So it was true after all?
Zhe Zilin quickly accepted this fact. His current ability to endure was terrifyingly strong.
No wonder everyone called Leibang Ed a playboy. Even the orc queen… This was his reputation.
For the first time, Zhe Zilin was grateful that he had lost his memories and did not recall any unbearable scenes.
He asked curiously, “Is the orc queen beautiful?”
Scar nodded affirmatively, his interest piqued.
“Of course. She’s the orc queen. Powerful and full of charm.”
As he spoke, Scar wiped the drool from his mouth.
Zhe Zilin looked at his sloppy appearance and figured the orc queen’s looks probably were not bad either.
Two fluffy ears, short fur covering her body, a slender tail, tall and well-proportioned figure. Probably something like that.
But I probably won’t have the chance to see the orc queen. I should think about how to get Osha to let me go instead.
Zhe Zilin curled up into a ball, trying to keep his body a little warmer.
Snow began falling from the sky. The ground was soon covered in white. Zhe Zilin and the half-orcs hid under the stone wall, lined up in a row.
One-Eye turned his head and stared at Zhe Zilin in a daze, then had an idea. “I heard Princess Osha came to the North this time specifically to find Leibang Ed.”
Scar lifted his head and chimed in, “Isn’t that exactly what’s happening?”
“I’m afraid Osha still doesn’t know he is Leibang Ed. She might already be starting to suspect.”
One-Eye revealed a meaningful smile. “But this Leibang Ed has no intention of revealing his identity. Could it be that Osha is also here to collect a romantic debt?”
“Definitely. Otherwise she wouldn’t have come to the North in person. It’s too cold here.”
Scar and One-Eye sang in harmony, their meaning very clear.
Zhe Zilin frowned. He looked at One-Eye and said, “Within three days, I’ll help you escape. But you cannot reveal my identity.”
Scar was extremely surprised and could not help but laugh. “Hey, One-Eye. This Leibang kid has a really kind heart. He’s willing to let us go.”
Zhe Zilin was puzzled. “Aren’t you threatening me?”
Scar looked even more confused. “What threat?”
One-Eye was speechless for a moment and kicked Scar over again.
“I didn’t know you would actually respond to every single sentence.”
Scar did not understand One-Eye’s intention. He thought they were just chatting.
Zhe Zilin could not help but laugh. If the other party had not once tried to kill him, he really would have wanted to get to know this Scar.
“How about it?”
“You only have three days. Don’t get any funny ideas.”
Scar glanced at Zhe Zilin, then looked at One-Eye.
“What were you and the Leibang kid talking about?”
One-Eye lost his patience. In a fit of anger, he slammed his head against Scar’s forehead.
“Stop fucking calling him Leibang kid!”
……
Night fell. Snow continued to fall. Because their skin was thick and tough, the half-orcs had already begun drooling as they fell into deep sleep.
Zhe Zilin stood up and jumped in place, moving his frozen feet.
If I fall asleep tonight, will I still wake up tomorrow?
If I wake up, it will probably mean one less reload count.
He jumped back and forth across the open space, adding some warmth to his cold body to prevent hypothermia.
“Stop jumping. The princess wants to see you.”
Griet walked into the backyard, untied the rope around Zhe Zilin’s feet, and led him into the second floor of the castle.
The inside of the castle was like a warm greenhouse, completely out of place with the snowy world outside.
Zhe Zilin rubbed his arms and finally felt a trace of being alive.
Griet stood at the door and knocked lightly.
“Princess.”
“Let him come in alone.”
Griet opened the door, pushed Zhe Zilin inside, and then stood guard outside.
Inside the room, a large bed covered with animal fur came into view. A luxurious candelabra burned with three candles, illuminating only part of the room.
Osha leaned against the bed, her hands resting on her abdomen. She wore only a nightdress. Compared to her dignified and noble appearance in the morning, she now had a gentle, approachable charm.
On the contrary, Zhe Zilin looked a bit awkward, unable to figure out why Osha had brought him to her room so late.
The two of them simply stared at each other for a long time. The atmosphere fell into silence.
Zhe Zilin did not rush to ask. Gradually, his body became completely warm before he slowly spoke.
“Princess, did you call me here just to stare at me?”
Osha shook her head slightly and beckoned with her hand.
“There’s space here. Come sit.”
Zhe Zilin did not stand on ceremony. He sat on the chair beside the bed and let out a breath of relief.
“Your voice sounds a lot like his.”
“Leibang Ed?”
Osha nodded. “Are you him?”
Zhe Zilin did not look into her eyes. Perhaps he was afraid Osha would see the lie in his gaze, so he shook his head to cover it up.
“No. I’ve only heard of Leibang Ed. He is your fiancé, Princess.”
“He ran away. Half a year ago, right after our engagement, he vanished in the Royal Capital.”
Osha’s expression was very calm, as if she had long accepted this fact. But if Zhe Zilin had been more attentive, he would have seen the sadness hidden in her eyes that she could not conceal.
“Why did he run away?”
Zhe Zilin was curious. He knew Osha might not know the reason either, but he still asked.
“He was bewitched. Someone used underhanded methods to take him away from my side.”
“Do you know? I had already prepared our bridal chamber in the palace. The room was very warm and cozy. My father even had the best craftsmen make two baby cradles and placed them right beside our bed.”
“Ed said he didn’t want me to have children. He was afraid of losing me. Do you know what I said?”
Zhe Zilin remained silent.
Osha raised her eyes to look at the candlelight. The beautiful memories of the past seemed to appear one by one in the flickering flames. A happy smile rose naturally from her heart without any effort.
“I said, I want to give you a child so I can see what you looked like when you were little.”
Zhe Zilin could not find any corresponding fragments in his memories, but from Osha’s story, he believed there really had been such a past.
Because this was the first time he had looked directly into Osha’s eyes, the love in the girl’s gaze overflowed from the corners of her eyes and traced across her cheeks.
Osha gently wiped away her tears with her fingers. Using her hand as a pillow, she lay on her side on the bed.
“After Ed left, I could never fall asleep at night.”
“Your voice is like his. It’s very calming. Tell me a story, will you?”
Zhe Zilin hummed in response, thinking about what bedtime story to tell.
Osha suddenly changed her mind. “If you can’t think of any story, just say my name. Osha, Osha. Repeat it over and over.”
Zhe Zilin did not have anything suitable for a story at the moment. Seeing Osha close her eyes and wait quietly, he hesitated for a moment before softly repeating, “Osha, Osha, Osha…”
The candles had burned down more than halfway. Zhe Zilin did not know how many times he had called Osha’s name.
Osha lay on her side. Her sleeping face looked very peaceful.
He quietly cleared his throat, stood up from the chair, and walked toward the door.
“Ed, is that you?”
Zhe Zilin turned back and saw that Osha had not opened her eyes. He remained silent and did not speak, then left the room on tiptoe.
For the first time in half a year, Osha once again felt a sense of peace in her heart and gradually fell asleep.