CH 66

Tahat! 

The boy who jumped off the ground ran faster than an arrow.

Blenn followed casually.

Ughh, there were flustered groans everywhere, but soon everyone, including Redan, hurriedly flew away.

‘Dell. It’s dangerous if the soldiers fall behind, so please think of them and adjust the speed.’

She was worried that Siri and Terra would fall behind.

[Yes~] 

Whoo. 

“Your Highness. We should be moving too. I’ve given orders to my beast, so we’ll be able to join them soon.” 

Falden, who was looking at her with his chin on his hand, said ‘Hmm.’ vaguely before she realized it.

He didn’t doubt her or even ask what the hell the beast was and how she was so sure about it.

“I’ll take the lead.”

Instead, he stared at her for a few moments, as if observing her, before just holding out his hand.

******

They moved nonstop for two days, following the twisting air current of gold and silver.

The more they went into the heart of the forest, the more brutal the atmosphere became.

It was so quiet that she wondered if even a monster could properly survive in a place like this.

Grass and trees were all that lived and breathed.

Even Falden, who has a lot of experience in subjugation, was tired of it.

“I feel suffocated. How can there be no disruption? Can you even call this a forest? Don’t you think so, Young Lady?”

As he said, the forest was not at all like nature. It felt like she was trapped in a huge, well-made landscape.

“Is it okay? You don’t feel anything bad right?”

When there was no answer, he looked back at Serdel.

“I’m okay.”

After inheriting the power of Radun, the energy of the forest didn’t affect her in any way. 

Unaware of it, Falden continued to look at her and check again. 

“Just in case— Here.”

What he handed over was a high-level potion.

“I don’t need it. Now that I think about it, I think Your Highness will be the only one who treats high-level potions as water.” 

“Young Lady. I will just say it right away, I’ve given it out like it was water, but I’ve never drank it myself. If anyone hears the reason why, they would think that I’m bragging, but it’s fine, I have never been tired or hurt enough that I had to drink it.” 

“Hmm.”

Instead of replying he spat out a groan.

Strangely, while talking about himself, Falden always spoke about it with such a serious face.

It’s the same now.

He, who had been silent for a while.

“At this moment, Young Lady, I need to ask you.”

As if she was going to end his worries, he lowered his voice soothingly.

“Does Young Lady know what happened to you in the cave?”

Serdel looked at him silently.

“No. I’ll have to change the content of the question. Did Young Lady participate in the expedition to meet the crow man?”

It was sharp and straightforward.

“When I heard that the Young Lady was going on an expedition, I was annoyed at first because I couldn’t believe it. On the one hand, I thought you were immature. Because expeditions are not for joking around.”

He raised his hand, and the hair that fell in front of him bothered him.

He swept it wildly.

“However, I thought there must be something to that self-confidence without having the strength to protect yourself.”

He took a half step closer.

“And when I brought out the fainted Young Lady, I was convinced. This was all the result of Young Lady’s plan.”

Serdel raised her head. He, who was already huge, felt even bigger.

“In particular, I became convinced once again through the conversation between Young Lady and Sir Redan through the communication device. He didn’t seem to know anything about the cave, but at least he seemed to know the purpose of the Young Lady.”

A smile formed on Falden’s mouth. It felt cold at first glance because it didn’t contain even a single emotion.

“You’re not flustered.”

“There’s no reason to be.”

She was already expecting this situation to come.

“Don’t talk in circles and get to the point.”

“This is why I really like the Young Lady.”

With a smile, Falden took a step back.

Thanks to him, her neck, which had been straining while looking up at him, was relieved a little.

“Young Lady, how do you think this expedition is going to be? Do you think we can finish it well? In addition, I would like to hear how far you can predict the success or failure of forest development.”

The question was vague.

Depending on what she heard, it seemed like she was being asked whether she knew the future or if she wanted to share her personal opinion.

‘It’s not like I got the power of foresight.’

She’s simply getting a taste of the forest as a result of the actions she’s taken so far.

He’s trying to see how far her information network reaches.

“I think the expedition will go well. If the subjugation is carried out smoothly, the forest development will be successful without difficulty.”

“That’s a very obvious answer, not just the right answer. Without knowing that the answer I was looking for wasn’t like that—. After all, I haven’t gained the trust of Young-ae yet, so it’s only natural.”

It would be difficult to say anything comfortably.

Serdel’s eyes gradually narrowed as she heard even his shallowest murmur. She wasn’t the only one who didn’t trust the other person.

He was only flattering her on the outside, but Falden didn’t even have faith in her.

“Okay. I made up my mind. I will work to gain trust from the Young Lady until the expedition is over.”

What? 

What the hell is the purpose for this? 

First of all, she will just follow his rhythm.

“No way, you didn’t say anything like you want to receive my loyalty right?” 

“Things like that are not gained by forcing it, Young Lady.”

“Then is trust gained by forcing it?”

“Trust is loyalty, but the emotions earned from forcing are only temporary. I don’t like such shallow relationships. Can’t you see the hard work I put into Edwan?”

He took another step closer.

Thanks to this, she lifted her head up again, but there was not enough space between them, so her chin touched his firm chest.

“Rather than a relationship that can be broken at any time, I want Young Lady to come into my corner more clearly.”

His gaze looking down at her suddenly softened.

But still.

There was no emotion in it.

It was literally empty.

‘Ah… I’ve seen this expression often in the original story.’

At the time, she just thought it was kind. Especially when it is shown in front of the female lead.

But when she saw it in person, she realized it wasn’t.

‘This is how you hit the target when they let their guard down.’

After making it so that the opponent doesn’t experience a feeling of distance, it is clear that it is a method that kills emotions and observes intently from then on.

The inside of the mouth was dry.

“….”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“All of a sudden?”

Speechless, he smiled in vain, and this time Serdel stepped back two steps.

She was a little hungry. 

With her chin raised, she proudly reached out one hand.

“I’m hungry. I’m sick of beef jerky and bread. If you have dried fruits, please give them to me.”

“…Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Pft. Young Lady, what would you have done if you hadn’t met me in that cave?”

“Honestly, who knew I would fall to such a remote place? If it wasn’t for Your Highness, I would have picked some fruit and ate it.”

Seeing Serdel shrugging her shoulders, Falden suddenly sat down on the ground.

“Will fruits be here? If you don’t eat at least one meal a day, you’ll suffer later.” 

He skillfully lit a fire and pulled the pot out of the magic bag.

After tearing a low level scroll and preparing water, he added soup powder and cut beef jerky into small pieces. 

It was a fascinating sight no matter how many times she watched it.

“It’s embarrassing to keep receiving something. Next time, I will—”

“Don’t say terrible things. I’m not good enough to eat something bad and say it’s delicious.”

Falden got serious.

“I want to enjoy the food. If you want to cook, go home and do it with your maid later.”

“Aren’t you underestimating me too much?” Although I’m not good at it, if I make up my mind—”

“Eat that when you’re alone. Eating together is a nuisance.”

“Didn’t you say you’d work to gain my trust?”

“Trust that doesn’t preserve your life is not trust, right?”

She hated him for not losing a single word.

“Okay, it’s done.”

The pot was full of soup.

“Thank you for the food.”

Replying back, Serdel picked up a spoon.

Falden began eating with an aggressive spirit after receiving a big amount of soup in a bigger bowl.

“Do you need anything else? Feel free to tell me if you want more.”

“I don’t.”

Serdel calmed the cold energy that was leaking out when she saw him exhilaratingly eating bread. 

Rather than Damon’s obvious wall she had expected, the current wall he had put up seemed more ferocious. 

*****

The splendid wave of magic that guided the way was cut off.

Serdel and Falden, who had relied on it for several days, found a cave right in front of them instead.