After a while, Noah's chair slid back as he stood. He looked around the table and said politely, "I will take my leave. I need some rest."
No one tried to stop him. They simply bid him good night as he left the dining hall. As Noah stepped into the corridor, his eyes naturally drifted toward one of the large open windows.
The dining hall was located on the ground floor at the rear of the manor, connected to the main building by a long corridor. Large windows had been placed at intervals along the corridor, allowing the cool night air to flow inside.
Noah walked toward the nearest one and looked outside.
Behind the manor stretched a vast woodland, its lush greenery bathed beneath the pale light of the moon. A gentle breeze passed through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle softly in the darkness.
The sky was not completely clear. Several dark clouds drifted across it, occasionally passing near the moon without completely concealing its light.
