Chapter 28

The next day.

Having heard from Mary that the dress was finally ready, the three of them were about to head to Mary’s shop.

However, at that moment, a messenger from the castle rushed in hurriedly.

It was an urgent matter, so they canceled their outing, and Alec listened to the messenger in the parlor.

Lana and Riene waited in another room.

In the tense atmosphere, Riene gripped Lana’s hand anxiously.

"Another monster hunt, I suppose?"

"…Perhaps."

Even though the Demon King had been defeated, monsters still appeared in various places.

Alec still had to continue fighting.

After the messenger left with the news, as the two had predicted, Alec began to hurriedly prepare for his journey.

It seemed that monsters had appeared again, and Alec had to go deal with them.

"Brother?"

Alec answered briefly without stopping his hands.

"It seems a dragon has appeared in the neighboring country."

"A dragon?"

This was a situation beyond their expectations.

A dragon is the highest-ranking among monsters, and its ferocity and strength are in a league of their own.

Due to its strength, it was a solitary existence that did not follow the Demon King.

However, if it causes harm to people, it must eventually be defeated.

It seems that, upon learning that the Demon King was not just sealed but destroyed, and that there were no monsters stronger than itself, the dragon began to wreak havoc.

Of course, the neighboring country tried to gather adventurers to defeat it, but they were completely ineffective. They formally requested the dispatch of a hero.

"Considerable damage has been done in the neighboring country. We must leave immediately."

With a determined gaze, Alec said this, and Riene nodded.

"Understood. …Be careful, brother."

Because he is a hero, even if it is in a neighboring country, as long as people are suffering, he must save them. Riene understands this, so she does not try to hold him back.

But dealing with a dragon will not be easy.

Riene, trying to suppress her anxiety, was hugged firmly by Alec.

"I'm sorry. I'll be back. If anything happens, go to the guild master Iroid as usual."

"I'll be fine. I have Lana with me."

When Riene said this, Alec turned to Lana and, just as he did with his precious sister, hugged Lana.

"I'm sorry, Lana. I'll be away, but please take care of things."

In his large, strong arms, she felt as if she were being gently wrapped in a fragile object, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes. I'll take care of Riene."

She tried to answer calmly.

Alec looked at the two of them with gentle eyes, said he would be back, and turned away, leaving the mansion without looking back.

They quietly watched him go.

(Alec, please be safe…)

The body that had been hugged still seemed to hold his warmth. Lana took a slow, deep breath to calm her heart.

"Riene."

Even after seeing her brother off, Riene, with trembling hands, gazed in the direction he had left.

Although she might not be able to replace Alec, since he had asked her, she must protect Riene properly.

With this resolve, she said,

"I'll be with you."

"Okay, thank you."

The ball was the day after tomorrow.

Although it seemed unlikely that it would proceed as planned, Mary must have finished the dresses perfectly and was waiting for them. They decided to go to Mary’s shop to pick them up, accompanied by a female guard.

"Oh, Alec isn’t with you?"

Mary, who welcomed them with a smile, noticed that it was only Lana and Riene and asked curiously.

"…Actually,"

She told her about the dragon that had appeared in the neighboring country and that Alec had left to defeat it. Mary clasped her hands in distress.

"I see. Thanks to Alec, we have been able to live in peace. He is truly a hero. But to you, he is your only family. It must be hard. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. My brother is strong. He will definitely come back safely."

Riene, gripping Lana’s hand, answered as if trying to convince herself.

Yes, he is strong.

After all, he is the hero who defeated the Demon King.

The dresses that Mary had made with all her effort were very beautiful.

Lana’s dress was a light purple, elegant with a lot of lace, and it was both refined and beautiful.

Riene’s dress was a deep green, luxurious but with a touch of cuteness, fitting her splendid beauty.

They tried them on to check the sizes and praised each other for how well they fit.

If Alec were here, he would surely have praised them highly.

"When Alec comes back, let him see these dresses."

She said this to cheer Riene up.

"Yes, I think my brother will be captivated by Lana."

"That’s not true…"

The moment she thought of his face, she remembered how he had hugged her gently and felt embarrassed.

Seeing Lana’s downcast face, Riene finally smiled.

"Hee. I look forward to my brother coming back."

"…Yes, me too."

Although Riene’s face seemed to be planning something or teasing, as long as she was smiling, Lana nodded with a smile.