C158
After a while, Terence let me down to the ground and asked why I had climbed the tree.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
I bowed my head several times.
"Actually, I came to the Wandering Forest for a walk and found fruits growing on a Tita tree, so I stopped..."
"When you say Tita tree, do you mean this tree?"
"Yes."
"But it's surprising that you would climb up there when there are people sleeping underneath. If you had fallen on my face, it would have been a serious accident."
"It's totally my fault for that. I used to be pretty good at climbing trees when I was young, but I felt complacent because I thought I would still be the same now."
"Couldn't you just have woken me up? If it was just fruit from a tree, I would have picked it and given it to you right away."
"You were sleeping so soundly that it was difficult to wake you up... Anyway, this incident is completely my fault. Thank you very much for saving me."
"Well, that's all."
"I would like to thank you somehow, but, can you tell me your name?"
"It's not necessary."
"But I'm really sorry..."
"There's no need to lament. In fact, there was no chance of you falling on me in the first place."
"What?"
"I was awake from the beginning. There's no way I could keep sleeping with that rustling."
"I-I'm sorry."
"If you truly feel sorry for me, then leave now. I need to finish taking a nap that was interrupted by someone."
The man was kind but stern.
I left the Wandering Forest to avoid him, as he seemed to want to quickly shoo away the uninvited guest.
But in the following days, the memory of him made me restless.
Judging by his behavior, he seemed like a mercenary. Now that I think about it, I heard that many mercenaries gather in the Wandering Forest.
Could we meet again if I go back there?
Leandro has always said that my strength is that I can put my thoughts into action immediately.
This time, too, I used my strengths to the fullest.
"Hello!"
"... Is it you again?"
The man I met at the same place last time frowned.
"What's happening this time? Have you come to pick fruit from a tree called Tita or something?"
"That's also part of it..."
He quickly climbed up the Tita tree, leaving me speechless and embarrassed to say that I came to see him.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
"Now that I see it, there are no Tita fruit trees around here anymore."
"Oh, the Tita tree isn't native to the continent, so it doesn't grow well on the continent, and even when it does grow, it rarely bears fruit."
"Is that so? That's why you decided to climb the tree and pick the fruit."
"In reality, I didn't even know there was a Tita tree in the Wandering Forest. I was surprised. I think it's an amazing forest in many ways, including the atmosphere."
"... There's also the myth that this place was touched by the goddess Miella a long time ago."
"Really? It's the first time I've heard that."
"It's not a very popular theory."
"You have a lot of knowledge. Are you really interested in that kind of thing?"
Then the man made an embarrassed expression.
"Are you going to stay here longer? I suppose you've achieved your goal, so you should return soon..."
"Would it be a bother if I stayed here?"
"Not necessarily. But wouldn't it be dangerous? Being alone with a strange man in a remote place like this."
"Oh, but Sir is a good man."
"... I wonder what you saw in me to make that judgment in just two brief meetings."
"That's because you caught me when I fell from the tree. Sir could have been hurt, but he didn't mind, that would only be possible if he were a good person."
"I caught you on reflex because something fell from above."
"Wow! This is not the time for that!"
I took out a paper bag from my bag and held it out in front of the man.
"As thanks, I bought bread from the most popular bakery in the capital these days! Would you like to eat together?"
"......"
He seemed as if he were wondering if such people existed in this world, repeated his response that he would simply accept my thoughts, and lay back down.
It seemed that he was probably trying to sleep again.
It was then that I thought, oh no.
"It's not poisoned!"
It was my fault. A mercenary who always risks his life would naturally be sensitive to such matters.
But it seemed that he had already fallen asleep and wasn't moving at all.
Regretting not bringing something more in return, I sat a little further away from him.
In the quiet atmosphere, the refreshing spring breeze tickled my forehead.
It seemed like a long time passed here and I wanted to know why.
"... Aren't you going to eat it?"
Suddenly, an unsatisfied voice was heard.
The man I thought was asleep woke up and pointed to the paper bag beside me.
"You said you have to eat the bread before it cools down?"
"What? Oh, it's fine. I'm not really hungry right now. I'll take it home."
Grrrrruur. But soon, the excuse I had given earlier was overridden by the sound that came from my stomach.
While looking away, feeling embarrassed, the man took the paper bag and took out two breads.
Then he put one in his mouth and handed me the other.
"To my embarrassment, I'm so hungry that I can't sleep. It's not appropriate to eat alone, so, would you like?"
"Yes, of course!"
The two sat down next to each other, ate bread, and talked.
"If you don't mind, may I ask your name?"
"... Please call me Tay."
"My name is Ethel. Please take care of me in the future, Tay."
"Are you thinking of coming here again?"
"Mmm. Actually, I would like to, but if Tay doesn't want me to, I won't come back. I don't want to disturb Tay's precious rest."
"Alright. This forest doesn't belong to me, and I have no right to tell people whether they can come here or not. But it would be better not to have too much to do with me."
"Why?"
He paused for a moment, then spoke in a tone as if it were nothing.
"It's a secret, but I'm actually the son of a high-ranking noble from a foreign country who raised me outside. His wife hates me a lot. Enough to pose a threat to the life of a little child."
I was startled by the sudden confession and looked around.
If he were rich and powerful, it wouldn't be a problem to send assassins to harm him.
"Oh my, that's so dangerous! It would be better to receive formal protection from security forces..."
"Calm down. It's relatively peaceful these days. His son, who has grown up well, is generous and keeps his mother in check."
If that's really the case, then that's fortunate.
"But I don't know how long that generosity will last. Right now, with his youthful spirit, he's sure that I'm not a threat to himself, but people's opinions can change at any time."
"So, is Tay saying that I shouldn't get involved with you?"
"That's right. There's nothing good about getting involved with me."
"What does Tay think?"
"What?"
"Think about it without all that background. Assuming you're an ordinary person, wouldn't you want to get involved with me either?"
Our eyes met. Tay's beautiful red eyes stared at me.
He soon turned his head.
It was a gesture that seemed to reject me, but somehow, in my eyes, he seemed embarrassed.
"Ethel, you're truly a unique person."
"So you don't like me?"
"That's not it."
"Then it's settled. I'll come back often in the future."
"... Did you hear what I just said? I said it could also be dangerous for you."
"I have strong backing."
"Backing?"
"If Tay wants it, I would like to introduce them. Once he realizes what a good person Tay is, he will definitely want to help."
Of course, my backing was Duke Cassius.
I was planning to introduce him to Duke Cassius and then recommend him to the Cassius Knights.
I don't know how important the person targeting Tay is, but it would be almost impossible for them to dare to harm someone from Cassius.
However, Tay didn't seem to trust me much, perhaps dismissing my words as a bluff.
Well, it's not easy to trust someone you've only seen twice.
I decided that the first thing I needed to do was to build my own trust in him.
I must come here often so he can get to know me. Then, Tay will listen more carefully to what I say.
"Then I'll just leave! See you later!"
Tay tried to say something, but it was obvious he would tell me not to come, so I ran out.
I don't know why, but when I thought about my future encounter with him, my steps naturally became lighter.
-------------------------
I woke up in the middle of the night, when dawn was still far away.
"... What was that?"
I voiced my doubts aloud, but there was no change in my memory of Ethel, whom I had seen in a dream just a moment ago.
It was a possibility I had never imagined before.
There was a connection between Ethel and Terence, but it didn't seem like a fleeting connection.
When the image of Terence I had seen in my dream appeared before my eyes, my hands trembled as I held the blanket tightly.
I could tell. That was Terence when he was dealing with someone he was clearly in love with.
I had the sinister thought that maybe Ethel and Terence had loved each other in a past life. Not with me, but with the real Ethel.
I woke up and found Terence asleep on the couch.
He must have fallen asleep late because he was worried about my physical condition and didn't even show signs of waking up even in my presence.
In the dream, I felt very good eating bread with him, but now, for some reason, I felt like crying.
If the two of them were really lovers... Have I taken not only Ethel's body but also her lover?
"No."
I shook my head with difficulty. It's not confirmed that Ethel and he were lovers.
Besides, Liena's matter hasn't been fully resolved yet.
"Let's think about it next time."
After Liena's fate was decided.
------------------------
"The date of your trial has been set."
The investigator's voice came from beyond the door.
"No one was found willing to represent you. So, a lawyer randomly selected by the government will take care of you."
After leaving only what he had to say, the investigator walked away.
Liena, crouched on the cold floor, muttered somberly with bloodshot eyes.
"I will never let it end like this..."