What’s this? Carl seemed extremely uncomfortable and did not continue his sentence, seemingly reluctant to speak.
“We’ve been invited to some kind of heretical ritual. It just so happens that this period is when they perform rituals for a month…”
“What kind of ritual?”
“You don’t need to know about that, Dana.” Carl cut me off softly but firmly. “Just rest for today. I’ll try to get a horse tomorrow so we can leave. And, Dana.”
He suddenly handed her something. It was none other than two white cotton balls. “Use these to block your ears tonight.”
“Pardon?”
“They plan to perform the ritual tonight, and the sound might reach here…” Carl explained with difficulty, furrowing his brows before sighing. “I’d prefer if you didn’t hear any of it.”
“…”
“Please, okay?”
I accepted the cotton balls in a daze.
So, I was supposed to sleep with these in my ears? To prevent myself from hearing the sounds of the ritual?
What kind of ritual is that I shouldn’t hear it? I was curious.
There wasn’t much known about the Moon God’s people – the heretics. Until ten years ago, they were treated as devil worshippers like barbarians, so information about them was thoroughly blocked. But Carl must know about the heretics. He was the chief importer of moonlight flowers, and he must have visited the southern continent…
I wanted to ask more, but Carl’s face was so earnest, pleading me not to ask any further.
“Alright, I will.” Deciding I wouldn’t get more answers, I nodded. “I’ll block my ears and sleep.”
“Thank you.”
Carl finally smiled with relief, and I simply smiled back.
As if I would. Of course, I planned to eavesdrop secretly. I should know what’s going on here.
I had to stay in Kaltusa for a while. Until Carl discovered ‘it’ himself. That which would completely ruin him.
I hope Carl finds it soon…
I laid down on the straw. It seemed that this small mill was given to us as a dwelling.
First, let’s pretend to sleep while wearing the cottons, then remove them when Carl falls asleep.
* * *
It was when the night deepened.
Is he asleep?
I slowly opened my eyes. Right next to me, on the straw, Carl Windsor lay quietly with his eyes closed.
Is he really asleep?
Carefully, I waved my hand in front of his face. There was no reaction. He seemed to be asleep.
He looks like an angel when he sleeps…
Outside, the ‘ritual’ was in full swing, with the light of bonfires streaming through the windows. Faintly, some noise seemed to be reaching me… I listened attentively.
What is it? What could this sound be? There seemed to be agonized groans and something violently crashing… But I couldn’t make it out because of the cotton.
I should listen properly.
I raised my hands towards my ear to remove the cotton. It was just then.
“!”
My wrists were grabbed.
I swallowed a groan. Carl’s large hand completely enveloped my slender wrists!
‘Are you awake?’
I quickly checked his face, but he still had his eyes closed. He had just reached out and grabbed my wrists while his eyes were closed.
Could it be that he’s sleep-talking?
As I thought this, Carl’s eyelids slowly opened. In the darkness, he looked at me. He only moved his lips.
‘Don’t.’
While gently lowering my wrists, which he held.
‘Go to sleep.’
Then, he covered my eyes with his large hand, closing them. Soon after, he started patting my shoulder as if lulling a baby to sleep.
What is this…
This is really absurd. I’m not a child. Do you think doing something like this will make me sleep?
What kind of ritual is it that he prevents me from hearing anything?
But I pretended to sleep obediently. I’d check it out once Carl truly fell asleep.
* * *
“…”
I stared blankly at the pouring sunlight. And then realized. I just slept through it… I had planned to pretend to sleep until Carl fell asleep but ended up falling asleep first.
Feeling awkward, I removed the cotton balls, firmly blocking my ears.
“Awake?”
Just then, Natty, who had taken care of me last night, arrived with a bundle of bandages.
“Lord Carl went to the forest for a bit. To get firewood with the woodcutters.”
“Ah…”
“Let me check your body for a moment.” Natty smiled as she carefully examined me. “Fortunately, there’s no external injury other than a slight tear on your head. There are no scars that will leave a mark, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
“But your ankle is still a bit swollen. It might be uncomfortable to walk. I’ll make you crutches.”
“That would be great. Before that.” I painted a sociable smile on my face. “Is there a place to bathe around here?”
I felt grimy all over.
* * *
The village seemed more normal than expected. White laundry hung in every yard, some houses raised chickens and cows, and children played in some alleys.
It doesn’t look like a ghost town. When I came to purify the land previously, it was entirely black, with the smell of rotting corpses everywhere…
“Oh my, is it the lady over there?”
“That, Lord Carl’s wife?”
At the bottom of the mountain, several women were already bathing in the stream.
“Here, soap.”
“Thank you.”
Careful of my injured leg and head, I slowly undressed. But…
“My, look at her fair skin!”
“How beautiful. Lord Carl’s skin is like porcelain too!”
“She’s skinny but with a full chest!”
“I’m jealous! Look at that slender waist!”
These women really! Unable to bear it, I finally gave them a sharp smile. “Please stop. I’m not a spectacle, am I?”
The women burst into laughter.
“Ah, sorry if we offended you.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
“We haven’t seen outsiders in so long.”
“Are all outsiders as beautiful as you?”
I decided to just ignore them, thinking if all heretics were this annoying.
“Looks like you’re okay, except for a bit of a limp.”
“Yes! You should attend the ritual tonight!”
After bathing, the women suggested when they get dressed.
Ritual? Is that the one Carl had mentioned?
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