Perhaps it was for the best. She had put it off again and again, too afraid of how to speak the words aloud.

The wind whipped roughly against her cheek. Closing her eyes, she felt the sunlight pour warmly over her skin.

For the first time, Reina thought—

‘I’m free.’

They rode on and on, without a destination. Whether they were being pursued or not, they fled endlessly.

At times, they would stop to lean into each other’s warmth and sleep. And when they opened their eyes, without a word, they would mount the horse again and continue on, moving without end.

How many days had passed?

They slept when they grew tired, ate when hunger struck, and spent all the remaining time fleeing. It felt as if they might reach the ends of the earth.

“Reina, shall we rest for a while?”

“Mm.”

Zephion leapt lightly from the horse and helped her down. Though things had grown a little easier since they’d bought a saddle along the way, riding all day long was far from comfortable.

Absentmindedly rubbing at her stiff legs, she watched as Zephion sat down right in front of her and lifted her legs onto his lap.

His large hands began to knead her muscles gently.

“Haa…”

Never had she been so grateful for his skillful touch. The stiffness that had weighed down her legs slowly eased away.

“Does that feel better?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Silence fell again. Reina watched him quietly, his face intent as he worked on her legs.

Running endlessly until they reached the world’s edge might have been fine for now, but they would soon need a plan.

Would they continue wandering like this forever, or should they settle somewhere, even if only for a while?

‘If we settle… Kaelid will find us for sure.’

Even if they stayed, they would have to move every few months—at most, a year. But still, it might be better than drifting endlessly day after day.

“Pipi.”

“Yes?”

“Have you thought about what we should do now?”

At her words, Zephion blinked slowly.

“Even if we can’t stay for long, maybe we should settle somewhere for a while.”

“…”

“Or… will we just keep moving like this?”

She was curious what he thought.

The truth was, in this life of constant travel, she was little more than a burden. Without her cane, she couldn’t even walk on her own. Without Zephion’s help, going far at all would have been impossible.

“…It would be better to stay somewhere.”

“If you truly want to go farther—no matter how far—we can. But with your leg the way it is, it would be wiser to find a place to rest for a while.”

His voice was firm, as if he had made up his mind. The man’s golden eyes rested steadily on her.

“You may think you don’t need it, but you do. You need rest.”

She couldn’t bring herself to lie and say she was fine. The truth was, she had reached her limit. She had never been particularly healthy, and since injuring her leg, the only movement she’d had was light walks—and s*x.

The fact that she had endured this long was astonishing in itself.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“Because I’ve become a burden.”

At that, Zephion laughed.

“Did you forget? You were kidnapped.”

“I forgot for a moment.”

“I’m the kidnapper. Taking care of the one I kidnapped is only natural.”

After slipping her shoes back on—the ones he’d removed to massage her legs—he lifted her into his arms.

“In the next village we find, we’ll stay. At least a few months should be fine.”

“Can you really decide that so easily?”

“I don’t even know where we are. Having a set destination would only make us easier to catch.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility for you, no matter what.”

He swung onto the horse behind her. Even the horse seemed weary now. They followed the road at a slower pace than usual and, after some time, a small village came into view.

It was tiny — so small that she could see from one end of the road to the other.

“For now, let’s stay here.”

“Mm.”

The two strangers entered the village at a slow pace.

***

Staying there proved easier than expected.

By chance, there was a vacant house—the owner had left weeks earlier. The villagers were curious about travelers in such a remote place, but they didn’t turn them away.

When asked about their relationship, Zephion answered without hesitation.

“We’re married.”

Reina frowned at that. Later, he excused himself, saying it was the least suspicious answer he could give.

It was true enough. They didn’t look alike enough to pass for siblings, and the age gap was far too small for them to be mistaken as mother and son.

They couldn’t say they were strangers, either. The only plausible answers were lovers—or a married couple.

‘This village is so small… there’s nothing I can do here.’

Reina let out a short sigh.

She thought about taking on translation or transcription work she could do sitting down, but such jobs only existed in cities.

Zephion had smiled and told her not to worry, but the unease still lingered.

She even considered sewing for wages. But, unfortunately, she had no such skill. She’d never properly learned embroidery, so how could she be good with a needle? It wasn’t as if she was a skilled cook or a master of household chores, either.

‘The first few days were such a disaster.’

The memory made her chuckle faintly. Both she and Zephion had lived so long with attendants at their side that they had fumbled clumsily, unsure how to manage on their own. Still, little by little, they were getting used to it—and for that, she was grateful.

When she had been making do with a roughly cut branch for a cane, Zephion had brought her one from somewhere.

Though it bore no ornate decorations, it was sturdy and reliable—so strong it felt as though it would never break again.

Reina tapped her fingers lightly on the worn table. It was nearly time for Zephion to come home. Lately, he had been helping the woodcutters, taking whatever work the village most needed.

She leaned her chin on her hand as she waited. Before long, there was a knock at the door.

“Reina.”

At the familiar voice, she rose and walked toward the door.

“Welcome back.”

“I’m home.”

Smiling, he pulled her into a warm embrace.

Like a truly affectionate husband, he held her close until she patted his broad back, and only then did Zephion let her go.

“I bought the bread you said you liked. And I got some stew—it’s still hot, so you can eat right away. Sit down. I’ll get everything ready.”

“I’ll help.”

“It’s fine.”

Before she could even offer, he quickly set the food out. Though it was only placing the bread on a plate and ladling the stew into bowls, it was more than enough.

“Thank you. I’ll eat well.”

“It’s not much, but eat plenty.”

Zephion smiled a little sheepishly. Reina took a spoonful of the stew, still steaming hot.

To be honest, compared to life in the House of Berend, this was the worst she had ever lived. An old, worn-down house; meals of little more than a piece or two of bread with borrowed stew; clothes made from coarse fabric.

Only now did she realize what a luxury it had been to soak in hot water every day. A few times, Zephion had heated water so she could bathe, but she knew most here only washed in cold water.

Yet despite all the discomfort, she liked it here. No—what she truly liked was simply that it wasn’t Berend.

She no longer had to curse Kaelid while gasping under the weight of his body. She could forget thoughts of her mother, and the revenge against her father as well.

‘Is it a sin… to live as though I’ve forgotten?’

But she was so very tired. The thirst for revenge she had carried for nearly twenty years still burned red, yet it had grown worn, faded around the edges. Sometimes, she even caught herself thinking she was simply exhausted.

Reina shook off those thoughts of the past.

Had she not already left it behind? There was no need to think of it anymore. Besides, dwelling on it only brought the fear that one day, Zephion would learn the truth.

She gazed quietly at the boy, eating heartily as if he were truly hungry.

Other than the day he had said he would “kidnap” her, he had never once told her he loved her.

‘Why not?’

Back at the estate, he had clung to her with those very words, I love you.

Reina idly toyed with the wooden spoon in her hand. When he used to say he loved her, it had only felt like a burden—yet now, in his silence, she found herself unsettled.