🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 4
Though she had turned away, uncomfortable with his suspicious gaze, in truth Roabellin had no better solution.
“Let’s find the way together. I need to get back too.”
‘Of course, having even one more person would help find the path… But… wasn’t it me who was uncomfortable with this brat, whether prince or whatever?’
Before she could refuse outright, something fell on her face with a soft pat.
“Huh?”
Raindrops began to fall, first lightly, then quickly turning into a steady downpour.
“Ah, rain…!”
The two hurried to take shelter under a nearby tree. Still, their clothes could not stay completely dry. They looked up at the sky with worried expressions.
“This doesn’t look like it will stop soon.”
“Then we’d better move quickly before it gets completely dark.”
They moved under another tree with dense leaves. Along the way, Roabellin noticed Kaisertern’s limping.
He was still unable to walk properly due to the twisted ankle from earlier, when he had fallen from his horse. Roabellin let out a small sigh and called to him.
“Wait, sit here leaning against this tree.”
She helped him sit against the trunk and placed her hands on his ankle.
“W-what… what are you trying to do?”
Like a puppy who had never been loved, Kaisertern instinctively distrusted her pure gesture of kindness. Given his upbringing, such caution was natural, though to a stranger it might seem unpleasant.
Roabellin, however, did not take offense and spoke gently to him, as if to soothe his guarded demeanor.
“Just stay still for a moment. This will help you, Your Highness.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated, and a faint light began to glow from her hands.
“W-what are you…!”
Kaisertern, still wary despite her words, paused as the gentle, tingling warmth from the soft golden light seeped into his injured ankle.
‘No way…’
The light gradually faded. Roabellin let out a small sigh, looking slightly fatigued, and removed her hands.
“Try moving your ankle slowly.”
Kaisertern, half in disbelief, tested his ankle. The swelling and pain from the stretched ligaments had vanished as if he had never been injured.
“Ah…!”
At this point, he could no longer hold back his gratitude.
“Th-thank you… for everything.”
Embarrassed to have received help from someone he had doubted, he quickly changed the subject.
“Are you… a magician?”
Seeing her use visible power, he realized she could not hide that she had some divine ability.
“Not exactly… but I suppose I should say I have a little divine power.”
Just as Kaisertern was about to ask more, the rain poured down harder. He quickly looked up at the sky.
“We should head somewhere. This doesn’t look like it will stop soon.”
“Yes, we need to move quickly.”
As Roabellin stood, she wavered slightly.
“Are you okay?”
Kaisertern hurried to steady her. She smiled faintly, though her pale face betrayed her exhaustion.
“Yes, I’m a little tired from using my power just now. I’ll recover after a short rest. I’m fine.”
Though she said she was fine, her complexion told another story. Having helped her twice already, Kaisertern immediately removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. The high-quality leather blocked some of the rain.
“Put this on.”
Unused to wearing a man’s clothes, the warmth seeping from it felt strange to Roabellin, and she quickly waved her hands.
“No, I’m already soaked. You should wear it, Your Highness.”
“You’ve already helped me, and now you’d get wet too. You’ll struggle if you catch a cold. Keep it on. Besides… it’s darker now with the rain. We need to move quickly.”
Though the day had been pleasantly cool in autumn, the temperature would drop sharply at night. To stay as dry as possible, they chose paths under tree cover and moved quickly.
Neither knew the way, but Roabellin, having been to the hunting grounds before, led the way.
Perhaps from rushing too much, she tripped over a tree root.
“Ah! Ouch…”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… it’s nothing.”
Though not seriously hurt, having gotten lost, caught in the rain, and now tripped, she felt a pang of sadness and tears pricked her eyes.
Even in the dark, Kaisertern’s keen eyes noticed. Her tear-filled face left a deep impression on him.
“Take my hand.”
He reached out and helped her up, not letting go as they continued walking.
Though it was her first time holding a stranger’s hand, Roabellin could not resist. The warmth of his hand eased her heart, bringing a surprising sense of comfort.
Eventually, they reached a small clearing without trees, where a modest hut stood.
“It looks like a forest caretaker’s hut.”
“Let’s go inside to stay out of the rain.”
Perhaps rarely used except during the hunting tournament, the hut’s door was unlocked.
Cautiously, they opened it. No one was inside.
“I thought we might get help if the caretaker were here…”
Kaisertern’s brief hope faded.
“Still, it’s fortunate we have somewhere to shelter. Let’s go in.”
Inside, the space was small and simple, likely for the caretaker. It contained wood-cutting tools, a wooden table, and a worn bed.
A fireplace and hearth were present, but no tools to start a fire were visible. Still, the space was reasonably clean, with little dust or insects, suggesting someone visited frequently.
Kaisertern opened the window cover to check outside. The rain was now heavy.
“At this rate, I doubt anyone will come looking for us immediately.”
Roabellin removed the now-heavy, soaked jacket Kaisertern had given her and draped it over a chair. The cold hit her wet clothes.
“Brr… it’s cold…”
Kaisertern took out a few glowstones, roughly the size of quail eggs, and placed them on the table. They emitted a yellow light. Though they gave no warmth, the glow provided a comforting feeling.
With the soft light, Kaisertern finally took the time to study Roabellin’s face.
Her long platinum hair was wet, and her pale skin even paler from the cold. Her light purple eyes, long platinum lashes, slender nose, and small, plump lips were beautiful. Her lips, slightly violet from the cold, would shine like cherries once color returned.
Having grown up seeing countless beauties in the palace, he had never seen a girl this stunning. Not only beautiful like a doll, but there was something tender and wistful about her. He felt an inexplicable urge to fulfill anything she asked.
Feeling his gaze, Roabellin looked up at him. Only then did Kaisertern realize he had been staring. Flustered at his unprincely behavior, he quickly cleared his throat and looked away.
“Ah, ah! What’s your name?”
Roabellin hesitated briefly.
‘If he’s a noble of Aventador or foreign royalty, he would surely know the Hertenes name.’
Not knowing who he was, she feared revealing her full noble identity might have consequences. She decided to tell the truth about her first name but hide her family name, avoiding potential trouble.
“…Roabellin.”
However, young Roabellin overlooked one detail: among commoners, “Belin” and occasionally “Robelin” were common, but no commoner went by the name Roabellin.
