Chapter 409 - 408. The Heroes’ Homecoming (4)
"Let’s go for a walk, Reina," Rune said gently as I finished wiping my mouth with a kerchief, the comforting remnants of lunch still warming the room with a homely scent of spice and bread.
"Sure," I replied softly.
"You two go on," Father added as he stood, smoothing out his robes. "I have some work to tend to, so I’ll see you later." He patted Rune’s shoulder with a subtle fatherly pride and bent slightly to place a warm kiss on my forehead—one that lingered for just a moment longer than usual and gave me an encouraging smile.
With that, he turned and walked away, the soft rustle of his footsteps fading as silence wrapped around us like a shawl.
"Come," Rune said again with a small smile, and I followed him.
We stepped outside, greeted by the crisp breath of early October. The afternoon light had mellowed, casting a golden hue over the world. Leaves rustled beneath our feet, already dry and tinged with amber and rust. The garden had begun its slow transformation—the once lush greens now kissed by gold, ochre, and wine-red shades. A breeze tugged gently at the ends of my hair, cool but not unkind, as if autumn itself was whispering through the branches.
Rune walked beside me in leisurely strides, his hands in his pockets, eyes taking in the familiar landscape as if it were poetry. Meanwhile, I was coiled tight with nerves. Every step I took was heavy with expectation—waiting for the scolding that hadn’t yet come.
He said nothing.
Not a word. Not even a sigh of disappointment.
The silence stretched as long as the shadows on the stone path, until I couldn’t take it anymore.
"...Brother, are you all right?" I finally asked, my voice quiet against the wind.