T Y D O T S F

131

"......Are you saying that the Artban family is coming to the north?"

Late in the afternoon, I called everyone together and told them the truth. The mood became even more subdued.

From the moment the word 'Artban' entered my mouth, Hestia froze as if she had been struck by lightning.

I couldn't take my eyes off Hestia the whole time I was explaining.

"Yeah. That's what I heard. I just found out today."

"Who told you that, young lady?"

"Sage told me."

He told me very confidently that he had done background checks.

Hestia was taken aback by my unhesitating answer, and then asked in surprise.

"Then does he also know about the relationship between you and the Artban family?"

"I don't think I know the details yet. Just a rough guess?"

Actually, I couldn't be sure about this either.

I don't know how much you know, so how can I know?

Besides, I said I was careful, but Sage found out every time, so I started to lose confidence in how long I could hide it.

"I heard that the Artban family, who became the eastern leader this time, decided to make a new agreement with the north. They are expected to arrive here in two days."

"It's too fast."

"......Something feels strange."

Payman nodded at Karma's muttering and added his opinion.

It seemed like not only the two of them, but the rest of the people sitting at the table were thinking the same thing.

Of course, I was included there.

"It doesn't seem likely that he would have visited other families at that time, right?"

"The North is the furthest region from the East, so it doesn't seem like a very efficient schedule."

Karma hammered a nail into my words, which I half hoped would turn out to be false.

In the end, the reason why DL Artban went to the North in person was because of me.

There was no other explanation for why he had abandoned all his plans and come to the North so soon after occupying the East.

Messi shook his head with a look of concern on his face.

"How about we just go back south? I guess there's no reason to stay here any longer."

"I've thought about it too. I know that going back is the best option."

"Then please decide when we will leave. It feels so good to finally be able to leave this place." Messi looked as if he didn't care if we left right away.

You haven't told me directly, but you must have had a really hard time.

It was understandable, since the energy of the North was so polar opposite to that of the South.

Everyone is probably tired by now.

But there was something on my mind that made it hard for me to readily say let's go back.

If you go back south, wouldn't Hestia request excommunication as per her original decision?

That's what's been bothering me the whole time.