Chapter 28: Rudella Bismarck #3
Blink.
Rudella opened her eyes abruptly and sat up straight, scanning her surroundings.
It felt as though she had been swallowed by pitch-black darkness, but a torch wedged between some rocks gave off a faint light, barely illuminating the path.
The ground was uneven and filled with jagged stones, but the spot where she had been lying was worn smooth by time, making it a decent place to rest.
However, the cold emanating from the stone floor was unavoidable.
‘This place….’
Rudella’s gaze wandered over the walls, which were composed of rough rock.
Here and there, small patches of moss and glistening droplets of moisture adorned the crevices.
Drip, drip.
The sound of rain reached her ears, prompting her to turn toward the direction of the noise. Beyond the torchlight, the only other source of brightness came from outside.
Rudella quickly realized she was inside a cave.
“You’re awake.”
A calm and reassuring voice sounded from the entrance. It was Yohan Harsen.
His condition was far from good; his uniform was torn in several places, and his body was covered in scratches. Bloodstains marred the once-pristine white fabric of his uniform.
“…Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. This much is nothing.”
Yohan walked steadily toward Rudella, holding two rabbits in his hands. It seemed he had gone out to secure food.
“Can you explain what happened?”
“Didn’t you already know?”
“Not clearly.”
“…….”
Sitting down, Yohan set the rabbits aside and lit a pre-prepared campfire using magic.
“We were ambushed by unknown assailants—an intricate attack at that. While crossing a bridge beyond the border, it was suddenly destroyed.”
Yohan shrank closer to the fire, extending his hands toward the warmth. Opening and closing his palms, he absorbed the heat.
“It seems the other guards and detection mages didn’t survive.”
After bringing Rudella into the cave, Yohan had scouted the surrounding cliffs for any survivors.
Unfortunately, all he found were cold, lifeless bodies. There were no signs of anyone alive.
“If not for the carriage, we would have been crossing the river on foot like the others.”
“…….”
Yohan’s somber gaze met Rudella’s. His deep blue eyes reflected her like a serene lake.
“This cave lies between the cliffs. It’s suitable for avoiding detection and provides a place for us to recover for now.”
“We need reinforcements immediately—”
“That’s not an option. The ones who destroyed the bridge are likely waiting nearby to finish us off.”
The attackers, meticulous enough to destroy a bridge to ensure an assassination, would certainly confirm their kills thoroughly.
“Let’s endure for five days. By then, the officials will realize something has gone wrong and send a scouting unit or reinforcements.”
Once news reached the officials that the Empire’s envoy had not arrived in Sanburk, they would act swiftly.
“…You’re saying we have to hold out here for five days?”
Rudella tilted her head slightly.
“Exactly. Does that not sit well with you?”
“…No. I understand the situation.”
Unbuttoning his rain-soaked uniform, Yohan continued speaking.
“Thanks to the puddles on the ground, we’ll have water to drink. I’ll procure food. The fire can’t stay lit for long, but I’ll use my magic to keep us warm.”
As Yohan removed his uniform jacket, his sculpted physique was revealed. His body was marked with minor injuries, and a deep wound on his side bore dried, dark blood, with fresh crimson trickling faintly along his skin.
“Ah…”
Rudella’s eyes widened momentarily, trembling slightly—not because of the wound or the blood. She wasn’t so naïve as to be startled by such things.
It was Yohan’s chiseled physique. His broad shoulders and firm, lean muscles were perfectly defined, free of any excess fat.
The tightly packed muscle fibers stretched from his shoulders to his chest, while his abs were sharply etched, resembling a finely crafted sculpture.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
Rudella, who had been staring at his body intently, awkwardly cleared her throat and shifted her gaze to the side.
“…Your wound looks serious.”
“It’s fine. I can manage.”
“It clearly isn’t fine.”
Rudella stood and tore the hem of her dress in one swift motion.
Rip!
Her pale, bare leg was exposed, prompting Yohan to quickly avert his gaze.
“Use this to stop the bleeding.”
“…Thank you.”
Yohan tied the long hem of the empire dress around his waist and tightened it firmly. A twinge of pain made his brows furrow slightly.
“…Does it hurt a lot?”
“I can endure it.”
“You were injured while protecting me. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize.”
“Because protecting me is your duty?”
“Yes.”
Rudella watched as Yohan gave a slight nod and turned his gaze back to the campfire, a faint smile gracing her lips.
The warm glow of the fire softly illuminated his features. It was a calmness that felt as though it had settled deep within, like sinking into a still and tranquil lake.
That serenity seemed to reach Rudella, easing her mind as well.
Yohan broke the silence.
“Are you hungry?”
“A bit.”
“I thought so, so I caught some rabbits.”
Yohan brought out two rabbits he had placed behind him and summoned his magic. A small blade of wind formed.
“This might be unpleasant to watch.”
“It’s fine.”
Though he was trying to be considerate, Rudella watched Yohan with curious eyes. Despite the scene being potentially gruesome, she didn’t seem particularly bothered.
Yohan laid the rabbits down, made an incision on the nape, and began skinning them.
He separated their limbs at the joints and removed the entrails, setting aside the heart and liver.
The meat was smoothly sliced into portions, and the skin, flesh, bones, and organs were neatly divided in an instant.
“You seem experienced. Have you done this before?”
“This is my first time.”
“Remarkable.”
Rudella’s bright, inquisitive eyes sparkled as she observed Yohan skillfully preparing the rabbits. It was likely her first time witnessing such a thing as a noble lady.
Yohan skewered the pieces of meat on branches and placed them between the stones of the campfire. They would make for a good meal after a short wait.
“…I’m going to dry my clothes.”
“P-please do.”
Yohan hung his soaked uniform jacket near the fire. Water dripped from it.
“Did you go out after the rain?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To leave no traces behind.”
Yohan’s deep, subdued gaze met Rudella’s as he spoke.
Rudella’s throat tightened involuntarily. Was it because she was alone with a man in such a place? Her heart began to race.
“The assassins targeting us must be quite skilled. I won’t use detection magic since it could be tracked back to us, but that only proves their expertise in finding traces.”
Rudella ignored the tension threatening to stiffen her body and asked,
“How can you be so sure they’re assassins?”
“Because they’re the only ones who could do this.”
“I don’t follow.”
Yohan, who had a faint idea of the culprit behind the incident, chose his words carefully.
“There’s a reason. I’ll explain later. For now, let’s focus on recovering.”
The reason Yohan was convinced they were assassins was simple.
There were no traces, no presence.
If even a detection mage couldn’t sense them, then only a select few could pull off such a feat.
Who else could it be but those who lived by assassination? Most likely, elite assassins of the highest caliber were involved.
And who could be behind it?
Cassis Lenokhonen had already attempted an attack once and failed, so it was unlikely he would act again. The Grand Duke was keeping a close watch on him.
Cassis’s resources were limited to two things: his belligerent hyenas and the Black Knights. But even they couldn’t avoid detection magic or execute such a sophisticated plan.
That left only one suspect.
The Crown Prince.
There was no one else who could deploy first-class assassins and target both him and Rudella at the same time.
The possibility of involvement by the Kingdom of Sanburk briefly crossed his mind, but it seemed unlikely.
To touch Rudella, the Imperial envoy and the Crown Prince’s fiancée, would not end simply.
It would be an act so reckless it could bring their nation to the brink of destruction.
‘Fedelian, you insane bastard. I didn’t think you’d go so far as to try killing Rudella too.’
Honestly, he had to wonder if this man thought with anything other than his lower half.
“It’s cold.”
Rudella curled up and hugged her knees, her body trembling slightly. The air was chilly, especially inside the damp cave.
“I have no choice.”
Yohan stood slowly and moved to sit beside Rudella. His actions were deliberate but without hesitation.
“What are you…?”
Rudella drew a short, sharp breath, as if her air had been suddenly cut off. His arm brushed hers briefly, and then bare skin made contact.
The unexpected sensation made her instinctively tremble. Warmth seeped into her, and her face flushed as her heart pounded.
“To maintain body temperature, we need to stay close. I could use magic, but using it increases the risk of being tracked. It should be a last resort.”
Sustaining body temperature with life magic required maintaining it for an extended period, unlike tasks such as preparing a rabbit or lighting a fire. There was a risk of being tracked.
“Sharing body heat—isn’t it helping?”
“Y-yes, it is. Ahem.”
Rudella quickly turned her head, pretending to look outside the cave. The rain continued to pour heavily, the droplets falling in a steady rhythm.
“Ahem, ahem.”
She fidgeted anxiously, unable to stay still. Her gaze wandered restlessly, unable to focus on one spot.
She alternated between staring at the fire, glancing at Yohan beside her, and attempting to look straight ahead, only to have her gaze inevitably return to him.
“Is there nothing to cover ourselves with?”
“There isn’t.”
“…I see.”
Rudella’s face was pale, almost ghostly white, yet her ears burned red in stark contrast.
“Five days here… I wonder if we’ll be alright.”
Feeling uneasy, Rudella tried to change the subject and distract herself from Yohan’s proximity.
“We’ll be fine. As I mentioned earlier, we have enough food and water. I’ve set up a distortion barrier at the cave’s entrance, so it’s visually undetectable.”
Rudella tilted her head slightly.
Swish.
Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulder.
“Didn’t you mention there was a risk of being tracked?”
“The distortion barrier is safe.”
“Because they obscure the entrance?”
“Exactly.”
Yohan paused before continuing.
“However, only the entrance is distorted. The inside is unprotected, so we should be cautious about using magic here.”
“I see…”
Yohan, observing Rudella fidgeting nervously, concluded that she must be cold. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Move closer. Hypothermia would be dangerous.”
“…”
Rudella’s face turned bright red. She wasn’t used to men—no, more accurately, she wasn’t accustomed to this peculiar atmosphere and the sensation of bare skin touching.
Under the soft glow of the fire.
Alone with an unfamiliar man.
Their exposed skin brushing against each other.
Though she had seen plenty of men’s physiques because of the crown prince, those encounters had only filled her with disdain and disgust. After all, she had only ever witnessed him entangled with other women in bed.
But Yohan was different. His presence made her heart race uncontrollably, a trembling she couldn’t suppress.
The strange affection she felt for him left her confused. It was a mix of excitement and nervousness, though she couldn’t quite name the emotion.
Her heart pounded so hard it felt as if it might burst. She held her breath, worried that the sound of her racing heartbeat might reach Yohan.
Would he hear it?
Would he notice her unease?
These thoughts only made Rudella more flustered.
“It’s ready.”
Yohan took a branch with cooked meat skewered on it from the fire and handed a piece to Rudella.
“It’s hot. Be careful when eating it.”
“Th-thank you.”
She accepted the branch. Seeing the golden-brown rabbit meat, her hunger surged, and her mouth began to water.
For the first time in her life, Rudella tasted rabbit meat. Its texture was tender, and its flavor rich, but her focus was elsewhere. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Yohan.
Her heartbeat echoed like a resounding melody against the walls of the cave.
* * *
Access 16 advance chapters with the 'FL's First Time Rofan' Tier ($5).
Link: http://ko-fi.com/astrascans/tiers (Paypal payments)
Buy me a coffee Link: https://buymeacoffee.com/galeriakrish/membership (Cards Payments)
* * *
Comments
Post a Comment