Chapter 158

A moment later, after setting me down on the ground, Terrence questioned why I had climbed the tree.

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”

I bowed my head several times.

“Actually, I came into the Wanderer Forest for a walk and happened to find fruit on a Tita tree, so I ended up—”

“By Tita tree, do you mean this tree?”

“Yes.”

“And yet you decided to climb it while someone was sleeping underneath it? If you had fallen straight onto my face, it would’ve been a major accident.”

“That part is completely my fault. I used to be quite good at climbing trees when I was younger, so I carelessly assumed I still was.”

“You could’ve just woken me up. If it was just picking fruit from a tree, I could have gotten it for you easily.”

“You were sleeping so peacefully that I felt bad waking you… Anyway, this was entirely my mistake. And you even saved me, so thank you very much.”

“Well, it’s fine.”

“I’d really like to repay you somehow. Could you at least tell me your name?”

“Let’s just say the debt is already repaid.”

“But I feel too sorry—”

“You don’t need to. In fact, there was no chance you would’ve fallen on top of me in the first place.”

“Huh?”

“I was awake from the beginning. With all that rustling noise, there was no way I could keep sleeping.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“If you truly feel sorry, then please head back now. I’d like to finish the nap someone interrupted.”

The man seemed kind yet prickly, and prickly yet kind.

Avoiding him—who clearly wanted to get rid of this uninvited guest as soon as possible—I left the Wanderer Forest.

However, even after several days passed, the memory of that man kept lingering in my mind.

From his appearance, he looked like a mercenary. Come to think of it, I had heard that many mercenaries gathered in the Wanderer Forest.

If I went there again… would I see him?

Liandro used to say that one of my strengths was putting my thoughts into action immediately.

And this time, I fully demonstrated that strength.

“Hello!”

“…You again?”

The man I met at the same place frowned.

“What is it this time? Did you come to pick more of those Tita tree fruits again?”

“Well, that too…”

I trailed off, too embarrassed to say that I came to see him.

Meanwhile, he swiftly climbed the Tita tree.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

“From the looks of it, there aren’t any other Tita trees around here with fruit.”

“Ah, Tita trees aren’t originally native to the continent, so they don’t grow well here. And even if they do, they rarely bear fruit.”

“I see. That’s why you were determined to climb the tree.”

“Actually, I didn’t even know there were Tita trees in the Wanderer Forest. I was really surprised. The atmosphere here is unique too—it’s quite a fascinating forest.”

“…There’s a rumor that the goddess Miela once touched this forest long ago.”

“Really? I’ve never heard that before.”

“It’s not a very well-known story.”

“You’re very knowledgeable. Are you normally interested in things like that?”

At that, the man made an awkward expression.

“More importantly, are you going to keep staying here? Now that you’ve accomplished your goal, it would be better if you headed back.”

“Am I bothering you by being here?”

“Not particularly. But isn’t it dangerous? Being alone with a strange man in such a secluded place.”

“Oh, come on. You’re a good person.”

“…I’m curious what exactly you saw in me during our two short meetings to come to that conclusion.”

“Well, you caught me when I fell from the tree. You could’ve gotten hurt yourself, but you still did it. Only a good person would do that.”

“I just caught something falling on reflex.”

“Oh! This isn’t the time!”

I quickly pulled a paper bag out of the bag I brought and held it out to him.

“To thank you, I bought bread from the most popular bakery in the capital these days! Would you like to share?”

“….”

He looked at me as if wondering what kind of strange person I was.

After repeatedly saying that my gratitude alone was enough, he lay back down.

It seemed he was trying to go back to sleep.

Only then did I realize something.

“The bread isn’t poisoned!”

It was my mistake. A mercenary who lived with his life constantly at risk would naturally be cautious about such things.

But he didn’t move at all, as if he had already fallen asleep.

Regretting that I should’ve brought a different gift, I sat down a little distance away from him.

In the quiet atmosphere, the fresh spring breeze tickled my forehead.

He probably spent time here often, and I felt like I understood why.

“…Aren’t you going to eat it?”

Suddenly an annoyed voice spoke.

The man I thought was asleep had sat up and pointed at the paper bag beside me.

“You said the bread should be eaten before it gets cold.”

“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. I’m not really hungry right now. I’ll just take it home.”

Grrr…

But right then, the sound from my stomach completely exposed my excuse.

Embarrassed, I looked away slightly.

The man grabbed the bag, took out two pieces of bread, bit into one, and handed the other to me.

“It seems I’m a bit hungry and can’t sleep. It’s lonely eating alone—how about you join me?”

“Yes, of course!”

The two of us sat side by side, eating bread and talking.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask your name?”

“…Call me Tay.”

“My name is I-Del. Please take care of me from now on, Tay.”

“Do you plan to come here again?”

“Well… I’d like to. But if you don’t want me to, I won’t come again. I don’t want to disturb your precious rest.”

“It’s fine. This forest isn’t my property, and I have no right to tell you to come or go. But it would be better if you didn’t get too involved with me.”

“Why?”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking casually.

“This is a secret, but I’m actually the illegitimate child of a high-ranking noble from another country. The lady of that household hates me very much—enough to threaten a child’s life.”

Startled by the sudden confession, I looked around.

For someone with money and power, sending assassins would be nothing.

“My goodness, that’s too dangerous! Wouldn’t it be better to officially seek protection from the guards—”

“Calm down. Things have been relatively peaceful lately. The legitimate young master of that house has grown up splendidly and generously prevents his mother from acting.”

That was at least somewhat relieving.

“But I don’t know how long that generosity will last. Right now, in his youthful confidence, he believes I pose no threat. But people’s thoughts can change at any time.”

“So that’s why you said not to get involved with you?”

“That’s right. Nothing good will come from it.”

“But how do you feel?”

“…What?”

“Forget about your background. If you were just an ordinary person, wouldn’t you want to be involved with me?”

Our eyes met.

Tay’s beautiful red eyes stared at me.

After a moment, he turned his head away.

It looked like a gesture of rejection, but somehow to me it seemed like he was embarrassed.

“I-Del, you’re a very unusual person.”

“Do you dislike that?”

“No.”

“Then that’s fine. I’ll come visit sometimes.”

“…Did you even hear what I said earlier? You could end up in danger too.”

“I have powerful backing.”

“Backing?”

“If you want, I’d like to introduce you to them. Once they see what a good person you are, they’ll definitely want to help you.”

Of course, the backing I meant was Duke Cassius.

I planned to introduce him to the duke and recommend him to the Cassius Knights.

I didn’t know how powerful the lady targeting Tay was, but harming someone protected by Cassius within the Empire would be nearly impossible.

However, Tay didn’t seem convinced, as if he thought I was exaggerating.

Well, it wasn’t easy to trust someone you’d only met twice.

So I decided the first step was earning his trust myself.

I’ll come here often and meet him. Eventually, Tay will start listening to me more seriously.

“Then I’ll get going now! See you again!”

Tay looked like he wanted to say something—probably telling me not to come again—so I quickly ran off.

For some reason, just thinking about meeting him again in the future made my steps feel lighter.

It was still early dawn when I woke up.

“…What was that?”

I voiced my confusion aloud, but the memory I had just seen in my dream—the real I-Del’s memory—didn’t change.

It was a possibility I had never even imagined before.

There had been a connection between I-Del and Terrence—and it didn’t seem like just a brief passing encounter.

As the image of Terrence from the dream flickered before my eyes, my hands clutching the blanket trembled.

I could tell.

That was clearly how Terrence looked when facing someone he liked.

A disturbing thought crossed my mind.

Perhaps in their previous lives, I-Del and Terrence had been lovers.

Not me—but the real I-Del.

As I sat up, I noticed Terrence asleep on the sofa.

Perhaps he had stayed up late worrying about my condition, because he didn’t show any sign of waking even though I had moved.

In the dream, eating bread with him had felt so pleasant.

But now, for some reason, I felt like crying.

If those two had really been lovers…

Had I taken not only I-Del’s body—but also her lover?

“No.”

I forced myself to shake my head.

It wasn’t confirmed that I-Del and he had been lovers.

Besides, Riena’s situation still hadn’t been completely resolved.

“I’ll think about it later.”

After Riena’s fate is decided.

“Your trial date has been set.”

The investigator’s voice came from outside the door.

“No one volunteered to defend you. So the state has assigned a lawyer to you at random.”

After delivering only what needed to be said, the investigator walked away.

Curled up on the cold floor, Riena muttered darkly with bloodshot eyes:

“This won’t end like this… Never.”