IBTDRI 7

Episode 7

Ah.

Something was terribly wrong.

“Why… am I in the forest…?”

I stopped dead in my tracks amidst the tightly packed trees.

Just moments ago, I had been taking an ordinary walk. Yet somehow, an eerie, fog-like darkness had filled the air around me.

Not even the mansion’s lights were visible.

‘Something’s definitely strange…’

But for now, there was nothing I could do. The best choice was to stay put, in case someone searching for me missed me if I moved.

I spotted the stump of a tree nearby—perfect to sit on.

“Let me just sit over—”

Grrr—.

I froze.

Bark, bark!

A deep, savage growl. The barking of something massive.

‘W-what was that?’

My heart lurched as a memory of my tutor’s warning resurfaced:

“Do not stray beyond the back garden. Wild dogs have been appearing often these days.”

That’s right—this wasn’t the garden anymore.

Trouble. Big trouble.

When I set out for this walk, getting lost hadn’t been part of the plan.

And a starving wild dog… to a child like me, it was no different than a wolf.

Crunch… crunch…

More than one set of footsteps approached.

“What should I do…?”

There were only tall trees around me, no cover to hide behind. Climbing one again was out of the question.

‘I know this is stupid… but…’

I clenched my trembling fist.

‘One chance. Just one. I’ll gamble everything on it.’

The moment I snapped my eyes open—

“HELP!!!”

I screamed at the top of my lungs and bolted in the opposite direction.

“Woof, woof, woof!”

The snarling and heavy pursuit followed.

“Ahhh!”

“Grrr, woof woof!”

“Please, somebody help me!!”

I knew I couldn’t outrun them. Not with this child’s body. Not even an adult could.

But the forest was always patrolled by guards.

It was a gamble. One that risked my life.

“Please, help—!”

I tripped. My foot snagged on a tree root and I went sprawling.

In my panic, my hand flailed and caught a thick branch.

I swung it desperately.

Crack!

But a snarling maw was already inches away.

The last hope I clutched was splintered in an instant by razor fangs.

The wild dog snapped the branch aside and stared directly at me.

For one foolish second, it felt like it was trying to confirm who I was.

“A-ah, let go!!”

It seized my skirt in its teeth and began dragging me.

No matter how I braced or resisted, I couldn’t fight a beast three times my size.

My fingernails carved lines into the dirt as my body was pulled helplessly along. Another dog padded alongside, leaving pawprints as if guarding me.

“Somebody, please—”

The ground I had fallen on grew more distant.

Kicking, thrashing, even striking with my knee did nothing. The beast was relentless.

Why? What was its instinct? Where was it taking me?

‘I don’t know, I just—’

I’m so scared.

Terrifyingly so.

And then, suddenly, the wild dog flung me aside.

“Ah!”

I hit the ground, curling into a ball.

Tears poured without restraint.

‘Cindy… Tani… I think I’m going to die.’

“H-help… somebody, please…”

Through blurry eyes, I saw the largest of the pack closing in.

It lunged, maw wide enough to swallow me whole.

I shut my eyes tight.

“Please, save me…!”

And then—

Swish!

Someone caught me firmly in their arms.

Thud!

“Yelp!”

“Whine!”

Sounds of impact exploded all around.

Flutter—

“…?”

Peeking through slitted eyes, the first thing I saw was a single black feather drifting past.

Then—

“…”

“…Are you okay?”

I froze.

The crimson eyes staring into mine were far too close, reflecting me completely.

“Z… Zar…?”

Our gazes locked for what felt like eternity.

My heart hammered, his warmth pressed against me.

Everything else was silent. Only he filled my vision.

‘This is insane, but…’

In the soft moonlight, he looked like an angel.
An angel who had come to save me.

My pulse raced faster and faster.

At last, Zar’s lips curved into a faint smile. A smile I couldn’t decipher at all.

His hand brushed toward my face, and just as I shut my eyes again—

‘Ah, wait.’

“Zar, w-we don’t have time for this!”

“Huh?”

I shoved him away.

We’d been surrounded by wild dogs just moments ago—how could I lose myself like that?

But… they were gone.

“W-where are the dogs? Did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“I mean, the dogs!”

I glanced around frantically. Only a lone black feather lay on the ground.

“Hmm…”

His eyes followed mine, and then he said something absurd.

“A crow drove them off.”

“A… crow?”

“Yeah. You know they’re predators too, right? Maybe the dogs were scared. Lucky for us.”

“…”

Even as a seven-year-old, I would never have believed that.

Yet somehow…

“R-right. That must be it.”

I felt like I had to answer that way.

“Shall we head back, then?”

He extended his hand.

I hesitated, but placed mine in his.

Because I didn’t have the heart to refuse.

‘…I can ask again later, can’t I?’

Hand in hand, we walked back toward the mansion. The thick fog had already lifted.

When we returned to the back garden, a maid sent by my tutor was just arriving.

Of course, Zar and I had already let go of each other’s hands.

“Wait, it’s only been twenty minutes?”

“Of course. Any longer and your little sister wouldn’t have stayed put.”

That was true enough.

As soon as I came into view, Tani clung to me and refused to let go.

While I stroked her hair, my eyes flicked to Zar. He was already watching me.

“….”

“Shall we head inside, Edel?”

“O-oh… y-yeah.”

The memory of our earlier exchange burned in my mind.

“Please don’t mention the wild dogs in front of Tani, Zar.”

“Because you’re afraid she’ll cry?”

“…Yes.”

For an instant, his expression darkened with something unreadable.

But it was gone in a blink.

“Alright. But make sure the adults hear of it.”

“…Okay.”

Though I knew I couldn’t really explain the crow. Better silence than being dismissed as a child’s fantasy.

‘Still… Tani mustn’t go near the forest again.’

“Edel.”

“…!”

Warmth brushed my cheek—I flinched.

Zar looked at me with worried eyes.

“L-let’s go inside.”

Just meeting his gaze made my stomach twist.

‘Something’s wrong with me.’

I grabbed Tani’s hand and hurried ahead of even the tutor.

I didn’t notice the eyes lingering on my back as I left.

The next day, as usual, I brought Tani to see Zar.

Yesterday was yesterday. My plan to bring them together hadn’t changed.

“Good morning, Edel. And Titania.”

“Good—”

But the greeting caught in my throat.

For just a second, I saw him as he had been in the forest—holding me close, keeping me safe.

Heat surged into my cheeks, and I slapped them lightly with both hands.

‘This is insane. He’s ten years old!’

He was supposed to be Tani’s storybook hero, not mine.

I wanted a sweet, bright little romance, not a messy entanglement with my sister’s future suitor.

For heaven’s sake, the two of them were already mutually smitten.

I shoved Tani’s hand into Zar’s and spun away.

“I-I have class now, so I’ll go! You two have fun!”

And I fled.

The truth was, I had only lost myself because I’d been terrified.

‘It’s fine. I’ll act my age.’

A crush on a ten-year-old? No.

Tani already sought him out on her own anyway, and he always prioritized her first.

Probably.

‘Yes… if I just avoid him for a while, it’ll pass.’

But strangely enough…

No matter what I did, I kept running into him.