After the farce and its interlude, it was time to depart.
Horace and Rellana met their escort of Inquisitor Knights outside the residence. Just as they were about to mount, Horace noticed Messmer and Melina standing in the shadows beneath the veranda.
Something stirred in him, and he walked over. "Messmer, Melina, I'm heading to Leyndell. Would you like to come back with me for a visit? To see your mother?"
Unexpectedly, the siblings reacted with unusual intensity.
Almost the instant Horace finished speaking, Melina jerked her head up, panic and resistance flashing in her large eyes.
She said nothing, but drove her elbow hard into her brother beside her, frantically signaling with her eyes-Say no! Hurry up and say no!
At first, Messmer seemed somewhat tempted, a hint of longing and hesitation showing in his eyes.
But his sister's rough intervention and the fierce resistance in her gaze made him swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.
He looked at his sister's unusually solemn little face and fell silent for a few seconds. Finally, he slowly shook his head and said stiffly, "N-no, Uncle. There are... still many cases to handle here in Caria. We... won't be going back."
His voice was dry, and he clearly did not mean what he said.
Horace's gaze moved between them, taking in Melina's tension and Messmer's struggle.
It seemed there were things between these two children and their mother that he did not yet fully understand...
He did not press them, merely nodding. "All right. Stay here in Caria, then. Find Uriel if you need anything."
"Have a safe journey," Melina immediately replied, her tone returning to its usual calm. She even gave a slight bow, as though she had not been the little girl anxiously intervening just moments before.