Night had fallen.
The convoy had set up camp in a clearing within the woods.
Julius had said the mountain path ahead was difficult to navigate after dark, so they might as well rest for the night and continue in the morning.
The campfire danced in the darkness, stretching and shrinking the shadows of the nearby tents.
The night-watch duty rotated among the accompanying guards, but most people had already gone to sleep, leaving the camp wrapped in quiet.
Aiko sat beside the campfire, arms wrapped around her knees, staring blankly at the flickering flames.
In her hands she held a crystal pendant shaped like a lily—the gift Ingrid had given her.
Half a year ago, on a certain night, the silver-haired female knight had clumsily pressed it into her palm, face flushed, and said, “This is a memento from the mission we completed together.”
Back then, Ingrid still blushed easily, still laughed, and still dragged her out of the church in the middle of the night to sneak off to the royal capital’s night market for grilled skewers.
But now?
Aiko’s fingertips brushed over the smooth surface of the crystal, complex emotions rising in her chest.
Was it really all right for her to leave without saying goodbye?
She wondered how Ingrid’s injuries were healing.
The archbishop had said her mental state was poor and she needed quiet rest.
Was she eating properly?
Changing her bandages on time? Or did she still wake up startled in the middle of the night and sit alone by the window, lost in thought?
At the thought, Aiko’s heart tightened.
But the next second, another memory surfaced—
She remembered the words Ingrid had hurled at Young Master Abel.
“If you had arrived even a little earlier, none of this would have happened.”
“Look at what you actually protected.”
Aiko’s brows furrowed.
She could understand Ingrid’s pain at losing both parents in a single night.
She could understand the enormous blow she had suffered.
But how could she speak to her savior that way?
If not for Young Master Abel, Ingrid would have died in the arena!
To treat her lifesaver with such vicious words…
Aiko gripped the pendant tighter, her expression complicated.
“Can’t sleep?”
A voice came from behind her.
Aiko startled, quickly hiding the pendant in her palm, and turned around—
Abel was walking over from the direction of the tents, a cloak in his hand.
“Knight… Young Master Abel?” Aiko stood up hurriedly. “Why are you…”
“Night watch. I’m used to it when traveling; I don’t sleep well in the wild at this hour.”
Abel sat down beside her and handed over the cloak. “It’s chilly at night. Put this on.”
Aiko paused for a moment, then accepted the cloak, a wave of warmth blooming in her chest.
“Th-Thank you…”
Abel gazed into the campfire, his tone casual. “You can’t sleep either?”
“Mm…” Aiko sat back down and wrapped the cloak around herself.
The cloak carried a faint scent of grass and wood, along with the reassuring traveler’s scent that belonged to Abel.
“What are you thinking about?”
Aiko hesitated, then answered softly, “Just… some things from the past.”
Abel did not press further; he simply nodded.
“That’s normal. At the beginning of a journey, your mind tends to wander. Once you’ve been on the road long enough, you won’t have time to dwell on anything.”
Aiko turned her head slightly, studying his profile.
The firelight danced across his face, outlining his resolute features.
That short green hair, those eyes focused on the flames, those slightly pursed lips…
They matched the youth in her memories exactly.
It’s him. It’s him. It’s really him!
Aiko’s heartbeat quickened; her palms grew damp with sweat.
She wanted to ask, wanted to confirm, wanted to ask him again, “Do you still remember me?”
But the words reached her lips and slipped back down her throat.
It was understandable if he didn’t remember, right?
After all, he was a great hero who had saved countless people over the years.
Back then she had been nothing more than an ordinary little girl, face covered in snot and tears, looking utterly wretched.
What right did she have to expect him to remember her?
“Um…” Aiko lowered her head, voice barely audible.
“Young Master Abel, if you’re on night watch, I’ll go rest now.”
She stood up, ready to leave.
“Aiko.”
Abel suddenly spoke.
Aiko froze.
“Kiel City, right?”
Abel continued to stare at the campfire, tone calm.
“You were crying really hard back then.”
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if recalling something amusing.
“When I sent you back to the city, we ran into a patrol squad. They thought I was a kidnapper and nearly arrested me.”
Aiko opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Her eyes, however, reddened instantly.
“In the end you explained everything to those guards for a long time before they let me go.” Abel turned to look at her.
“I remember that little girl’s eyes—they were the same clear azure as yours, like lake water.”
He paused, then smiled.
“So when you mentioned it at the banquet, I actually did have a vague impression. It was just so long ago that I didn’t connect the dots right away.”
Aiko’s tears finally spilled over.
She kept her back to Abel, nodding vigorously, voice choked.
“Young Master Abel… you pretending not to recognize me earlier was really mean…”
“I wasn’t pretending.” Abel spoke seriously. “I really only just remembered. I’m glad the little crybaby from back then has finally stepped out of the shadows.”
Aiko clutched the crystal lily tightly, tears streaming uncontrollably.
“Thank you for remembering,” she whispered. “Thank you… for saving me.”
“It was the right thing to do,” Abel said. “Go rest. We still have a long road tomorrow.”
Aiko nodded and walked toward her tent.
After a few steps she suddenly stopped, not turning around.
“Young Master Abel.”
“Hm?”
“Um… thank you. Not just for what happened back then, but… for now as well.”
She quickened her pace and disappeared into the shadow of the tent.
Abel watched the direction she had gone and let out a soft sigh.
The campfire crackled. Night wind rustled through the treetops with a soft shushing sound.
Just then, Aiko suddenly halted.
Her gaze turned toward the edge of the camp, where the woods began—
A figure had flashed past.
Silver hair stood out strikingly under the moonlight.
Aiko’s heart clenched violently.
That was…
Almost on instinct she gave chase, pushing through the bushes at the camp’s edge and running into the forest.
Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows.
The figure stood beneath a large tree not far ahead, back turned to her.
Silver hair, slender build, familiar silhouette—
“Ingrid!”
Aiko stopped, staring at the back in disbelief.
The silver-haired female knight slowly turned around.
Moonlight illuminated her face, revealing skin pale as paper and honey-gold eyes that were hollow yet burned with mad flames.
“Aiko.” Ingrid spoke, her voice hoarse and unrecognizable. “I’ve… finally caught up to you.”
Aiko took a step back, watching her warily. “Why are you here? Didn’t the archbishop tell you to rest quietly?”
“Rest quietly?” Ingrid laughed. The smile was twisted and tragic.
“How am I supposed to rest quietly? My best friend left with that man without a single word. How am I supposed to rest quietly?!”
She stepped forward, eyes blazing.
“Aiko, come back with me. That man is not a good person. He’s using you!”
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