Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

 

  “There were a bunch of rats.”

 

  Rosalie ran a hand through her hair, her voice scratched.

 

  “It seems so. The bodies of the Imperial Knights also bear Devi’s swordmanship.”

 

  Rosalie looked down at the Imperial Knights wearing red cloaks and fell into thought. He had cut down those who wore the same cape with his own hands.

 

  ‘What were you thinking when you killed those wearing the same capes as you? It must have been very difficult.’

 

  Nathan sniffed in the blowing wind and turned his gaze towards the deep forest. Someone seemed to have walked out of this place with an injured body, and Derivis’s scent still faintly lingered on the road.

 

  “Hmm… someone seems to have spilled blood. It’s very faint, but we have to follow the scent of blood.”

 

  Rosalie whipped her head around to look in Nathan’s direction, her eyes shaking slightly.

 

  “It’s not Devi’s blood.”

 

  Rosalie quickly headed back to her horse. Nathan also got on the horse immediately, and they spurred them on.

 

  “There are people following him apart from us.”

 

  Rosalie muttered, looking at the hoof prints on the ground. Nathan nodded as if he’d already noticed, and the two of them drove their horses faster, their eyes flashing.

 

      ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  They tracked the traces without pause, and before they knew it, night had fallen. Rosalie and Nathan decided it was impossible to move any further in the thick darkness, so they headed for a suitable boulder to hide behind.

 

  “Let’s take turns keeping watch.”

 

  “Rosalie, you go first.”

 

  Rosalie pulled a blanket from her bag and handed it to Nathan. Nathan wrapped himself in the dense blanket, and Rosalie pulled a vial from her pocket.

 

  “What’s that?”

 

  “It’s to keep the monsters away.”

 

  Rosalie sprinkled the contents around them. Nathan sniffed curiously, but the unpleasant smell made him bury his nose in the fur.

 

  Rosalie noticed Nathan’s discomfort but told him to bear with it for a moment. 

 

  ‘Monsters came last night from that direction… no, we should worry more about ambushes.’

 

  Rosalie glanced at the empty glass vials on the ground. Nathan, who had followed her gaze, removed the fur from the corner of his mouth as if he had read her mind. 

 

  “Rosalie, he’s strong enough that you don’t have to worry.”

 

  “I know,” Rosalie murmured as she dropped the empty glass vial from her hand and wrapped the blanket around herself.

 

  She knew how strong he was from reading the novel. Derivis always solved Sonia’s requests or wishes, and he gallantly saved her from dangers caused by villains.

 

  “But Rosalie, you really look anxious right now.”

 

  At Nathan’s words, Rosalie leaned back against the rock. The chill of the cold rocks was blocked by her fur coat and did not reach her back.

 

  “Nathan. No matter how strong someone is, betrayal hurts.”

 

  Even though he was accustomed to betrayal from his life in the palace, the act of betrayal ultimately brought deep, unbearable pain.

 

  As far as Rosalie could tell, Derivis had been involved with the Imperial Knights at Patrick’s behest since he was a child. From recruitment to training, there was no aspect of the Knights that he hadn’t touched. And now, their betrayal.

 

  ‘If I were to shoot and kill my colleagues and successors… how would I feel?’

 

  Rosalie fiddled with her ring and remembered the sad blue eyes she had seen in the carriage. As she thought of his face again, a corner of her heart seemed to ache, and she closed her eyes.

 

  “That’s why… we’re going to save him.”

 

  Rosalie, who had tightly closed her eyes, didn’t say anything more. But soon after, Nathan smiled softly when he heard the small sound of regular breathing.

 

  ‘She may act blunt, but she has a delicate side hidden beneath that exterior. It’s true that she’s insensitive to her own feelings, though.’

 

  Nathan, who was smiling, fiddled with the thick fur. Worry was definitely contagious. Even though he knew that Derivis was alive, he still worried in his heart.

 

  ‘It’s probably because you were the first person to offer me a hand, Devi.’

 

      ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  At that moment, Derivis, who had continuously evaded the relentless pursuers and had entered the forest, found a suitable spot and dismounted from his horse. He then took out the last recovery potion and handed it to Venick, who was slipping down from his horse.

 

  “Drink it.”

 

  “Isn’t it the last potion? You should be saving it for yourself, Your Highness.”

 

  Venick weakly shook his head. Derivis clicked his tongue and opened the lid of the glass vial containing the potion, then pushed it into Venick’s mouth. 

 

  Venick, who had deep wounds on his back, had no strength to refuse the rough touch.

 

  They tried to head towards the place where the tents were gathered on horseback, but it was difficult due to the people who kept pursuing them. Venick blamed himself for the injury, saying that he had let his guard down.

 

  “…I’m sorry. I should have checked one more time… I never imagined that there would be traitors within the Imperial Knights….”

 

  Venick could barely contain his anger as he spoke in a painful voice. He had never imagined that there were traitors within the Imperial Knights. With his emotions boiling over, Venick finally raised his voice.

 

  “Those bastards! How could they do that to Your Highness?!!”

 

  When the unknown assailants attacked, the knights behind Derivis and Venick drew their swords. However, their sword tips weren’t pointed at the assailants, but at Derivis.

 

  “That’s what the palace is.”

 

  Derivis said with a dry face, devoid of even a hint of emotion. Ironically, it was Venick behind him who wore a pained expression.

 

  “If we wait for the search party or reinforcements…”

 

  “Well, can we really trust them?”

 

  Derivis gently kissed the ring on his fourth finger and sighed. He had long since given up on false hope.

 

  Holding on to it was a futile pursuit.

 

  “Maybe I’ll be the one to save you, Derivis.”

 

  But why did those words of hers come to mind? Derivis smiled at the thought of the blunt yet sincere voice in his ear.

 

  Then, removing his mouth from the ring, Derivis silently drew his sword.

 

  “It’s best if I’m alone in this place.”

 

  Venick also tried to draw his sword, sensing the looming danger. However, he only groaned in pain from his back.

 

  “Ugh, Your Highness…!”

 

  “Stay out of the way. Fall back.”

 

  Soon, the pursuers poured out of the darkness.

 

  “Die!”

 

  Under the moonlight, Derivis’s sword danced beautifully and sorrowfully. It was as if it was screaming tears in place of its master’s heart, which never wept.

 

      ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  As soon as the darkness lifted from the forest, Rosalie and Nathan moved quickly. As they made their way deeper into the winding forest path, Nathan slowed his horse and spoke up.

 

  “Rosalie, I hear something. Let’s get off the horse.”

 

  Rosalie also slowed down and dismounted from her horse. They cautiously approached the source of the sound, trying to minimize their presence.

 

  With each step they took, the smell of rancid blood and painful groans grew faintly louder.

 

  “Hmm… It seems like it’s already over.”

 

  Nathan, who had been walking stealthily with a lowered body, straightened his waist and started to approach with firm steps. As Rosalie saw the color of the ring on her finger turn a vivid red, she broke into a run, pushing her way through the bushes.

 

  At the end of it, she came face to face with Derivis, who mechanically cut down his opponent without any expression on his face.

 

  “Rosalie? Why are you here…?”

 

  Derivis trailed off, seemingly flustered by her appearance. Rosalie glanced at Derivis, whose clothes were stained with blood, before speaking in a trembling voice.

 

  “I was worried. I came to save you.”

 

  Upon hearing her words, Derivis released the lifeless mercenary he had been holding in his hand. The ground around him was already stained with a putrid scent and had turned a bloody red.

 

  When Rosalie tried to take a step forward, Derivis spoke.

 

  “Rosalie, don’t come. This place is filthy.”

 

  Derivis spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion, and only the faintest tremor of his breathing could be heard. His words became an invisible wall that wrapped around him.

 

  Rosalie, looking at him from afar, took a few steps forward.

 

  “I’m coming.”

 

  His words fell on deaf ears. The vulnerable sight of him standing there as if he were alone on a remote island made her lose control of her own emotions.

 

  With firm and unwavering steps, Rosalie approached Derivis. Her resolute gait left no room for anyone to stop her.

 

  She met his trembling blue eyes with her usual steady gaze. Derivis slowly reached out for her hand as if it were a lifeline, but stopped when he saw that his hand was covered in blood.

 

  “Don’t hesitate; hold it.”

 

  Rosalie grabbed his bloody hand. Derivis couldn’t take his eyes off the small hand that held onto his own tightly.

 

  “But if I hold your hand, you might end up coming to the palace. The thought of it scares the hell out of me.”

 

  He looked more sorrowful for someone who seemed to be scared. Derivis continued speaking, not even knowing what kind of face he was making.

 

  “How can I drag anyone here in this place?”

 

  Derivis muttered, looking at Rosalie’s hand in his. He heard a crack form on the wall that had been keeping his emotions at bay.

 

  It began to crumble rapidly, like water pouring out from a dam that was about to overflow.

 

  “If you don’t like the palace, then get the hell out of there.”

 

  Rosalie didn’t have Sonia’s gift for soothing people with endearing words and actions. She also didn’t know what actions Sonia did for Derivis after reading the incomplete novel.

 

  ‘So, I’ll make sure he can break free from his chains.’

 

  Rosalie held his hand tighter.

 

  “I’ll make it happen.”

 

  There was no way that Derivis, who was mesmerized by Rosalie’s steady gaze, could resist upon hearing the sweet promise of salvation.

 
 

 

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