Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 772: Goodbye [2]

Following the announcement and the reveal of the fiancé, the party carried on, but the atmosphere had shifted. Conversations continued, laughter echoed, and music played, yet a subtle tension lingered, threading through the guests as if the room itself had taken note of the change.

The tension wasn’t very high, but there was a clear divide as a noticeable shift occurred among the guests.

If the Prince’s faction held a slight advantage moments prior, that was no longer the case, as a clear shift had occurred in the succession battle.

With Julien officially becoming the son-in-law of the Rosenberg Household, and in turn gaining the allegiance of the current Head of Central and the strongest Duchy around, the momentum had shifted entirely to Aoife’s side.

“I wish you the best, Princess.”

“…Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

The nobles who had been undecided just moments before now clustered around her, striking up conversations as she responded with a carefully measured smile.

“Of course, I remember you. It was back in the Nocture party, correct? Yes, I remember the conversation that we had, leaving a deep impression on me.”

Aoife was rather eloquent. Having practiced seriously, she knew how to handle all of the guests, even going as far as spending the previous week just memorizing all of the guests present and recalling any interactions she had with them in the past.

“I wish we could continue the conversation with had last time.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

It was her eloquence that turned the mood upbeat, her reputation growing within the factions.

The flow continued for several hours, the mingling and forced smiles persisting, until the party finally drew to a close.

Aoife took her chance to slip away, moving further back where Kiera and Evelyn were waiting.

“I think my jaw is stuck,” Aoife mumbled, massaging her jaw.

“I think my stomach is about to leave my body.”

Kiera replied not long after, her voice hoarse while she held onto her stomach.

“Just thinking about your face, and that forced smile of yours…”

“That’s mean.”

Slap!

Evelyn suddenly interjected, lightly slapping Kiera’s back.

“Oy.”

“Stop.”

Aoife stopped the two before the situation escalated. Knowing the two of them, they very well could start a fight over something as light as this.

Brushing her hair back, she looked around.

“It’s a good thing that the party is coming to an end. I honestly couldn’t take it any longer.”

She honestly felt quite beat. While she had gotten used to putting on a face when talking with the other nobles, it was still tiring. She would much rather be with Kiera and Evelyn. At the very least, she didn’t need to talk in circles with them.

But putting everything aside, her mind couldn’t help but drift toward the cause of everything.

‘I can’t believe this actually happened… When did it even start?’

She was just as stunned as everyone else had been at the revelation. It was just that she had to snap out of it rather quickly, as she had to take advantage of the situation presented to her.

However, now that everything had settled and the reality of the situation had fully registered, the shock finally surfaced in her heart, sending ripples of unease through it.

“Don’t you guys find it odd?”

Aoife looked at Kiera and Evelyn.

“…How did Julien end up with the Chancellor? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the two of them talk much.”

“Wasn’t he her assistant, though?” Evelyn interjected, tilting her head. “From what I remember, he was her assistant for quite some time. They may have developed some sort of relationship then.”

“You think so…?”

Aoife mumbled, still struggling to accept the explanation. It simply didn’t make sense to her. Everyone knew the Chancellor.

She was a cold and untouchable figure. Someone almost no one could ever hope to reach. From her strength, which had no rival, to her beauty, which even Aoife had to admit was on another level.

And yet, Julien had somehow gotten engaged to that very same woman. Was it truly because he was her assistant?

“Actually…” As if suddenly recalling something, Evelyn’s face turned strange.

“What is it?”

Kiera asked, growing somewhat curious at Evelyn’s suspicious behavior.

Biting her lips, Evelyn’s expression changed a couple of times, struggling to bring herself to speak. It took Kiera’s sharp words to make her speak as she mumbled, ‘Fine, fine’.

Looking up at Aoife, she explained, “There was an accident that happened a while back. It was during the time that I went to visit the estate with my father. Julien and I both feared that we’d get engaged together, so Julien randomly said he’d like to marry Delilah. It was supposed to be an exaggeration for the sake of the moment, but who would’ve thought that…”

Evelyn stopped there, her expression turning even more complex. The more she thought about the situation, the weirder it felt to her.

“You serious?”

Kiera looked at Evelyn with her jaw slack, prompting Evelyn to nod her head.

“The Duke was also there. Julien wasn’t aware of his identity back then.”

“What?!”

“Huh?”

Kiera and Aoife both made odd faces, but soon Kiera’s expression started to twist, the situation finally sinking in her mind as she started to shiver. Holding onto the sides of her arms, she mumbled, “I’m cringing. I’m cringing… Shit!”

“Seriously…?” Aoife didn’t feel exactly the same as Kiera, but she, too, felt subtle hints of second-hand embarrassment from the story.

“Yes.”

Evelyn nodded, prompting Kiera to cringe even further.

“I think Leon was also there. If I’m not wrong—huh?”

Evelyn turned toward where Leon had been moments prior, but paused when she realized that he was gone.

“Leon? Where’s Leon…?” Blinking her eyes, she looked around. “Wasn’t he here just a moment ago? How did he…”

***

The moon hung bright, its light spilling over the land below as a man stood beneath it, gazing upward and taking a deep, steadying breath.

As he did, Leon’s eyes opened as his soft voice echoed in the air.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“…Thank you.”

A voice whispered in response as Julien stepped forward, coming to a stop right beside him.

He, too, raised his head to look at the moon.

“…..”

The two stood in silence, neither uttering a word. There was no need to say a word between the two of them understood each other perfectly. They lingered in the silence for several minutes, until Julien finally broke it.

“….I’ll be leaving soon.”

“I know.”

Leon replied, his hand rising to his chest. The powerful sense of dread he had felt earlier still clung to him. It had grown even stronger, and though he was managing it better this time, his back remained drenched in sweat.

Still, despite his best attempts at trying to ignore the sensation, he couldn’t escape it. The sense of dread only grew more with each passing second.

There were many things he wanted to ask Julien, but he held himself back.

In the end, the only thing he found himself able to ask was, “How long will you be gone for?”

“I don’t know.”

Julien replied, his gaze still locked onto the distant moon.

“It’ll be a while for sure. Perhaps a year, or maybe more. I can’t quite tell myself, since I am unsure of what will happen. This is all still new to me, and I’ve hardly had the time to process it.”

“…I see.”

Leon nodded. Although Julien was trying his best to keep his voice steady and calm, Leon could feel it; the pain and desperation within it. He could tell that Julien didn’t want any of this to happen. He was scared himself.

However, it also appeared that he couldn’t run away from it.

He had to face it.

“Here.”

Suddenly, Julien pulled his attention away from the moon and handed something to Leon.

“This is…?”

Leon looked at the item, pausing the moment he caught a glimpse of it as he looked at Julien.

“This is…”

“I need you to hold onto this for me. It’ll be important for the future. Like I said, you’re the only one I can trust with this.”

Leon’s face trembled as he stared at the item in Julien’s hand, fully aware of what it was. He could feel the weight of the responsibility that the item held as his shoulders suddenly felt heavier. In the end, however, he nodded and reached for it.

“I… understand.”

He put the item away, prompting Julien to smile.

“Thank you. I feel much better knowing that you’re by my side.”

“….”

Leon didn’t reply. Normally, he would have felt disgusted by comments like these, but this time, he didn’t.

He held onto his chest.

The feeling of dread grew even thicker. So thick that he almost forgot how to breathe.

“Just… just what is…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Julien replied, his gaze drifting back to the moon.

“Just remember everything I’ve previously told you. To me, it’ll only feel like a few minutes, but I know it will be a very long time. The only one who can bring me back is you. That’s why I hope you take care of yourself while I’m gone. Oh, and—” Julien’s gaze shifted slightly, as if recalling something important. “Whatever you do, keep everything to yourself. Even if the others press you for answers, don’t say anything. This is all for your safety.”

Leon’s lips opened, seemingly trying to say something, but Julien’s next action caused him to stop at once.

With a slow shift in his body, he extended his hand in his direction.

As he did, his smile grew brighter.

“…Take care.”

The world grew silent in that moment, Leon’s heart coming to a stop.

But soon—

Staring at the outstretched hand, he calmed himself down.

Reaching forward, he grasped the hand and shook it.

“Take care. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“Mhm.”

Julien nodded, letting go of Leon’s hand and nudging his chin toward the venue in the distance.

“You should go now.”

“I…”

Leon opened his mouth but eventually closed it and nodded before turning away and walking back toward the venue.

“Goodbye.”

As his last words drifted in the air, Julien’s gaze remained fixed on his retreating back, only feeling his shoulders relax once he saw him disappear into the forest as he entered the venue.

“Well, that’s that.”

He had wanted to say goodbye to more people, but this wasn’t something he could do. Everything had hit him so suddenly and so abruptly that he wasn’t able to plan the way he left.

But it’s better this way.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell others more about the situation; it was more like he couldn’t.

To keep the future the same, this was something he had to do.

Eventually, Julien closed his eyes.

Swoosh!

A cold breeze wafted through, causing his clothes to flutter.

He didn’t know how long had passed, but by the time he opened his eyes again, a figure stood before him.

One whose features were no longer faceless as he greeted me with a smile.

“…It looks like you were expecting me.”