CH 53

When the rain, which had been pouring down like a water pump from the sky, abated somewhat, they all moved to a new hideout built in a deep mountain valley.

As soon as Yuri heard their footsteps, she ran out of the tent in tears.

Asha shared an emotional reunion, holding her tight. 

Yuri found Asha’s beautiful dress torn and messy and quickly led her inside. 

At the new home, a change of clothing was prepared in advance.

Asha’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the pretty spring clothes that were perfect for her body size hanging on the wall.

It was a light mint-colored dress and it reminded her of fresh grass in spring.

Her blonde hair plus the mint-colored dress gave her an air of free spirit, further enhancing her slender image.

Asha changed her clothes and stared blankly at herself in the full-length mirror, turning around in place.

Her reflection in the mirror was like seeing a forest fairy.

Yuri smiled and said from the side.

“Boss said you would wear it when you came. It is made of the finest fabric.”

“…….”

Asha was so moved that she didn’t say anything for a while.

The clothes he gave her were the same as last time, and they were comfortable and cozy as if she were wearing nothing.

Soft and light, as if the spring breeze tickling your skin, it was different from the uncomfortable dresses of the imperial palace, which squeezed your body like a cage. 

Yuri said with a melancholic gaze.

“I’m glad you came home safely, Asha.”

Looking at her, who called this place ‘home’, Asha also smiled slightly.

It felt like she was really back home.　

* * * * *

At the time, Jackal was being treated by a doctor in another room.

Having lost so much blood, he closed his pale eyes and passed out in a dream.

He slowly regained stability when he returned home, with high blood pressure and cold sweat.

Asha went to thank him for her new clothes, and when she saw him, she stopped at the door.

For now, it just seemed right to let him rest in peace.

Asha quietly left the room and left the house with a hoe and a basket.

At that moment, Sosa saw her from afar and hurriedly approached in surprise.

“Lady Asha, where are you going?”

“Oh, I’m going to the woods for a while. I’m going to collect some herbs for Jackal.”

“No, you can’t.”

Sosa said firmly.

“The captain threatened me…… No, he asked me to. If Lady Asha is in danger, then I will probably lose my life.”

He seemed really nervous.

It was only then that Asha remembered that she had broken her promise to him and ran away from the cave.

Because of her, he must have had a really tough time.

Asha said quietly.

“There are some herbs I know of, herbs that are good for wounds. Would you like to accompany me? It could be really dangerous.”

“I will do it.”

Sosa followed Asha with a strong sense of duty. 

Asha carefully searched for herbs in the nearby forest.

She was knowledgeable about herbs, having often climbed the mountains in search of food since she had been in her village.

She was unlucky that day and was chased by bandits, but thanks to that she was able to meet Jackal.

When she thought back to that day, maybe that day was the luckiest of her life.

While Asha was gathering herbs, Sosa looked at her.

So, making the best use of his horse’s instincts, he closed his eyes and sniffed without her knowing.

It was to explore and be on the lookout.

Soon after, Asha collected some herbs, berries, mushrooms, and tree buds in a wooden basket and returned with a proud look.

Fortunately, since it was spring, there was more food in the northern regions than in winter.

It was awkward to cook after so long since she left her village, but Asha did her best to make a herbal soup.

She wanted to do something for Jackal, who always provided her with delicious food and a warm place to stay.

Having finished cooking the soup, Asha put it in a bowl and came back to visit him.

Fortunately, Jackal woke up and was lying in bed with a disheveled face, and when he saw Asha come in, he forced himself to get up.

But when he realized the clothes she was wearing, he stiffened on the bed, his eyes wide.

“…..What do you think? Does it look good on me?”

Asha looked at him and asked with a slight smile as if she was a bit embarrassed.

Jackal stared at her, stunned, and then muttered involuntarily.

“It…… It suits you well.”

He blamed himself for not being able to say ‘pretty‘. 

Realizing that, Asha raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Does it only look good on me?”

“No… yes…….”

Jackal blushed again, and Asha asked playfully.

“Yes?”

“……You are beautiful. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life.”

Suddenly, Asha’s face turned red even though she was joking.

Jackal’s face was also red.

Asha quickly turned around, fanning herself with her hand.

“I came to feed you the soup that I cooked.”

“Soup……?”

“You took care of me when I was sick. It’s my turn to repay you.”

Jackal’s eyes grew bigger at the fact that she cooked for him.

Even if he didn’t say it, he was very touched.

Asha covered him with a blanket to keep him warm, took a soup spoon, and blew on it.

“Sheppy, say ah.”

Asha’s joke made Jackal’s face red again.

Asha said mischievously.

“What’s wrong? Hurry up and open your mouth. You have to eat it.”

Jackal looked down in embarrassment and opened his mouth slightly.

Asha fed him soup.

Jackal closed his eyes and ate the soup in silence, Asha asked with a slightly expectant look on her face.

“How is it? Is it good?”

“…….”

His inaction caused Asha’s eyebrows to rise slightly.

“Why don’t you answer?”

“…… Sheppy can’t talk.”

Asha looked at him in bewilderment and burst out laughing.

But Jackal couldn’t bear to say in front of her that the soup was not good.

He learned something new from her that her cooking skills weren’t very good……

Asha smiled and said a little anxiously.

“As a side note, I added herbs to the soup, the soup is somewhat bitter.”

“……I see. Anything good for the body is bitter.”

“Sure, of course.”

Asha wanted to say that it wasn’t because she wasn’t good at cooking, but she swallowed it and shook her head.

Jackal secretly smiled at her because she was so cute.

He felt compelled to eat all the soup for her sake.

He was okay with her not being very good at cooking. It’s enough if she cooks for him every day.

He finally emptied the bowl and put it down.

“Let’s look at your wound now.”

Jackal looked away and said.

“I can’t show you.”

“What? Why?”

“I’m…… naked.”

“……?”

Asha’s eyes widened and soon her face turned red.

In fact, important parts were hidden under the blanket he was using.

Without knowing that, Asha’s face automatically lit up when she thought she might have touched him while she covered him with the blanket.

“Then…then I’ll prepare some herbal medicine! You have to take medicine after eating!”

“…… Just stay here.”

Asha jumped up and looked up at him, who was holding her wrist.

Jackal’s expression was serious.

“The doctor or Sosa will bring it. Until then just…stay by my side.”

There were so many people coming and going into this room that there wasn’t much time for the two of them alone.

Also, due to his injuries, he fell asleep all the time, so Jackal wanted to be with her even for a moment.

As soon as he came to his senses, he searched for Asha, but after hearing from the doctor that she went to gather herbs with Sosa, he stayed awake until she returned.

He was afraid that if he closed his eyes, she would disappear again.

When he closed his eyes, the memory of that day returned to him, so he couldn’t sleep because of the anxiety.

The memory left a deep scar like a trauma.

Asha let out a small sigh and said.

“……I see. I’ll stay by your side then.”

Only then did Jackal lie down on the bed, looking satisfied at the ceiling.

Asha cautiously asked.

“But Jackal… Does everyone know that you can transform into a horse?”

“No. Only Sosa knows. Sosa, like me, is a member of the Kelpie clan, so he can also transform into a horse.”

“What….?”

Asha’s eyes widened. 

He is from the Kelpie clan.

The minorities consisted of a total of five clans, among which the Kelpie clan was a difficult clan to find now because there were so few of them.

So she didn’t even know that kelpies could transform into horses.

There were probably only a few people in the village who knew about it, the village chief and the successors of each clan.

Then suddenly something came to her mind, Asha asked with a stutter, causing her pupils to quiver.

“Jackal, let me ask you a question. By chance… The beautiful white horse I rode… Is it Sosa?”

Jackal was taken aback.

“……”

When he didn’t answer, Asha covered her face and sighed sadly.

She wondered what the hell she had done.

Asha suddenly jumped out of her seat, Jackal asked with a slight surprise.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t talk to me.”

Jackal was surprised by her sudden cold response.

“I’m…sorry.”

He couldn’t bear to look at her or hold her hand again.

Asha left the room with a feeling of betrayal.

Before, the situation was so dire, but suddenly a sense of betrayal seemed to come late at the thought that Sosa had teamed up to deceive her.

But just in time, she ran into a Sosa who was walking from afar.

Recalling memories from the past, Asha’s face turned red like someone who had been backstabbing.

Sosa tilted his head a little and asked.

“Lady Asha? Did something happen?”

Asha looked up and said.

“Sosa. Are you keeping something from me?”