I wonder if sheās still sleeping?
Holding the cookies from the shop, she started walking faster and faster towards the carriage.
What started as a few drops became a steady stream of rain, and it was getting stronger.
As Rashidās gigantic carriage came into view, a feeling of relief suddenly washed over me.
Indeed, my princess was sleeping under the protection of that large and sturdy carriage.
That carriage, impenetrable to even the tiniest of rain drops, grew more and more reliable as I got closer.
If only the weather would be warmer from now on. That would be amazingā¦
And with that unlikely thought, I reached to open the door.
āSelene, are you stillā¦ā
The door was already opened.
Contrast to the silent carriage, my heart began beating as loud as ever. Anxious, I stuck my head in the carriage and looked around, but that just added to my rapidly growing fear.
Even without lifting the blankets, I could tell that my white princess was nowhere to be seen. Underneath the cushy sofa, behind the window curtainsā¦.nowhere.
In the room devoid of a childās warm and soft scent, my legs started to buckle.
I stopped myself from losing it and managed to turn myself away from the carriage. I couldnāt even blink. Blinking was a luxury I could not afford at this moment. Not until I found Hanielā¦
Selene is gone as well, so thereās a high chance both of them are together.
It would still be dangerous, with them being small animals and all, but still infinitely better than being stranded alone.
But not even before I made a turn, my final hopes were shattered to pieces.
[āSniff. M, madam. The princessā¦..I was looking around for herā¦.just where did she wander off toā¦ā]
Amidst Seleneās muffled cries, I looked up at the rainy sky.
As if asking me if I had fun while leaving behind a child, it was a sky that was grayed out and wounded.
āMadam, what do we doā¦Itās all my fault ! My fault!ā
āThis is not the time to take responsibility. We have to find Haniel right now, hurry!ā
Holding Selene, I watched the raindrops getting thicker and thicker. She was so shocked that her beak was shaking.
āI, itās all my, I fell asleep andā¦ā
I was mad at Selene, but itās not like I wasnāt guilty either.
If only I brought Haniel with me!
I shouldāve at least closed the door firmlyā¦
āCatherine, what are you doing? Not coming out?.ā
Just the thought of the man waiting behind made me forget everything else in a rush.
The sound of the door closing, the feeling of it touching my fingertips, all of those memories were shaky.
If I let my guard down, my chest and head became empty.
Itās not time for this. Letās go back the way we came.
Even in the rain, the silhouette of his magnificent carriage was clear.
āGo back in there. Hurry.ā
āI want to go too! Iāll go with you to find him! I was with her until the endā¦ā
āAnd so, did you find her?ā
Even when I look at Selene, who is hurt, I have no choice but to leave harshly. If I donāt, I wonāt be able to endure it from now on.
āI canāt take you with me now. I canāt take responsibility. And Haniel might come back first, so you have to stay in the carriage. Got it?ā
āBut madam! What aboutā¦ā
āIāll look around this area. Sheās small and young so she wonāt have gotten that far. Fortunatelyā¦ā
I wonder if I should call this situation fortunate.
There were few people on the street as the rain fell. All that was visible were people with umbrellas and the occasional passing carriage. The biggest danger to someone like us wasnāt the weather or monsters, but humans. Now might be the best time.
āHurry and get inside! You should at least be there, in case that manā¦ā
āWhat? What did you say?ā
āā¦Never mind. Hurry up and go.ā
In the middle of the road, I closed my eyes and turned away from the grandiose sign of a shop.
Just think of one thing, Catherine. Just one thing.
Whether I get yelled at or scorned, no matter what happens, Haniel is always first. If I canāt find Haniel, nothing else matters.
Our princess, my daughter.