Episode 31
The first time he saw her was at the Guardian induction ceremony.
Having passed the entrance exam at the top of his class, he was preparing to deliver a speech as the representative.
A speech was nothing difficult.
But even something as seemingly trivial as this came with the pressure of having to execute it flawlessly.
– Top of the class, huh? It might seem like a great achievement, but as long as You carry my name, this much is only natural.
The High Priest had always been like this. Though he had taken in Lu Vantes, who had been abandoned in the snowy mountains, he had never given him the love of a parent.
– Don’t expect praise. Expectations are for the incompetent. I only look at results.
The High Priest had always demanded satisfactory results from Lu Vantes. That was why he had spent his entire life desperately struggling, perpetually thirsty for success.
– Take this opportunity to prove yourself to everyone. That you were raised under me, and therefore, you do not make mistakes.
Lu Vantes gripped the paper with his speech tightly.
He felt suffocated.
It was as if someone had their hand wrapped around his heart, squeezing it. His mind went hazy.
A cacophony filled his head, drowning out everything else, leaving him trapped in a state of chaotic disarray.
His vision blurred, and the voices around him twisted and overlapped.
At that moment, someone approached.
The first thing he saw was pink hair.
Fine and silky strands fluttered in the breeze, catching the light with a soft shimmer—like a solitary glow in a world consumed by turmoil.
Next, he saw violet eyes.
A deep, rich shade of purple—unfamiliar yet mesmerizing. Even as the world around him blurred, those eyes remained vividly clear.
A gaze that was neither warm nor cold, but something in between.
Surprisingly, those eyes did not look at him with pity.
“Here, use this. Breathe into it, and you’ll calm down faster.”
She held a paper bag to his lips as she spoke.
“Breathe in slowly, then exhale. Nothing’s wrong. There’s nothing to worry about. So you’ll be okay.”
Following her words, Lu Vantes slowly regulated his breathing.
Gradually, the overwhelming confusion that had surged within him began to subside.
“I’ve been through it a lot myself, so I know the symptoms.”
She patted his shoulder as she spoke.
Her touch was warm.
Warm and gentle, yet firm and reassuring, as if telling him he could lean on her.
As if she was pulling him out of the darkness into the light.
How much time had passed?
Once the tightness in his chest had eased, Lu Vantes finally regained his composure. He removed the paper bag from his lips and took another deep breath.
Relief washed over him—but only for a moment. Embarrassment quickly followed, realizing the pathetic state he had shown.
He needed to say thank you.
But the words didn’t come easily. Lu Vantes let out a short sigh and shifted his gaze.
“Tha—…”
“Oh, this isn’t the time for that! I have to go first! Take care!”
Before he could properly express his gratitude, the woman had already hurriedly left.
“Wait…”
Left alone, he watched her retreating figure, his lips slightly parted.
He wanted to ask.
How could someone who shined so brightly understand him?
Had she, perhaps, lived a life similar to his?
But he couldn’t ask.
She was already gone, and he had to step onto the stage for his speech.
Lu Vantes carefully folded the paper bag she had given him and placed it in his inner pocket.
Then, placing his hand over his pocket, he took another deep breath.
– Nothing’s wrong. There’s nothing to worry about. So you’ll be okay.
Repeating the words that had comforted him, letter by letter.
It wasn’t until a full month later that he learned the woman’s name was Sharan.
***
“Ugh… It hurts so much.”
As soon as Lu opened his eyes, he let out a small chuckle at the sight of Charles whining.
“Of course it hurts. You’re injured this badly.”
“Did you have to put it like that? What about some concern?”
“I was concerned. That’s why I carried you all the way here, didn’t I?”
Only then did Charles lift her head slightly and glance around. The scent of medicine lingered in the air—it seemed to be an apothecary.
Hee hands were wrapped in thick bandages. A physician must have already treated Her.
Charles wiggled her fingers slightly.
Thankfully, all five fingers moved fine, which meant there was no nerve damage.
Phew. She let out a sigh of relief.
“Charles.”
Lu, who had been silently watching him, finally spoke.
“What were you thinking?”
“Hm?”
“What were you thinking, charging at a group of crocodiles unarmed?”
Charles blinked slowly.
What was ahe thinking?
There wasn’t much thought behind it.
“There was a child.”
It was instinct.
“I had to save the child.”
The instinct to protect.
It was something ingrained in her very being, a compulsion beyond rational explanation.
But Lu didn’t seem to understand.
No, rather, even if he understood, he couldn’t accept it. His expression was far sterner than usual as he spoke again.
“Do you know that child?”
“Hmm. No.”
“So you were willing to die for a stranger?”
“But I didn’t die in the end, so isn’t it fine?”
The way Charles said it so nonchalantly was infuriating.
It made Lu angry.
An old, long-buried emotion—anger born from an anxiety and fear he could no longer suppress.
“Charles… you always only care about the outcome. You never stop to consider how much you get hurt in the process.”
Am I hurt?
Charles looked down at her body.
It hurt, but it was bearable.
She had endured worse before. Compared to that, this was nothing to complain about.
“I’m fine.”
So, Charles replied firmly.
“I’ve been through worse. This isn’t anything special. So—”
“Charles.”
Lu’s eyes trembled slightly. He took in Charles’s appearance once more.
He bit the inside of his cheek and spoke each word with deliberate force.
“You always make me angry.”
From the very first moment he met her until now.
Lu remembered.
The second time he had encountered her in the past.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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