Ch.108Befitting a Praester (1)

I could rest in the carriage Lawrence had brought.

Looking at the size of the carriage and the supplies inside—food, combat equipment, medical supplies, and more—I could tell how thoroughly they had prepared before coming to find me.

If they hadn’t found me, would they have swept through the entire area and exterminated all the criminal groups living in the forest?

Anyway, after hastily treating my wounds and lying down in the carriage, all my fatigue hit me at once. The world spun around, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

I woke up when night had already fallen.

I came to my senses as someone shook me awake.

As soon as I opened my eyes, a savory aroma tickled my nose.

“…Caden, eat something before going back to sleep.”

It was Judy. She was sitting in the carriage beside me.

There wasn’t a ray of sunlight, and we had already left the forest, settling in a plain.

The soldiers had lit fires near my carriage and were taking their own rest.

They sang songs, danced, and enjoyed food, expressing their joy at completing their mission and finding me.

When they saw me awake, they cheered, but soon left me alone to rest while they continued enjoying the night among themselves.

I sat up and accepted the porridge Judy handed me.

“…Thank you.”

“Eat quickly.”

Judy was crouched beside me, holding her own bowl and filling her stomach. She sat with her knees up, cradling the bowl against her chest, bringing the spoon to her mouth with minimal movement. Her blank stare was an added bonus.

“…Judy.”

“…Hmm?”

When I called her name, she flinched as if pulled from deep thought and looked at me.

“Why are you eating so pitifully?”

“……”

Judy slowly checked her posture, then uncurled her legs and adjusted her position.

I waited for her reaction to my teasing. I thought she would look troubled or get angry like usual.

But when Judy didn’t react for a while, I leaned in to check her face… and she was smiling.

“…What, are you laughing?”

“……”

She kept smiling as she brought the spoon to her mouth.

I followed her lead and filled my hungry stomach with the soft, gentle food.

Meanwhile, Judy was no longer just smiling but trembling slightly as she burst into genuine laughter. Once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop.

“…What’s so funny about saying you eat pitifully?”

I asked as I put another spoonful in my mouth.

Strangely, though I thought I’d want to eat endlessly after going so long without food, I felt full after just a couple of bites.

After laughing for a while, Judy wiped her tears and looked at me.

The flickering fire cast a beautiful light on her face. The soldiers’ singing filled our silence.

After staring at me for a long time, Judy spoke.

“…I’m just happy to hear your teasing again.”

“……”

Now it was my turn to keep quiet. As I continued eating without responding, Judy laughed again. The situation had reversed, and now she was enjoying my reaction.

We didn’t speak anymore. We weren’t the kind of people who found silence uncomfortable. We simply took comfort in each other’s presence.

As time passed, the singing died down. After all the food bowls were cleared away, the soldiers took turns standing guard and watching our surroundings.

Everyone else, including Judy and me, prepared to sleep.

I lay back down in the carriage… and so did Judy.

No one questioned this situation. We naturally lay down beside each other.

As the night deepened, I thought about my siblings, my grandmother, and the urgent events that had happened just days ago. Then I heard Judy moving.

-Rustle. Rustle.

That brief sound came closer until she was right beside me.

Before I could even think about what was happening, Judy pressed herself against me.

Her soft, warm skin touched mine.

My heart fluttered momentarily. My body instinctively felt happiness at this contact.

She wrapped her arm around me and nestled her head deep into my arm.

I didn’t reject her and offered my arm as a pillow.

When I grabbed her shoulder with that same arm, we ended up in a complete embrace.

Judy sighed contentedly and held me tighter. Though this position was new for both of us, there was no discomfort or hesitation.

We shared warmth as if we’d done this hundreds of times. Perhaps it was because we’d crossed swords. Any physical interaction felt natural.

I also felt psychological comfort. We had so many similarities that I almost felt we could understand each other’s thoughts without speaking.

Just as only those who have suffered the same illness can truly empathize with each other’s pain, we were similar… so we could naturally share our pain.

Being close like this felt like receiving unspoken comfort. Perhaps this is what it means when someone’s mere existence gives you strength.

Besides, I had already made up my mind. I didn’t want to be separated from Judy anymore.

Then, she spoke.

“…Caden, I received a promise from Asena.”

When she mentioned Asena’s name, breathing became slightly uncomfortable. The news that they had fallen apart kept bothering me. Perhaps I felt guilty for feeling so comfortable just moments ago.

“…From Asena?”

“…She said if I brought you back, she would turn a blind eye to you marrying me.”

“…What?”

“Even though our families broke apart because of family circumstances… I’ll try to fix it. There’s been… a slight problem with my father, but I’ll try to resolve it. Your family has already received a promise, so it should be fine.”

“…Judy.”

“…I know Daisy might not like it. As I said, I don’t mind not being the legal wife. If Daisy finds me bothersome, I won’t even show my face. It’s not that difficult for someone like me who’s been avoiding sister Nera… So even as a concubine, it’s fine… Caden. I… I think I only have you…”

She held me tighter. Her tone and actions conveyed strong conviction.

“…You feel it too, don’t you? You and I are the same kind. We have so many similarities. Just being close like this… comforts us. Gives us strength. Don’t give up on me. The reason I’m saying this is… I only have you.”

Her desperate and honest emotions reached me.

“It’s your fault too. If you disliked a troublesome woman like me, you shouldn’t have approached me from the beginning. You shouldn’t have asked to be friends. It’s your fault for approaching me without knowing anything about me.”

This time, I could tell she was forcing herself to say these words.

“…But if you still dislike me… I’ll give up. If I’m forgetting my place and crossing a line… I won’t do it anymore. You’re my only friend… so I’m clumsy even with this. So, Caden, so…”

Now I could feel her anxiety about being rejected.

This was her true self. Her initial prickliness was just her putting up defenses to avoid getting hurt… this vulnerable, wounded side was her real self.

I wrapped my other arm around her, holding her in my embrace. With one hand, I pulled her shoulder closer, and with the other, I held her waist.

Judy’s body stiffened once, then settled in my arms.

It felt different from hugging the twins. When I embraced the twins, they felt like liquid, like cats, conforming to my body and pressing against every part. Judy felt more like a large, somewhat solid dog.

Though she didn’t have that fluid, cat-like quality, it still felt good to hold her.

“…Judy. The reason I couldn’t… and still can’t make promises carelessly… is because I’m afraid of disappointing you.”

“……”

“Alright. I’ll be honest. I don’t want to be separated from you either. I know what comfort you feel from me… because I feel it from you too. But Judy, I’m connected to Daisy. I like you, but that doesn’t mean I want to hurt Daisy.”

“…I said I’d be fine even as a concubine.”

Thinking my next words would be rejection, she spoke with a voice wet with emotion.

“…I don’t need a promise that you’ll definitely take me in, Caden. Just… just promise me this one thing. That you’ll try. That you’ll try to accept me as a concubine. Okay…?”

I stroked her hair once.

She fidgeted nervously at my movement.

Before she could say anything else, I nodded.

In truth, from the moment I held her in my arms, I had already made my decision.

“…Listen to everything I have to say. I’ve never been greedy my entire life… but from now on, I’m going to try living a little more selfishly. I’ll try. Really. That’s what I was going to say.”

“……”

“…Do you trust me?”

I asked the last question with a hint of humor. The last time I said these words, I had clearly promised we would meet again.

Considering that promise would have been difficult to keep without Judy, it wasn’t something I should brazenly ask again when I hadn’t given her any reason to trust me.

But Judy chuckled at my words, breaking the serious atmosphere and starting to laugh brightly.

Then, with eyes still full of laughter that she couldn’t hide, she pressed her lips together crookedly and spoke. Her attempt to look angry was adorable.

“That’s a really mean joke. But, Caden…”

Our already close distance grew even closer.

She lifted herself slightly and kissed me. It was a light but warm kiss.

Dropping her pretend anger, she looked at me intently and said:

“…I trust you. I will trust you.”