Chapter 143

Blake felt the urge to take her in his arms and run away.

Who would have known that liking someone would feel this reckless?

“Well then, I’ll be going now before the Marquis notices and comes after me.”

Having already come close to the Flaubert mansion, Blake spoke playfully and stepped back.

“I’ll see you at the ball.”

“……”

Angelina, with blood rushing to her head and fireworks exploding in her ears, couldn’t answer. All she could do was nod absentmindedly.

How handsome he looked as he turned away with that playful smile.

‘……The original story was right. He really does have looks that make you stare blankly.’

Recalling the now meaningless original story, Angelina stood there dazed for a long while.

***

“My lady?”

“……”

“My lady!”

“Huh?”

With Laura’s help, Angelina had finished her preparations well, but was lost in thought until Haley’s call brought her back to reality.

“You haven’t chosen an oil yet.”

“Ah.”

The aroma oils Haley presented were of three types.

One with a strong lavender scent, one with a mixed floral scent containing sandalwood, and the last one with a hinoki cypress scent.

Angelina stared blankly at the three bottles before choosing the last one, then removed the robe she was wearing.

Haley skillfully massaged various parts of her body to relieve fatigue. But throughout the massage, Angelina’s mind was completely elsewhere.

“Please allow me to claim your final love.”

Why did those words keep coming back to her?

Final love.

Until now, Ante had loved her the most, but going forward, he would love her the most—that declaration. And also, the promise to stay by her side until the very end.

The end.

“Gasp, my lady? Are you in pain? D-did I use too much pressure?”

Haley, who had been kneading her waist for some time, asked in alarm at Angelina’s expression. Laura, who was nearby, was also startled and handed her a tissue.

“Huh?”

Angelina belatedly realized she was crying. Once she realized it, tears fell even more heavily.

She had received a surprise gift and a confession. Her worries had been resolved, and she had gone for a night walk with him. They had even shared a kiss.

Why was she crying?

Holding the tissue in her hand, staring blankly at the tears falling down, Angelina’s face slowly, very slowly contorted.

She seemed to know why she was crying.

Final love.

“Even if it’s just until then, would you allow me to hold this hand?”

A love with a predetermined end.

“Having many unforgettable memories that make it painful is better than regretting not having done anything.”

A love that can only be painful.

The end.

“Ha.”

I don’t want to die.

The raw emotion hidden deep in her heart was finally revealed.

She had tried not to think about it.

“Ha……”

I want to be happier.

I want to be with him longer.

A fragile desire took over her heart.

Angelina hugged her legs. She buried her face in her knees and, out of habit, fiddled with the anklet on her ankle.

But then it happened.

Snap.

The anklet lost its strength at her fingertips.

Surprised, Angelina raised her hand. The broken anklet lay limp on her palm.

“……!”

And that pushed her already cliff-edge emotions completely over the brink.

Why did it have to break now? Why did it have to show her now that nothing is eternal?

Why now of all times?

“Hic, hic.”

Angelina clutched the anklet to her chest and cried.

Like someone who had forgotten how to cry out loud, she sobbed for a long time, with Laura, Haley, and Pudding by her side.

All night long.

***

Flutter, flutter.

The cold wind tapped against her cheeks.

“Mmm……”

Angelina curled up from the cold.

Then a youthful voice came from beside her.

“Are you awake?”

A boy’s voice that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar.

Angelina opened her eyes wide.

But…

“Ugh……”

She couldn’t see.

Although she had opened her eyes, she couldn’t see. As if her cornea was injured, it stung, forcing her to close her eyes tightly again.

“Be careful. It will continue to hurt until the poison completely disappears.”

The boy spoke as he approached.

“Let me see.”

He sat in front of her to check her eyes. As he came closer, she could vaguely see his form.

Black hair.

That was all she could see.

“It’s still hazy, like it’s filled with smoke. I think I’ll need to find that herb I mentioned yesterday.”

Angelina was curious about the boy’s identity.

Clearly, she had fallen asleep in Pudding’s embrace after crying for a long time. She had barely closed her eyes, buried in the fur of Pudding, who had grown larger…

Where was this?

Who was this child?

…Who was she?

Unlike the questions in her mind, her mouth opened on its own.

“Do you have to go far?”

“Hmm… I don’t remember the exact location. I might wander a bit.”

“So I’ll be alone here again?”

“Since we’re not hunting, want to come along?”

“Yes.”

Her mouth answered without hesitation.

“Good, let’s move our hideout too. I think the mother of the baby Forest Ushi we killed last time keeps prowling around this area.”

“Okay.”

“Since you’re up, let’s move right away. Wait a moment, I’ll pack our things.”

“I can help……”

“No need. How can you help when you can’t even see?”

The boy’s voice rejecting her offer was somewhat cold.

But his subsequent actions showed that he was a kind boy.

“Eat this while staying put here.”

He placed something to eat in her hand and wrapped what felt like a blanket around her.

“……Okay.”

Knowing it would be difficult to help when she couldn’t see, as he said, she quietly ate the cold piece of fish.

In the distant light, she could see him moving busily back and forth.

Though her vision was limited to vague shapes due to her impaired sight, even that was reassuring.

“Here’s water.”

He didn’t forget to check on her from time to time.

With these series of actions, Angelina remembered something she had forgotten.

‘Kindness is something you’re born with. I’m not.’

She came to her senses as if struck on the back of the head.

This wasn’t a dream.

It was a memory from that time, visiting her in a dream.

Eventually, her mouth opened, uttering the final puzzle piece she had been searching for all this time.

“Blake.”

Yes, that black-haired boy.

The boy who claimed he wasn’t, but who was more affectionate and kind than anyone, was Blake Kadenhart.

“I think I can walk on my own today.”

The nameless girl he had met in the Dark Forest, who had lost her sight, injured her leg, and was being chased by monsters, was indeed herself, Angelina Flaubert.

***

The dream was long and slow.

As if reliving the memories of that time, it replayed everything in detail.

“Ugh… It’s bitter.”

“Medicine is supposed to be bitter.”

“Ugh……”

“Sorry. I wish we had candy or something.”

“It’s okay. I take medicine well.”

“Even if you take it well, it would be nice to have something sweet.”

The two children who had finally found herbs and moved their hideout.

“But this place is too far from the river. Let’s find a better place tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“It would be so good if your eyes could see. I’m worried about having to leave you alone.”

“……I’ll take the medicine quickly.”

“If that doesn’t work, let’s look for something else.”

“Okay.”

The boy prepared their sleeping place.

Angelina helped him, clearly familiar with the routine. Though she fumbled and was slow, it was manageable as she had done it many times before.

The two children lay side by side, sharing a small blanket.

“Will we ever be able to get out of here?”

Angelina asked.

“……Do we have to live here forever?”

“Let’s get out.”

He hesitated for a moment before answering in a solemn voice.

“We must get out and……”

“And?”

“……Never mind.”

“……?”

“Good night.”

He refused to answer and turned his back to her.

Angelina was curious, but her younger self in the memory didn’t ask further. She similarly turned her back and tried to sleep.

Their journey continued.

A week? Two weeks?

Days passed, and it was impossible to tell how many.

Her eyesight showed no signs of improvement.

But their food ran out completely.

Having to constantly move their hideout to avoid the mother Forest Ushi’s tracking, they hadn’t had time to hunt.

Finally, Blake took drastic measures.

“I’ll be back.”

He decided to go hunting alone, leaving her behind.

“Do you really have to go?”

Afraid of being left alone, Angelina held onto him.

“I’ll just catch one small animal. We can’t keep eating just mushrooms and fish.”

I don’t mind.

Young Angelina thought, but couldn’t say it out loud.

“Then can’t we go together instead?”

“You might get hurt if you’re near me while I’m hunting. I’ll be back soon.”

That was another valid point she couldn’t argue against.

“I don’t want to be alone……”

But being alone when she couldn’t see was terrifying.

Unable to insist, she hugged her legs tightly, and the boy sat down in front of her.