The Regressor and the Blind Saint-Chapter 274: After Story: Elopement (1)

Time flew by for Erineth.

The three-month study abroad, planned from the beginning, was quickly approaching its end.

The day she had eagerly awaited since first arriving in Elia was now the day she wished would never arrive.

Now that it had finally come, all traces of her once sunlit smiles were now gone, replaced with a tearful expression.

“Uncle....”

Erineth called out to Albrecht in a voice filled with sobs.

Albrecht, with a troubled smile, spoke gently.

“Your Highness, it’s time to go. His Majesty and the Empress are waiting for you.”

Flinch—.

Erineth’s body trembled.

She instinctively reacted at the mention of her parents, her greatest weakness.

Yet, even that didn’t last long.

“N-No, I don’t want to...!”

A sulky expression appeared on her face.

It was the perfect situation to define that saying, “raising a child is futile*.*”

Even though her parents were eagerly waiting for her, she only wished to stay longer with her first love.

“If I leave now, I won’t see him again...! I want to stay with Lennon!”

A desperate cry.

As Albrecht’s discomfort deepened, Erineth suddenly turned around and ran.

Dash—!

Forgetting even the dirt staining the hem of her beloved dress, the girl ran toward the one who made her heart tremble—her first love.

*“Hide me!”

In a cabin in the northern forest of the Grand Temple.

Lennon was bewildered by Erineth’s sudden appearance and abrupt demand.

“H-Huh?”

“Hide me! My uncle is trying to take me away!”

Whoosh!

Erineth threw herself into Lennon’s arms.

Startled, Lennon flinched, his body jerking. Then, realizing he couldn’t just push her away, he stiffened awkwardly.

“Um... Your Highness? Could you explain it in more detail...?”

It was a baffling situation for Lennon.

After all, the “uncle” Erineth referred to could only be Sir Albrecht— a close friend of his parents.

But no matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for Albrecht to kidnap Erineth.

He needed to hear more details.

Just as Lennon had that thought and spoke, Erineth, with tearful eyes, began to chatter away.

From the fact that her study abroad in Elia was coming to an end, to Albrecht encouraging her to start packing, to her refusing, and the reason being Lennon—the lengthy explanation boiled down to one thing.

“Did you not want to part with me?”

“Of course not!”

Erineth shouted unabashedly.

“I want to stay with Lennon forever! I like you, Lennon!”

Breathing heavily, Erineth tightly embraced Lennon.

With the moment of parting drawing near, the girl abandoned any sense of shame and poured out her true feelings.

Lennon scratched his cheek.

“But... what if your parents worry?”

“I don’t care!”

Erineth was resolute.

But that did not mean her heart was cold.

Her reddened eyes and trembling breaths clearly showed just how much she had agonized before making this decision.

“Do you want me to leave, Lennon...?”

Erineth lifted her head slightly, looking at Lennon.

Lennon felt his heart drop with a thud!

Tears.

Once again, tears.

The very thing that made him weak— the one thing that turned him into the gentlest lamb filled his vision.

Faced with a girl’s tears, Lennon couldn’t think of anything else.

Only one thought remained.

“...No!”

He had to make her smile.

Lennon firmly grabbed Erineth’s shoulders.

His expression hardened with determination.

“I will help you!”

Erineth hiccupped, then blushed deeply.

“Really...?”

Was he just saying this because he got swept up in the moment?

That doubt crept into Erineth’s mind, but before she could voice it, Lennon flashed his usual bright smile and spoke.

“Really!”

If he thought about it even a little more deeply, he knew this decision would trouble the people around him.

He knew it might even disappoint them.

But despite that, Lennon was determined to help Erineth.

Because her tears were like an unstoppable weapon against him, and because Lennon wanted everyone he knew to be happy.

“You shouldn’t be crying!”

Lennon reached out toward Erineth’s face.

Gently, he wiped away her tears, then used the handkerchief Renee had given him to help her blow her nose.

Once he confirmed that she had calmed down, Lennon looked straight into her eyes and spoke.

“Your Highness!”

“Y-Yes...!”

Erineth answered energetically.

Lennon, with a rather serious expression, made a request.

“I will definitely help you! So, please don’t cry and....”

Always, with sincerity.

With a heart that truly cares for others.

Lennon clearly remembered what Vera had taught him a month ago.

“...Please smile!”

Flinch—.

Erineth’s body trembled.

Her gaze was dazed as she turned to face Lennon.

Lennon placed his thumbs at the corners of her lips and gently lifted them upward, adding,

“I like it when you smile!”

Poof!

If anyone had seen Erineth’s face at that moment, they would have made that sound— her face turned bright red.

“Huh...?”

There was once a time when Ellen had made an assessment of Lennon.

That he was the type of guy who, with his innocent nature, would unknowingly charm women.

...Truly, it was an evaluation so accurate that it deserved a round of applause.

*The struggle of the boy and girl had begun.

A long journey to hide Erineth from Albrecht led them through every nook and cranny of Elia.

Of course, the person they were trying to evade was not someone who would fall for such tricks so easily.

Albrecht van Freich, the Sword of the Empire.

The only reason why the one who could locate the boy and girl with just a mere expansion of his senses had remained silent until now was because the master of this fortress had commanded it.

“Vera, what are you going to do?”

Inside a cabin in the northern forest.

Renee rested her chin on her hand and asked.

Vera took a sip of tea, pondering for a moment before answering.

“They’re trying so hard. I think we can let them have a little fun.”

“Right? It’s so adorable. Running away for love at such a young age.”

Renee’s cheeks flushed.

The smile on her face clearly revealed her amusement.

Seeing that, Vera chuckled lightly and continued.

“Of course, we can’t let them do this forever. They’re at an age where they should be growing, and we can’t have them skipping meals because they’re too busy playing hide-and-seek.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I already asked Marie to handle it.”

“....”

Vera fell silent.

He had absolutely no desire to know what kind of request that was.

A sudden, awkward cough escaped him.

Shaking off the embarrassment, Vera added.

“Anyway, we’ll send them back in time for her return.”

“That means you already have a plan, doesn’t it?”

“I do, but....”

Vera traced the rim of his teacup with his finger.

Then, with a mischievous smile, he continued.

“...They must be punished for messing with an adult.”

A sly smile spread across Vera’s face.

Seeing that expression, Renee chuckled to herself.

At times like this, he’s just like a child.

Even though Vera had become the father of two children, he was still the same old Vera, she thought.

*Lennon and Erineth dashed through Elia.

From the southern boulevard of the Grand Temple to the plaza, weaving through the narrow alleyways between the buildings.

It wasn’t quite the right situation for such thoughts, but Erineth couldn’t help but feel like she was on an adventure.

Their hands were tightly clasped together, and their breaths grew heavier as they kept running.

Running away with her beloved while being pursued by a formidable adversary was more than enough to fill the girl’s heart with a sense of romance.

However, reality was never as romantic as fantasy.

Growl—.

Erineth’s stomach rumbled.

For someone with a strict eating schedule, skipping lunch and running around until sunset was too much to handle.

At the sound of her stomach growling, Lennon turned to look at Erineth.

Her cheeks flushed red as she lowered her head.

“Your Highness? Are you hungry?”

“N-No....”

Erineth answered shyly, quickly adding an excuse.

“I-It’s just that I was feeling upset, so I didn’t eat much breakfast! That’s all!”

Not wanting to be seen as a big eater, the seven-year-old girl’s pride stubbornly held its ground.

If there was any saving grace, it was that the person with her was none other than Lennon— the most oblivious boy in all of Elia.

“Ah...!”

Lennon’s expression softened with sympathy.

He imagined Erineth struggling alone, unable to eat because she was too troubled.

She’s suffering this much...!

Realizing just how serious she was, Lennon clenched his fists, reigniting his determination to help her.

“I’ll get you something to eat in a while! Please wait here!”

Declaring it loudly, Lennon dashed out of the alleyway.

Erineth watched him go, stealing glances in his direction before letting out a deep sigh.

“Whew....”

She was just relieved that he hadn’t caught on.

That was the only thought in her mind.

*“Sweetie!”

A soft and familiar voice.

Lennon turned his head toward it.

“Miss Marie? Miss Jenny?”

Standing before him was Marie, the Apostle of Abundance.

Beside her, Jenny stood, nodding off sleepily.

The two women smiled warmly.

Lennon tilted his head in confusion before greeting them with enthusiasm.

“Good day! Did you have a good day?”

“Ahh, I always do.”

“Me too....”

[Oh my, sweetie. Why are you covered in dust? Hey, hurry up and dust off our little one.]

“Shut up....”

Marie smiled warmly.

Jenny, who had been dragged out while still half-asleep, scrunched her face in annoyance, grumbling.

Meanwhile, Annalise remained true to her desires.

Lennon, seeing the familiar trio, walked up to them and started chatting.

“I’m glad you’re having fun! Right now, I’m running away with Her Highness!”

“Oh my, really~?!”

“Yes! We’re escaping from Sir Albrecht... oh, wait, that’s supposed to be a secret!”

Realizing a moment too late that he had let something slip, Lennon quickly tried to cover it up.

Marie, with an amused smile, handed him the small basket she had been carrying.

“Well, this is perfect. I made too many sandwiches and was looking for someone to give them to. Take these and eat them with the Princess.”

“Oh...!”

Lennon’s eyes sparkled with delight.

A bright smile blossomed on his face.

[Oh my, how adorable... Ow!]

“Enough.”

Jenny and Annalise’s playful banter filled the space.

Lennon chuckled at their exchange before bowing deeply in gratitude.

“Thank you! I will definitely repay this kindness!”

“Sure, have fun... No, wait, I mean... Good luck!”

“Okay!”

Lifting his head, Lennon turned and hurried back toward the alley.

Marie, watching his retreating figure, let out a deep sigh and asked Jenny.

“How was that? I was worried since I’m not very good at acting....”

“...It’s fine.”

Jenny’s response was indifferent.

As someone who was relatively close to Lennon among the Apostles, she knew one thing for sure.

“He won’t notice.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Marie let out a breath of relief.

Jenny glanced at her briefly before turning away and heading back to the lodging quarters.

...I’m so sleepy.

Jenny was in desperate need of sleep.

*Erineth beamed as she saw the basket in Lennon’s arms when he returned.

Her smile lasted only until she took the first bite of a sandwich.

“Ugh...!”

An indescribably bizarre explosion of flavors.

Unfortunately, because she was hungry, the bizarre assault on her taste buds felt even more intense, making Erineth’s body tremble.

“How is it? Is it good?”

Lennon’s voice was filled with anticipation.

Erineth, unable to bring herself to complain, forced herself to nod.

“Y-Yep...!”

Lennon smiled brightly.

“I’m glad! Thankfully, Miss Marie shared some of her food, so we’re saved!”

“I-I see....”

Erineth responded awkwardly.

Then, noticing Lennon’s empty hands, she tilted her head in curiosity.

“Aren’t you... eating?”

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“I already finished!”

“Huh?”

“If we’re going to keep moving, we need to be full! So I ate quickly!”

Thunk—.

Erineth’s body stiffened as she stared at Lennon.

B-Because of me...!

Did he eat this strange food just for her?

And now, despite that, he was pretending to be fine for her sake?

His thoughtfulness struck her deeply.

A warm, almost painful sensation spread through her chest.

Overcome with emotion, Erineth’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I... I’ll do my best too!”

With that, she shoved the sandwich into her mouth.

It was a tragedy born from misunderstanding.

But was it love’s fault?

The innocent Erineth had yet to realize that Lennon’s unusual taste in food was something far beyond her comprehension.