker of distress, as if simply waiting for the tears to fall.
Viviana felt a pang of sorrow and hugged him tightly. Vivi wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned in.
“…It’s going to be okay, Roel. Mother will come back safely.”
“Yes. She will. I’m sure of it.”
Something had happened to Philia. The doubt had turned into certainty.
Viviana steadied herself and packed the children’s clothes. Vivi hurriedly stuffed books and notebooks into her bag.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Let’s go! To the palace!”
With a clatter, the suitcase hit the stairs noisily, and the coachman came inside to help carry the luggage.
Vivi looked down at Roel from a step above and wiped away the tears still falling from his cheeks. It was strange—he was crying, but his expression was utterly serene.
“Roel. What do you think Philia needs to do to come back?”
“…It’s not something we can fix by doing anything.”
“Still, if there’s anything, tell me! I’ll help as long as I can.”
Roel sighed softly, pulled Vivi close, and murmured.
“Then pray. To those beneath the cliff.”