"Polly, that's enough!" Colin was willing to escort us to Merredith City, and that's plenty."
He interrupted Polly's writing and noted it down with emphasis.
He knew that further argument with Polly would be futile, and it wasn't worth wasting more time entangled in this matter.
After all, Colin seemed amiable, but who could guess what he really thought?
Now their lives and future were in Colin's hands... They couldn't push their luck any further.
After completing his writing, Delaisi stood up and walked over to where Eliel and Burns were.
"Father."
"Your Majesty."
Eliel and Burns greeted him.
Delaisi nodded and slowly sat down next to Eliel.
Eliel cradled an onyx-colored square urn, her expression serene.
She could scarcely remember what her sister looked like...
But their deceased mother mentioned almost daily...how remarkably similar the two sisters were in appearance, almost like twins.
She remembered her mother's whispers on the bed, six years ago when she died.
They were directed at her, whispers...but not of her own name.
Instead, "Erica."
Eliel clutched the urn in her hands a bit tighter.
Beside her, Delaisi wanted to start a conversation but didn't know where to begin.
Since Queen Daisy's death six years ago, his attitude toward Eliel had gradually grown colder, especially as he was busy quelling internal strife within the kingdom and marrying Polly, the daughter of Duke Hel.
Even now, it had been years since he had a proper conversation with Eliel.
Thinking back, Eliel was barely over six, close to seven, around the same age her sister had been when she left...
...So young, yet faced with the sudden death of her mother and the unexpectedly cold demeanor of her father.
Later, even her living quarters were taken over by Gallagher...
Remorse slowly surfaced in Delaisi's heart.
Yet he had never shown concern for Eliel.
Instead, in order to appease Duke Hel and quell the internal conflict, he turned a blind eye to Polly's actions.
Once he had consolidated his position over the years, using Polly to settle old scores from past conflicts within her family.
His guilt toward Polly grew, and he became even more indulgent of her.
Not only did he make Gallagher the crown prince...but he had also never again inquired about Eliel.
And so, in silence, until Polly approached him, Delaisi had never managed to speak a word.
"What is it?" He asked as he saw Polly coming toward him.
"Gallagher wants to go outside to relieve himself," Polly said coldly, pushing Gallagher in front of Delaisi. It was clear that the anger in her heart had not yet subsided.
In the past, Delaisi would have immediately risen to accompany Gallagher outside.
But now, for some reason, he looked at the quiet Eliel, then at the noisy Polly, and felt an inexplicable impatience.
He didn't rise but instead turned his head to issue an instruction.
"Burns, take Gallagher out to relieve himself."
Polly was stunned, but sensing Delaisi's change from his usual demeanor, she felt a shift in her confidence and said nothing else, silently following Burns as he led Gallagher out of the cave.
Surprised by this development, Delaisi thought to himself,
'Indulging her all the time certainly won't do.'
Outside the cave.
Burns held a torch as he led Gallagher to the left of the cave entrance.
"Your Highness, let's do it here. It's unsafe to go too far."
"No," Gallagher, looking into the dark night, seemed oddly excited as he continued forward, "this is too close, I want to go somewhere farther."
"Prince Gallagher." Burns stepped forward two paces, coming around in front of Gallagher and said sternly, "The night is dangerous; it's not advisable to go far!"
"Mommy—" Gallagher's face fell, and he turned to Polly for help.
Polly soothingly smiled at Gallagher and then firmly addressed Burns.
"Burns!"
She didn't see the issue—after all, it was just a spot to relieve oneself, what's the harm in going a bit further?
To her, it was clear Burns was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Princess Polly?"
"Burns, what are you afraid of?" Polly frowned, then spoke as if it were obvious, "Isn't the wizard inside the cave? If anything happens, all you need to do is delay for a moment, and he will come to our rescue."
Burns bowed his head in silence and eventually stepped aside.
The pair continued forward with Gallagher.
Burns looked at the figure of Gallagher beside him and sighed silently.
The prince represents the future of the Holy Flame Kingdom.
But Gallagher, almost seven, still acted so petulant and childish...
Contemplating this, thinking of the future of the Holy Flame Kingdom... his heart weighed heavily.
After a while, Gallagher stopped in a thick bush.
The sound of rustling leaves filled the air—
Burns stood on guard, watching the surroundings.
Soon, Gallagher finished and the area remained quiet, with no incident.
"Prince Gallagher, since you're done, let's head back quickly," Burns reminded again.
Though he was prepared to stay with Gallagher a while longer, unexpectedly, Gallagher nodded in agreement.
Seeing Gallagher's shivering figure, Burns realized.
The temperature drops after nightfall, and they had fled the palace so hastily that they did not bring enough clothes. Gallagher was still wearing the lighter clothes from daytime... It seemed he felt too cold and wanted to return to the warmth of the fire inside the cave.