Ch.62Cutting Through the Darkness (6)

How much time had passed? When I left, the sky was drizzling with rain.

Opening my eyes, I found it difficult to guess the time due to the moonlight settling down around me.

It must have been at least a day.

The battle against the black mages had taken so long that I bitterly considered the possibility that the sun had completed a full rotation.

My physical condition was still poor.

The major wounds had healed thanks to the dragon blood, but

I was still bleeding from the injuries sustained while fighting Maloric.

Even with my superhuman body, I was in this state—an ordinary person would have died long ago from such wounds.

*Cough*

After spitting out blood pooled in my throat,

I slowly looked around and sensed a presence I hadn’t noticed before.

The black mage? No, this presence… it must be the Crown Prince’s.

Various questions crossed my mind, but I slowly rose to my feet as I began to see the Crown Prince approaching from the distance.

Around me lay Maloric’s bones and the corpses of the black mages.

The Crown Prince’s reaction was so predictable that I could only smile when his eyes widened in shock.

“…What is all this?”

“Exactly what you see.”

As I picked up my sword handle from the ground and dusted it off,

the Crown Prince stared at me with a slightly dazed expression before his mouth opened slightly.

As if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, he touched the massive bones and slowly spoke while shaking his head.

“A… Bone Dragon. Could my suspicion be correct? Did you defeat this Bone Dragon?”

“It wasn’t at full strength. Because the black mages summoned it hastily, it wasn’t as powerful as the ones in legends.”

“Still, it’s a Bone Dragon nonetheless. Lord Azest said I might be greatly surprised, but… ‘surprised’ doesn’t begin to describe this.”

Lord Azest? At that mention, I stared at the Crown Prince, who continued speaking.

“Lord Azest made a special request to me. North of Duke Yuris’s territory, a bit further, he said you would be fighting there. He’s like a mentor to me, so I came, and when I arrived, I saw black smoke everywhere.”

The black mist—remembering it, I nodded and looked at the Crown Prince.

Had he broken through it? But the Crown Prince shook his head, indicating that would have been impossible.

“Three days have passed since I saw the mist. And only after it disappeared could I enter. Don’t tell me you were inside for those three days?”

“…I had no idea three days had passed.”

Three days? The thought of Irene made me frown.

What had happened with the curse? If it hadn’t disappeared despite all this…

I had no way of knowing what Irene might be thinking, so I let out a soft sigh.

I needed to return quickly. I never imagined three days would have passed.

The realization that so much time had elapsed made me increasingly anxious.

However, I slowly raised my head as I felt piercing gazes directed at me.

The mages and knights who had come with the Crown Prince were all looking at me with astonishment.

Especially when they looked at the massive dragon corpse, they let out gasps of amazement as if on cue.

Finding their attention uncomfortable, I could only bow my head slightly to them.

“…Without you, perhaps the Empire would have already fallen.”

“You flatter me.”

“The number of petals on the medal on your chest will increase again. I count about 50 bodies here—I’ll have to think about what material to make your next medal from, not just flowers.”

After saying that and patting my chest, the Crown Prince quietly looked at me while calling over a mage.

“There’s much I’d like to discuss, but I don’t think I can keep you here any longer. Shouldn’t we let others know you’re alive? I need to clean up here as Lord Azest requested… and you should return to the young mistress quickly.”

The approaching mage began drawing a magic circle.

It was likely for teleportation. Watching this, I bowed my head to the Crown Prince and quietly expressed my gratitude.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I won’t forget this kindness.”

“Consideration? Don’t be ridiculous. And as for gratitude… I’m the one who should be expressing it.”

The Crown Prince’s fist moved toward his heart—the Empire’s gesture of showing respect.

Taking that posture, he spoke to me with a serious expression.

“I express my respect to you. As the First Prince of the Empire, the Crown Prince, and the second most dignified person under the sun, I declare: I bless this Empire’s hero who alone created a miracle that no one else could achieve.”

“…Hero?”

“Yes, a hero. That’s what I’ve decided, regardless of what anyone else says.”

Hero—somehow that embarrassing title made me quietly rub my face.

In my fading vision due to the teleportation, the last thing I saw was the Crown Prince slightly bowing his head to me.

#

Under the dim sky, in darkness where twilight had disappeared and only moonlight faintly glowed,

the place I arrived through teleportation was quite familiar.

Was it coincidence, or had the mage intended it?

Realizing I was in a corner of the garden, quite close to Irene’s office, I couldn’t help but smile.

A cool breeze touched my bare body. I thought it might be inappropriate to meet someone in this state,

when the mage beside me nervously poked my shoulder.

“Um, excuse me. I think I can make some clothes for you. Just a shirt, though.”

The mage with flowing blonde hair was looking at me with flushed cheeks.

Her gaze gradually moved down toward my upper body, but…

I simply smiled faintly and quietly spoke.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I-I can make it. Please wait a moment.”

If Irene saw the wounds on my body, she would certainly have something to say.

As I wiped the blood from my face, I waited for the clothes to be made.

Creating clothes with magic—according to the mage’s explanation, it wasn’t something that could be done often,

and the clothes would tear easily, so they would need to be discarded after one use.

It was just to cover my wounds anyway. Blood would still seep through,

but I thought it would be better than showing the injuries directly, so I waited patiently.

A moment later, after clearing her throat, she handed me a shirt while her lips trembled slightly.

“Thank you.”

“…Y-yes. Yes.”

But she seemed to have nothing more to say, as she hit her own head and hastily disappeared using magic.

After staring at the spot in bewilderment for a moment, I dismissed the mage from my thoughts and slowly turned my gaze.

The most important thing, the person I wanted to see most at this moment.

I began walking toward where that person was.

My body felt heavy. Like cotton soaked in water, I exhaled heavily with each step I took.

Nevertheless, I continued walking, thinking of that face that flickered in my mind. Following the light shining through the window ahead.

What should I say?

I had many things I wanted to say, many words came to mind, but I couldn’t decide which would be best.

Three days—what had Irene been thinking during that time?

Seeing how quiet the mansion had become, she must have managed the chaos.

If she had been handling duties in place of the Duke, I couldn’t help worrying that she might have become gaunt again.

*Step*

Quietly, I traversed the silent garden to reach the window.

In the dark mansion, one room shone brightly. Looking through the window, I began to see Irene inside.

Unlike when I had seen her before, her face was thinner, and the shadows under her eyes made me frown—she must have been working without sleep.

Papers piled in one corner of the desk, and a seal ring on her finger.

I could easily guess why she was there like that, and I stared at her while letting out a faint sigh.

I had so much to say. I wanted to knock on the window right away and tell her I had returned.

I wanted to hold her hand and embrace her, to savor the fact that I was alive.

But I held back. Waiting for her to notice me first, I watched Irene for a long time.

Her delicate hands trembled. I couldn’t tell how long she had been holding the pen, but the reddened sides of her fingers bothered me.

When she raised her head after letting out a soft sigh, I stood quietly in front of the window, trying to calm my racing heart.

Just for a moment, a very brief moment. It didn’t take long for her to look at the window.

Yet that time felt like an eternity, and I couldn’t help but laugh as my heart pounded uncontrollably.

And then our eyes met.

In that moment, my mind went completely blank, and all I could do was smile slightly.

#

When I realized it had been three days since Evan left, a feeling of powerlessness washed over me as if all strength had drained from my body.

Perhaps I would never see his face again.

Perhaps I would only ever see him in my memories, without even finding his body.

Both Rophena and Lord Chris said it was too early to lose hope.

But with the growing anxiety, even breathing became difficult.

Regret—I shouldn’t have let Evan go alone.

Despair—at the thought of never seeing his face again. The breath that rose to my chin was hard to exhale.

All I could do was stare at documents, trying to erase the distracting thoughts that kept arising.

But how could I forget? I closed my eyes as his face appeared in my mind after just a short while.

If he really had died, what should I do? I would blame myself for my actions for the rest of my life.

I should have held him back then, telling him not to go. No matter how much I trusted him, I shouldn’t have sent him to such a dangerous place alone.

*Scratch*—the pen nib drew an unintended line due to my intense emotions.

My fingers tingled. How many hours had I been like this? My mind was foggy from skipping meals.

I wanted to lie down and rest right away, but… how could I sleep comfortably?

With my head tilted back, I massaged my stiff neck for a moment.

In my blurry vision, I rubbed my eyes and slowly turned my head.

Just to look outside, which had grown dark—that was the only reason, but…

“……”

In that moment, my eyes widened. Was my exhausted mind making me see things?

Was the full moon in the sky showing me an illusion? Many thoughts crossed my mind.

Those green eyes still sparkling, that golden hair shimmering brilliantly in the moonlight.

I could only stare blankly at that face smiling as if something was amusing.

For a moment, many words tried to burst out from within me, but all I could manage was a faint gasp.

As if entranced, I slowly approached the window. Looking at Evan with unwashed blood on his face,

hoping that what I saw was not an illusion.

“…Miss.”

“How dare you.”

I heard his voice. Unchanged, perhaps slightly trembling as if tired.

I could clearly hear his gentle breathing, his heartbeat.

Evan was alive. He had returned alive—I realized this only now.

*Screech*

The window opened roughly, and I immediately reached out to touch his chest.

I let out a hollow laugh at the warmth of his touch, which was absurdly comforting.

“…You’re injured again.”

I didn’t know where his original clothes had gone,

but Evan’s body, covered only in a white shirt, was blooming with red like flowers in various places.

I bit my lip at the wound on his neck and the injuries visible below it.

He had never returned this injured before. I was particularly concerned about one arm that was especially red.

Hadn’t he promised not to return injured?

It would be nice if he kept that promise just once. Why did he always return injured?

I knew it was a selfish thought, but my eyes narrowed with the irritation that welled up inside me.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need your apology.”

*Thud*

I hit his chest with my hand. His body moved backward from the light push.

Did he know how worried I had been?

What had happened during those three days that he could return with such injuries and still smile as if nothing was wrong?

“Do you know what I’ve been thinking?”

*Thud*

Harder than before. Evan frowned at the hit.

I had contemplated countless times during these three days.

Should I stop trying to break my father’s curse and go straight to Evan?

Should I request support from the Imperial family to rescue Evan?

But his words asking me to trust him, and my promise that I did trust him, barely suppressed those impulses.

A sigh escaped through my clenched teeth.

I didn’t need to be this angry, but my vision blurred with the emotions welling up.

With my head bowed, I weakly hit his chest. Once, twice.

And yet, worried that it might hurt him, I spoke.

“…I asked if you know what I’ve been thinking.”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie. You know. You know how difficult it’s been for me. How can you say that?”

*Thud*

I closed my mouth at the dull sound. Wiping away the tears flowing down my closed lips,

I held back my sobbing voice.

I realized only now how difficult it was to say that one phrase: I missed you.

I wanted to tell him. That his face came to mind whenever the moon rose, preventing me from sleeping,

that I had waited for him, blaming myself, fearing he might be dead.

I wished he would say something,

but his silent stare made me resentful.

Yet I was glad he was alive, so I wiped away my tears while gripping my trembling shoulders.

“…Don’t ever leave again.”

Even if I trusted him, no matter how much I trusted Evan as a person. I couldn’t let him go like that anymore.

Even one day apart was so anxious—how could I endure two days, three days of such pain?

How could I send him alone now? My chest felt tight. I exhaled heavily and waited for his answer.

No answer came. In the silence that flowed for a long time.

Evan slowly reached out to me as I bowed my head.

His hand touched my face, then lifted it up.

I tried to cover my face, thinking it must look terrible, but

Evan’s hand pushed mine away, fully revealing my face.

“You’ve been crying.”

“Move your hand, you don’t need to worry about—”

But as if he couldn’t hear me, his large hand gently wiped my eyes.

After wiping away the tears that had flowed abundantly, he smiled slightly and quietly spoke.

“…I missed you.”

Those words made me close my mouth. My face reddened at those words that came without warning.

Evan’s face, illuminated by the brilliant moonlight, caught my eye, and I finally exhaled my held breath and slowly met his gaze.

As if those words were true, his green eyes sparkled beautifully.

Those eyes that always looked at me, without a trace of falsehood—I was at a loss for words.

“If I say this, will you forgive me?”

*Thud*

I pushed his chest at those words that came from his slightly smiling lips.

I wanted to be angry at his smug face, but only a smile formed on my lips.

In the end, I burst into laughter. I had tried to be angry. I wanted to ask why he had only returned now,

to blame him for not keeping his promise, to be angry.

…But I simply couldn’t be angry.

*Thud*—I rested my head against his chest. Listening to the heartbeat in my ear,

I felt once more that he was alive. The warmth transmitted through my head made my ears hot,

and my heart began to beat in rhythm with his.

“I won’t… forgive you.”

“Is that so.”

Did he think I would forgive him if he smiled and spoke like that?

No way—I wouldn’t let him go alone anymore. By my side, next to me.

To protect only me forever. I grabbed his clothes and slowly embraced him.

We touched. Our hearts touched through our connected chests.

Our breaths touched, his warmth touched me, and our hearts connected.

My face seemed to grow hotter as his heartbeat accelerated.

Could this moment last a little longer? The more I nestled into his embrace, the more I regretted that this sensation would soon disappear.

I tightened my arms around him. A little more, just a little more.

With my eyes tightly closed, I wished this moment could last forever. But the end was approaching.

I quietly opened my mouth.

In this silence where only our heartbeats could be heard, with just a small piece of my heart. With that fragment.

“…I missed you too.”

Perhaps even more than you did. So much that my heart ached, so much that tears welled up when I occasionally couldn’t breathe.

I missed you that much.

Under the full moon, under that brilliant light that put the night sky to shame.

I once again realized the feelings I held inside.