Ch.4Somewhere Strange and Pitiful (1)

The mercenary guild’s headquarters, where Serin had been taken captive, was in a small city adjacent to the border. This made it easy to gather supplies needed for travel. The only problem might have been Rodrick’s ugly face when we were about to depart after preparations.

“Haa, my innocent child. I hope you won’t end up being devoured by that cunning lady instead.”

It was a foolish concern since she wasn’t some vicious monster. Therefore, I simply ignored his mysterious attitude and set off on my journey. With Serin riding her horse beside me.

By the time we left the small city and entered the quiet forest path, only the sounds of birds chirping and hooves treading on the dirt path made their presence known.

A free landscape I was enjoying after a long time. The summer tree shadows swaying in the wind offered a pleasant coolness that made me close my eyes quietly.

While I was enjoying horseback riding without much thought, Serin’s eyes occasionally turned toward me. It was puzzling to see her hesitating, moving her lips three or four times as if contemplating something.

My parents, who grew up in the imperial palace, always spoke their minds even in their fallen days, but I seemed to have already discovered a difference between them and Serin.

‘Ah, is that it?’

When I first met Rodrick, he taught me that for most people, silence means awkwardness. He said that keeping quiet all the time like me wasn’t normal.

The way to resolve this was simpler than I thought.

“The weather is nice today.”

He once said that with my face, just repeating this phrase would keep a conversation going.

“Ah… yes. It’s refreshing.”

But Serin stopped there and firmly closed her mouth. When she asked for my name earlier, I thought we would converse well, but what had changed her so suddenly?

“Hmm… could it be true? Hmm, hmmm.”

Fragments of Serin’s soliloquy drifted to my ears on the breeze.

The conversation method Rodrick taught me didn’t work, and she didn’t seem to have the initiative to approach me either, so our daytime journey concluded in silence.

◇

The unexpected change occurred in the evening as the campfire crackled, consuming the firewood.

Since we were still some distance from the next village, we were forced to camp outdoors. As I silently dumped ingredients into the pot, she awkwardly approached me.

“Excuse me, Rian.”

“Yes, please speak, Serin.”

“I have something I’m really curious about and would like to ask… would it be a bother?”

“I don’t mind anything.”

With my permission, Serin spoke with relief.

“What exactly do you do, Rian?”

“I am…”

I tried to answer but found myself at a loss for words. Come to think of it, I truly wondered what kind of person I was.

When I was young, Rodrick made most decisions for me, and now my subordinates handled the majority of tasks. It had been quite rare for me to take direct action recently.

A sense of self-loathing washed over me.

“…I might actually be a terribly useless person.”

“W-why so suddenly?!”

“I just realized. I haven’t changed at all since I was young.”

The full moon in the high evening sky seemed to aid my self-reflection. Moreover, the forest path, tinged with the crimson of the campfire against the darkening navy sky, stirred strange emotions.

“That’s not true! You’re making dinner for us right now… and most importantly, you saved me. I’m truly grateful for that.”

Serin’s final expression of gratitude stabbed me once more. I wondered what expression she would make if she knew I was actually the source of her troubles.

“…I should be the one apologizing. For putting you through such hardship.”

“You saved me, and that’s what matters. Do you think I’m that shameless?”

I was the most shameless one, but I decided to bury that in my heart for now.

“If you really feel indebted… just allow me a few more questions.”

“By all means, go ahead.”

“Well, I know this is a really strange question. Promise you won’t laugh or make fun of me?”

“I promise.”

Despite my agreement, Serin couldn’t easily part her lips.

She finally spoke when sparks flew from the fire. The insects around us seemed to pause their chirping, as if curious about her question.

“Ahem! Perhaps, just perhaps. Do you have any feelings? Impressions? That went ‘poof’ when you saw me?”

“Feelings and impressions?”

“Yes…”

‘Is this an ideological screening?’

Impressions about the princess directly relate to impressions of the imperial family. Rodrick once told me that those in power scrutinize even the smallest remarks. If so, the correct answer I should give is obvious.

“Serin is beautiful.”

“What?”

“Your neatly combed black hair, your eyes like the dawn sky with faint remaining stars.”

“No, I, wait…”

“From your distinct features to your skin as clear and transparent as a clean stream. You are flawless.”

“Ugh.”

I wondered about her feelings as she slightly squinted her eyes. Her skin was tinged crimson by the blazing campfire, making it difficult to guess her complexion.

“What I meant was different from that… but anyway. Are you really that…”

Serin paused briefly before asking accusingly.

“You do have a complex about your appearance, right? How can someone be so much like a swallow…! I mean, people who lack confidence usually can’t do this…?!”

“You were the one who asked for my impression.”

“That’s true… but.”

Serin bowed her head at the correct rebuttal. She mumbled slightly with her lips parallel to the ground.

“Strange… he feels like the male lead for sure, but I can’t just ask that outright.”

“What is a ‘male lead,’ Serin?”

“Eek!”

Serin jumped up as soon as I spoke.

“Did I just say that out loud?”

“Yes, you did.”

“Ahaha… well, you see, alcohol! Namju is the name of an alcohol!”

“You must like drinking.”

“I love it! It would be perfect to drink green bottle soju here while watching the stars…”

Though the meaning of her words was unclear, it was evident that Serin was a drinking enthusiast. She must be missing some secret fine wine that only exists in the imperial palace.

“And it smells so delicious too.”

“The stew is just ready. Let me serve you a plate.”

I handed her a brass bowl filled with stew. Serin accepted it eagerly with an expectant face. Her eyes lit up after taking the first spoonful.

“Wow, it’s delicious!”

“It’s a simple but decent dish.”

In reality, meat stew tastes pretty much the same everywhere. Nevertheless, the ambiance and taste created by the atmosphere couldn’t be ignored.

“After eating so many greasy dishes that I got tired of them, having something this light is so refreshing…”

Serin seemed unaware that an ordinary household’s table couldn’t possibly have enough greasy food to become tiresome. In this respect, she was quite innocent. A simple woman who hummed at a mere convenience dish.

“Don’t you find it strange sometimes? Just grilling pork neck until it’s golden brown makes it tastier than most dishes in the world.”

“The same goes for fish. Just sprinkle some salt and grill it, and it becomes delicious.”

“Have you ever tried eating raw fish meat, Rian?”

“I’m sorry, but that sounds a bit barbaric.”

“What! That’s such a prejudice! Sashimi is such a delicacy…”

Is eating raw food becoming fashionable in aristocratic society these days? If true, it would be a revolutionary change for the culinary industry. It was truly a puzzling culture.

“If I had known, I should have attended cooking classes.”

‘It seems academies specializing in cooking have been established in the empire.’

Each of her words was always novel to me. I was glad to have embarked on this journey with the princess. When else would I learn about the upper-class culture my parents once lived in?

After we finished our meal, I collected the used dishes and headed to a nearby stream to wash them. Surprisingly, Serin naturally followed me and shared the task.

‘Is she trying to experience this as well?’

That misconception didn’t last long.

I couldn’t help but be impressed by her figure as she diligently scrubbed the cleaned utensils with a dishcloth.

“…Why, are you good at this?”

“Huh? At what?”

“No, nothing. It’s nothing.”

“Seriously… we’ve only spent one day together, but I can clearly see how peculiar you are, Rian.”

‘I’d like to hand you a mirror, Serin.’

My assessment had changed. Serin was an unusually strange person beyond my imagination.

By the time the moon had risen and we finished washing the dishes, she stretched and looked up at the night sky.

“Ahh, my whole body feels stiff after sitting on a horse all day and then bending over. Doesn’t it bother you, Rian?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Sigh… usually at this time… um, Rian. Sorry, but what day of the week is it today?”

“Friday.”

“It’s leg day… and I’ve missed it for nine days now.”

‘What does she… destroy?’

She might have muttered it quietly to herself, but unfortunately, my hearing is exceptionally sharp.

Thus, I couldn’t keep quiet about this terribly ugly reality. I felt as if I had witnessed a dark aspect of the imperial palace that had leaked from her lips.

‘Could it be that Serin… the princess is being regularly abused?’

Consuming raw fish.

Having her lower body “destroyed” every Friday.

Skillful dishwashing.

All circumstances clearly indicated that the princess was being mistreated in the imperial palace.

At that point, I reconsidered whether it was right to take Serin back to the imperial palace. Perhaps her happiness might exist outside that splendid life.

‘But I can’t hide the princess Serin forever.’

I know well how miserable a loner can become. The overwhelming emptiness I felt when I lost my parents and fled from the empire bordered on despair.

If Rodrick hadn’t tried to kidnap me, I would probably still be wandering aimlessly.

In this bleak reality, there was only one thing I could do.

“……Serin.”

“Yes? Rian.”

I handed her an ornament from my pocket, trying to speak as casually as possible.

“Please… accept this. Sob…”

“Rian? What’s wrong? You suddenly seem sad…”

“No, not at all. Nothing like that.”

I stammered like a fool. At that moment, I was truly grateful that the mask covered my face.

“What is this? It looks like some kind of identification token…”

“It’s a token that allows you to receive my unconditional help once, whenever you wish.”

“Why give me something so valuable? Besides, needing your help…”

“It’s fine. Please keep it. I insist.”

“Ah… well, alright then. Thank you, I’ll treasure it.”

“You absolutely must.”

“Okay…”

Serin looked dubious. But her discomfort surely stemmed from her kind nature that failed to recognize the abuse.

I etched a solemn pledge in one corner of my heart: to give Serin a sense of liberation during this journey, at the very least.