Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: So, Forget Everything
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As the next day slowly drew to a close, a crowd had gathered at the monastery entrance, ready to depart.
The monastery's workers had come out as well.
"Take care on your journey."
"I hope only good things come your way from here on out."
At first, the servants from noble houses and the imperial family hadn't mixed well with the monastery workers—like water and oil.
But before long, they were all mingled together, exchanging farewells.
And Tail was doing the same with Chloe and Cecilia.
"Safe travels, both of you."
At Tail's words, Cecilia burst into tears once more.
Chloe's eyes were misty too.
"Tail."
Chloe gazed at him with pleading eyes and hesitantly spoke up.
"Don't forget me. I'll be back... soon..."
But Cecilia cut her off, shouting,
"Tail! You absolutely can't forget our promise...!"
Chloe frowned slightly at Cecilia's words.
A promise?
She asked urgently,
"What promise?"
"Sniff... Her Highness doesn't need to know. Hngh."
Cecilia blew her nose into her handkerchief as she replied, and Chloe bit her lip against a surge of irritation.
Could it be something like the promise she'd made to come back for him?
Her stomach churning, Chloe pressed on.
"Tell me. What promise?"
But Cecilia wasn't one to back down easily.
"I said you don't need to know."
Chloe refused to yield.
"No. Why shouldn't I know?"
"It's not a promise with you, Your Highness."
Watching the two bicker right up to the end, Tail finally burst out laughing.
"Enough fighting, you two. Time to head out—the others are waiting."
Sure enough, the other servants and maids had the carriages ready.
The pair finally began to move their feet, which had been rooted to the spot.
This really was it. The very last moment.
Chloe and Cecilia climbed into the carriage.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The soldiers stamped their feet, and the carriage slowly started to roll.
Tail watched the departing group endlessly.
Cecilia and Chloe leaned out the window.
He waved back at the two waving hands.
The long and short dream had come to an end.
Just then, Abbot Noha approached his side.
"Tail."
Worry filled the abbot's eyes.
He hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking.
"...You alright?"
Tail smiled.
"What's there to not be alright about?"
Noha looked at him with pity.
"In the end, you couldn't put distance between yourself and them."
Tail fell briefly silent at his words.
The monastery workers who had gathered to see them off were returning to their posts one by one.
Amid the familiar faces passing by, Tail finally spoke.
"Right to the end, I wanted to give them good memories of this place."
His gaze fixed on the carriage, now just a distant speck.
"The moment they arrived here, it must have been painful. And from the moment they leave, it might hurt even more."
He continued calmly.
"That's just how it is, being nobility... or royalty."
There would probably be many dangers and trials ahead.
"In their long lives, I just wanted to give them one short time they could cherish as a comfort."
Something to recall whenever hardship struck.
A memory they could look back on and think, I was happy here.
That was the best he could do for them.
"Even if it was just a dream."
No more Cecilia running up to hug him every day.
No more Chloe following with her faint smile.
No more bickering between the two.
Tail stared endlessly in the direction the carriage had vanished.
"That's why. No big reason."
With that, he slowly turned and headed back toward the monastery.
"I'll head in now."
Noha watched him go, then let out a short sigh.
After Tail had entered the monastery building, the abbot murmured softly.
"I hope all this doesn't leave scars on you."
That morning.
Chloe's eyes snapped open.
The familiar tent ceiling came into view.
Sunlight poured in through the window flaps, and birdsong chirped from outside.
A peaceful morning.
Turning her head, she saw the tent was empty.
Only the wardrobe, bed, full-length mirror, and vanity remained.
Only then did Chloe realize.
Ah. Furniture's all been cleared out since we're leaving today.
She slowly got out of bed.
Today.
The day had arrived.
Today's the last day here.
Chloe walked slowly to the wardrobe.
It was filled with all sorts of clothes.
With practiced ease, she picked out a simple white dress.
Made of fine fabric but falling modestly, it was the one Tail had said suited her best.
She slipped it on and looked in the mirror.
When she'd first arrived, she'd been full of worries.
Anxious about the empire losing, concerned her father might get hurt.
Tail had appeared then like a ray of light.
At first, she'd thought of him as just a monk who helped her sleep.
She'd assumed their relationship would end there.
But Tail had seeped into her heart like a gentle drizzle.
Before she knew it, she—a princess—found herself hoping the war wouldn't end.
She wanted to be with Tail.
By his side in every moment.
Chloe stared at her reflection.
With victory reports ringing out, she should have been joyful, but she looked anything but happy.
The empire had won; no more worries or sorrows. Yet she felt utterly miserable.
As tears welled up, she bit her thumbnail hard.
No. If I cry now, it'll show.
She held back the tears.
Then—
Knock knock knock.
Someone rapped at the tent flap.
"Your Highness. It's time to go."
It was her maid.
Chloe composed herself and stepped out.
Don't cry.
This wasn't the end.
Don't cry.
She repeated it endlessly in her mind.
However.
Chloe couldn't keep her own promise.
The moment she saw Tail in his serene monastery robes, something welled up inside her.
Don't cry.
She had to hold it in.
Chloe bit her lip.
Beside her, Cecilia was already sobbing openly.
She wanted to let her emotions out like that.
To say she didn't want to leave.
To beg him not to forget her.
Swallowing all those words, Chloe forced herself to speak.
"Don't forget me. I'll be back... soon..."
At that instant, Cecilia cut in with a shout.
"Tail! You absolutely can't forget our promise...!"
A promise?
Her mind went blank, her stomach twisting.
A secret promise just between the two of them that she wasn't privy to?
Chloe's face hardened.
She pressed Cecilia, but got nothing, and departure time arrived.
Tail smiled brightly, as if amused by it all.
"Enough fighting, you two. Time to head out—the others are waiting."
Looking at him, Chloe wore a bitter expression.
You can smile that brightly even as I leave.
But at the same time, she was glad to see that smile one last time.
Just wait a little.
I'll definitely come back for you.
With those thoughts, Chloe stared at Tail endlessly before finally turning away.
The moment her back was to him, clear tears spilled from her eyes.
Good job, Chloe.
You didn't cry while he could see.
Chloe took Allen's hand and boarded the carriage.
Her mother, the Empress, was already inside.
With golden hair and blue eyes, she looked very much like Chloe.
But unlike Chloe's gentle air, the Empress exuded a cold, icy demeanor.
Every glance was sharp enough to cut.
Clunk.
The door shut, and the carriage set off.
She could feel the monastery fading into the distance.
She wanted to see him just once more.
Just once. One last time.
Before the Empress could stop her, Chloe leaned out the window.
There he was in the distance, gazing after her endlessly.
Only then did she smile and wave.
It's okay.
We can write letters.
He said he'd write too.
Yeah. Just until I become emperor. I'll wait until then.
Chloe steeled herself with those thoughts and sat back down.
But the Empress's next words froze her solid.
"Chloe."
The Empress sat ramrod straight and continued in a firm tone.
"You're not planning to keep in touch with that commoner boy after we return, are you?"
Chloe's heart plummeted.
She felt her mother's eyes scrutinizing her every detail.
Seeing Chloe's stiffened expression, the Empress clicked her tongue and went on.
"Maintain your dignity, Princess."
The Empress's blue eyes gleamed sternly.
Chloe flinched under that gaze.
"We're no longer at the monastery. It was nothing more than a fleeting breeze."
A fleeting breeze.
The words tore at Chloe's chest.
"So. Forget it all."