44. Bird
The sack was swinging left and right, making bizarre sounds.
What was peculiar was that the branch on which it hung was positioned at an extremely high place.
How did the person who hung it climb up there to tie and secure the sack?
At that moment, a piercing loud noise was heard.
Looking closely, something was sitting on the sack.
It was a large black bird.
The bird lightly shook its body, then began pecking at the sack tied to the tree.
This large and unusual bird made me forget that I was fleeing from Robin Wellers.
What could be inside that? Perhaps a pile of harvested berries? Could there be so many berries inside that the crushed pulp is leaking this juice?
If so, it would fully explain why the black bird was eyeing the sack so eagerly. Birds are naturally herbivores, so it must have been attracted by the scent of the fruit.
Curious about how fragrant these berries might be, I bent one knee and sat down where a pool of red liquid had collected.
The wind was already blowing strongly, so it was sufficient to smell the scent without putting my nose too close.
For some reason, it was a scent I had smelled somewhere before.
No, I might have even tasted it directly.
It wasn’t this faint scent, but something more concentrated, I think.
The moment I smelled it, my body began to shiver with cold, but strangely, drowsiness overwhelmed me.
In an instant, I collapsed onto the wet soil with a splash, and the hot and fragrant scent of mud lingered at the tip of my nose.
My vision began to spin and then started to black out completely.
It felt like someone was stroking my hair, gripping my head and pulling me up.
Though curious, the desire to close my eyes and seek sleep was stronger than wanting to check who that person was.
I felt strangely cozy and comfortable.
‘Rosaline.’
During this, someone called my name.
It was an extremely gentle and warm voice.
The warm touch was still stroking my head.
“Who……”
Without answering my question about who it was, that hand gripped my arm.
Though it felt like sinking deeper into a swamp, the drowsy sleepiness showed no sign of fading.
I only wanted to lean more and more into that comfort.
At that moment, I felt as if something hot was crackling and burning in front of my eyes.
“Get a hold of yourself.”
A resolute and cold voice, unsuited to the situation, echoed in my ear.
It was different from the voice I had heard just before.
How should I put it, it had a bit more irritation mixed in, like an annoyed tone.
Like Robin Wellers, for instance.
“Hmm…?”
I woke up with a start.
The moment I opened my eyes, I saw the dark sky.
In the middle of it, Robin Wellers was standing stiffly, holding my arm.
As he had done several times before, he was once again holding my wrist as if he had snatched it.
“You’re holding my hand again. As you please.”
At that, he looked down at me with an extremely pathetic expression.
“So is this also related to the young master’s well-being?”
At my sarcasm, his eyes wavered.
“No, it’s not.”
He answered readily and pulled me up by my arm.
The moment I emerged from the mud, I looked down at my clothes, which must have been a mess.
But my clothes weren’t as dirty as I had expected.
“I apologize for grabbing your hand without permission.”
He apologized without hesitation.
I looked at Robin Wellers in surprise.
In his expressionless eyes that met mine again, there seemed to be no sign of displeasure or sarcasm.
It feels like I’ve heard something I shouldn’t have.
Why is he apologizing so readily this time?
Why on earth?
“……”
Did my sarcastic tone succeed in persuading him?
That can’t be.
Robin Wellers was a man whose thoughts were completely unfathomable.
It seemed like he might have some other scheme.
However, whatever it was, he was the most reliable presence in this pitch-black dense forest right now.
At least, as the Duke’s right hand, he wouldn’t leave me to die since I was needed by his master.
“Shall we return now?”
Unlike before, Robin Wellers asked me and politely extended his arm.
It was nothing short of a declaration that he would respect my wishes.
I slowly nodded and looked at him.
I quietly grabbed his arm that was extended toward me.
“This way.”
With my arm held, he began to walk slowly as if guiding me.
Looking around again, there was neither the huge sack nor the giant bird.
They hadn’t hidden in the darkness either.
The branch above was clean, as if everything had been a dream.
Could all of it have been a hallucination?
The forest path we walked was eerily quiet.
Without saying a word, I followed him.
Of course, Robin Wellers was slightly ahead, but he walked at a moderate pace in consideration.
After a while of silence, he opened his mouth for the first time.
“I’ll send word to Watson separately, so don’t worry too much.”
I immediately recognized that he was referring to the name of the coachman who was mainly assigned to this outer castle.
“Mister coachman?”
“You don’t need to use such honorifics for a coachman.”
Robin Wellers immediately countered my words.
“The same goes for me.”
As if he had been looking for the right timing to point this out for a long time, he quickly added.
“Is that so…?”
“Yes.”
“Then what should I call you two?”
“That’s for you to figure out.”
He really seemed like a naturally blunt person.
Even while saying such kind words, he didn’t look kind at all.
I looked at his back as he walked busily.
He was walking well despite wearing clothes that looked uncomfortable at a glance.
Just as Annie was the perfect maid, this person seemed like he had been a chief chamberlain from the moment he was born.
It wasn’t just because of the behavioral norms and attitudes he performed as perfectly as breathing.
It was because he looked extremely comfortable, as if not constrained by any restrictions within those suffocating formalities.
Truly, he was a more fascinating person the more I looked at him.
After an endless walk that finally stopped, we reached the door of some building.
Having wandered and run through the forest paths for so long, I had no way of knowing whether this was inside or outside the ducal residence.
Moreover, I wasn’t even that curious.
After walking in the forest for too long, my whole body was exhausted.
All I needed now was rest.
Robin Wellers took out a bundle of keys from his pocket.
I was very curious how he had remained so agile while carrying such a large and heavy thing.
Then he led me to a room that looked like a reception room.
Unlike outside, the room was very warm and comfortable.
“Would you wait here for a moment?”
Robin Wellers asked while offering me a seat.
“Yes, alright.”
I took my place in the chair he guided me to.
Right after confirming that I was seated, he opened the door and strode out.
Unlike me, who was completely unfamiliar with this place, he seemed to know well where this location was.
I carefully scanned my surroundings.
Though simple, this small room somehow looked cozy.
But still, no matter how much I looked, I had no idea where this place was.
I sat sprawled out, waiting for Robin Wellers.
❀❀❀
Robin Wellers couldn’t believe his own actions from earlier.
‘I’m just saving it for later.’
The image of his master’s eyes, gleaming with ecstasy as he said those words, flashed before him.
That day, Young Master Riverton spoke as if she were a treasure he cherished greatly.
Of course, the fate of his “precious” things was miserable.
Those eyes, which the uninformed might consider brilliant, happily watched the wretched end he had prepared.
Rosaline Brienne would be no exception.
From the moment she caught his interest, she was already in danger.
‘This forest is dangerous.’
It was a useless act.
He felt like he had unintentionally participated in his master’s crime.
But does he regret the moment he blocked her just now?
He couldn’t readily answer.
But he had no intention of interfering with his master’s malicious hobbies.
As long as Young Master Riverton desired it, Rosaline Brienne would have no choice.
Perhaps he should have left her alone as she walked into the “field” of her own accord?
Because the man-eating bird that pecked at human marrow might have been kinder than his master.
‘Unnecessary meddling……’