Chapter 35
At that moment, Luna’s hand slipped from his grasp. Ruth turned around, panting. Luna, who had been stumbling behind, had collapsed onto the ground.
“Luna, this isn’t the time to be playing around. Get up and… Why do you look so pale?”
Luna’s face was white. Running around barefoot and in wet clothes in the cold weather had been too much.
For a moment, Luna thought about death. She wanted to close her eyes and find peace, but when she thought of Kadan, her will to survive surged.
“Dammit, of all times… Hey, you. Take it off.”
“What?”
“If you keep running like that, you’ll get frostbite for sure. You’re trying to escape for your life, but you’ll freeze to death? Take that off and wear this.”
Ruth took off his coat and handed it to Luna. Luna accepted it, glanced at him, and turned her back. If she took off her chemise, she would be naked, so she avoided his gaze.
She struggled to take off her wet clothes and put on the coat. Her trembling hands made it hard to hold onto the fabric, but she did her best. Once she changed, the biting cold that had surrounded her body eased a little.
“You’re shivering so much that there’s nothing to look at.”
Ruth even took off his socks and handed them to Luna. He wasn’t willing to part with his leather boots, though. This was the extent of his kindness. Luna hesitated but then gave a small bow to him.
“…Thank you.”
“Finally, you’re thanking me?”
Ruth grumbled as he fixed Luna’s coat, which she had mistakenly buttoned up wrong. Every time he fastened the buttons, her bare skin peeked out from under the coat. Ruth’s lower body betrayed him, standing up despite his will.
‘Even in a situation like this, my body’s still in good shape.’
If Luna hadn’t been Kadan’s woman, he would’ve seduced her and spent the night in the forest. But he had to hold back. He thought about Kadan’s angry face and managed to suppress his instincts.
“But I’m curious, that—”
“Ruth.”
“—Mr. Ruth.”
“Speak.”
Once Ruth had properly buttoned up the coat, he slowly stood up. He considered offering his scarf but decided to keep it for himself, having already given her the coat.
“Do you know anyone else who knows you’re helping me?”
Ruth snorted and scratched his head.
“I guess Daisy might know.”
“Daisy…?”
“Yes. Daisy manages the keys to that barn. I asked her to lend it to me earlier.”
A sense of foreboding passed over Luna. Her eyes darted back and forth, and once again, Ruth grabbed her wrist tightly.
“Sorry, but we really don’t have time. Let’s go.”
Ruth quickly started running again, and Luna pushed herself to follow.
They weren’t far from their destination now. If they followed this path north, they would reach Kadan’s cabin. Luna’s legs, frozen stiff like stones, felt heavy, but thinking of Kadan waiting for her, she pushed herself to run desperately.
‘When I return to the cabin, Kadan will open his arms and hug me.’
Looking at her frostbitten limbs, Luna imagined that Kadan would warm the bath water for her. Soaking in the herbal water would wash away the pain she felt now. As she melted her frozen body, the smell of stew would rise from the hearth…
Just imagining it brought tears to her eyes. Luna exhaled deeply, moving her legs. Despite the cold winter forest, sweat beaded on her forehead.
By the time they reached the edge of the northern woods, climbing a small hill…
“Who’s there!”
A knight in full armor suddenly jumped out of the low bushes, his sword pointed at Ruth’s neck. Uh, uh? Ruth made an odd noise and stopped in his tracks.
“Who are you?”
“We’re in a hurry, haha, we’re just passing through.”
Ruth said playfully, trying to pass off the situation. But then, other knights began emerging from the woods. Damn it. Ruth raised his hands above his head and quickly shielded Luna with his back.
“Villagers?”
The knights surrounded Luna and Ruth in a half-circle. Ruth, putting on his most innocent smile, addressed them.
“Good day, gentlemen. I heard you were in the area, but I didn’t expect to see you here. We’re from the village just below.”
“Really? You don’t look like villagers. Especially this woman.”
The knight chuckled and pointed at Luna’s bare legs, exposed under her coat.
“Did you two have a little fun and then get caught running away? Hmm?”
“Very suspicious, haha!”
The knights began to leer at Luna. Ruth, forcing a grin, trembled but tried to stop them.
“You’re mistaken. I’m actually on an errand right now.”
“Errand?”
“Yes. This woman is the lover of the nearby forest keeper. I was just taking her to him.”
“Hahaha, you’re saying you’re delivering this woman, but I saw you running away with her, half-naked? You’re lying.”
“There’s a backstory to this. Could you let us go? The forest keeper has quite the temper, and if he finds out she’s gone, he’ll be furious.”
“A lowly peasant like you is worried about the forest keeper’s temper? Are we supposed to be afraid of that?”
The knights laughed nastily and slapped Ruth on the shoulder. The sword that had been aimed at his neck now turned toward Luna’s coat.
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