Chapter 3.4
“……”
“So, don’t worry.”
Though Livie couldn’t understand what basis she had for reassurance, his words carried a strange power. She found herself nodding, almost entranced.
“Get some sleep. When dawn breaks, we’ll need to ride again.”
With that, Boris wrapped Livie tightly in his cloak and blanket and lifted her into his arms.
As her body was lifted into the air, Livie kicked her feet helplessly, but his grip didn’t loosen even slightly. In the end, Livie gave up and let him do as he pleased.
Carrying her, Boris entered the tent he had set up earlier. His movements were as effortless as lifting a feather.
The makeshift tent was small enough that the two of them had to sit close together. Boris carefully placed Livie down inside and wrapped her even more securely in the blanket. Then, he lay down right next to her.
“This is suffocating.”
Livie tugged at the tightly wrapped blanket and complained.
“You’ll be cold.”
Even in the dark, his eyes gleamed with a clear presence, showing a hint of concern.
“Not at all.”
Far from being cold, her entire body felt heated—and it was all because of Boris.
Livie pushed his body away with all her strength. Contrary to her expectations, his body moved surprisingly easily. After creating some distance, his face became more distinct.
The sharp shadows on his face clearly revealed a man’s features. Yet, traces of his boyish charm occasionally peeked through, leaving Livie confused.
Come to think of it, it was strange.
Until she met him again, Boris had almost been erased from her memory.
Now that they had reunited, all those memories were flooding back, one by one, almost overwhelmingly.
It felt as though the memories were breaking free from a coffin under a sorcerer’s spell. But they didn’t come back in order.
“Boris.”
“……”
Boris looked at Livie with open eyes.
“You know… I don’t remember very well.”
“What don’t you remember?”
“Just… the time we spent together in the village, or the last time we met… I wasn’t that young back then, either.”
“……”
Boris listened quietly to Livie’s words.
“Even so, how can I not remember so much?”
It felt as though a fabric that had been torn to shreds was being pieced back together, bit by bit.
Some memories were vivid, while others were completely blank, as if someone had intentionally erased them with malicious magic.
“Your memories will return gradually, Livie. We’ve been apart for a long time.”
Boris spoke gently. His eyes, gleaming in the darkness, resembled embedded jewels.
Looking at him triggered another memory.
Long ago, the two of them had faced each other like this in the dark. Not just once, but many times. Perhaps every night. They had often stayed up talking until they fell asleep.
The memory was so vivid.
Why?
How could she not recognize him immediately? The image of him crying pitifully was so clear in her mind.
“Slowly but surely, everything will come back.”
“How do you know that?”
“Trust me.”
His words sounded strange. They were entirely unbelievable, yet somehow, Livie found herself believing him. Each time an inexplicable emotion surfaced, Livie felt confused.
“Don’t be afraid of anything. I’ll protect you.”
“You’re the scariest thing here.”
Livie snapped sharply.
“……”
Seeing his eyes waver as if hurt made Livie’s heart feel unsteady, like a broken chair.
“What? Why?”
Whenever he looked at her like that, her resolve weakened—as it had in childhood.
Even though now wasn’t the time to let her guard down.
“Get some sleep. I’ll stay outside.”
Boris said this and stood up, leaving the tent.
For a moment, Livie felt an impulse to reach out and stop him. Being left alone suddenly made her feel overwhelmed with fear.
As she squeezed her eyes shut, the sound of the wind and rustling leaves, the cries of birds and beasts tearing through the darkness—all seemed closer than ever.
When she woke up after a brief, almost unconscious sleep, the campfire outside had nearly died down.
The surroundings were eerily silent. Livie lifted the cloth covering the tent’s entrance.
Aside from the campfire in the center of the campsite, the pitch-black darkness filled her with dread. If she were to flee, it would be better for it to be completely dark.
“Livie.”
A face suddenly thrust forward, and Livie fell backward, landing on her bottom.
“Kyaa…! Oh my!”
Boris approached her, slipping his arms under her armpits to lift her up effortlessly. His gaze meticulously checked if she was hurt, making Livie’s heart feel as though it was shrinking.
“Why are you up? Are you thirsty? Hungry?”
At his questions, Livie shook her head repeatedly.
“Uh, I just…”
Lowering her eyes in embarrassment, Boris nodded as if he understood.
“Ah, I see.”
“I just need to, uh, take care of something.”
Livie twisted her body slightly as she spoke.
“Come here.”
She stared blankly at Boris’s outstretched hand.
“Are you saying we should go together?”
Boris nodded his head up and down, accompanied by an innocent smile.
“No.”
Her firm rejection made Boris’s gaze drop, looking as though he’d been hurt.
“I want to be alone.”
Boris tilted his head.
“But earlier, we went together.”
“That was earlier, but…”
His gaze, which seemed to ask what was different now, made Livie straighten her expression.
“You idiot! How far are you planning to follow me?”
She clenched her fists, trembling with frustration, and glared at him with all her might. But his response was the same as always.
“You’re too pretty, Livie.”
Once again, Livie had to blame her unintended charm.
“Didn’t I tell you, Boris? Everyone wants to be alone sometimes.”
“Yes.”
“Well, now is that time for me. If you follow me, I’ll be incredibly angry.”
“Angry…?”
“Yes, I’ll be very upset.”
At her declaration, Boris’s eyes wavered briefly before he nodded.
“Alright, if that’s what you want, Livie. Stay alone for a while. But when you’re done…”
“Stop talking! Stop it!”
As his words grew unnecessarily detailed, Livie quickly covered his mouth.
“I’ll be back. Stay right here, don’t move, okay?”
Livie repeatedly emphasized her instructions to Boris, who stood by a large tree trunk. Then, gathering her torn dress, she stepped into the forest. Even as she walked, she kept glancing back to ensure Boris was staying in place.
“Think of it as a game, okay? Count slowly up to five hundred. Don’t come before then, no matter what. You’re good at listening, Boris.”
“Yes.”
His obedient and gentle reply made Livie smile brightly.
“Wait patiently, alright?”
“Yes. But don’t go beyond the big rock—it’s dangerous.”
After making him promise several times, she finally turned her back and walked deeper into the forest, flinching at every sound her dress made as it brushed against the undergrowth.
“There you are.”
Livie’s voice brimmed with joy as she finally found what she was looking for. Covering her mouth with both hands to prevent any sound from escaping, she cautiously approached the horse.
The reddish-brown horse belonged to one of the knights in the Kalini Knight Order. Spotting a horse that had strayed from the camp into the forest while grazing was a stroke of luck.
Livie couldn’t help but smile widely at the horse’s twitching backside. The relatively docile horse blinked at her approach before resuming its grazing, seemingly unconcerned by her presence.
“Please help me.”
Livie whispered in the horse’s ear as she drew closer. The horse shook its head with a soft snort, as if it understood.
“Please, help me out, okay?”
She whispered again, her voice filled with desperation. Livie was confident in her ability to ride; after all, every horse in her village had carried her at least once.
“Thank you.”
She gently stroked the horse’s back, and it accepted her touch without much resistance.
“Good boy. Come here.”
As Livie lightly tugged the reins, the horse initially resisted but soon followed her lead.
When she finally climbed onto the saddle, she almost let out a squeal of delight.
“Let’s go.”
The horse’s hooves made no sound on the damp ground. It was fortunate that it wasn’t the season for fallen leaves.
Keeping her body low, Livie cautiously urged the horse forward. She could already feel the distance between her and the camp growing.
No matter how skilled the knights were, finding her in this dark, maze-like forest wouldn’t be easy.
Unless they were looking from above.
“Count slowly to five hundred.”
Boris must have reached somewhere in the middle of counting by now.
As she rode farther away, Livie’s heart began to race faster. Ignoring the distant cries of unknown beasts, she steeled her resolve.
‘I just need to get out of this forest.’
To find her way, she needed to focus on the sound of flowing water.
“There should be a stream nearby…”
She heard the faint sound of water flowing. It wasn’t far—perhaps a waterfall or a stream.
Turning the horse toward the sound, Livie urged it onward. As the sound of water grew louder, another sound suddenly mixed in.
“Four hundred ninety-eight, four hundred ninety-nine…”
The murmuring sound was interrupted by a voice.
Livie shook her head, thinking she must have misheard. But the next moment, a clearer voice echoed in her ears.
“Five hundred.”
The horse stopped. Livie slowly turned toward the source of the sound.
And there, in the darkness, she met a pair of vividly glowing purple eyes.
“I’m here, Livie.”
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But seriously escaping on horse through a dark creepy forest? For what? Does she even have a plan? Where is she going to go? To her 51 year old husband?