“Gretchen.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It’s a chaotic time. Be careful with your words.”
At Bia’s unusually stern demeanor, Gretchen blushed and stepped back.
“I humbly apologize, Your Highness. I was thoughtless.”
Bia smiled and nodded, but her heart was pounding.
Her gaze fell on the darkness beyond the balcony.
It was a place where even the wind had ears.
Three years had passed since she entered the palace, but she still felt uncomfortable and anxious.
The fear that today might be her last day alive grew stronger.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Distribute the remaining food evenly among the kitchen servants.”
“I shall do so.”
Gretchen, bowing her head, retreated into the chambers, then turned back and reappeared on the balcony.
“What is it?”
Bia, asking Gretchen, gasped when she saw the person standing behind the maid.
“Your Highness, did you dine well?”
Athanac, bowing with clasped hands, glanced sideways at Gretchen. Gretchen, receiving the chief administrator’s cold gaze, looked to Bia for guidance.
Bia reluctantly ordered, “You may withdraw, Gretchen.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Gretchen disappeared like a rabbit meeting a wolf.
Once they were alone, Athanac plopped down in the seat of honor at the table.
He took the spot Kallian had just occupied, picked up a fig, and popped it into his mouth.
Bia clasped her hands together under the table.
Sweat permeated her palms, making them clammy.
“I… I heard the legion’s wagons from Berden encountered robbers.”
“Hm. That is not something for Your Highness to worry about.”
Athanac snorted, leaned forward, and narrowed his eyes.
“Isn’t there something else you should be concerned about, Bia Schubertfin?”
At his sharp gaze, Bia’s heart turned cold.
The spacious balcony suddenly felt like a chicken coop.
“If I open my mouth, that pretty neck of yours will be gone. How long are you going to dither?”
She was the chicken, and Athanac was the fox who had slipped in through the open chicken coop door.
***
As dawn deepened, Leni awoke feeling a tingling in her left arm.
She stirred, lying on her side, and saw a droplet-like light at the tip of her left fingers.
Her fingernails also sparkled red and blue, as if adorned with jewels.
It wasn’t just her hand that was strange.
A band of light encircled her wrist, and her arm up to the elbow had transformed as if into a silver rod.
Why is this happening again?
Worry turned into fear.
Leni looked behind her.
Fortunately, she was alone in the tent.
Blayden wasn’t there; he had either gone out for some air or was on watch.
Only a cool aura lingered in the spot where he had been lying.
Her sigh of relief was short-lived; the area where her neck met her shoulder felt uncomfortable.
The stiff, hardened skin was prickly. Leni sat up and put her hand inside the cloak wrapped around her.
As she went to lift her tunic, her gaze darted to the tent’s entrance.
Where could Blayden be?
It would be a disaster if he suddenly burst in from outside the tent.
Leni pulled up her hood and wrapped her hands and arms in the folds of her cloak.
She clasped her hands together to conceal them, then approached the tent entrance to check the situation outside.
There was no sign of anyone.
Being careful not to make any noise, Leni exited the tent.
As she walked around the large tree supporting the tent, the moonlight became slightly fainter.
If Blayden was on watch, he would be near the horses.
Horses were the most important asset, after all.
Leni moved in the opposite direction from the trees where the horses were tethered.
As she walked to a secluded spot overgrown with bushes, she heard a crunch beneath her feet.
The moment she felt a twig snap under her foot, the wind stirred.
Whoosh, something flew through the darkness and hit her back.
Startled, Leni stopped and saw an apple rolling at her feet.
Moonlight soaked into the red apple, which had bite marks, revealing its pulp.
As a sense of déjà vu washed over her, Blayden stepped out from the darkness.
“Do you know what happens if you’re caught deserting?”
Ah, you startled me.
If you’re going to talk, at least make your presence known first.
Leni mumbled, clenching the hands hidden in her cloak.
“I’m not deserting.”
Blayden approached with heavy footsteps, scrutinized her from head to toe, and then tilted his head.
“Then?”
His tone was as crooked as his head.
Leni quickly made an excuse.
“I wanted to wash.”
“Hmm,” Blayden hummed, and the corners of his mouth curled upwards.
He seemed not to believe her.
What if he accuses me of lying?
Leni’s heart pounded.
If I hesitate, he’ll suspect me even more. It’s better to say something.
“I woke up because clods of dirt were stuck in my hair.”
Having lived a theatrical life, she was used to camping.
A few clods of dirt couldn’t disturb her sleep.
One summer night, she had even picked lice from Peter’s infested hair.
Compared to that, a bit of dirt was something to scoff at.
But she desperately needed a plausible excuse, so this was all she could come up with.
“Really?”
“Hmm,” Blayden hummed again, then pointed with his index finger behind her shoulder.
“The water source is over there, though.”
Leni swallowed a sigh, forcing a smile.
I’d rather be a fool than be suspected.
“Yes, thank you for showing me.”
She bowed her head and turned to leave, but Blayden stepped up beside her.
“Follow me.”
Surely he’s not coming with me?
“I can go by myself.”
Blayden ignored Leni’s words and walked a step ahead, leading the way to the stream.
When they reached the water, he turned to her and commanded, “Take it off.”
“Excuse me?”
Leni’s voice shot out under the moonlight.
“Your cloak, I mean. You said you had dirt in your hair, didn’t you? Are you going to wash all bundled up like that?”
“Ah, yes.”
Leni nodded, her heart still pounding.
What if my hands are still sparkling?
What should I say if he notices something strange about my body?
Leni, feigning embarrassment, turned her back to Blayden then subtly slipped her hand out from under her cloak.
Her hand melted into the darkness.
Only moonlight colored the back of her hand.
The glow from her fingertips and nails had vanished.
Her wrist, too, showed only smooth skin, as usual.
A sigh of relief escaped her, and the tension left her stiff shoulders.
Leni slowly removed her cloak, letting it fall to the ground.
Blayden pushed her back towards the stream, commanding, “Hurry up and wash.”
So impatient.
I can take care of my own body, you know.
Don’t treat me like an object.
“You may go now. You’ve led me to the water, that’s enough.”
“Ha! Did you think I was escorting you?”
Surely he doesn’t intend to watch me wash.
Leni flared up, then grew flustered.
Since she said she wanted to wash, she’d have to at least pretend to, but she couldn’t undress in front of Blayden.
Leni stood still, fiddling with her hairband.
Since she said there was dirt in her hair, perhaps just washing her hair would suffice.
As she untied her hairband, her hair scattered in the breeze.
Blayden frowned, then turned his head sideways and picked up the cloak from the dirt.
“I’ll hold onto this.”
He was taking her father’s item lest she try to escape.
It probably doesn’t matter anyway since I wasn’t planning to escape.
Still, thinking of Blayden’s hands on her father’s gift wasn’t pleasant.
“It’s a gift from His Highness. Please handle it with care.”
Blayden turned without a reply.
Watching Blayden walk a few steps ahead with his back to her, Leni wrinkled her nose.
At least you have some chivalry, Sir Lehert.
Leni approached the water and crouched down.
As she rolled up her tunic sleeves and splashed water on her arms, she kept glancing behind her.
Blayden stood rooted to the spot.
His posture, gazing into the darkness with one hand on his sword, indicated he was on alert.
At this distance, he would be able to guess what she was doing by sound.
To avoid suspicion, it seemed she really should wash her hair.
Leni lowered her head and dabbed water, scooped up with her hands, onto the ends of her hair.
As the rough dirt washed away, a warning shot through the air.
“Don’t get any foolish ideas. I have eyes in my back too.”
The Red Wolf making a joke, how unusual.
No, perhaps it wasn’t a joke.
It almost seemed as if Blayden truly did have eyes on his back.
Leni splashed the water loudly, making a sloshing sound.
After confirming again that Blayden had his back to her, she reached for her left shoulder.
She put her hand inside her tunic and fumbled for the stinging spot.
Something rough was there.
Something was embedded in her skin.
When she pinched it out with her thumb and forefinger, it was a tiny thorn.
What is this?
Eating fish wouldn’t leave thorns in my body.
It feels soft for a thorn, too.
Just as she thought it was strange, the thorn sparkled and emitted light.
Leni gasped. Losing her balance, her swaying body fell onto her bottom.
Startled by the thud, Leni checked behind her.
Blayden was still facing away from her.
***
“What is this?”
Leni pondered the unidentified object in her hand, then looked up at the sky.
The swollen moon was nearing its full phase.
Leni closed her eyes and tried to recall the conversation she had with her father in the Tower of Time.
It seemed to have been about her body and the full moon, but the fragments of memory were hazy.
I have to remember.
It must have been important.
As she struggled to revive the faint memory, an impatient voice shot out.
“Are you planning to stay up all night?”
Leni opened her eyes in surprise.
“Ah, no.”
Fearing Blayden might approach, she answered at the top of her lungs, then put her hand in the water.
As she spread her thumb and forefinger, the trapped thorn floated away with the current. Leni watched the thorn dissolve into the moonlight and disappear, then she stood up.
She checked that no other part of her body was sparkling, then brushed off her shoulders.
Just as she felt relieved that nothing came off, a deep, resonant voice dropped from above her.
“Your debt has grown, Solenia Radelyon.”
Oh, you startled me.
When did you get here?!
Leni turned, worried that Blayden might have seen the thorn.
His dark and persistent gaze fell upon her.
Blayden’s expression was unreadable, but it seemed he hadn’t noticed the strange phenomenon on her body.
“Debt, you say?”
“You owe me two apples and the moonlight.”
“Excuse me?”
Two apples, fine, but what did he mean by moonlight?
“Can one owe moonlight?”
“The moonlight was lovely tonight, and I was enjoying it, but you ruined my peaceful time. How will you compensate me?”
Is the moon yours?
Is this night yours?
Leni was dumbfounded.
“Wolf-nim.”
At her calm, composed voice, Blayden’s eyebrows twitched.
Leni clasped her hands in front of her and straightened her posture.
“If catching many fish is greed, then what is the feeling of considering the moonlight your own? I am too foolish to understand, so please teach me. As soon as I gain enlightenment, I will consider a way to repay my debt.”
Blayden did not scold her audacity for meeting his gaze directly.
He looked at her with a thoughtful expression, then opened his mouth.
“Solenia Radelyon.”
At the low address, Leni pressed her lips together.
Her name, spoken in such a serious tone, felt unfamiliar.
Has my name always been this lonely?
This faint?
Blayden clasped his hands behind his back, bent forward, and lowered his head.
“You are more wicked than the moon.”