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Chapter 63
First of all, wasn’t it strange enough that an egg could move on its own?
But the fact that the egg I’d left in the forest had moved to the cliff was just as hard to explain.
Let’s pretend I didn’t see it.
I deliberately averted my gaze and turned away.
After gathering a suitable amount of bamboo and branches for the fire, I returned to where Kaiden was lying. I settled down, lit the fire, and kept checking on his condition.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem too serious—his fever went down quickly. Seeing his face relax, I kept an eye on the embers so the campfire wouldn’t go out.
That was when it happened.
Rustle.
At the sound of the underbrush shifting, I reflexively grabbed my dagger and tensed. I hurriedly looked back at Kaiden, but he showed no sign of waking up.
Even if he did wake up, I couldn’t exactly ask an injured person to fight. I bit my lower lip and steeled myself.
I’m not confident in my strength—damn it.
I wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead with the back of my hand and moved cautiously.
Taking a stance where I could slash with the dagger at any moment, I slowly walked toward the bushes where the sound had come from.
Then, inching forward step by step, I leaned my upper body to peer beyond the foliage, trying to see what was there.
Flash.
“Whoa—damn it, you scared me!”
Something reflected the moonlight and shone so brightly that I almost lost my eyesight.
Okay, almost losing my eyesight was an exaggeration, but still—my eyes were dazzled.
Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand, I looked again, and there it was: the silver egg I’d encountered earlier in the forest.
Was this where I’d gathered branches before? To ease my fear, I exaggeratedly craned my neck and looked around.
But no matter how I looked at it, this wasn’t the place where I’d picked up branches earlier.
Back then, I’d gone much deeper into the forest—this was right in front of where Kaiden was sleeping.
“…Why are you doing this? This is seriously creepy.”
I picked up the egg, carried it deeper into the forest, set it down on the ground, and covered it with leaves. If some beast found it and ate it, that would be a problem too.
“But what if it really is a monster’s egg?”
Still, just as Kaiden had said, I had a faint hunch that this thing wouldn’t be hostile toward me. It was a feeling I couldn’t put into words.
The biggest example was that it had rejected Kaiden’s touch, yet accepted mine.
As I thought that, it almost seemed like the egg wriggled.
…My imagination, right?
“Don’t follow me.”
I raised my index finger and scolded the egg in a stern tone, then laughed weakly as a sense of emptiness washed over me.
“I think I’ve finally lost my mind.”
Tilting my head, I made sure the egg was well hidden under the leaves, then returned to my spot.
Thankfully, signs of dawn were appearing. Morning was finally coming.
“Haa… what a shitty night.”
I slumped against a thick tree trunk, my face worn out after staying up all night.
Not long after, the sun rose. Only then did I relax and put out the campfire—it would surely get hot soon.
I’m exhausted to death.
Looking at Kaiden, who still hadn’t woken up, I dozed off, blinking sluggishly.
My flickering vision finally sank into complete darkness.
My body was swaying as it moved. I slowly opened my eyes.
I was being carried on a broad back.
When I lifted my head slightly, dazzling silver hair came into view. It was Kaiden.
“You’re awake?”
Maybe because I moved, Kaiden quickly noticed that I’d woken up.
Still on his back, I looked around. It seemed we’d gone deep into the forest, far from the river.
“Put me down.”
I’d done my best to care for him because I was afraid he might die, but that didn’t mean I felt no resentment toward him.
At my firm response, Kaiden quietly objected.
“Just stay there. You’re not in good enough shape to walk right now.”
“So you give me the disease and then the cure? You’re the one who made me like this.”
Kaiden didn’t reply, as if he had nothing to say.
When he’d been unconscious, I’d been fine—but seeing him awake made anger boil up from deep inside. Maybe everything I’d been suppressing all this time was finally bursting out.
It hurt. Being misunderstood and distrusted by the people here for things I hadn’t done.
I’d forced myself to act calm, telling myself it was understandable—but in truth, everything that had happened to me was overwhelming and exhausting.
Understandable… then what about me? Am I really okay like this?
My eyes burned.
“I’m sorry.”
And then Kaiden apologized.
“For everything. So… don’t cry.”
I was fine.
I really thought I was.
But at his next words, my tears finally spilled over.
Quietly, I buried my face into Kaiden’s shoulder. All the resentment I’d built up surged out at once. His clothes were getting wet, but why should I care?
It was the first time in my life I’d ever cried in front of someone else.
Kaiden stopped walking and hovered awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Regardless, I cried silently for a long while.
Sniff.
“Are you done crying?”
When I sniffled, Kaiden finally asked. I didn’t answer and quietly climbed down from his back.
Kaiden turned to face me.
“I’m sorry.”
He apologized again. I still didn’t respond. He bent down to match my eye level.
His face came close.
“I’m sorry, Margaret. Okay?”
It seemed tears were still flowing. He reached out and wiped the tears trailing down my cheek with his thumb.
Sniff.
I still didn’t answer, just sniffled again.
Damn it, I look like some tragic heroine.
“You cry so pitifully.”
Kaiden said softly, still bent down, gently stroking my cheek.
I lowered my gaze, then slowly looked up to meet his eyes. My eyes were probably swollen and red from crying so much, making me look awful—but what did that matter?
“I’m sorry for doubting you.”
Kaiden lifted both hands and softly cradled my cheeks. With my dazed, tear-soaked eyes, I looked at him.
“That was never what mattered in the first place.”
As he looked at me, the crimson of Kaiden’s eyes deepened.
“Margaret.”
He tilted his head slightly. His sharp jawline caught my eye, and then my gaze lingered on his red lips, just as red as his eyes.
“I want you to live. Even if it means I die saving you.”
As I stared at him, entranced, I suddenly came back to my senses. I frowned and shot back at him.
“Why would you say something like that? Is that a confession?”
“A confession?”
Kaiden blinked, eyes wide, as if he truly didn’t understand.
I let out a sigh. Of course.
“No, forget it. Just don’t do something stupid like dying to save me. Are you telling me to live the rest of my life drowning in guilt? Have you decided to switch up the way you torment me now?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Flustered, Kaiden trailed off. Watching him fail to finish his sentence, I shook my head.
“That you doubted me—I get it. Really. But because of that, I almost died… I don’t know.”
Having come so close to death, I wasn’t in a perfectly sound state of mind. Rational judgment was difficult, and emotional words kept spilling out.
Well, honestly… if anyone could keep their sanity on this island, that would be the strange thing.
Kaiden looked at me with a troubled expression and replied,
“I know. I’ll earn your forgiveness through actions, not words—so for now, don’t say anything.”
His voice dropped lower than usual.
It was startlingly calm, nothing like his normal tone. His words and expression were more serious than at any moment since I’d met him.
The man who always hid his true intentions behind exaggerated behavior was, for the first time, speaking his heart without pretense.
The warmth of his feelings overflowed and slowly seeped into me. The negative emotions that had been raging deep in my chest gradually settled.
“I’m sorry for doubting you.”
“That was never what mattered in the first place.”
“I want you to live. Even if it means I die saving you.”
I touched my eyelids, still puffy from crying. In truth, I might have already decided not to resent him anymore.
