Chapter 3.1 – Forest of Crows

Hessen Forest was known by many names: the Forbidden Forest, the Witch’s Forest. Among them, the most famous was “Forest of Crows.” That name came from the legend of the “human-sized crow.”

“They spread their wings wide, snatch away children, and eat them.”

Just recalling those memories made Livie shudder.  

“Cold?”  

Boris unfastened his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it tightly around Livie as he asked. Though it was chilly, this trembling wasn’t merely because of the cold.  

She had stopped believing in such ghost stories at a certain age, but the deeply rooted fear within her hadn’t faded easily.  

Childhood memories are that powerful. You think you’ve forgotten them, yet they resurface at critical moments, staring you down.  

But something felt strange.  

Other ghost stories and childhood memories came to her easily, yet memories of Boris remained shrouded in darkness, like thick black fog.  

The fragmented memories weren’t enough. Despite spending so much time with him, only those scraps of memories surfaced—it was odd.  

It felt as though someone had deliberately blocked them. She had even forgotten about him entirely until they met again.  

“Boris.”  

Livie tilted her head up and looked at him. Even in the dim light, his face shone unusually pale. It contrasted starkly with the black metallic armor he wore, making his appearance distinctly alien.  

Thinking about that face wiping out enemies made her shiver even more.  

“Yes.”  

He answered with a soft voice, oblivious to what Livie was thinking. Livie swallowed hard as she looked at him.  

“This… this is the Forbidden Forest.”  

No sooner had she spoken than the distant hoot of an owl echoed. Livie instinctively grabbed the hem of his cloak.  

“Scared?”  

Boris tightened his arms around her. Strong and warm arms. Being within them made her feel as though no threat could reach her.  

‘This is insane.’  

What was I thinking about this shameless kidnapper?  

She scolded herself for finding comfort in the warmth that enveloped her so securely.  

“Yes, I’m scared. Why are we here?” 

Livie tried her best to sound calm, though she was terrified to the point her toes curled.  

“We have to pass through here.”  

He answered casually.  

“Have to pass through?”  

“To get to where we’re going.”  

Without specifying where exactly, Boris smiled as if telling her to look forward to it.  

Feeling as though she might smile back, Livie quickly turned her head away. Then she realized something.  

Reaching this forest meant they had traveled far north. Livie felt as though she were falling into an endless abyss.  

North.  

Boris had been heading north the entire time, the opposite direction of the Resette Dukedom in the south.  

“There’s actually a faster and easier way to get there, but…”  

He trailed off, furrowing his brow slightly.  

“Faster and safer?”  

A faster and safer way through such a forest? With dense trees all around, the only options were riding or walking through.  

This was why the village had remained isolated for so long. Crossing the forest required courage, time, and money.  

But a faster way? If it existed, surely people would have used it long ago.  

“There is. I’ll tell you later.”  

Boris’s violet eyes glinted suspiciously.  

His eyes looked so unfamiliar, almost as though they weren’t the same ones she had seen during the day.  

The mystical color, combined with the night’s glow, made him seem less human and more like a sinister monster.  

A creature from the Forbidden Forest that seduces humans, according to legend.  

That gaze and beautiful appearance felt capable of devouring one’s soul entirely.  

“Right now, we have cargo, so bear with it for a while, Livie.”  

Livie knew well what he meant by “cargo.”  

The captured knights of the Resette Dukedom were being humiliatingly dragged along in a cart, like mere luggage.  

For them, this was likely their first experience of disgrace and humiliation since becoming knights.  

She could see the knight who had pointed his sword at her earlier.  

Recalling his arrogant gaze made her shiver.  

Sensing her stare, the knight raised his head and immediately locked eyes with Livie.  

She quickly turned away, as his eyes were filled with venom.  

It wasn’t surprising.  

These were knights of the Resette Dukedom, warriors who had led battles at the frontlines of war. Their power was so formidable that even the Kingdom’s forces struggled against them.  

And yet, they had been subdued without resistance by Boris’s knights, who were fewer in number.  

Though Livie hadn’t witnessed the scene herself, the Resette Dukedom’s knights bore torn and battered wounds compared to the relatively unharmed Kalini Knight Order.  

But their greatest pain wasn’t physical—it was their wounded pride.  

Knights are beings bound by pride and honor.  

When their honor is tarnished, they are willing to sacrifice their lives without hesitation.  

Having crushed their pride, Livie worried about the consequences.  

The truly terrifying thing wasn’t the crows perched on the trees or the possibility of encountering human-sized monstrous birds.  

It was what would happen when the Duke of Resette learned of all this.  

Livie’s mind was consumed by worry.  

Noticing her troubled expression, Boris spoke in a serious tone.  

“Livie, are you scared? Should I gouge out their eyes?”  

“…What?”  

Thinking she must have misheard, she turned to look at him, only to see his cheerful smile.  

“They were glaring at you just now. Livie, don’t be scared. I could gouge out their eyes or kill them right now…”  

“Stop.”  

What frightened her more was how casually he said such chilling things while smiling so brightly.  

“Please don’t say such scary things.”  

Livie quickly covered Boris’s mouth with her hand.  

As she felt the soft texture of his lips against her palm, she gasped in surprise and tried to pull her hand away.  

But Boris grabbed her hand and pressed it firmly against his lips.  

“Bo… Boris.” 

Livie called his name, glancing around nervously to see if anyone was watching.  

Fortunately, the knights kept their eyes fixed ahead.  

“Let go of me.”  

She tried to pull her hand away, but it wouldn’t budge.  

Instead, he pressed it harder, leaving Livie flustered and staring at him helplessly.  

Boris smiled softly, his eyes crinkling, then began to trace her palm with his lips.  

The soft, warm sensation delicately passed over her skin, making Livie shiver.  

“You taste good.”  

After a moment, Boris finally let her hand go.  

“Taste… good?”  

Livie echoed his words, dazed.  

“Yes, sweet. Livie, you taste like candy.”  

“…”  

“Do you think other parts of you taste this sweet?”  

Other parts? Where else?  

Livie felt her hair stand on end.  

“I’m human, Boris. I’m not candy. Stop joking around.”

When Livie struggled to avoid Boris, who emitted a gaze like a predator eyeing prey, she inadvertently made eye contact with the knights of the Resette Dukedom once again.

“Hey, Boris.”

“Hmm?”

“Couldn’t you… let them go?”

Boris turned his gaze to the spot where Livie’s eyes had stopped.

“No.”

His tone was as firm as a cleaver chopping a carrot.

“Detaining the knights of the Resette Dukedom, Boris—this is grounds for war.”

Livie whispered desperately, hoping to persuade him somehow.

“The Resette Dukedom is a family that once produced kings. They haven’t given up their ambition for the throne, and they’re always looking for an excuse to start another war. They even have the power to…”

Livie calmly explained, laying out the reasons why he shouldn’t act this way in a manner he could understand. She spread her fingers wide and folded them one by one as she listed the reasons.

When Boris’s gaze seemed to grow serious, Livie felt a glimmer of hope for the first time.

“Livie.”

“Yes, Boris?”

Livie answered gently. Perhaps he was the kind of person who listened if spoken to softly. She had been wrong to shout at him recklessly earlier. That must have been the problem.

“You’re really cute.”

“…What?”

Boris’s lips curled into a deep smile as he watched Livie’s large, pale green eyes blink.

“And lovable.”

Livie froze in her posture of folding her fingers one by one. She began to frantically rack her brain, wondering what on earth she had done to be called lovable and cute. Watching her, Boris whispered.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

Boris furrowed his brow slightly, as if concerned about her.

“You do…?”

Livie murmured, her face blank with confusion. 

How could he possibly know? Could someone who claimed to know act like this?

All her doubts vanished with his next words.

“Livie, I’m a Duke too.”

“…”

“I’ll win.”

Livie had heard similar words from him before. Long ago, when they were children, during those days when all the village kids gathered to play games.

“Don’t worry, Livie. I’ll win.”

And he really did win.

Although he wasn’t particularly large, Boris had never lost a fight, even when the boys quarreled. Strangely, the boys, despite being bigger than him, had no choice but to surrender to Boris.

“So don’t worry about that.”

Boris looked at her again with a face that seemed ready to die from how adorable she was.

“Uh, okay.”

Livie gave up on continuing the conversation and closed her mouth, only to speak again.

“Boris, um… I…”

“Hmm?”

Boris tilted his head to listen as Livie’s voice grew softer and softer, lowering his head to match her height.

“…I want to go.”

“Where?”

“…I just want to go.”

Livie lowered her reddened face even further. Following her movement, Boris lowered his head even more.