#12. At the Edge of a Dream (2)

“I hear that Lord Julian de la Balatiere found the young lady and brought her back to the estate.”

A shabby wooden warehouse, half in ruins, stood amid the overgrown grass.

At the messenger’s final words as the knights returned empty-handed yet again—and at that awkward name, Julian—

Albris and Dmitri immediately mounted their waiting horses and headed for the estate.

They both looked much the same as they urged their horses on, spurring them to hurry as fast as they could. But their thoughts were somewhat different.

‘Her injuries… Were they serious? How will she cope with the shock? She was raised so delicately…’

As the wind and rain tossed his blond hair about, Albris thought of nothing but his younger sister.

‘Once she goes back to the West, I won’t see her for a while. I should strengthen the estate’s security while Eli recovers.’

As that thought occurred to him, his blue eyes stole a glance at the black-haired man racing ahead of him.

‘Much as I dislike the idea, should I let the Grand Duke stay at the estate?’...