I Met You at the End of the Run - Chapter 2

So, Diane was convinced that being Leon’s sister would be the safest position. Not knowing how dangerous that choice would be.

“Ha.”

Leon, who had somehow come right up to her face, bent down slightly and stared at Diane intently. Was it her imagination? Tension gradually built as she felt his gaze repeatedly lingering on her lips.

Leon lowered his head further and let out a hollow laugh while looking at Diane, who was trembling as if she might tear her skirt hem.

Her ragged clothes were patched with different fabrics here and there. With winter approaching, her pale ankles showed beneath her thin skirt. Her blonde hair was neatly tied behind her back, but she apparently hadn’t noticed the few feathers stuck in it. Despite everything, she must have been quite diligent about washing, as not a speck of dust could be seen on her skin.

It was amusing in detail — that someone who was a princess of a country was in such a beggar’s state, and that while wearing clothes worse than a beggar’s, she still kept herself meticulously clean.

Ah, though it seemed insane from the start that she would want to make a man who had been treated as a slave in the Kingdom of Avead her brother.

Was being spouses or siblings really the same thing? No way, this woman would surely regret coveting the position of his sister.

“So that’s your taste?”

At his suddenly shortened speech, Diane swallowed hard before answering.

“Taste? And why are you speaking so…”

“Should siblings speak formally to each other?”

“…Well, no.”

“…Sigh, let’s be clear about this, alright? Seeing how you want me to talk formally, you must have been thinking of a knight, but I hate that sort of thing and have no intention of getting caught by poor acting, and until the moment we escape and arrive at the Kingdom of Avead, we need to become completely different personas. Do you understand? Princess Diane?”

“……”

“And don’t forget the money you promised me once we arrive.”

“I always keep my promises, so don’t worry…”

“Then are we done talking?”

Thump, Leon’s hand fell on Diane’s shoulder. Though he hadn’t put much strength into it, Diane was startled as if she was grabbed by the collar, trembling and squeezing her eyes shut.

“What are you doing? Why are your eyes closed?”

His voice showed genuine curiosity. Diane answered with her eyes still closed.

“It’s just, being touched by a man… is my first… time…”

“What?”

“Even being this close…. Couldn’t you move back a little…?”

There was no answer to her fragile request. Finally, Diane painfully lifted her eyelids. However, upon meeting Leon’s eyes right in front of her face, her legs unconsciously gave way and she tilted backward.

“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”

Leon stretched out his arm and caught Diane’s back. She was practically in his embrace, causing her face to turn bright red. Similar to Leon’s red eyes.

“Weren’t you the king’s royal concubine or something here?”

“I was, but… he never sought me out…”

“Never sought you out?”

“Probably… because of what happened when I first entered the palace. I had a fever then…”

Her fluttering eyelids explained instead that it was a clumsy excuse. Her delicate eyelashes were quite long, fluttering like feathers. Like the white feather of some unknown bird currently stuck in her hair.

“I heard there were quite a few concubines here.”

“Ninety-nine…”

Ninety-nine — while it was a large number, it didn’t make sense. How could anyone forget a woman like this? He could bet on it. Anyone who saw this woman once would never be able to forget her.

Because her appearance was so… unique.

“You had male siblings, didn’t you? From what I heard, the King of Avead had many children.”

“Yes, but I never had conversations with them… and, and they never touched me like this.”

That was why the King of Avead used Princess Diane as a trading piece with other countries. Princes who couldn’t become heirs could be sent to battlefields, and the excess princesses were perfect for selling under the name of marriage.

Of course, Diane didn’t even reach marriage, as she only became a concubine.

“Are you sure you have the money to give me? Seeing how no one visits you, you seem penniless.”

“That, I’m definitely sure about. Among what my late mother left behind, there are lands, and mountains…, lots of hidden gold bars…, many precious things…”

How should he take this? Diane started blinking again…. Leon raised one eyebrow crookedly and said nothing. However she interpreted that expression, Diane began to move little by little.

Her small hand crept up and grabbed Leon’s waist. Her other hand went to his shoulder.

It was similar yet different from Leon’s posture when he had caught Diane as she was about to fall. As she raised her hand to his tall shoulder, Diane’s wide sleeve rode up, revealing her thin wrist. Leon’s gaze automatically went there.

“But do siblings touch each other like this…? Originally?”

“…What?”

“Since my mother passed away when I was young and I lived in a corner of the palace… Because I spent time alone, I hardly mixed with people… And books never mentioned such things… Um, is this right?”

Look at this. Leon let out an exasperated breath. Diane was fidgeting with Leon’s shoulder as if petting a puppy.

Simultaneously, Leon’s Adam’s apple moved roughly. Along with the sensation of his back stiffening unnecessarily, his throat felt hot.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“On purpose?”

“Aren’t you scared? I killed all the people next to us.”

“…I don’t think you killed them.”

“How would you know that?”

Leon’s neat eyebrows rose high. As if challenging her to answer, curiosity settled in his eyes.

“It seemed like you avoided all vital points. I saw how you only attacked their thighs and arms, and when you hit their necks, you only used the sword handle…”

While Leon didn’t ask anything in response, Diane continued speaking, having read the silent question in his eyes.

“To protect myself alone, I had to learn some self-defense… Of course, I’ve only read about it in books and never actually practiced.”

“Ha, I see.”

Looking at Diane as she answered while fidgeting, Leon felt somewhat frustrated and pushed her away, stepping back. Seeing him ruffle his hair, Diane hastily made another request, fearing he might leave her behind.

“If ten million gold isn’t enough, I can give you more. As long as you bring me back with my arms and legs intact.”

“…What about other parts?”

“Hm?”

“I mean, is it okay if other parts get hurt?”

“…Huh?”

Leon muttered a low curse as he looked at the face of the naive princess.

His mouth itched to spit out vile threats and dirty words that he had picked up from rolling around on the ground. However, with patience drawn to its limit, he suppressed himself and instead of speaking, he extended his hand to Diane.

Seeing what looked like an offer for a handshake, Diane tilted her head curiously.

“Then, call me.”

Even though the subject was omitted, Diane understood. She slightly raised the corners of her mouth and took his hand, putting the final punctuation on their contract.

“Brother. Let’s escape from here…, no, let’s escape.”

***

No matter how skilled Leon was, it would have been impossible for him to escape from the prison of Roam Castle alone.

If it weren’t for Diane, who, despite being a royal concubine, had no other duty than to distribute candles to the prisoners in the jail.

Leon, who had picked up and put on a guard’s uniform and followed Diane out, stared blankly at her back as she walked without hesitation, thinking it was strange. Just a moment ago when she was in his arms, she was trembling so much that he thought she was very timid. But now, she was almost brazenly shameless.

“Why are you carrying the candles out like that?”

A guard with an expression full of disdain asked Diane. Hugging the box of candles to her chest, she sighed deeply and answered.

“The head jailer said he’s going to correct the prisoners’ behavior… and told us not to let anyone in until tomorrow…”

Trailing off, Diane glanced back at Leon standing behind her before looking forward again. For a moment, Leon had to struggle not to burst out laughing.

Her eyelids were blinking so rapidly it was as if something had gotten into her eyes. If one were sitting in front of her, it would feel like being fanned by the wind. However, despite such a clear and easy signal, the guard seemed to understand, scratching his ear and making way for them.

“Starting again, huh? You’ve got it tough, brother.”

Probably thinking Leon was a jailer chasing Diane away, the guard spoke to him while smacking his lips.

“I suppose.”

The words came out gruffly. The reason was that the guard’s gaze was too sticky. Had this woman been walking around such a place without any concern? The guard’s eyes were fixed on her unusually plump chest, pressed behind the box of candles, pretending to look at the box.