Chapter 16

Enoch expressed his inner feelings like a sinner who had confessed in front of the priest.

“Even as a child, when I competed fiercely with my brothers, and when I lost my people on the battlefield, no one said ‘It’s okay, so stop’ to me. Maybe I need those words.”

I quietly listened to his confession.

Margaret was well aware of how difficult it was for Enoch to ascend the throne of the Crown Prince.

Until now, Enoch had no time to rest. And there was no one to console him by asking if he was having a hard time and saying that it would be okay if he stopped.

Moreover, suffering from the aftermath of the war was also a kind of trauma, and there was no one to help him.

“As I said before, it was a seizure that occurred after the end of the war. I have strong memories of losing so many comrades in the Battle of Romalizan, so when I see blood, I run crazy. But it’s fine if it is a small wound.”

It seems that his seizure button is not pressed by a small wound. That’s a relief.

“I think, if there were any words that could control my seizures, it might be the words you said back then.”

I felt like I heard something I shouldn’t have.

‘No one knows that such a perfect man wants someone to control him.’

In the original story, Yuanna solved this problem with physical love, but now that I see it, it seems that it was not a fundamental trauma solution.

I asked him, “It’s nice to have ‘control words.’ I will help you, but if you are in a situation where you are likely to see blood, just avoid it. Okay?”

Enoch nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that. It’s not your fault.”

At my words, Enoch closed his mouth with a guilty face again.

He set aside the broken wooden rod and casually rummaged through the first aid kit next to me.

“What kind of medicine do you put on a bruise?”

Medicine for bruises? Were there more places you got hurt? I hurriedly rummaged through the medicine box and took out the ointment. I was going to say I would apply it, but he took the ointment out of my hand.

“Looking at it again, it’s a strange-looking medicine.”

After Enoch looked at the ointment and muttered, he sat on one knee in front of me. Then he opened the lid and took the ointment with his fingers, and held out his hand to me.

I was startled and pulled my head back, Enoch narrowed his forehead.

“Why, why?”

“Don’t you think you need to apply some medicine here too?”

Enoch put ointment on my cheek.

Enoch’s face was so close that I held my breath without realizing it.

Contrary to the rough approach, the hand rubbing over the bruise was very careful and quite soft.

In fact, it was not an ointment for bruises, but I did not dare say it out loud. Because Enoch seemed to be very focused on this act.

For some reason, I thought I shouldn’t break this atmosphere.

In fact, I can’t say that I’m not interested. With such a handsome face in front of me, how could I not admire him?

“Ouch.”

I frowned as his fingers brushed over the slightly deep wound.

“What else did that man do?”

Enoch asked me with a very serious face. It was as if he would have really killed Kayden if he were in front of him. Why are you overreacting?

“That’s all. I kicked him and ran away immediately. Then I tripped over a stone and fell and fainted. When I woke up it was dawn.”

As my words continued, Enoch licked his lips as if he had a lot to say.

But the words that finally came out were,

“Don’t even think about moving alone until you escape this island.”

That was it.

I nodded quietly.

“Okay.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

Since I met Kayden, I couldn’t be relieved just by being still by Enoch’s side.

I should find some clues as to the location of the bunker.

6. Dress Thief on a Remote Island

I had a sore throat while rehydrating with coconut water alone, and I lay ill for several days.

Enoch stayed up all night to take care of me. But to be honest, it’s just an upset stomach. In other words, I didn’t need any special care.

As time passed and my condition improved, I came to my senses and decided to drink purified water.

Fortunately, if I go through the thicket about 100m next to the cave, there is a small valley.

While Enoch went hunting, I took two empty coconut shells and headed for the valley.

The reason why I moved when he wasn’t here was because he would go crazy when he saw this.

He overprotected me by acting like I was seriously ill.

“I’m glad Enoch started trusting me though.”

That’s why my chances of dying are reduced.

If the original immutable law doesn’t apply, it’s still worth a try. Contrary to the original, I might be able to survive.

“Wait, but I’m going through such a hard time like this, so I guess Enoch won’t change just because he meets the female lead later, right?”

Damn it. It is bittersweet, but the possibility should be considered. If he is really going to change like in the original work, I should run straight to the bunker.

“I have to find the location of the bunker before then.”

I put aside my thoughts about Enoch for a while and put the valley water in the coconut bowl.

The bowl with the valley water is on the higher side, and the empty one is on the lower side. Then, a long piece of cloth is connected to two coconut bowls of different heights.

The valley water from the upper bowl begins to flow through the cloth into the empty bowl below slowly.

If I leave it like this for half a day, purified water will collect in the empty bowl. If I boil the collected water once, I can drink clean drinking water.

I was really happy because the chemise worn inside my dress was made of cotton. Even though my dress is a mess, it does help a lot to survive.

The immediate goal that Enoch and I set up was to recover stamina and raise survival skills.

The goal of finding the bunker was put off for a while. I can do anything once my body is healthy.

After finishing the water purification process, I returned to the cave with the coconut bowl filled with clean water.

At the same time, Enoch is back with the fish he hunted.

“Didn’t I tell you to rest? ”

He looked at the coconut bowl in my hand and narrowed his brow.

“You have to drink to survive.”

Enoch kept his mouth closed as if he had nothing to say.

Anyway, it is too unusual. Enoch was overprotective as if taking care of his pregnant wife.

I shook my head and tried to enter the cave with Enoch, but stopped at the entrance of the cave.

It was because of the man lying in front of the cave.

I looked at the lying man’s silver hair and reflexively placed my hand on my bruised cheekbone. And Enoch’s face when he saw it was terribly distorted.

“That bastard.”

I did not know that such a vulgar word would come out of Enoch’s mouth. His gaze at the man lying down was unusual.

I looked at Enoch’s eyes and turned to the man lying down. There is an earring in his right ear.

As expected, it was Kayden.

“Margaret.”

Enoch grabbed my arm as I looked at Kayden while holding a precious coconut bowl filled with purified water in my hands.

Enoch stared at my cheek with a worried look.

“Your bruises…… is it because of that bastard? The owner of the pendant?”

At first glance, Enoch’s eyes seemed to remain calm as if he was maintaining his reason. However, there was slight anger in his voice so I couldn’t get what sense he was in.

“Yes,” I answered shortly.

I looked up at the sky.

I don’t have a watch, so I checked the time by looking at the sky like this every time, but now I’m used to it to some extent.

The red shadow of the sun spread like an afterimage, coloring the sky with twilight.

“I think it’ll be dark soon. We need to move quickly. But this man……”

‘Just leave him? Or tie him up?’

In my heart, I wanted to say that,

“Better to tie him up.”

Enoch said what I wanted to say.

Enoch added, “He may be a dangerous person, shouldn’t we be vigilant?”

“Ugh.”

Then Kayden suddenly let out a moan of pain. I looked at him in surprise.

He who had been lying down suddenly reached out his hand to me as if in sleep talk. Kayden’s strong hand grabbed my wrist.

“Ouch!”

I almost fell down. If Enoch hadn’t put his hand around my waist, I would have rolled on the ground horribly.

“Are you okay?”

Above my head, Enoch’s voice filled with concern was heard. His strong forearm hugged me tightly.