Chapter 88: A Fool’s Love (7)

[88] 13. A Fool’s Love (7)

Moonlight streamed down into the forest, where a man and a woman were running away.

It’s a scene so worn out that even calling it clichéd feels outdated. A situation that inevitably appears in any play about forbidden love. It’s also the subject matter most likely to elicit sighs from critics.

But, even so, this scene continues to repeat itself in novels, plays, songs, and reality.

Because there’s a kind of romanticism unique to this scene.

The anticipation for the future,

Yet, the harsh reality represented by the dark forest.

Nevertheless, two hands clasped together.

A delicate sensibility precariously balanced between reality and fantasy. That’s what’s inherent in this scene.

…Of course, this doesn’t apply to Rem and Feya.

“Barbarian? You’re supposed to be confined right now…”

Feya struck the face of the knight standing guard. Frothing at the mouth, the knight collapsed ungracefully onto the ground.

Seeing this, Rem whispered in a small, startled voice.

‘Fe, Feya…!’

“It’s fine, he’s not dead.”

Feya brushed off her stiff wrist and moved forward. Rem, constantly glancing at the fallen knight, followed behind her.

Then, in a shrinking voice, he asked Feya.

‘Is, is this really alright? Besides, Mr. Gillian is…’

“Tell him to go fuck himself.”

Gillian had taken command in place of Sheila, who hadn’t returned yet.

He had confined Feya because of yesterday’s assault.

But, she had ignored even Sheila’s orders, so would she listen to Gillian’s? Furthermore, if she was going to disobey orders anyway, it was better to do it all at once.

Feya roughly tossed the unconscious knight into the bushes. And, after putting sufficient distance between themselves and the camp, she looked back.

The camp was enveloped in silence.

It seemed they hadn’t noticed Feya and Rem leaving the camp yet.

In a way, it was to be expected.

Since Sheila had left with most of the personnel.

Besides, they probably couldn’t even imagine an escape attempt in this situation.

Feya, grateful for her luck, looked back at Rem. As if unable to shake off his anxiety, Rem asked, gauging Feya’s expression.

‘Sh, shouldn’t we just go back to the tent…’

“Catch.”

Rem instinctively accepted the bundle Feya handed him. He looked down at Feya with a bewildered face.

“Why this…”

“If you walk straight in the direction the moon is setting, you’ll come across a village. Look for your companion there. She’s probably hiding there.”

“…What?”

Feya took a swig of wine to suppress the rising emotions within her.

Originally, she had intended to keep him a little longer. The current Rem was too weak right now, and she didn’t know what would happen if she let him go. She had been thinking of letting him slip away when Rosalia showed up to rescue them.

But, yesterday’s events changed Feya’s mind.

Feya looked at Rem’s still-unhealed wounds. The remnants of yesterday’s assault.

Most likely, there were also a lot of wounds left inside, not just on the outside. If he stayed here any longer, those wounds would fester or get infected.

The first requirement for healing is a safe environment. As a healer, Feya couldn’t leave Rem in such a terrible place. As a warrior, she felt the same.

Feya pointed her chin towards the outside of the camp.

“Go, and don’t ever come back.”

“W, why…?”

“Because I promised you. You don’t remember, but I do.”

Right, this was also her fulfilling a promise she’d made.

She did promise to let him go if he beat her that day after all.

Thus, Feya piled up reasons why she had to let Rem go. But, funnily enough, the more she did, the more her expression hardened.

“W-what about you, Feya…?”

It was a question she had expected, but didn’t want to hear. Feya shook her head.

“If only you escape, the knights won’t chase you. They’re short on manpower, and their target is Rosalia anyway. But, if I escape too, it’ll be a different story.”

Feya forced a smirk.

“Besides, the penalty for breaking this contract is enormous. I’d have to sell everything I have to pay it.”

“Bu, but, if only I escape, You’ll be in trouble…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.”

And Feya pushed Rem’s back.

“Anyway, just go, before someone comes.”

She tried to speak with a smile, but strangely, what came out was a stiff voice.

“Th, th, that…”

Rem’s shoulders trembled. As if he wanted to say something, he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

“…Th, th, thank you, Feya.”

But, in the end, what came out was a farewell.

It was a trembling voice, but Feya felt it was a bit cold.

“Th-Then…”

…Immediately after, Rem really started to leave, making it feel even more so.

Feya didn’t look at Rem’s departing back.

She just listened to the sound of his footsteps.

As that sound grew fainter and fainter,

Until finally, it was swept away by the sound of the wind.

The cold moonlight shone on Feya, left alone.

***

They say subordinates resemble their superiors,

and Gillian resembled Sheila in many ways.

Especially in the way he spoke so rudely.

“What the hell kind of nerve do you have?”

Gillian bared his teeth and glared at Feya. But Feya just picked at her ear, acting nonchalant.

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you help that spell-casting bastard escape?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

*BANG-!*

The innocent desk that was hit trembled. Feya’s sky-blue eyes took in Gillian’s distorted face.

“The knight who was on guard last night told me everything. He said you took that spell-casting bastard and knocked him out.”

“And I said, that spell-casting bastard ran away, so I chased after him. And, while I was chasing him, that knight happened to get hit by my fist.”

“You call that an excuse?”

Feya shrugged.

“What can I do if that’s what happened? Besides, he was a useless dead weight anyway. What’s the big deal if a cripple escapes…”

“It’s because of that cripple that Captain Rosalia raided us!”

“And we confirmed that the mage can’t cast spells anymore. We also confirmed that he’s completely useless, with his memories gone.”

Feya smiled slyly and shook her head.

“Do you really think she’d come back for someone like that? He’d just be a burden when she’s trying to escape.”

Even as she said those words, Feya didn’t believe them. It was because she had seen Rosalia’s eyes on the day she attacked.

She had eyes like a beast that had lost its young. She must have developed some special feelings for Rem.

Well, she understood, but…

“Anyway, if you’re that worried, why don’t you organize a search party and chase after them?”

Gillian’s face contorted. However, no words of rebuttal came from his mouth.

As expected, he couldn’t do that.

If he split the already divided forces again and something happened, it would be a disaster.

Furthermore, even he wouldn’t think Rem was that valuable a hostage.

“…When Captain Sheila returns, she will surely punish you for this.”

Feya chuckled.

“Oh, really?”

She rose from her seat. She approached Gillian, gripping her axe.

She stopped at a distance where, if she swung her axe, she could cleanly separate his upper body from his lower body. A ferocious smile appeared on Feya’s lips.

“Exactly how does she plan to punish me? Cut off my hands? Or my legs?”

“You’re crossing the line, barbarian, just because you’re relying on the Adventurers’ Guild.”

Gillian snarled, his face crumpled. However, he couldn’t actually draw his sword.

It was because of Feya’s peculiar position.

Feya was, of course, a mercenary, but also an adventurer.

And that was fine. Since the two professions overlapped quite a bit, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to take up both as their occupation.

The problem was that Feya was a ‘Hero’.

Hero, a title given to the most outstanding adventurers. They were semi-civil servants of the Empire, receiving commissions from the Imperial administration.

In fact, Feya had received this commission through the administration.

And the one who managed and supervised these ‘Heroes’ was Earl El-Adrian. The new power in the Imperial administration.

…He was also a strong advocate for the abolition of the Knights.

In other words, severely punishing Feya could lead to unnecessary conflict. Moreover, the Central Knights’ position had weakened due to Rosalia’s treason.

That was one of the reasons why Feya, despite being a mere mercenary, wasn’t afraid of the Knights.

Of course, the biggest reason was that she was confident she could beat them all up and run away.

Feya smirked and put her hand on her hip.

“Anyway, in the end, all that matters is that Rosalia is captured. So just let it slide. Okay?”

…

…

…

“Damn stubborn bastards…”

Feya sighed as she entered the tent. She hung her axe on a pole and plopped down on the floor.

In the end, what Feya received was an extended confinement.

For a month, she wasn’t allowed to leave the tent. He even stationed a knight to watch over her.

It was a highly displeasing measure, but she couldn’t refuse.

There was a limit to how much she could defy them, relying on the Earl’s backing. If they really lost their temper and attacked her, it would be troublesome.

Feya sighed and lay down on the floor.

Then, suddenly noticing something odd, she muttered,

“Was the tent always this spacious…?”

[Ah, you’re back?]

Feya pushed away the sudden memory that suddenly welled up. And, to clear her head, she decided to make herself something to eat.

It wasn’t difficult.

There was still some stew left that Rem had made. All she had to do was heat it up and eat it.

Yes, it was just that simple.

[Oh, I made it a bit salty today, how is it? D-Does it suit your taste…?]

“…It’s tasteless.”

Feya ended up unable to finish the stew and put the bowl down. She shoved the bowl into a corner and lay down in her sleeping bag.

However, the noisy thoughts didn’t know how to be quiet. They just kept raising their voices annoyingly.

[Feya! I finished cleaning…!]

[F-Feya, do you have any favorites…?]

[Feya?]

[Feya!]

[Fe… ya…]

[…Th, th, thank you, Feya.]

Feya sighed and closed her eyes.

The most annoying thing about affection is that it occupies a corner of your heart without permission. And then it flaunts the area it has taken up.

It’s the same when the target of that affection is with you…

…And it’s the same even when they’re gone.

An irritatingly selfish emotion.

“Why did you have to be similar to that in every way…”

Feya murmured sadly, recalling the day the white fox left.

“Feya Danderlion!”

Suddenly, a rough voice rang out right after that.

Feya got up with annoyance. She flung open the tent flap, her face contorted.

“You said I was confined, so why the hell…!”

“F-Feya…”

Feya’s thoughts and body stopped at the same time.

Rem was being held by a knight’s arm.

He looked as if he had rolled down a mountain, a complete mess. Leaves and dirt covered his entire body, and his arms were full of scratches.

Above all, his left ankle was almost halfway twisted and swollen.

Rem lowered his head with a dark expression.

“S-sorry… I fell on the way…”

Feya felt a blade sprout in her chest.

***

Feya first sat Rem down on a box. She took out the medicine box and sat in front of him.

“Roll up your pants.”

“Yes…”

The twisted ankle was revealed. It wasn’t just a simple sprain; his ankle was completely turned.

Only then could Feya accept the grim truth.

“Why did you do that?”

“I’m, I’m sorry. You gave me a chance… I, I was stupid…”

“No, why did you deliberately break your ankle?”

Rem’s mechanical eye twitched.

Feya clenched her fists until they turned white and said,

“You think this is the first time I’ve seen a broken ankle”

The Great Divide is a place hostile to humans.

The sharp, rocky mountains are dangerous even without monsters. Growing up there, how many injuries and wounds had she seen?

That’s why Feya could tell at a glance.

That Rem’s ankle was intentionally broken.

And not by someone else, but by his own hand.

Feya’s sky-blue eyes glared at Rem’s dirt-stained face.

‘Tell me, why?”

“…”

Rem didn’t answer immediately. He fidgeted and pulled at his clothes for a long time before finally slowly opening his mouth.

“…P, please don’t abandon me?”

“What?”

For a moment, a bewildered question escaped Feya’s lips. But, as if he hadn’t heard her, Rem started to plead with his face crumpled.

“I, I’ll do better from now on…! I’ll, I’ll clean more thoroughly… and, and I’ll w-work harder on the cooking…!”

Feya’s mind became painted white.

“I-I’ll do whatever you ask…! So, so, please don’t aba-abandon me…! I’ll really do anything…!”

The realization came only after her mind was completely emptied. It was something she should have noticed much earlier.

Once, she had observed the orphans of a tribe defeated in war. They all had frightened faces, and as time passed, they were divided into three groups.

One was the children who dreamed of hope,

One was the children who surrendered themselves to hatred,

And the last one was… the precarious children.

[I’m, I’m not being a bother, am I…?]

Those who constantly had to prove their worth,

[But why do the people here hate me…?]

Forced in a cold, harsh environment,

[Ro-Rosalia won’t come to save me, right…?]

Whose hopes had been crushed,

[…Feya is a good person.]

And were only given meager kindness.

Humans are fragile beings. When driven to the edge of a cliff, they will try to grab and cling to anyone’s hand.

Even if that person is their enemy.

Just as an orphan once clung to the warrior who killed his parents, Rem clung to Feya’s hand and pleaded.

“P-please, Feya, please don’t abandon me. Now, you’re all I have.…”

Stockholm Syndrome.

This was Rem’s true diagnosis, hidden beneath his countless scars.

And the next day.

Sheila returned to the camp with the Prince.