Chapter 65
“We’re here.”
At the sudden brightness in her vision, Belia looked ahead.
“Wow.”
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
No—it wasn’t just shimmering, the entire lake seemed to softly glow.
“This place is…”
“The Misty Forest carries magical energy even in its lakes. That’s why it shines like this.”
Carlton slowed his steps and began walking steadily toward the lakeside.
“Allen once said it looked as if the sky itself had been nailed into the water.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“But it’s a scarier place than it looks. Where there’s magic, monsters tend to gather.”
“Huh?”
Belia’s expression asked if they were really going to eat in a place like this. Carlton shook his head.
“Monsters don’t usually appear near the forest’s entrance. I came here once before with Allen, so it’s safe. If we were to follow this stream further up though, we might become dinner for the monsters instead.”
Back then, Carlton had come here searching for traces of Allen and Vayne.
With his magic, they’d managed to undo just enough of the entrance’s barrier to get this far, but any further had been impossible.
The deeper barrier within was reinforced with holy power, something Carlton couldn’t break.
“I see.”
Carlton gently set Belia down from his arms.
“Thanks.”
Belia cautiously approached the lake and stretched out her hand.
It was cold.
“The mist seems lighter here. Usually it’s thicker near lakes.”
“That’s another trait of the Misty Forest.”
“This forest is full of strange things.”
“Exactly. Anyway, come sit.”
“Hm?”
Belia turned around to look at Carlton.
At some point, he had taken off his white robe and was waiting in only a black shirt.
His robe had been laid out neatly on the cold grass—for her.
“Ah, you didn’t have to… I’m fine.”
Belia waved her hands, saying she was just a servant anyway.
“Sit.”
Carlton pulled her down before she could sit on the bare ground.
“Well… thanks.”
Smiling, Belia carefully sat down on his robe.
Listening to the water and looking at the moon, she felt as if she really were on vacation—just as she had lied to her family.
It was hard to believe monsters lurked anywhere nearby, given the scenery.
Leaning back on her arms, Belia closed her eyes for a moment.
Dawn was always the calmest hour.
Just as Carlton had said, if they went deeper past the entrance, this kind of leisure would be nothing but a luxury.
Uneasy as she was, she told herself it was good to enjoy a brief rest and let out a quiet sigh.
“This is nice.”
Seeing Belia finally relax after looking tense the whole march, Carlton smiled with quiet satisfaction.
He busied his hands.
The smell of food drifted over, and Belia opened her eyes.
“Here.”
A plate appeared in front of her, making her laugh awkwardly.
“Ah, thanks… but…”
Holding the soup, Belia looked uncertain.
“What?”
“Hm?”
“Why the face?”
Confused, Carlton tilted his head as Belia’s expression twisted further.
“No, it’s just… it feels like we’re on a picnic…”
What Carlton had handed her was nothing less than a feast.
Calling one plate a feast seemed funny, but it was large, and piled with a surprising variety of food.
Soup, bread, sandwiches, fresh vegetables—anyone would believe it came from a city street, not the Misty Forest.
“Where did you get all this?”
Carlton pointed at the pouch at his side.
“You need to eat well. So I packed it. It’s the Tower’s supplies—this much is only natural to have.”
His unusually boastful tone made Belia laugh softly.
“Eat.”
While she started on her food, Carlton simply picked up a piece of dry bread.
Quickly, Belia set her plate down, grabbed a sandwich, and split it in half.
“Here.”
“Hm?”
She snatched the bread from his hand.
“Eat this. You brought all this food—don’t just eat scraps. Let’s share.”
Pouting at how he only fed her and not himself, Belia held out the sandwich.
Carlton just stared silently at it.
“What? It’s yours. Worried it’s poisoned?”
She teased him and took a bite first.
“It’s good.”
Watching her chew, Carlton finally accepted the sandwich.
“Yeah.”
He smirked faintly and followed her lead.
“Tastes good.”
“Right?”
His numb tongue couldn’t taste the fresh vegetables at all.
Still, he bit into the sandwich again, chewing along with her.
Noticing he only stuck to the sandwich, Belia frowned and picked up a red tomato slice, offering it.
“Want this too?”
When he only stared again, she lost patience and pushed it to his lips.
“It’s good. Eat.”
With no chance to resist, Carlton chewed the tomato she forced into his mouth.
Crunch.
But he couldn’t feel its fragrance or sweet-sour taste.
“Good, right?”
“Yeah.”
Carlton smiled faintly.
Belia’s hands moved faster.
One bite for her, one bite for him—she quickly cleared the plate that way.
He stuffed down everything she offered, nodding every time she asked if it was tasty.
“I didn’t make it myself, but… it’s good, right?”
Belia patted her full belly with a grin.
“Yeah.”
He found himself smiling too, without knowing why.
With a wave of his hand, Carlton cleaned up the messy dishes. Then he glanced at Belia, hesitating.
Truthfully, food wasn’t the real reason he’d brought her here.
Awkwardly clearing his throat, he swallowed and spoke.
“About earlier—sorry.”
Though his insides were tight with nerves, his face stayed calm.
“Huh?”
Belia turned from the lake at the sudden apology.
“I was petty about nothing.”
He’d agonized over it the whole march, but what came out was so short.
Even as he cursed his own mouth, Belia waved her hands quickly.
“Huh? No, it’s fine.”
Her face even looked more apologetic than his.
“What are you sorry for? Forgetting was my fault.”
She bit her tongue, embarrassed by her own guilty conscience.
Trying to deny the cringeworthy memories flashing through her head, she mumbled:
“I should be the one apologizing.”
“No. It’s understandable. You weren’t in your right mind that day.”
Carlton spoke firmly, remembering that day.
“I’m sorry I sulked.”
Hearing his plain apology, Belia lowered her head, her conscience pricked again.
“I was… really out of it, huh?”
Her quiet murmur under her brown hair made him blink.
“Yeah.”
Watching her head shake wildly, his eyes softened just slightly.
“You really were. You even said you’d drop honorifics with me…”
“Ah, stop!”
“Do you remember that?”
His tone was unreadable—teasing or serious, she couldn’t tell. Flustered, Belia shook her head.
“N-no, I don’t.”
“I think you do.”
“Ah, no, no. Anyway, it was my mistake. Sorry for forgetting. Let’s just pretend it never happened, okay? Since I already apologized and you accepted, that’s it!”
“Pretend it never happened? Completely?”
His face didn’t change, but Belia saw again that faintly hurt look she’d noticed earlier in the day.
Realizing she’d said the wrong thing, she hurried to correct herself.
“N-no, not completely. Uh… right! Let’s talk about it again, from the start!”
“What we said back then?”
“Yes! This time I won’t forget.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Tell me everything—I’ll remember it all.”
“We’ll see.”
After trading doubts back and forth, Belia finally laughed.
“You’re so petty…”
She muttered it just loud enough for him to hear.
“What?”
“You just said you weren’t going to be petty over nothing.”
Quoting his own words back at him, Belia made him wrinkle his nose.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then they met each other’s eyes—and burst into laughter at the same time.
The sound of water, the buzz of insects… in this moment, everything was perfect.
If only they weren’t in the Misty Forest, it would have been even more so.
“Let’s talk again once we’re out of here. Don’t forget this time.”
“Alright.”
Then both of them turned their heads at the same time.
For a brief moment they had forgotten, but both knew too well where they were.
The bright moonlight glimmered on the lake.
Carlton’s eyes flickered faintly as he looked at it.
The magic in the air was still heavy and thick, his left shoulder still throbbed with its curse.
And yet… he saw things now that he would never normally notice—or perhaps never allow himself to see.
