IBWMD 65

~Chapter 65~

“Wait. Can we talk a little later?”

I had only said it because I needed time to sort out my thoughts.

But Karl immediately shook his head.

“I think I need to say it now.”

“What on earth is it?”

“There’s something I haven’t told you, Elaine… and I’d appreciate it if you could listen without getting angry.”

“All of a sudden?”

Karl licked his lips like his mouth was dry.

The atmosphere grew serious, and my brow instinctively furrowed in response.

“Of course, you’ll probably be angry. Very, very angry… but even so—”

What? Why was he assuming I’d get even angrier than I already was?

‘Is it even possible for me to get more upset than this?’

I saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. His eyes trembled faintly.

It was obvious at a glance—he was nervous.

I couldn’t look away. My gaze locked onto him involuntarily.

“Anyway… Urgh.”

Karl suddenly staggered.

He clutched the side of his head as if he’d been hit with a hammer at the temple.

Just like I had done during the New Year’s Festival, startled by sudden dizziness.

“Karl!”

“……”

“Karl, are you okay?”

Was he faking it to dodge the situation?

But his face was far too pale for that.

Come to think of it, even during the festival, he’d kept grimacing like someone chewing on ice.

He often pressed his temples like he had headaches.

‘Has he been having headaches since back then?’

His clenched jaw and tightened mouth made it clear he was in real pain.

Sweat began to bead at the nape of his neck.

My heart dropped with a thud.

This man, who seemed like even a blade would break before it pierced him, or like poison wouldn’t faze him…

‘He’s actually… in pain.’

That realization made me spring to my feet.

“Wait here. I’ll go call a healer—”

“…I’m fine.”

Then Karl grabbed my wrist.

“……”

The strength in his grip was far weaker than usual, yet I couldn’t shake him off.

I stayed quietly by his side, keeping a close eye on him.

How long did we sit there like that?

“Haa…”

Karl exhaled slowly, adjusted his posture, and stood up.

His previously distressed face had calmed somewhat, though he still seemed to be suffering the aftereffects of the headache—his brows were drawn together.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“It was just a moment of dizziness.”

“You know that doesn’t suit someone your size, right?”

Just moments ago I was angry, but now concern had completely taken over.

‘And I’m worried for a man who keeps teasing me, no less.’

Even as I thought that, my hand reached out on its own, gently brushing his temple.

“……”

Karl didn’t tease me, didn’t deflect with a smirk or a joke.

He simply looked into my eyes as I quietly examined him, and leaned ever so slightly into my hand.

His gaze still wavered in silence.

Just like when he had first said there was something important he wanted to tell me.

‘What on earth are you thinking right now?’

I opened my mouth without meaning to.

“Karl.”

“……”

“If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”

It was an impulsive statement.

“I’ll listen.”

I didn’t know what the issue was—but tell me.

What you’re thinking, what’s causing this pain.

What kind of thoughts are weighing you down like this?

‘Because now I want to know.’

This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar or sudden. I’d had this thought before.

I wanted to know what kind of life Karl had lived, what he thought about.

In other words…

I was curious about him.

Sometimes he made me angry, sometimes I worried about him.

He stirred up all sorts of emotions in me, but in the end…

‘I just want to know everything about you.’

I couldn’t even make sense of my own heart.

“So, I…”

Just as I was staring at Karl with my complicated emotions, and he was about to speak—

“Miss! We’re going back to work! Are you coming?”

“…Just a second!”

The serious atmosphere shattered with the merchants’ call.

I turned my head to respond, and when I looked back at Karl, his expression had already returned to its usual state.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he spoke flatly.

“Were you with me so long that you missed your meal time? If you haven’t eaten—”

“No, I’ll eat slowly and join later.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Karl opened the basket he had been holding the whole time and showed it to me.

Inside was food—prepared as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It was neatly packed, simple but full of care.

“For now, I can’t give you any snacks, right?”

“The New Year’s Festival is over. With the monster meat now approved for rations, the food supply has improved a bit.”

Karl smiled softly and added,

“And this isn’t a snack. It’s a meal.”

Word games, huh. Instead of scolding him, I accepted the basket.

Even without eating, I could see the effort and sincerity in the food.

It wasn’t just about rare ingredients or pretty presentation—

‘It felt… like the person who made it put their heart into it.’

I almost asked if he had made it himself. I didn’t know why—I just had that feeling.

But no, that would be ridiculous. Karl wasn’t Jeremy.

I shook my head and asked,

“…Did you come all the way here just to give me this?”

“Yes. This is pecan pie, and this one is almonds roasted in sugar. And next to that—”

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy—”

“Ah.”

Karl flinched mid-sentence.

I looked at him curiously. He gave a faint, awkward smile.

“I forgot one.”

“What was it?”

“Butter cookies.”

“Just one missing…”

A memory flashed across my mind, and I stopped mid-sentence.

‘Miss, sorry—but those just sold out.’

During the New Year’s Festival. We had gone around the street stalls to get snacks after leaving the restaurant.

We missed the butter cookies by a hair at that bakery I dragged Karl to.

I had wanted them, but not badly enough to care.

I hadn’t even thought about them again until now.

‘I thought that was the end of it.’

…It had been a passing moment. Nothing more.

‘But he remembered. That one tiny detail.’

I was speechless.

All the little arguments, Karl’s headache, all my scattered thoughts—felt like feathers blown away by a sudden breeze.

My stomach fluttered as if butterflies had taken off inside me.

As I stood there frozen, Karl softly said,

“I’ll bring them next time.”

“What? No—it’s really not a big deal—”

“Don’t strain yourself. Eat them alone if you can.”

“……”

“I’ll be back.”

Karl gently brushed his temple against the palm of my hand, like a bow.

Then he quickly pulled away and walked off.

It was only then I realized—I never got to hear what he wanted to say.

‘What was it?’

A mix of regret and unease settled in my chest.

I opened and closed the hand he had leaned into a few times.

The feel of his soft hair still lingered in my palm. I felt intoxicated all over again.

“Still smell like alcohol, huh.”

No—that was just an excuse.

I wanted something to blame for my racing heart and emotional whiplash.

These wild feelings. These tangled thoughts.

“Hey! Miss!”

The merchants called out to me again.

“I’ll finish my meal first!”

I replied, and then sat down alone in a quiet, shaded spot.

And I ate the food Karl had brought me.

Every single bite. Without leaving a crumb.

* * *

“Good work today, miss!”

“You really worked hard today!”

The rest of the day’s tasks were just as grueling.

We spent the entire day shoveling, trying to dig out goods buried under the snow before they completely froze over.

The merchants and workers alike were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

‘I need to go rest.’

It wasn’t like I hadn’t worked hard myself—my limbs ached from the effort.

I gave my shoulder a few light pats and glanced around one last time.

As I openly looked around, a few merchants asked,

“Are you waiting for someone?”

“…No. Not really.”

He said he’d be back soon.

But in the end, Karl never returned—not even when all our tasks had ended.

‘Well, he’s probably busy too.’

Guarding the outer wall wasn’t exactly a trivial job.

I still remembered the monster that had appeared near the wall when I was saving the pickpockets.

‘If a monster like that came crashing through where the wall was broken…’

It would be a full-blown disaster.

‘Yeah. So…’

Even if he couldn’t come back, it couldn’t be helped.

Not that I was particularly upset about it or anything.

“…Right. That’s probably true.”

The cookies he said he’d bring… they were probably delicious.

I wanted to eat them with Karl. And I wanted to talk with him.

Ask if he was feeling any better.

Pry into what it was he was trying to say earlier.

‘Seriously, nothing’s more frustrating than someone starting to say something and then stopping halfway.’

I sighed, my heart still unsettled.

That’s when the skewer shop owner, now looking rather scruffy, came over and asked,

“Good work out there. You heading back to the lodging now?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Well then. Want me to walk you there today?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, when I think about it… you always had someone walking you back, didn’t you?”

Ah. Now that he mentioned it—this might actually be the first time.

‘There’s no guard or escort walking beside me right now.’