"Apologies for calling you two here out of a sudden." Estorea apologized, wringing her hands.

"It's no worries, Young miss. This is nothing." Haigu reassured her, curiosity filling him as he wondered why his Young Miss had called both Aelia and him into her room so late.

"Well, it's time... I guess. I can't avoid this situation anymore. As much as I like to..." Estorea sighed, running her hand through her hair.

"Young Miss? What's wrong?" Aelia furrowed her eyebrows, asking worriedly.

Estorea shook her head and waves off her concern, she brings her hair down and smiles. "It's nothing. Anyway, I should... No longer delay why I called you both here."

She bit her bottom lip as she took a deep breath. 'How am I supposed to reveal this to them? Guys, we're all in a novel and I'm gonna die?? I mean, tomorrow... I won't be able to explain to them my unusual behaviour since I would unable to even control my own body. And I doubt my dear half-sister would even let me bring them along.'

'... Should I just send them away? I don't want them to see me like that...'

"Young miss..? Are you alright?" Haigu asked, noticing her actions.

Estorea snapped back to reality and blinked, she nodded. "Yes, I am. Sorry. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to... To tell you guys this." She fell silent.

"Miss... You don't have to tell us if you're not comfortable with it..." Aelia spoke. She was perfectly fine if her Miss doesn't want to tell her. It was an uncomfortable matter for her, after all.

"Would you guys... Be comfortable if stay in an inn? And not see me for a few years?" Estorea questioned.

Aelia and Haigu both froze, not be with their miss...? For a few years...?

Why...?

"Young Miss, I am... Not sure what I did wrong. How can I redeem myself?" Haigu clenched his fist.

"You did nothing wrong. This is... A personal matter. That it is a bit difficult to explain, I wish I could... But, I'm afraid you will not take it very well. And it might break you." Estorea muttered.

"I am sure I can take the reason, Young Miss. I am not that weak."

Estorea kept quiet, she really didn't know what to say or do.

Tell or not tell? Which one does she choose?

Wouldn't she be taken as someone mentally ill? Estorea let out a small smile, of course, she would. Who would even believe that this whole world was created by someone who simply just wanted to write a story?

And that she's like this, unable to control herself, fated to die, because of this someone. And the fact that someone had placed her in this person's body, that she was forced to live like this and act like someone that wasn't her.

And her plan to escape death...

It was so... Incredibly selfish. Maybe she should just follow fate and die?

Estorea suddenly slapped her cheeks, 'What are you thinking!? When have you ever cared for others?'

"Miss!?" Aelia rushed to her, checking her face. Seeing her Mistress slap herself suddenly surprised her.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Estorea made Aelia go back to sitting down.

"..."

The room fell into silence once again.

"I..."

Estorea took a deep breath.

"From tomorrow onwards, I want you two to leave this residence at 5 in the morning and go to Gigara. Because I won't be able to protect you guys anymore for a few years due to several reasons... And I don't want you guys to see me like this either." Estorea explained.

She wrung her hands, even more, took a deep breath, "Let's just say, I won't be able to act like myself from tomorrow on. And I cannot tell you the reason why because it's... complicated. So please, leave this residence and head for Gigara. I... don't want you guys to get hurt."

Damn it, she did the last thing she wanted to do in this world.

And that was to start caring for others. What is she doing? Telling Aelia and Haigu to leave because she doesn't want to see them get hurt? How low has she fallen?

It was funny. So funny.

'I promised myself I wouldn't care anymore for anyone else besides me. Look at me now. Someone who fears. Pathetic.'

'... I don't deserve to care for others. If I can't... If I can't even... If I can't even... protect them. Protect..? Protect who?'

Estorea got buried in her thoughts. Her eyebrows furrowed as she analyzed her thoughts, protect? Protect who? What does she mean?

She then heard a small sniffle and looked up to see Aelia in tears and Haigu biting his lips so hard, it was bleeding.

Estorea widened her eyes, "What's wrong? Oh my god, Haigu stops biting your lips, it's bleeding!"

"Huh..? Oh..yea..." Haigu realized and he frowned, he wiped his mouth with a white handkerchief he took out from his pocket.

"Miss... I don't wanna go..." Aelia sniff, as tears ran down her face. "What did I do wrong...? I'm so sorry... I won't do it again... I promise..."

"You did nothing wrong! It's just something personal! Really!" Estorea panicked, seeing them acting like this.

Why are their reactions so... Emotional!?

"Then why are you sending us awayyyy?" Aelia wailed.

"For reasons! I swear you guys did nothing wrong! Oh my god! Calm down!"

For the first time, Estorea had the chance to experience how it was like to care for two emotional kids, one crying and one acting like a moody teenager going through a phase.

By the time that Estorea had managed to calm them down, she was exhausted.

"It's really not because of me, Miss!?" Aelia asked for the nth time.

"Yes! Oh my god!" Estorea wanted to tear all her hair out, how many times has she already said yes?

And how can Aelia keep repeating a question for hours!?

"You guys, you still have to move out from here. As I said, it's reasons. And, it's to protect you guys. And stuff. So please, listen to me. Okay?" Estorea sighed.

Aelia and Haigu kept silent all of a sudden, "Is that an order, Young Miss?" Haigu asked.

"If I have to say so to make you two move, then yes. It's an order."

"Of course, I shall execute your order, Young Miss." Haigu got up, along with Aelia who was a bit shaky, she gripped Haigu's shoulder to stabilize her.

As they walked over to Estorea's door, both of them suddenly turned back and threw themselves at Estorea, surprising her.

Both of them were hugging her.

"Miss... I will miss you..." Aelia sniffed. She rested her head on Estorea's lap.

Haigu was also hugging her, he never cried once during the talk, but now, tears were running down his face.

He buried his face in her shoulder. "I will miss you... I'm sorry I can't assist you."

He then felt a hand on his head, Estorea was patting him.

"It's going to be alright, really," Estorea reassured, rubbing Aelia's back.

"Now, you two better get to sleep now. You have to wake up early tomorrow."

"Young miss... I have a request..."

"Yes?"

"Can we both sleep in your room just for this night?" Haigu asked and Aelia nodded.

Estorea smiled, "Sure, just go clean yourself first okay? And your welcome to sleep with me."

"Okay!" Aelia got up and dashed to the bathroom and immediately start washing up.

In 5 minutes, she came out wearing a nightgown she had stolen from Estorea's closet and jumped onto the bed.

Estorea shakes her head, when did two of them become such clingy children?

Well, it was... Quite pleasant.

"Wait for me, young miss!" Haigu exclaimed, also jumping onto the bed, done washing up and in his sleeping clothes.

"Let's go to sleep now. Today... Is our last day, after all."