Chapter 96
“There’s a lot of sharp rocks around here, so make sure to watch where you’re walking . ”
To my most trusted knight, Sir Leonhard .
How are you doing on this scorching hot day?
“Hey . Your feet are shaking all over . Are you okay?”
Even though I’ve just arrived at Flamme, it felt like I haven’t seen Sir Leonhard’s face in forever .
We’ve just departed and I’m already homesick . Makes you want to laugh, doesn’t it?
“Hey Marie, can you still communicate with us humans?”
If I close my eyes, I can still see the stretches of our homeland . Someone waving to me from the other side of the river where a flower garden had spread . I can’t remember it too well, but it feels kind of nostalgic… Oh, I know-
“This is hopeless . Hey, mister . If you don’t help her, she’ll really bite the dust . ”
“Marie! Get a hold of yourself! Do you even know what I’m saying!?”
“…Three years ago…before grandma died…” I coughed violently .
“Marie!!”
And after I caught a glimpse of Wolf’s face, my consciousness blacked out and I crossed over to my grandmother’s side of the river . The End .
********
“Here, have a drink . ”
I grabbed the water bottle while trembling . It’s a mystery how I actually got it out of his hands and safely brought the bottle to my mouth . The feeling of water running down my throat…it felt beyond amazing . After sipping a few more times, my head finally cleared .
“I’ve returned from the dead . ”
I say that, but I didn’t even die in the first place . Thanks, brain . Helpful as always .
What the hell was I thinking? Who was the grandma that died three years ago? My grandparents passed away before I was even born, and my grandmother from my previous life was even in better shape than I was . Last time I checked, I even died before her .
“It seems you’ve come back to the realm of the living . That’s good to hear . You were breathing so strangely that I was at a loss at what to do . All I heard was kofuu~ kofuu~”
Can’t deny that . I thought I was Darth Vader back there .
I couldn’t speak then because not only was I out of breath, but my feet were both sore and rough . To top it off, I’d nearly crossed the life and death border .
But in the end, the outcome was obvious from the start .
“You’re a princess that’s been pampered in a castle . Of course trekking through mountains would be impossible…”
Our high but dizzying altitude had an amazing view . I could see where the green forest met and spread all over the red earth . When I looked to the far side, I marvelled at the stunning horizon .
We were currently on top of a mountain southwest of Flamme .
Basically, I was in the middle of climbing before I blacked out…how did it end up like this?
“This is the result of your own doing . Just accept it and give up already . ”
“Ugh…”
I gave a small groan once faced with the undeniable truth, but I didn’t force the issue any further .
“Should I carry you? You’ve clearly reached your limits . ”
“You’ll just tell Father about helping me, won’t you?” I looked at Crowe .
“Oh, but of course! ‘Your Majesty, would you believe I had to drag our pampered princess all the way up a mountain?’ Something like that . ”
“Even if I have to crawl, I will climb this all by myself . ” I immediately shot down Crowe’s taunting comment .
As I said those biting words, my face became visibly irritated . When I think about it, I make all sorts of obvious expressions, huh . I’m sorry to disappoint anyone who thought I was a cool and emotionless type of character .
“I’ll carry her . She’s my precious employer, after all . ”
Wolf gently patted my head . Looking up at him, I noticed he was watching me with warm eyes . It was a gaze full of affection . It was so embarrassing that I didn’t know where to look .
“I haven’t promised you anything yet . ” I muttered quietly, my insides churning with complicated feelings .
Wolf still smiled softly at me, his voice gentle, “I know that . ”
Honestly, I felt conflicted once he gave me that smile . I didn’t know what Wolf was thinking; not now, and not back then .
‘Would you kindly become our Master?’
When he said that back at the house, I was at a complete loss for words . My brain had simply decided to stop working . Behind me, Crowe had sent a glance at Wolf and muttered, ‘We have a pervert on our hands,’ in a voice filled with both pity and disgust .
I came here to buy some medicine from the clan, but now the whole tribe was being forced on me . It’s all Wolf’s fault . He’s definitely a devil in disguise .
Did Wolf really wish for me to become the Kua Clan’s Master? Or was there a hidden goal? All this time and I still couldn’t find his real intentions .
And even if he truly wanted me as their Master, it’s not something I can answer so easily .
I certainly needed their help, there’s no doubt about that . However, hiring the whole clan could spell its own troubles if I didn’t think this through .
But if I said no, well, that wouldn’t work either . I wanted the medicine, all that they could give me .
If I wish to stop the spreading of the disease, then I should definitely take him up on his offer . In the end, I’m still hesitating . I wasn’t ready to accept it .
Realising my own cowardice, I halfheartedly postponed my answer . And as he waited for that reply, I was heading off to see the Kua Clan in the flesh . How cunning of me .
“You don’t have to make a face like that . ”
I didn’t know what face I was making, but I’m sure it wasn’t a happy one . Wolf rubbed my head to comfort me, an apologetic smile appeared on his face .
“Delaying your answer wasn’t a bad idea . After all, there’s still a lot of things I have yet to tell you . ”
“Yep . Though you seek the princess to become your Master, you’re still being vague . Are you following the intentions of your clan as the next chieftain, or are you fulfilling your own ambitious goals?” Crowe joined in .
“You’re quite the sharp one . ”
When Crowe mockingly clasped his mouth shut, unwilling to speak any further, Wolf’s eyes narrowed dangerously .
The exchange just now was tense, but it did bring a few things to my attention . What were the Kua Clan’s intentions? Why would a clan that stubbornly refused to have a Master all this time be looking for one now? I wonder if they’d even follow a little girl like me .
Crowe and I stared at Wolf, pressing him for an answer . He wore a troubled face as he started scratching his cheeks .
“Well, I’m sure there are many things you’d like to ask, but could we keep it for later? Let’s get going now . I wanted to travel a little bit further before nightfall . I’m sorry that you’ll be seeing the place at night rather than in the day . ” Wolf said as he carelessly kicked the rock at his feet, sending it flying .
The terrain around here was full of rocks making it hard to sleep on . Small breaks aside, it’s not a suitable place to set up camp at night .
I nodded and stood up .
My feet were still staggering, but my breathing was back to normal .
Alright, I can do this… Probably .
“Do you wished to be carried, princess?”
I gently stared daggers back at a certain soon-to-be unfortunate bird .
“Ah, wait . You said you would still go on even if you had to crawl, didn’t you?” He continued .
“You’re a real piece of work . As stubborn as a mule . ”
“You’ve only realised that now?”
Crowe laughed cheekily at me, but I just ignored the noise and began to walk, leaving him behind .
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