BKSF 07

Chapter 07

“What the—? What did you just… say?”

Did I hear that wrong? Shionel isn’t the type to talk like this.

“Fuck. Stop pulling this half-assed, dogshit act and get to the point.”

No need to make him repeat himself.

Shionel looked like he might lunge at her at any moment, but he couldn’t.
Every time he moved, the sound of metal clashing rang out.
It was because of the chain bound to his right arm.

“Untie me.”
“That’s for your safety—”
“Bullshit.”

I told you, you don’t need to say it again.

Ponia rolled her eyes and stared up at the empty air.

I didn’t really have a choice either.

She touched her own neck, where vivid red handprints still remained.

At dawn, Shionel—whom she had barely managed to put to sleep—woke up almost immediately and charged at her again.

No matter how much she tried to talk to him, he wouldn’t listen. What else could she do? She had to knock him out the same way again.

At the very end, something even smeared onto a rock, but let’s just gloss over that.

Seeing him bristle with killing intent was unfamiliar, but she wasn’t deeply hurt by it.

He must’ve had a rough three years. This doesn’t even count as going dark.

She was more worried about the condition of his cracked throat.

“First, calm down and drink some water—”

Crash!

In an instant, the cup of water flew into the wall.

…That thing was headed toward my head, wasn’t it?

Unlike Ponia, who trembled all over, Shionel remained cold.

“Why did you keep me alive?”

Why? Obviously because she helped an injured person.

…Of course, if it hadn’t been Shionel, she might’ve hesitated longer before helping someone collapsed in a monster-infested forest, but still—

Because I like you.

“…Do you not know who I am?”
“Your uncle must’ve sent you.”
“No!”

I refuse to be lumped together with that trash of a man!

“I actually met you three years ago.”
“…”
“I confessed to you back then.”

Bringing up that memory herself was far more embarrassing than she expected.

But since he showed no reaction, Ponia added more words unnecessarily.

“Given the circumstances, I’m still glad to see you again.”
“…”
“When I saw you collapsed in the forest, I was so shocked—”
“Hah.”

Clear mockery pierced her ears.

“So what?”

Shionel’s gaze toward Ponia was no different from before.

“Looks like you’re trying to make me lower my guard. It won’t work. There’ve been plenty like you.”
“I really—”
“They pretend to know me, make me relax, then go for the kill.”
“No, I really liked you and confessed—”
“Plenty of noble ladies I’d never seen before confessed their love, then stabbed me.”
“…”
“So which one are you?”

Ponia couldn’t answer.

That sounds exactly like me…

She’d heard of people being “scolded” with confessions, but this was her first time hearing about literal confession attacks.

Let’s just tell the truth. Say her name—Ponia Harbell.

“I’m—!”

Faced with his unwavering stare, Ponia instinctively looked away. At the same time, a doubt surfaced in her mind.

Even if I tell him, will he believe me? He’s like this already.

If he learned her real name and then decided to hurt her…

“…I’m just a passing forest keeper…”
“…”
“I found you collapsed during a patrol and, with the sole determination to save ‘just some guy,’ I ‘risked my life’ to bring you to this cabin.”

She deliberately emphasized a few words filled with resentment, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Forest keepers put shackles on people?”
“You kept charging at me!”
“Then untie me. I won’t charge.”
“…That’s not happening.”

With eyes glaring like they wanted to kill her, there was no way she’d untie him.

Then she startled herself with her own thoughts.

When did I stop trusting Shionel?

Even if Shionel didn’t know her, she knew him.

Always upright, thoughtful—the kindest male lead in the world.

But can I really say I know the current Shionel?

Ponia quietly met his once-bright blue eyes.

Eyes filled with poison after countless betrayals and brushes with death.

Enough must’ve happened in three years to completely change his personality.

But still—Shionel would overcome it.

“Just until your wounds heal a bit more…”

Just until he returned to the gentle male lead she knew.

“Just stay uncomfortable for a little while longer—whoa!”

Even the empty cup on the table came flying. She ducked reflexively, and a crashing sound followed behind her.

“You should at least put some effort into your bullshit.”

This kind of thing will get better over time… right?

An ominous feeling crept up inside her, but Ponia forced herself to ignore it.

She should’ve known.

How much someone can change after losing everything.

Back then, she really didn’t know.

“Untie me. Now.”
“That’s not happening.”

A week had passed since Ponia started living with Shionel, and she’d learned quite a few unexpected things about him.

“Fuck.”

For one, Shionel was far better at swearing than she’d imagined.

“How about some soup instead? You saw me eat it first. There’s no poison.”
“Looks like you trained against poison too. Very assassin-like.”

His distrust of people was beyond imagination.

Aside from the soup she had forced down his throat when he was unconscious, he hadn’t taken a single spoonful while awake. Out of frustration, she even cooked a fresh batch right in front of him, but it was useless.

In the end, Ponia’s patience ran out first.

“What do I have to do for you to trust me?”
“Remove the chain.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Then the conclusion’s the same. You’re an assassin.”
“…Isn’t there anything else? I’ll do anything except remove the chain!”
“Let me outside.”

The green eyes that had briefly sparkled immediately went dull again.

“…I can’t do that.”
“Then why ask in the first place?”
“Don’t you think you’re only asking for the impossible…?”

She clapped a hand over her mouth.

Did I just get sarcastic with Shionel?!

At times like this, she needed to build trust.

“There’s a good reason.”

Even though no one was listening, Ponia glanced around and lowered her voice.

“There are monsters living in this forest. Going out in your current condition would just risk your life.”

Naturally, Shionel didn’t believe her.

“You expect me to believe that? All monsters are under imperial control.”
“The monsters here are so strong that the empire’s basically turned a blind eye.”
“As if.”

She couldn’t exactly drag a monster in to show him.

If only she could contact the outside world—at least she could let someone know he was alive…

“Oh! How did I forget that?”
“…”
“In a few days, someone’s coming to repair the cabin roof! We can tell them about your situation then!”

If Jerome knew, he’d definitely guide Shionel out. Maybe they could even strike first before his uncle made a move.

“So you want me to wait here with you for another assassin who’ll show up in a few days?”
“Jerome isn’t an assassin. He’s trustworthy.”
“To you, maybe. You’re all in the same gang.”

Our male lead… you’re talented at sarcasm too now?

“…If you don’t like that, then once you’re a bit better, I’ll guide you out of the forest. At least eat some soup.”
“…”
“Honestly, why would I go through all this trouble to make you eat soup? You’re tied up—if I wanted you dead, I’d have killed you already.”
“…”
“Are you even listening?”

Shionel’s gaze drifted downward, deliberately avoiding her. He clearly had no intention of engaging.

So frustrating.

Like peeling an onion, layer after layer—his defenses just wouldn’t come off.

If this worked, he’d have eaten long ago. I’ll just have to pour soup down his throat while he’s asleep again—

“Give it to me.”

…It worked?

“Give it. I’ll eat.”
“…Really?”
“But you eat first.”

Even now, he refused to let go of his suspicion—but still, this was progress!

Afraid he’d change his mind, Ponia quickly took the spoon and ate a big mouthful. The potato soup, simmered for a long time, slid down smoothly with rich flavor.

“See? Now eat.”
“Eat the potatoes too.”

So cautious.

She scooped up the biggest chunk of potato and chewed it thoroughly before swallowing.

Shionel silently stared at the bowl.

“I told you, there’s really nothing in it.”
“Seems that way.”

Then he stared straight at her, as if observing her reaction.

Without realizing it, she stared back—until the world around Shionel began to spin.

Is this what it feels like to be bewitched by someone? The whole world’s spinning.

Her eyelids grew heavier, her vision blurred.

“Why am I so sleepy…”
“Just sleep. Don’t force yourself.”
“What do you mean by th—”

And then, darkness fell.