Chapter 66
“I only have this one thing, but I’m glad it suits you. I will also cherish the vest you gave me.”
Hearing my words, she nodded and smiled emotionally. The territory people beside us also smiled while looking at the girl.
Because the people in the territory were very skilled, time passed quickly while we looked at other things.
While touring the territory for half a day, the sun was already setting beyond the sea.
The sunset spread across the sea, shining with brilliant red light. It was a very beautiful scenery, perfect for ending a happy day like today.
Looking at the quietly setting sun, I suddenly thought.
‘Was there ever a time after possession when I could enjoy myself without worry like this?’
Spending that time together with Ricardo also felt like something new to me.
Maybe I stared at the sunset too deeply.
Ricardo sent the territory people back first.
“We will go up the hill and then return, so go back first.”
“Yes. There is a bell tower building on the hill. It is old, but the view from there is amazing.”
The man smiled brightly and shared the information before riding his horse away.
We went toward the place he pointed.
Indeed, a white bell tower stood alone on top of the hill.
It was an old empty building, quiet because it faced the sea.
There was a steep staircase on one side of the wall leading upward, and a small bell was hanging at the top.
There were no railings on the stairs.
Ricardo extended his hand and held mine.
I didn’t refuse because I also wanted to go up quickly and see the sunset scenery.
“Wow.”
The view at the top floor was incomparable to the view below.
What the territory man said was true.
It felt like only the two of us were standing above the orange sea.
After watching the sunset for a while, I quietly looked to the side.
Ricardo was looking far toward the horizon.
His black hair and black shirt collar swayed in the sea breeze, making him look free from all worries.
“Gerry told me to 꼭 climb this hill when I come to the territory. Now I think I know why.”
Ricardo spoke to himself while looking at the distant sea.
I thought about why Gerry told Ricardo to come here.
Just like he said, just looking at it somehow made me vaguely understand its meaning.
Before possession, when I was tired or troubled, I sometimes went to the sea alone.
Then small worries and thoughts felt washed away, and my heart became lighter.
But now it felt a little different.
It was not about throwing things away lightly.
It felt more full, as if the sea entered my heart and helped me keep my balance.
Feeling an unknown overwhelming emotion, I took a deep breath.
Ricardo looked at me quietly.
“Moments like this feel more meaningful to me because you are beside me.”
His simple words felt more sincere in front of the sea.
“Thank you.”
I honestly said thank you for allowing me to come to the territory, for letting me have this time, and for treating me kindly.
It was only one sentence, but perhaps my sincerity was conveyed because a faint smile spread on his lips.
A peaceful and cozy air that could not be felt anywhere in the world seemed to surround us.
But somehow, things were following the scenario that Ena had imagined.
According to Ena’s imagination, this was the time when Ricardo would turn me around, look at me deeply, lower his head, and then… touch my lips.
The fantasy that Ena had spread came to my mind.
At that moment, Ricardo held my shoulder and slowly turned me around.
But contrary to expectations, he wrapped my shoulders with his arm and quickly took me behind the pillar with the bell.
Everything happened too fast.
I looked up at him in surprise.
There was no deep, gentle gaze like Ena imagined.
His eyes looked very cold and sharp.
Because of the sunset light, red light was mixed in his blue eyes, making them look dangerous.
His gaze was fixed somewhere outside the bell tower.
“Why?”
I asked urgently.
He put his finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet.
Seeing him on guard, I realized something dangerous was happening.
“Let’s go down first.”
I nodded and held my breath.
Below the pillar with the bell was another space hidden by heavy wooden boards.
I helped Ricardo remove the boards.
There was a narrow staircase going downward.
It seemed covered so that rain would not enter.
“Ah!”
While I was trying to stand up to go down, an arrow quickly grazed my hair.
If Ricardo had not pulled me, it would have hit my head.
When the arrow flew, I felt a real sense that I might die.
I grabbed Ricardo’s hand and moved with him.
When we went down and tried to exit through the door, black shadows were visible outside.
“Over there.”
We moved while bending our bodies toward a side door near where the horses were tied.
“Run forward without looking back. Then get on my horse.”
I nodded.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw only the black horse and ran with all my strength.
People attacking me fell sideways with cries of “Ack!” as if they were thrown aside by something.
Ricardo seemed to be blocking all the attacks.
Someone lying next to me was bleeding from the mouth with eyes still open.
I closed my eyes tightly.
“If you are about to die, superhuman strength seems to appear.”
I gripped the reins and jumped onto Ricardo’s horse in one motion.
There were more than one or two people who tried to attack us.
Many of them were already lying on the ground after being struck by Ricardo’s sword.
Fortunately, Ricardo didn’t seem injured.
But a large bald man wearing a black mask, who seemed to be the leader, persistently attacked Ricardo.
Whenever he tried to get on the horse, the man clung to his legs like a zombie.
The sword he swung grazed the horse’s mane, making the horse excited.
Worse, arrows continued flying from the forest, pouring attacks from everywhere.
I lowered my upper body as much as possible like I was one with the horse and stretched my hand to Ricardo so he could get on.
Finally, he grabbed my hand and jumped onto the horse.
But as if making a final struggle, the bald man roared and grabbed Ricardo’s body.
Because of his large body, the horse swayed and I almost fell too.
Ricardo, who was busy blocking arrows, tried to kick the man off.
But the man screamed and blocked us.
Then I saw the man secretly pull a dagger from his waist.
It looked like if he stretched his hand, the knife would immediately stab Ricardo’s heart.
Seeing that, I tremblingly moved my hand inside my dress.
“Die!”
“You die instead!”
When that man tried to stab Ricardo with all his strength, I also slammed what I was holding into him with all my strength.
I closed my eyes at the feeling of the dagger sinking in.
After a moment, I opened my eyes.
The man had fallen from the horse and was lying flat on the ground.
The knife I stabbed was stuck in his neck.
The knife was the one given to me by Kaia’s Carun.
He told me to carry it for self-defense.
I never imagined I would use it like this.
Ricardo looked at me with disbelief and then tightened the reins and started running.
As we moved farther away, some people rode horses and chased us.
They seemed determined to kill me and Ricardo.
The attackers on the side were knocked down whenever Ricardo swung his sword.
They were like zombie hordes—persistent even though they couldn’t defeat him.
When the arrow attacks seemed to have decreased, I slightly turned back.
There, a fierce battle was still happening.
People who seemed to be on our side were fighting the archers one by one.
Only then did my tension loosen.
I collapsed backward and leaned against Ricardo sitting behind me.
Unlike me who was completely drained, Ricardo strengthened his arm holding the reins.
Thinking about what would have happened if I were alone made my vision dizzy.
Who on earth did this terrible thing?
If it wasn’t the territory people, was it outside bandits?
Or did someone order them to attack us?
I realized that once I left the duke’s residence, danger was lurking everywhere.
Ironically, the place I tried so hard to escape from was actually the safest place for me.
