Chapter 3: Reunion in the Forest (3)

Once she left the market district, a quiet alley in the village revealed itself.

Still clutching the now slightly lighter sack of grain, Larie walked in silence, her thoughts heavy.

“Catch me if you can!”

“You cheat—! That’s not fair!”

A group of noisy children burst out from the corner of the alley and ran past her in a blur of laughter and scuffling feet. Larie’s thoughts quickly turned to Rui, whom she’d left briefly in Emma’s care, and her pace grew more urgent.

The murmurs she’d overheard in the crowd echoed softly in her mind, sending ripples through her heart.

Rumors had circulated ever since she first arrived in this village. Tales of the wicked Grand Duchess being imprisoned or hidden away in some remote place. But not once had she heard of anyone actively searching for the missing Grand Duchess.

Thanks to that, Larie had been able to give birth to Rui with peace of mind. If not for the safety of this place, she might have pushed herself too far into her final trimester, searching for somewhere even more remote.

And now, word of a new empress had begun to circulate. Hearing news of someone taking the place beside him made everything feel more final.

So the divorce must have gone through safely.

The Tromperie name had already fallen as low as it could go. Rumors even claimed the marquis family had a hand in assassinating the former emperor. Given how they had tried to use their own daughter’s life as a tool, it didn’t sound that far-fetched to Larie. She thought it all with detached indifference.

It was just past noon. In the residential district, where small houses were nestled closely together, Larie gently knocked on a door.

“Rahel! It’s been a while. I’ve been waiting.”

“It’s been a while, Anna. Have you been well?”

Anna opened the door wide, smiling warmly without a hint of suspicion. She had given birth around the same time as Larie and had been friendly with her from the start.

“Ah, you didn’t bring Rui today?”

“No. I went to trade some grain… I left him with Grandma Emma.”

“How’s that grumpy old lady doing? Anyway, come on in.”

Though modest in size, Anna’s home radiated warmth.

It smelled delicious—she must’ve just finished lunch. Sunlight streaming through a small window poured over a well-worn dining table.

“You’re here for more work, right?”

“Yes. Would three pieces be alright?”

As soon as Larie sat down, Anna’s eyes lit up. At the mention of three, she quickly rushed to the basket in the corner of the bedroom to fetch the supplies.

“Of course! Your embroidery’s really popular. You could open your own workshop, you know.”

“I’ll look into it once Rui gets a little older.”

The more they talked, the more the chaotic thoughts stirred up by the marketplace rumors settled. With the forest’s support and the skills she had acquired, Larie now had plenty she could do for Rui.

So she would be alright. There would be no need to look back anymore.

“Sam, come here. Come to mommy.”

At the sound of a child fussing, Anna spoke naturally. Her child toddled over and nestled into her arms.

“How’s Rui doing these days?”

“…Rui still can’t walk.”

He couldn’t even crawl properly yet. And there was only about a one-month age difference between him and Sam.

The developmental gap was clearly concerning. Larie’s face darkened with worry.

“It’s okay. My mom always said some kids walk much later. It happens more often than you’d think.”

“…Yes.”

Seeing Larie’s expression, Anna kindly tried to comfort her. She even offered examples of children she’d heard about from friends of friends who had developed slowly too.

“Oh, and what about what I mentioned before? You remember how I said the family next door had to move to another town? Their house still hasn’t sold.”

Even a small house in the village would be far more convenient. Anna had always been worried about Larie living alone in the forest, especially without a husband. Living next door would be a great help to Larie as well—no more wasting full days going to town just to trade for grain.

Watching Sam toddle around, Larie began to feel her resolve solidify.

“Yes. I’ll move in.”

She wanted to give Rui a better environment, no matter what.

“Oh my! That’s wonderful! I’ll get in touch right away. It’s an old house, so I’ll ask them to

lower the price for you too.”

Anna bustled around with excitement while Larie, watching her, soothed her own heart with quiet reassurance.

Terian wouldn’t come looking for her. Her family wouldn’t either. They had no reason or means to waste any more resources trying to find her.

“Thank you.”

Larie gave a faint smile, her mind firmly made up.

***

“……”

In the dimly lit emperor’s bedchamber, Terian once again found himself unable to sleep.

A massive map of the empire lay open in his bedchamber. It had become a habit born from constantly thinking of Larie, whose whereabouts remained unknown.

He hadn’t slept properly for too long. His mind, dulled by fatigue, was perpetually clouded—almost as if the silvery traces of her hair were fogging his thoughts.

“……”

The map was layered with reports from his soldiers. Reading them didn’t change anything, but Terian sorted and resorted them over and over again.

Then, suddenly, his eyes stopped on a small village near the capital.

It was an unremarkable place—only notable for being a convergence point of several roads and mountain ranges, making its population relatively dense for its size.

If there was anything unusual, it was the odd report made by the soldiers who once searched the mountain closest to the village. Those soldiers had been sent to that very area but claimed they had unknowingly passed the village altogether.

The search commander at the time assumed the soldiers had simply gotten lost and sent out another unit. That time, they didn’t lose their way—but they also didn’t find Larie in the village.

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Calmly scanning the old report, Terian summoned his chamberlain and pointed to the village he’d been fixated on.

“Send soldiers here.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. …Please consider resting now.”

Since the command had become part of his nightly routine, the chamberlain quickly understood and bowed.

Reading the concern on the man’s face, Terian gave a careless nod.

“……”

It was obvious—Larie was being hidden by the Tromperie’s. So perhaps searching the same place again was meaningless.

Still, he had eyes watching every move. If those bastards tried to relocate her, he would know immediately.

However, even knowing all this, Terian couldn’t stop looking at the map each day. His dim gaze traced the forests and mountain ranges that extended from the Grand Duchy.

In truth, since the day Larie left his side, Terian had never once slept deeply. Especially on nights like this one, when the full moon bathed every corner of the empire in light—such nights made it worse.

Though so much time had passed, Terian still couldn’t give up chasing her. In fact, the longing to at least have her body beside him grew stronger with each passing day.

“Hoo…”

Another day without her slipped by. Terian resigned himself to the thirst that had become a punishment carved into his very soul.

***

Once Larie made up her mind, everything progressed quickly.

As soon as she expressed her intent to buy the house, Anna’s neighboring home was offered at a lower-than-market price—as if they’d been waiting for her. Since only freemen were allowed to own property, Grandma Emma lent her name for the deed.

Emma had never pried into Larie’s circumstances since the day they met. But it was clear she had an inkling: that Larie had fled from a noble family. That’s likely why she helped her so generously at times like this.

“Should I just leave this one here?”

The cheerful voice from behind made Larie turn around from where she was sorting the few clothes she had.

Emma wasn’t the only one helping her. Her grandson, Jean, had just brought in the last moving box.

Freckled and full of energy, Jean often helped Larie, following his grandmother’s lead. Though younger than Larie, he was surprisingly good at physical labor. He’d even built the little hut where she had lived in the forest.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“That should be everything now.”

“Right. It’s all thanks to you, Jean.”

“Aw, come on…”

At her gentle smile and words, Jean turned his head shyly. The tips of his ears reddened—perhaps from carrying boxes in the heat.

The inside of the house Larie had spent days organizing was sparse but tidy. Most of the furniture had been left behind by the previous owner, who couldn’t take it all, which made things much easier for her.

“Almost done?”

Grandma Emma, who had been watching over Rui, arrived—likely to bring him back home as well.

“Grandma Emma, let me take Rui.”

Worried she might be tired from the long walk, Larie quickly reached out her hands. But Emma just waved her off gently.

“I’m fine, dear. You finish up your unpacking.”

Emma was a midwife. For people who had little access to doctors, she also acted as a kind of herbalist. That’s why she lived partway up the mountain, where medicinal plants were easy to find.

It had surely taken her a long time to walk here. The fact that she came all this way without a single complaint warmed Larie’s heart.

“Please, have a seat over here. Rui, did you behave well for Grandma?”

“Ah, woo…!”

“Rui’s always such a calm child. Don’t worry yourself.”

“Thank you.”

Wanting to serve tea once she finished unpacking, Larie hurried to a stack of boxes Jean had carried in and began searching through them.

“…”

Inside was the blue cloth she’d bought not long ago. The clothes she had made in the hope that Rui would grow had ended up unused. Since he didn’t have enough that fit him now, she decided to make something that would suit his current size instead—even if it was disappointing.

The entire time she was moving, unease had lingered in her heart. Was it because she’d left the comforting forest? Or perhaps it was just nerves about living in a village again after so long?

Either way, she clenched the small scrap of cloth in her hand and steeled herself. It was all for Rui, after all.

“Oh right. I’ll check on the house in the forest from time to time, so don’t worry about it.”

“That’s so kind of you, Jean. Thank you.”

She had been planning to maintain the forest home herself from time to time anyway. That place had become her new hometown. The fruits from the trees there were still incredibly useful.

Out of gratitude, Larie smiled softly again—only to notice Jean’s face had turned quite red.

“Jean, are you really that hot? Come sit and take a break.”

“N-no, I’m fine…”

He even stuttered. Just as Larie glanced at him with worried eyes, a loud voice calling her name echoed through the house. Anna had arrived, arms full of fabric or maybe blankets.

“Rahel! How about this blanket? If you leave it here and use it—oh! Emma, long time no see. And hey, squirt Jean!”

“Who are you calling a squirt!”

“How’s little Sam doing?”

“Great! Come visit sometime.”

Anna breezed in noisily, brushing off Jean’s protests with a playful flick of her nose and heading straight toward Larie. Her expression turned warm and motherly when she looked at her friend.

“I made some bedding as a housewarming gift. That old bed Mr. Granbell left behind may be worn out, but if you lay this over a thick pile of straw, it’ll feel brand new. Look, isn’t it pretty?”

Larie found herself enchanted, unfolding the blanket Anna handed her. The edge of the fabric bore a familiar embroidery pattern.

“It’s beautiful… but Anna, this is the embroidery you worked so hard on.”

“Which is why it’s perfect as a gift.”

Larie knew how much time and effort a piece that size would take. Anna’s kindness reminded her of Susan, the lively maid who had once cared for her at the Grand Duke’s estate.

The cheerful, reliable nature both women shared struck a familiar chord. Before her father had been injured, Susan had been such a thoughtful presence in Larie’s life.

“…Thank you, all of you, really.”