The Village (3)

Lily trailed off, her words fading into silence—and Evan, too, fell quiet.

She's changed quite a bit.

Was she referring to the vile rumors about Adel?

But the Adel he had seen with his own eyes didn't seem like someone who would do such things. If anything, she was kinder and more gentle than anyone else.

"She doesn't seem like the person the rumors make her out to be," Evan remarked.

Lily gave a slight nod.

"She's much better now. But there was a time when she really was exactly as the rumors said."

Her fingertips began to tremble faintly.

Seeing that, Evan hesitated, then closed his mouth again.

After all, he was merely Adel's assigned escort knight. Lily would know her far better than he did.

There were probably circumstances he wasn't aware of.

Evan kept his thoughts to himself.

"Honestly, I'm still uneasy. I keep feeling like Lady Adel might change back at any moment..."

Adel had lost her memories in a carriage accident.

Not just the memories of her villainous deeds—but most of her childhood memories as well.

Lily had been secretly relieved when Adel returned to her pure, kind self. Though she had also grieved, just a little, that their shared childhood memories were gone.

It was Adel, with no memory of the past, who had reached out first—and because of that, Lily had been able to trust her again.

She was that kind and gentle.

But what if, one day, all of Adel's memories returned?

How would she treat Lily then?

That was what worried her most.

"Miss Lily."

At Evan's call, she lifted her head slightly. The usual softness in her expression was gone, replaced by a solemn look.

Crossing his arms, he asked her:

"Do you trust Lady Adel?"

"I do. But..."

As Lily tried to add something more, Evan shook his head.

"Then isn't that enough?"

That's enough?

His words puzzled her, and she tilted her head slightly. Seeing this, Evan placed a hand over his chest—as if making an oath—and spoke slowly.

"I trust His Grace. And I trust myself, because His Grace believes in me."

"Ah..."

"Isn't that enough?"

Belief in oneself.

Lily had no choice but to nod at Evan's resolute words.

Back when Adel had been exactly as the rumors described—committing nothing but evil deeds—Lily had once tried to advise her.

It was simple, obvious advice: You won't win anyone's heart like this.

But the result of that advice had been Lily being abandoned in a back alley again.

Thanks to Count Este's help, she had eventually returned to the mansion—but the trauma of that moment still lingered.

A memory Adel, in her current state, knew nothing about.

But...

Even though Adel, having lost her memories in the carriage accident, had no recollection of that incident—she was the one who had approached Lily first.

Carefully. Patiently.

Even when Lily had panic attacks because of her trauma, Adel had endured and stayed by her side.

And yet, despite seeing that side of her, I still couldn't bring myself to trust her fully.

How foolish of me.

Even if Adel's memories returned, the time they had spent together since wouldn't just disappear.

The kindness she had shown Lily wouldn't vanish like a lie just because one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠memory resurfaced.

And yet, just the thought of being thrown back into that alley had filled her with irrational unease.

What a ridiculous thing to worry about.

"...You're right. I was being short-sighted."

"If I was of any help, I'm glad."

Evan smiled faintly as he said that. Lily, too, gave an awkward smile in return.

A brief silence settled between them, but unlike before, she didn't find it stifling.

How much time had passed like that?

Tap, tap.

Adel emerged, her footsteps crisp against the floor. Both Lily and Evan froze at the sight of her slightly weary expression.

"I got the information."

As she spoke, Adel pulled a compass from her pocket. Lily quietly studied her expression before stepping closer.

"Did something happen?"

"Hm? Ah, no. Don't worry. I'm fine."

She didn't look fine at all.

Her face was clouded with complicated thoughts—but she brushed it off without another word.

Whatever it was, it could wait.

"This artifact..."

Evan took the compass and quietly channeled mana into it.

With a faint hum, the compass began to glow.

"Do you understand how it works?"

"It activates with mana infusion. An older model, but..."

The needle pointed toward the inn's door. All they had to do was follow its direction to reach their destination.

But given the significant mana consumption, it had become a rare antique—hard to find these days.

"I already have enough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana."

"Then all we have to do is follow it, right?"

At Adel's words, Evan nodded.

"That's correct. Miss Lily, could you guide us with the direction?"

Lily, who had taken the compass from him, nodded. Adel felt a flicker of curiosity at how unawkward their interaction seemed.

"Did you two get close?"

"Ah, yes. In a way."

When Adel turned her head, she saw Evan smiling and nodding. She chuckled softly and lightly patted Lily's head.

"Well done, our Lily."

"Hehe."

Lily could laugh purely, without a trace of unease—because now, she could trust both Adel and herself.

"Then let's go."

At Adel's words, Lily and Evan nodded simultaneously. Evan took the lead as they left the inn.

When Adel turned her head slightly, she saw a man bowing deeply.

They exchanged nods before leaving the Information Guild.

§ ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

A forest thick with fog.

The visibility was so poor that not even a step ahead was clear, and Lily clung to my arm like a cicada.

Come to think of it, Lily was secretly a bit of a coward.

"I didn't expect there to be a place with fog this dense."

Evan muttered, clearly not pleased with the sight either. He waved his hand through the fog and let out a sigh.

He was right.

In Ark, the fog had been thin enough to see at least 100 meters ahead.

But in this heavy mist, even three steps apart would make it impossible to see each other clearly.

"Lily, stay close."

"Yes, Lady Adel."

Lily kept her eyes fixed on the compass, not bothering to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glance around.

Only when the compass needle shifted did she quietly point in the new direction with her finger.

How long had they walked, following the compass's guidance?

Through the dense trees, a small shadow appeared. At the sight, Evan reflexively reached for his scabbard.

As they drew closer, they saw a girl wearing a red cloak.

In one hand, she held a basket; in the other, a wooden tong.

The girl must have noticed them too, because she stared at them with a puzzled expression.

Adel took a step forward, but Evan immediately raised a hand to stop her.

"Hey, who are—"

Before the girl could finish speaking, a slash of blue aura erupted from Evan's sword. The bisected girl dispersed like mist.

A chilling, giggling laughter echoed as her figure vanished.

"This is..."

"A Fog Illusion Flower. It lures people with illusions before devouring them whole."

A shiver ran down Adel's spine, and she rubbed her arm.

If Evan hadn't stopped her, she would've spoken to the girl.

Now that she thought about it, something had been off. There was no way a girl would be alone in such a deep, fog-filled forest.

"We'll have to be careful."

With that resolve, she followed Evan.

Not long after, another figure appeared—this time, a man.

As they approached, they saw a gaunt-faced young man. His dark-circled eyes and hollow cheeks left a strong impression.

Perhaps because of that, an eerie and gloomy aura clung to him.

"...Are you travelers?"

The young man lowered the crossbow in his hands and studied them. Evan, who had been reaching for his scabbard, slowly lowered his hand.

"Yes. Would you happen to know a place where we could stay for the night?"

"Stay the night, you say."

He seemed to think for a moment before nodding amiably.

"There's a village. If you have enough money, you're welcome to stay."

Evan nodded in return. The young man gestured for them to follow, then turned and began walking ahead without another glance.

Something about the situation felt ominous, so Adel whispered to Evan.

"Is it safe to follow him?"

Evan answered just as quietly.

"He doesn't seem hostile. We should stay cautious, but I think it's fine."

"Understood."

Following Evan's lead, they trailed behind the young man.

His steps through the thick fog were unwavering—almost as if he knew the path instinctively.

"What brings you to a forest like this?"

"We... lost our way."

At Adel's vague answer, the young man gave them a skeptical once-over.

After staring for a long moment, he finally turned his head away.

Then, in a detached tone, he continued.

"This area is dangerous. I can't guarantee your safety either."

"I'll protect them."

"A knight, are you?"

The young man glanced at Evan's armor before letting out a derisive laugh.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed leading the way.

'What a strange person.'

From the start, the young man had been walking in the exact same direction Lily's compass indicated.

Could the village he mentioned actually be... the Emperor's Hometown?

'...I have a bad feeling about this.'

She hoped it was just her imagination.