Shan lay down on the living room sofa after Luke had already rested in his room. Leon and Gretta remained huddled by the fire.
"May I ask you a question?" Gretta initiated the conversation. "I didn't want to ask this, but it's been bothering me lately."
"Ask."
"Who exactly is Elisabeth?"
For a brief moment, Leon was deafeningly silent, and the air between them became deafeningly silent. To the ears, the sound of wood burning by fire sounds authentic. Gretta also can't press for an answer; if she does, that's fine; if she doesn't, that's fine as well. She'd get it later from someone else.
"She is the eldest daughter of King Adelmo, King of the Kingdom of Orlin." The newly crowned queen's eldest daughter to take her father's place."
"She is also the eldest sister to Rhys, her younger brother." The struggle for the throne made them like that, according to King Adelmo's youngest son."
Gretta paid close attention to Leon's explanation.
"She has the same face as you, which is why so many people refer to you as Elisabeth." I'm not sure why Rhys pursued you as well. We must find out."
Leon's explanation was reasonable, but it did not address Gretta's main concern.
"Is she your girlfriend?" Gretta inquired once more.
"Yeah…" Leon interrupted, "...probably," he continued.
Leon rose from his seat and motioned for Gretta to do the same.
"Go to bed; we'll leave before dawn tomorrow." Leon left Gretta and sat down next to Shan to sleep.
Gretta also left from there, entering the room Luke had previously assigned to her for the night. The guest room that Leon usually stays in when he visits.
Gretta was having trouble sleeping despite the fact that it was warmer than the previous nights. Her mind was racing with thoughts of her parents, Orlin, and herself, questions she should have asked but couldn't.
Gretta shifted in her bed, unable to sleep despite the fact that it was already one o'clock in the morning. Gretta eventually decided to leave the room for some fresh air outside. Maybe he'll be able to sleep after that.
Gretta stood at the window, looking out at the pitch-black city. It was no different from Vercorin in fact, with the only difference being the type of population.
Gretta was relieved by the night breeze coming in through the windows.
"How come you haven't slept yet?"
Gretta looked over her shoulder, surprised by the sound of someone greeting her in the middle of the night. Luke, who had awoken with her, had apparently been distracted by Gretta.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up." Gretta felt guilty as she said, "I can't sleep."
"The next time you close the window."
Gretta nodded, and Luke returned to his room. Gretta decided to slowly close the window so as not to disturb the others.
"Just some food for thought." "Why don't you just sleep there?" Luke asked again. Luke took the spot next to Leon.
Gretta caught a glimpse of Shan and Leon, who were fast asleep.
"It's not as much fun sleeping alone as it is sleeping together," Luke said as he walked over to close the bedroom door.
Gretta rushed to her room to get blankets and pillows because Luke's idea wasn't so bad. Gretta spread her blanket and sat down next to Leon.
It felt more at ease than before.
When a person is sleeping, he cannot predict what he will do. Gretta, on the other hand, has only slept for three hours and her position is in disarray. Her foot brushed up against Loen's leg, pressing her face against the man's back.
Leon turned around after feeling something behind him and was surprised to see Gretta there. He thought he'd slept alone, but he wasn't. Leon looked at the girl's face, relaxed, and subconsciously smiled faintly. What made him feel so connected to that girl?
The short hand on the wall clock in the corner of the house read four, indicating that they needed to leave town right away.
Leon moved Gretta's shoulder, arousing her.
"Hey, get up."
Gretta gradually regained consciousness and looked around, her sleepiness still strong. He looked confused when he realized Leon was right in front of him.
"What's the matter with you? I should be the one who is confounded, right?" Leon said as Gretta attempted to rise.
"I'm sorry," Gretta muttered as she rubbed her eyes.
Shan awoke and got out of bed, checking to see if Luke was still sleeping.
"Since Uncle Luke hasn't yet awoken, shall we proceed?"
"The sooner you start, the better." Leon also left his spot right away. He extended his hand to Gretta in order to assist her. "We have to leave," he told Gretta.
Luke awakens as he prepares to leave the house. They had tried to be as quiet as possible to avoid disturbing him, but the man's hearing was extremely sensitive.
"Are you leaving right now?"
Leon looked behind him and discovered Luke. "Yes, Uncle." We apologize for being a little too loud."
"Should be apologizing for leaving without permission," Luke said, flicking the three of them.
Luke looked at Gretta, who was still wearing her long, cumbersome coat. It was still very cold outside, and she would definitely be cold if the temperature was not in accordance with the human body temperature. However, the coat size is a little out of proportion.
"Please leave your coat here and put this one on." Luke handed Gretta a smaller-sized coat.
A heavy brown coat with a fur hat. It was the length of Gretta's thigh.
"It belonged to my late wife; you are welcome to wear it," Luke added.
Gretta gladly accepted it, as opposed to the previous coat, which was much lighter and kept her warm. Just like the coat he used to wear in her birthplace during the winter.
"The shape is similar to that of a normal human, but it is softer and warmer." Gretta gave Luke a friendly smile.
"Of course, it's made from my own fur."
Gretta immediately rolled her eyes. She almost choked on her spit. Gretta looked up at Leon, who was standing to her right.
Leon asked, "What?"
"Is your coat also made of your fur?" She inquired innocently.
Leon also examined his coat, which Gretta had previously worn. "No, it's a wool coat," I say.
Gretta took a slow breath, as if exhaling a sigh of relief.
"Why? Are you repulsed? You've been wearing it all day, after all "Leon was irritated by Gretta's expression.
"I didn't say anything," Gretta groggily admitted.
"Haish! please stop fighting. In a previous life, you were like a married couple who never seemed to get along. Look at Shan; he's becoming depressed as a result of you two!"
Luke had spoken so many times that his every word was mentally shattering. It was impolite to respond and agonizing to simply listen to him when he was much older.
"No problem, Uncle, I'm used to it," Shan said depressedly.
"I'm not used to it, Shan, but I'm being forced to get used to it." That's why you're looking for a companion." Luke stroked Shan's shoulder.
Right? Luke, what a character!
They finally set out with only the bare necessities. Bring enough warm clothing for everyone and a small supply of food.
Luke said his old house had hunting tools and other weapons they might need later, so they didn't have to take them from Luke's house right now.
The three became increasingly distant and eventually vanished in the early morning darkness. Luke's house was quiet again after a louder night the night before. Luke took a hesitant breath.
"That girl is so innocent, how can she think it's really from my fur?" he grumbled as he shut the door.