KMPEG 22

Chapter 22

Frederick was usually quiet, but today the silence felt heavier than usual.

“Frederick? Young Master?”

I walked around the study calling out for him, but there was no response.

‘Where did he go?’

It was rare. In the past month working here, he was always in the study at this time.

Leaving the empty study, I knocked on the door of the bedroom next to it.

—Knock. Knock.

Still no answer.

‘Forget waiting for an answer. I’ll just go in.’

I opened the door and stepped inside.

Frederick was standing in the middle of the room. The bedroom was a mess—clothes everywhere, and a big suitcase open on the floor.

Frederick was staring at the suitcase, deep in thought, with his chin resting on one hand.

“Where are you going?”

When he heard my voice, he finally noticed me. He looked startled, eyes wide, shoulders tense.

“Yeah.”

He gave a short reply and went back to packing.

‘This jerk. I’m talking to you—at least answer properly.’

Ignoring his cold attitude, I kept throwing questions at him.

“What’s going on? Are you going on a trip? Where? Why?”

I pointed at the open suitcase. Frederick brushed his brown hair back and spoke quickly.

“Just for a day.”

“You? Traveling?”

It was surprising. He’d barely left the house for years, and just recently went out for the first time. And now he was going on a solo trip?

Surprise turned into worry.

‘This is worrying. He was so nervous in the city just a few weeks ago. Is it safe for him to travel alone?’

“Yeah. I’m leaving as soon as I’m done packing.”

…

Charlier. Her name popped into my head. There’s only one reason he would suddenly rush off like this.

“Is this about Charlier? What happened?”

While hurriedly stuffing clothes into the suitcase, he answered.

“She’s coming tomorrow. I have to go buy her a gift today.”

…

Of course. I knew it.

A part of me was proud he was finally getting out of the house… but still.

‘Is this okay? Should I really let him go alone?’

Technically, it wasn’t my business. Frederick was just my “employer,” as he said. I wasn’t emotionally involved. Whatever happened to him wasn’t my problem.

‘But…’

If I let him go, I knew I wouldn’t sleep tonight.

I swallowed hard and said,

“I’ll go with you. I’ll help pick out the gift.”

“Why?”

“1,000 lukes. Pay me for going. And if you offer a bonus, I won’t say no.”

Frederick paused mid-pack and looked at me.

I didn’t miss the chance to pitch my case.

“You know I know Charlier’s taste inside out. That jade piece didn’t work last time because there weren’t any good ones in Shairo, but this time’s different. You’ll need my help. I’m being generous offering this, so think carefully.”

Negotiation tactics 101: act like you’ve got nothing to lose. That makes the other person feel the pressure.

“….”

He rested a hand on the suitcase and thought for a moment, then nodded and continued packing.

“Fine. Makes sense. Pack and come down—we’re leaving right away.”

‘Yes! Got him!’

“Got it! I’ll be right down!”

I ran out of Frederick’s room and rushed up the stairs. As I skipped a few steps, a thought crossed my mind.

‘Wait… can you even get to Brunich and back in a day?’

Normally, it took two or three days to get from Shairo to Brunich. A round trip would take almost a week.

But there was one way to make the trip in a single night—going through the Forest of Darkness.

In the original novel, the Forest of Darkness was only mentioned briefly. Magic existed in that world, but it wasn’t a big focus.

Neither Charlier nor Leo used magic, and the story was mostly about their romance.

‘This doesn’t feel right…’

It wasn’t that I was scared something was in the forest—it was more the fact that I didn’t know what might be there.

I usually understood this world well. I was a hardcore reader of romance-fantasy novels, and this story didn’t focus on fantasy much.

But this forest was completely unknown to me.

‘And now we’re going through it at night…’

A chill of anxiety ran up my spine.

But it was too late.

I was already sitting in a bumpy carriage next to Frederick, headed for the Forest of Darkness.

I lifted the window flap and peeked outside. We’d already left the populated parts of Shairo. It was pitch dark.

‘Maybe it’s better that it’s too dark to see anything… even if something is out there, I can’t see it, so it’s fine.’

I glanced at Frederick. His face looked excited.

‘He’s completely oblivious. We’re headed into a creepy forest at night, and he’s smiling like he’s going on a date.’

His dopey first-love face annoyed me while I was busy worrying.

“Hey, have you been through the Forest of Darkness before?”

“….”

Frederick glanced at me, then turned away and ignored the question.

‘This jerk. I rescue him from death and now he’s dragging us into the forest himself? Forest spirits, if something bad has to happen, please take him, not me.’

I wished something spooky would teach him a lesson.

‘Shouldn’t I be getting danger pay for this? Double, even.’

I angrily scratched at my coat and closed the window flap.

The road got bumpier and rougher. It wasn’t like the smooth streets of Shairo—more like riding a rockslide. My butt kept bouncing off the seat.

‘Ugh, I’m gonna be sick…’

Feeling nauseous, I tightly clasped my gloved hands.

The farther we went, the colder it got. The coach was getting chilly.

‘Is the coachman dressed warm enough? He should get hazard pay too. All this trouble for Frederick’s first love—ugh!’

The colder it got, the hotter my anger burned.

‘Just wait, Frederick. Once I make enough money, I’m cutting ties. Or maybe I’ll get revenge through wealth!’

Just as I was about to explode with frustration, the coachman called out.

“Young Master! Miss! We’re entering the Forest of Darkness now!”

It was still pitch black outside.

—Flash.

“Huh?”

I blinked in confusion.

“Huh…?”

“What is it?”

Frederick asked. I blinked a few times.

“I thought I saw something sparkle out there…”

“…”

“No, that can’t be. There are no houses or roads out here.”

Still, I felt uneasy.

‘Probably just the carriage light reflecting on the glass.’

A chill ran through me. I didn’t want to be that horror movie character who dies first out of curiosity.

I quickly shut the window flap.

‘Whew. Much better. Just don’t look outside and we’ll be fine. The coachman said we’d be through in a couple hours.’

And with that, our carriage disappeared into the pitch-black forest.

It was late and chilly, and I must’ve dozed off without realizing.

—Tap. Tap. Tap.

Something tapped the window on my side.

I opened my eyes a bit and saw that Frederick was just waking up too.

Goosebumps shot down my back.

“Did you hear that?”

Frederick rubbed his sleepy eyes and gave a small nod.

“Young Master… what was that sound?”

My hands, still clasped, were shaking slightly. I let go and folded them neatly in my lap.

Frederick didn’t seem worried.

“Probably a branch.”

“Yeah… maybe…”

I wanted to believe that, but my hands were still shaking.

Frederick saw and said,

“You told me before—friends shouldn’t hold hands, right?”

I remembered that conversation we had outside the salon.

“Yeah. Friends shouldn’t.”

“Even now? When you’re shaking like that?”

Then, without waiting for a reply, Frederick gently reached out and took both of my hands.

He was wearing gloves too, but I could feel his warmth through them.

“….”

“Let’s make an exception. You’re shaking too much.”

‘Wow… didn’t think this rude guy had a soft side.’