While listening to Violet and looking at Perez, Gallahan got up from his seat.
It was a straight, quick walk, though stumbling for a while.
But a man was waiting for Gallahan on the road.
It was Lord Ivan, who grew old in a few days.
Lord Ivan talked as he approached Gallahan with a stiff complexion.
"Si, Sir Lombardy..."
People's eyes were focused on the servile and shabby appearance.
"Please, listen to me..."
But Lord Ivan couldn't say any more.
It was because eyes with indescribable anger and tremendous pressure came as if they were pressing Lord Ivan.
Gallahan did not say anything.
He looked at Lord Ivan, who was stepping back little by little and walked back toward Perez.
Rattle! Rattle!
As he moves closer to Perez, Gallahan heard a mechanical repetition.
And the moment he finally stood behind Perez, Gallahan gritted his teeth.
Rattle dug...
Rattle dug...
Perez was lifting a stone with his bare hands.
He doesn't even have the strength to stand. He's sitting on his knees.
His fingertips holding the stone were already covered in blood.
But Perez's gaze was fixed only in the ground.
Like he thinks he'll see Tia when he gets there.
"Stop, Prince."
Gallahan said, taking a step closer.
Perez stopped moving and slowly looked back.
"...Gallahan Lombardy?"
Perez's face was even worse.
There were small and big scratches, and his lips were cracked and blood was hardened.
But it was Perez's eyes that thrilled Gallahan more than that.
Empty, unfocused, cloudy red eyes.
His daughter has spoken before.
The story of the first time she met Perez by chance at the Palace.
“It was red, but it looked like a fallen leaf that seemed to crumble and disappear if you hit it, Perez at that time.”
Perez, who sat on the ground and looked up at Gallahan, looked as if he had returned to that time.
A small child who lived alone in the woods before meeting his daughter.
Gallahan bent his knees, keeping Perez at eye level.
"Yes, it's me."
Upon hearing the sweet voice of Gallahan, Perez's face was distorted.
"...Sorry. I couldn't protect Tia."
Perez said in a trembling voice.
"I should have been... With her."
With such a murmur, Perez began to move like a machine again.
Rattled and dug up rocks and dirt.
"I'm sure I'll find Tia."
"Just..."
Tap.
Gallahan took Perez by the hand.
