Chapter 20
Roselia leaned back comfortably in the carriage driven by Gray.
Lately, Gray must have been busy running the Golden Whale Guild and managing the information guild work, so she was very grateful he came personally.
It was also a time when she urgently needed someone trustworthy, after her uncle Malus visited and Sven’s confinement ended.
“Did you bring everything I told you to?”
“Yes. I packed everything you mentioned yesterday and all the food.”
“Good. It would be better if we didn’t need it, though.”
Hearing Mary’s reply across from her, Roselia nodded and soon dozed off from fatigue. She must have been tired from preparing everything early in the morning.
“We’ve arrived.”
Before she knew it, Gray’s carriage had reached the destination: a secluded clearing in the forest on the east side of District 2, where Blaine and Cardian trained separately.
This place was on the outskirts, rarely visited by people, making it perfect for sword training.
Originally, they had considered training in the forest where Blaine first met Cardian, but villagers sometimes came there to gather berries or mushrooms, so they moved.
The only downside was that the path was rough, so without cushions, the carriage ride would be uncomfortable. Luckily, Gray’s carriage had thick cushions.
After Roselia and Mary got down with the picnic basket, Gray told them to wait while he parked the carriage safely and returned.
“It’s just a short walk from here.”
Roselia nodded and walked lightly behind Gray with Mary.
But 20 minutes later, walking behind Gray, Roselia began to feel out of breath.
“Are we there yet?”
“Just a little further.”
Ten minutes later, her legs felt heavy.
“Still… not there?”
“Almost.”
Ten minutes after that:
“Gray… are we really almost there?”
“Of course. We’re really close.”
But it took a few more repeats of this before they finally reached the clearing.
Roselia sat down on a flat rock, catching her breath. If Mary hadn’t held her arm along the way, she might not have made it.
“Oh, I didn’t think about your pace and only considered mine as an adult. I’m sorry.”
‘So basically, he’s saying my legs are short?’
Watching Gray smile with an unrepentant face, Roselia seriously considered canceling their contract.
“Here, have some water.”
“Ah, thanks.”
After drinking the water Mary gave her, her mind cleared, and she noticed her surroundings.
The clearing was slightly smaller than the Hailen estate garden, but it was surrounded by large forest trees and had a clear stream on one side. This seemed fine for sword training.
Gray had discovered this place.
‘Hmm. He may play little tricks, but he knows his way around and is quite capable.’
Roselia nodded slightly at Gray. Then she turned her attention to the clearing, looking for Cardian and Blaine.
Soon, she spotted Cardian at the far end, swinging his wooden sword at a straw dummy. He seemed unaware that they had arrived.
Even though he was repeating simple moves, his posture was excellent.
“He’s only been learning swordsmanship for a month, and he’s already that good. Your first love—or crush—must be amazing.”
Gray muttered to Roselia as he watched Cardian.
Roselia, hearing him call Cardian her “first love” or “crush,” just furrowed her brow slightly. She had heard it so many times that she didn’t reply.
Still, hearing Gray praise Cardian made her feel a little proud, like someone complimenting a puppy she raised.
She focused again and examined Cardian closely.
‘Huh? What’s that?’
Something caught her eye. Roselia jumped forward immediately.
“Roselia!”
Gray and Mary called out her name in surprise, but she ignored them and ran toward Cardian.
Close enough, Cardian sensed her and quickly turned, lowering his wooden sword. A look of surprise crossed his face.
Roselia stood in front of him, catching her breath.
“How… did you get here?”
He hadn’t expected her to come. But she didn’t answer him, instead grabbing the wrist of his sword-free hand and lifting it.
His hand was wrapped in a roughly torn cloth, and up close, she could see faint blood seeping through.
“What happened to this?”
Cardian avoided her gaze as he answered.
“This… happened during sword training. It doesn’t really hurt, so don’t worry.”
“…Take it off.”
“…It’s not necessary…”
“Take. It. Off. The. Bandage.”
Roselia’s firm tone made Cardian stop resisting.
“…Alright.”
Blaine watched silently a short distance away, eyes sharp, but Roselia had no time to notice him.
Cardian’s bare hand was exposed. His palm had multiple large blisters that had burst, soaked in blood and pus.
His other hand, holding the wooden sword, was in a similar state.
Roselia bit her lip silently, staring at Cardian.
“You kept swinging your sword like this?”
He hesitated at her changed tone but spoke quietly.
“…It doesn’t really hurt that much.”
Hearing this, Roselia’s blue eyes flashed with anger.
“Shut your mouth and follow me.”
Cardian closed his mouth and obediently followed.
“Mary, get what I told you to prepare.”
When they reached the rock where she had sat earlier, she asked Mary for a small box.
“Here it is.”
Roselia opened the box and pointed to the rock for Cardian to sit.
“Sit.”
“…Yes.”
Cardian set his wooden sword aside and sat. Roselia sat beside him and opened the box.
Inside were disinfectant, clean bandages, and a small silver ointment container. She had asked Mary to bring them just in case.
‘I hoped I wouldn’t have to use this… but here we are.’
Roselia soaked a handkerchief in water and held it out.
“Give me your hand.”
“I-I can do it myself.”
Cardian tried to hide his hand, but Roselia stared at him firmly.
“Hand. Over.”
Her firm words made him hesitate, then slowly extended his hand.
Roselia held it tightly and carefully wiped the blood and pus from his palm with the wet handkerchief.
The wounds were fully exposed. Seeing them reminded her of the past, trapped barefoot in a prison, where her feet cracked and bled in the cold.
Knowing that pain, she couldn’t believe Cardian’s words that it “didn’t hurt much.”
Instead, she felt anger at him for continuing sword training to this extent despite his injuries.
