Chapter 49
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Chapter 49
At his response, Margaret scratched her cheek with a troubled expression.
"Well, I suppose so. Since it's just us here, there's no need to worry about appearances."
Hearing her answer, Rujeep asked her with a bewildered face.
"Is that all?"
"Pardon?"
She blinked her eyes, clearly confused by his question.
"I mean, you could criticize me, or offer comfort, or...."
"But...you weren't asking for that, were you? You just needed someone to listen, didn't you?"
At her counterpoint, Rujeep found himself at a loss for words, his lips merely trembling. She was right. He hadn't actually expected any particular reaction from her.
Seeing his expression, she shrugged apologetically.
"Besides, I'm not very good at empathy."
"Someone who truly lacks empathy wouldn't even recognize that about themselves."
"Is that so?"
She let out an awkward laugh, looking embarrassed.
Yet Rujeep thought this was far better than clumsy advice. All he had wanted was to unburden his heart to someone.
And the person he'd confessed his innermost thoughts to—thoughts he'd never shared with anyone—was none other than Margaret Rose Flone, whom he had so thoroughly despised.
"The Flone Young Lady I saw at the Papal See, and you now. Which one is your true self?"
So Rujeep found himself asking that question.
Margaret seemed somewhat taken aback by the sudden question. She stared at his face for a long moment before offering a weary smile.
"...That's a strange question. Both are me. I've decided to accept my past self as well."
She slowly gazed up at the sky. Rujeep naturally followed her gaze upward.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to move forward."
The starlight of the night sky flowed like a waterfall.
Yes. Perhaps the flowing sensation was merely a feeling. Perhaps it was because his heart, which had been frozen solid, was melting and moving.
If this was her true nature, Rujeep thought he would have no choice but to come to like her.
Her sincerity seeped slowly into his heart. Rujeep wanted to etch this moment deep into his memory.
"Young Lady, it seems you truly have become a different person."
He had now decided to acknowledge that she had changed and to trust her.
"Young Lady, from now on, I will trust you...."
"Wait."
And just as he was about to speak those words, she raised her finger and pressed it against his lips. Her face tense, she peered beyond the Forest, then brought her index finger to her own lips.
"Shh."
Overwhelmed by her intensity, Rujeep instinctively held his breath and closed his mouth.
"Crouch down. Slowly."
She raised her hand and demonstrated a slow downward pressing motion. Rujeep tilted his head, not understanding her meaning.
"...What?"
Margaret glanced at him, sighed, then grabbed his shoulders and pushed him backward, toppling him over.
As his back hit the wooden deck, Margaret's body leaned over him.
Her face was inches away.
"A Monster seems to be passing by. I hope it doesn't notice us. Just stay quiet for a moment."
She leaned over him as if climbing onto his back, whispering near his ear. Her breath tickled against his ear.
Rujeep felt heat rise to his face, flushing his cheeks. Since this was his first time having such intimate contact with a woman, he unconsciously tensed and stiffened his body.
Margaret kept her entire focus fixed beyond the Forest, regardless of what he did.
"...It seems to have passed, but I'll stay like this a bit longer. Just in case."
Her voice carried such resolute conviction that it was almost commanding.
Her words created such pressure that he felt compelled to obey, so Rujeep answered instead by nodding his head vigorously in silence.
He even worried needlessly that if he opened his mouth, his pounding heart might leap right out.
After holding his breath and waiting for quite some time, Margaret finally pulled away from him.
Watching her move away, Rujeep felt a certain emptiness. His heart was still beating wildly.
"That must have been uncomfortable. I'm sorry. I was startled too."
Margaret apologized to him as she observed his state. Rujeep stared somewhat dazedly at her solid face before shaking his head vigorously.
"It wasn't uncomfortable at all."
"That's a relief. The Monster doesn't seem likely to climb up here, but since it's night, being outside seems dangerous. Shall we go inside?"
She smiled and stood up, then extended her hand to him.
He looked at the hand offered to him, then gazed up at her face again. Margaret tilted her head with a bright, innocent expression, as if she didn't understand.
Rujeep quietly took her hand.
She was a good person.
"I believe in you. Young Lady."
So I deliberately said such a thing, and before I knew it, I'd let slip unnecessary words as well.
"And I believe that you will help us escape from this Island. I believe in you."
If it were her, she could accomplish anything. Such a firm conviction took root in Rujeep's chest.
At his final words, she looked very flustered, but in the darkness of the moonlit night, Rujeep thought he must have misread it and laughed.
It was a beautiful night.
12. Group Living That Was Never in My Fate
"I believe in you. Young Lady."
"And I believe that you will help us escape from this Island. I believe in you."
I couldn't sleep properly because of what Rujeep said last night.
What incredible misunderstanding could he possibly have to say such a thing?
Moreover, wasn't Rujeep, just like Asdal, that picky man who kept suspecting me?
'Damn it, I'm barely managing to escape myself, and now he's asking me to lead everyone to safety?'
This is maddening. Do they really think of me as their 'leader'?
As I mulled over various thoughts with a complicated heart, before I knew it, dawn broke and morning arrived.
Early in the morning, I returned from the Valley and encountered Enoch and Kaiden in front of the Cabin.
"Where have you been?"
I shrugged in response to Kaiden's question.
"There's a Valley nearby. I just went out to scout a bit. Where are you two headed?"
"To gather breakfast. Want to come along?"
At Kaiden's question, I nodded and gathered a basket and wooden knife needed for mushroom gathering.
While gathering mushrooms near the Cabin together, I let out a sigh.
"Why are you sighing so heavily this early in the morning?"
Kaiden, who had come out to gather mushrooms with me, asked upon seeing my expression. I placed the mushroom I'd plucked into the wooden basket and turned to face him.
"Oh, it's nothing... Do you think we'll actually be able to escape this Island?"
At my question, Kaiden stared at me with an unreadable expression.
"How could you not know that?"
Kaiden crossed his arms and chided me as if I'd said something ridiculous.
At his words, I furrowed my brow and tilted my head in confusion. What was that supposed to mean?
'Wait, does he think I'm the leader too?'
A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I opened my lips to respond before closing them again.
I couldn't be bothered to explain anymore.
And truthfully, Kaiden's attitude was rather ambiguous. I couldn't tell if he genuinely harbored affection for me or not.
Even when he acted as though he cared for me with such fervor, his gaze sometimes felt suspiciously off.
'It must be because of the earring that he can't control his emotions properly.'
That was when it happened.
"Margaret."
I was helplessly pulled back by the force tugging at my shoulder.
A firm chest pressed against my back, and thick arms extended from behind me, gently wrapping around my shoulders.
It was Enoch.
"I came to help."
Kaiden, who had been facing me, raised both hands in irritation.
I turned my back to look at Enoch's face. His worried gaze met mine, then drifted away.
"Don't wander around alone. Stay by my side. Sometimes people are more dangerous than Monsters."
Enoch muttered while openly glaring at Kaiden.
When there was a common enemy, they worked together perfectly, but whenever we were alone, they resumed their vigilance.
Fundamentally, Enoch disliked and distrusted everyone except me.
I was grateful that he'd exempted me from his hatred and suspicion, but since I'd have to live with these troublesome people for a while longer, such hostile behavior wouldn't do.
If conflict erupted in this cramped Cabin, it would truly be catastrophic.
"It's fine. We've gathered all the mushrooms anyway, so shall we head back inside?"
I showed Enoch the wooden basket I was holding and spoke.
Just as we were about to return together, I noticed something gleaming white beneath my feet.
"Huh...? What is this?"
It looked like a very small egg, no larger than a finger.
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