Chapter 92

Story 54. Blessed Man (4)

Chapter 92

Iztal Manar was lucky compared to me. She was displayed after she was beheaded while I was displayed alive and naked. My butt was exposed while my arms and legs were restrained wide apart.

I was placed at the entrance to the Innocent Ones’ selamlique. Everyone in Minurd, including the brothers as well as the servants and the soldiers saw me. I remained like this for a few days with an incident, which made sense. I may have once been the harlot for every man in Minurd, but until a few days ago, I belonged to the Goddess’ warrior. Before then, I was one of the Innocent Ones. Even those who hated me couldn’t easily dare to harm me.

The worst I had to endure was a few men pinching my butt when no one was watching or grabbing my hair. However, whenever Eriez saw this happen, he would scream and run to my rescue.

“Hey! What do you think you are doing to Juya?!”

Did Eriez still love me? He told me before that he would love me no matter what, but I wondered if he regretted his words now.

Eriez stood near me to guard me whenever he got a chance, but he never touched me or talked to me during the daytime. I remained quiet like a corpse, and when it was time for his shift, he left me wordlessly.

However, when nights came, he would go for me again with some food and water.

“Juya! Juya! Open your eyes.”

He shook me to wake me up after making sure no one was around us. I said to him, “… Just leave me alone. It’s not like I’m going to last very long. I’m going to die soon enough.”

Did Eriez know that his kindness was only making me survive longer and thereby extending my agony?

“Juya…”

“Eri, you know doing something like this won’t help you either, don’t you?”

“I’m fine. It’s not like it’s the first time I’m taking care of you…”

He was an idiot. I already told him before that whatever he may feel for me, I didn’t care. It was meaningless to me. The only one who could save me was the Goddess’s warrior whom the Goddess had abandoned. And… Hakim Karid abandoned me.

I said to him, “Just stop, Eriez. The warrior obviously wants me to be shamed in front of everyone and die. Will you try to defy him? Of course you shouldn’t. I remember you telling me that you would do anything the warrior ordered because you would assume he has a good reason for it.”

“No, Juya… Just… Just shut up and eat.”

Eriez waited patiently and kept pushing the spoon on my lips. When I couldn’t even move my neck well, he put down the bowl and held my face towards him.

It was dark outside, so I couldn’t see clearly.

“Juya, you told me before that the warrior’s decision may not always be the best option. You told me that we need to think of a better solution if possible…!”

“…”

“So I have decided to accept the possibility that the warrior made a mistake. As far as I know and remember, you have been a faithful and loyal Innocent One who would never betray the Goddess, right? So for you to be treated this way… I don’t know what you said to the warrior, but it doesn’t make sense at all. There is no way you could be a traitor…”

“Eri… Are you crying?”

I wanted to see his face, so I tried narrowing my eyes. Unfortunately, all I could see was his dark shadow, but I could see his shoulders trembling.

My poor, poor friend… He was hopeless and in so much pain. He was a kind, fragile soul, and I knew he would have to endure more heartache in the future.

He was such a big guy, yet he was a big softy. Eri said to me, “Juya, I guarantee you that the warrior is probably angry right now for some reason, but once he realizes his mistake, he will call for you again. This is what Prince Camille believes too. So until then… Just a little while longer… You need to survive. Please don’t give up, Juya… Please… I’m begging you.”

Eriez kneeled in front of me and looked up at me pleadingly.

“…”

At this point, the only thing I could do for him was to eat. If I didn’t, I knew I would make him much sadder. When I stared at him quietly, he picked up the bowl of food and began to spoon-feed me patiently. Like a baby or a dying elderly, I ate slowly. I lost so much of my pride and self-respect that I didn’t even feel embarrassed.

Slurp, slurp, swallow.

When I finished the bowl, Eriez began to clean me up. He grabbed a bucket of water from the nearby stream and washed my body. He was quiet and patient, and he did an efficient job. He was obviously used to it because he did this before.

“Eri…”

“Juya, please don’t say anything.”

I swallowed my words. I was going to say that the Goddess’s warrior was never going to call for me again. I didn’t know what kind of god the warrior worshipped, but I witnessed his lies, and because I couldn’t swear to keep his secrets, he abandoned me. This was the path I chose, and I was okay with it.

Oh, My Innocent One… My friend Iztal Eriez… What he did for me was meaningless. At least, I was glad he would be by my side while I stepped closer to my death. I decided to accept his presence with grace.

Then suddenly feeling curious, I murmured, “… by the way… What do you think Acamille is?”

I hoped Eriez was paying attention, because perhaps one day, he would remember this conversation and would get to see the truth. Maybe he would also ask the prince about it.

He asked, “What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought that you shouldn’t be too hard on Prince Camille during your training.”

When I replied jokingly, Eriez stayed quietly for a few more minutes before leaving me.

He was indeed a very loyal friend. Eriez continued to visit me every night to feed me and wash me. I didn’t fight or argue with him anymore. I accepted his help, so every night, I ate his meal and let him bathe me.

Night after night….

I was sure that I would die soon, and his help was only prolonging my discomfort. As time passed, Both my mind and body began to weaken. There was no answer to this situation.

Meanwhile, I kept wondering… What was Acamille?

Then one night, another brother of mine other than Eriez visited me. Eriez was feeding me again when the other brother walked towards us “Iztal Eriez has been taking care of you, right? I knew it.”

“Ramish?”

“I have been wondering why you are still alive. You should have starved to death by now. It makes sense, though. I noticed how Eri has been leaving the selamlique every night while keeping himself busy. I know he hasn’t been sleeping much lately. Isn’t that right, Iztal Eriez?”

“…”