Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 58

The Baroness’s letter said she was welcome to visit at any time. Eileen went straight to Laquerta and made an appointment. The following weekend, they would travel together to the Port family estate.

 

“I’ll come with you then.”

 

Cordelia said, setting down her glass of water. Eileen glanced at Laquerta, who nodded as he took a bite of the last of his cutlet.

 

“I don’t care.”

 

“Good, then come with us. It’s not far, thankfully, and if we take the carriage through the no-portal zone, and then use the portal in Plow, we should have enough for the weekend.”

 

The three of them prepared for the short journey. Laquerta realized that he would not see her children for the weekend, so he jumped into the lake at night to meet Lua and Moa. Eileen double-checked the information on the portal and made sure there were no dangers on the way there.

 

And Cordelia kept their journey a secret from Lucian and Felix.

 

“We’ll go with as few people as possible.”

 

Eileen hadn’t bothered to explain Lua and Moa’s past or the children to the two strangers. She had no intention of taking them with her now.

 

Saturday morning back home. Barely separated from Lucian and Felix, they boarded the carriage bound for Plow. As soon as they were in the carriage, Eileen unpacked her bag of sweet treats.

 

“Let me know if you’re hungry, I’ve got some jerky and sweets. There’s water, too. Ah, Laquerta. You don’t get carriage sickness? I have motion sickness pills.”

 

Laquerta looked over at the large bag, which was about to burst from whatever she had squeezed into it.

 

“Too much.”

 

“Uh-huh. Better too much than too little.”

 

Cordelia shifted her gaze away from the window, frowning at the sight. Eileen’s mention of carriage sickness had reminded her of portal sickness, and her mood had quickly turned depressing.

 

Unbeknownst to Cordelia, the carriage sped along and reached Plow.

 

“Prepare your mind…”

 

Eileen glanced at Cordelia, who was breathing heavily, then turned to Laquerta. Laquerta was silently looking around, his eyes sparkling as if he had never been through a portal gate before.

 

“Can people really be transported through this?”

 

“Yes. It’s a portal authorized by the Matriarch and the Empire, so you can go anywhere in the area it connects.”

 

He glanced at the license plate as if he couldn’t wait to get on. Eileen smiled softly, finding his expressionless, but not unexpected, reaction cute.

 

Cordelia muttered softly. “Poor thing, not knowing portal sickness.”

 

It wasn’t long before the wizard called out to them. Light flashed on the gate that held the calm, the resigned, and the expectant.

 

 

 

 * * *

 

 

 

“Woooowwww.”

 

“Ewwwww.”

 

Eileen looked at them wistfully as they immediately took motion sickness pills and stuck their heads in the trash. Apparently, Laquerta had gotten motion sickness too.

 

“I’m dying that we have to do this again on the way back…”

 

“I agree.”

 

Leaving them behind, Eileen scanned the area. It was likely that the person who was supposed to pick them up from the Portal was already here.

 

“Are you Eileen by any chance?”

 

A woman in a suit with dark hair approached her.

 

“Yes, I am, by any chance?”

 

“Good evening. My name is Rolloa, and I’m here on behalf of Baroness Port.”

 

“Hello.”

 

“To the others.”

 

Rolloa scanned the area around Eileen to make sure there were no other members of the party, and when she spotted the two half-dead faces, she smiled bitterly, as if realizing the situation.

 

“Portal sickness is a real problem, and I think we should rest for a while, and then climb into the carriage when you two are feeling better.”

 

It was twenty minutes before they were able to climb into the carriage. Laquerta and Cordelia, sitting by the window, breathed heavily with weary faces.

 

“Is it too much trouble?”

 

“I’m feeling better now.”

 

“Me too. I’m just exhausted.”

 

Laquerta, who had been staring blankly out the window, noticed something and straightened up. He hadn’t been paying much attention because he didn’t feel well, but now he noticed that he often saw Suyin’s on the street. He looked at them curiously, noticing that he hadn’t hidden her ears and tail.

 

“Curious?”

 

Rolloa asked Laquerta with a smile. Laquerta‘s gaze returned to her as he tore his eyes away from the window. The tip of his nose twitched slightly and he said.

 

“You’re a Suyin, too.”

 

“Yes. A Suyin, like you.”

 

The carriage rattled once, and Rolloa’s ears switched to those of a black panther. She spoke again, her smile still intact.

 

“Allow me to introduce myself once more, my name is Rolloa, and I run the Suyin Protection Organization with the support of Baroness Fort. As you can see, I’m a Suyin Black Panther.”

 

The three watched her proud expression and her tail wagging happily. Laquerta marveled at Rolloa’s proud display of Suyin’s proof.

 

His entire world was filled with people who told him to hide any trace of the Suyin, but this was different.

 

“We’ve arrived at the manor. Let me first introduce you to my lady and the organization.”

 

The Port Family’s mansion was a mysterious place. From the courtyard to the colorful but not crude displays of plants and statues, to the diverse ethnicities and accents of its occupants, Rolloa gazed fondly at the scene.

 

“The Port i mansion is special. It is what it is. It’s a place where you can be who you want to be.”

 

Laquerta trailed behind her, pride beaming.

 

“I hope the three of you like the port as well.”

 

They made their way through the gardens and up to the parlor, where Baroness Port was waiting for them. They introduced themselves, and when the door opened, Rolloa naturally turned to stand behind the Baroness.

 

“Thank you for your invitation, Baroness. I am Eileen, the one you wrote to.”

 

“Thank you for the invitation. I am Cordelia.”

 

Eileen and Cordelia exchanged greetings, and Laquerta, who had been watching, clumsily mimicked them.

 

“I’m Laquerta.”

 

The Baroness and Rolloa chuckled softly at her awkwardness, as if they found it amusing. With her wavy black hair and blue eyes, she was a stunning beauty.

 

“Welcome, everyone.”

 

Once they were seated and their teacups were filled, Baroness Port spoke first.

 

“Eileen, thank you for your letter, and I’ll be very happy to use the botanical garden pass.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

“I hear you’re looking for a place to take the Suyin children, and I was wondering if I could hear more about it.”

 

Laquerta swallowed hard at that.

 

“…These are my younger siblings. They’re snake charmers, and I feel like my presence at the academy is giving them a hard time, so I’ve come to find a place where they can grow up without being noticed.”

 

Though he had initially set out to carefully assess whether this was the kind of place he could leave the children, Laquerta had somehow ended up answering desperately, as if he were interviewing for a job.

 

Baroness Port nodded.

 

“How old did you say they were?”

 

“They are six and seven years old.”

 

“Laquerta, I mean you.”

 

“I’m 16.”

 

With that, Baroness Port reached out her hand. Her small, white hand wrapped around Laquerta’s large, rough one, and when his pupils parted in confusion, he held her gaze.

 

“That must have been hard.”

 

Laquerta’s face tightened. It wasn’t angry, but more of a look of unfamiliarity, of not knowing what to make of the situation.

 

“This one. He has Suyin blood in his veins, albeit faintly.”

 

As if in response, Baroness Port’s pupils slowly narrowed. The black cat’s ears peeked out through her wavy hair.

 

“It’s so easy for the world to judge us when we’re not what we’re supposed to be, to label us normal, and I’ve always hated that word when it’s used against us.”

 

Still holding Laquerta’s hand, she continued.

 

“I’m saying I know how you felt every time you were judged by that standard that didn’t care about us, and that makes me admire you even more. You did everything you could to protect your younger siblings, no matter what, didn’t you?”

 

The tip of Laquerta’s nose grew hot.

 

“Take your time to explore the estate and the facilities and make up your mind. We will gladly welcome the children, and so will you, if you wish. If they come here, this will be a place for you to return to, Laquerta.”

 

A place to return to.

 

Laquerta’s heart fluttered. Eileen bowed her head, feeling a mixture of emotions stirring at the boy’s side. Those clasped hands reminded her of someone. Cordelia reached down the table and clasped her hand, trying to cool her burning eyes.

 

“Cordelia?”

 

She glanced over to see Cordelia still sipping her tea with her free hand. Her relaxed brow suggested that her feelings were not unlike Eileen’s. Eileen smiled wryly.

 

Laquerta would be okay now. A deep sense of relief settled over her.