BRBRP38

Chapter 38

The red glow of the sunset slipped behind the ridge.

Night had fully descended, yet the massive bonfire still blazed as brightly as a second sun.

Kaisa, upon returning, revealed the existence of the shard he had retrieved.

The villagers’ initial anger at learning that their home had been attacked by someone’s malicious actions soon gave way to relief—relief that the monsters would no longer raid them.

“At any rate, now that our chieftain has returned, we can finally rest easy.”

Above all, they felt reassured knowing that the tragedies were behind them and that their strong leader was back by their side.

“Here, here! Have a drink, everyone!”

One villager, well-versed in the art of brewing, brought forth a cask of aged rum and began sharing it around.

The tense expressions of the knights gradually loosened. Before long, they too were seated in a circle around the bonfire, weapons replaced with cups raised in cheer.

It was a heartening sight.

“It feels almost like a festival,”
Sharie muttered without thinking.

Captain Alex bared his even teeth in a grin.

“A festival? Wonderful. Believe it or not, I once dreamed of being a bard. Shall I sing you a verse, my lady?”

Before Sharie could reply, the surrounding villagers whistled and cheered him on.

“Alas, our village has no proper instruments.”

When the stiff-spoken Rusley interjected, Alex winked at him.

“No matter. We have other instruments at hand.”

Rising to his feet, Alex clapped his hands, beckoning the others to join in. Once the applause swelled loud enough, he began to sing.

Song of Flame

“Fire, fire, fire!
The flame burns without end.
How high can it climb?
Surely up to the rainbow bridge in the sky!
Fire, fire, fire!
The flame burns without fear.
Even if it consumes all, I am not afraid.
Farewell, until we meet again someday.”

His booming voice carried as far as the village gates.

Some of the villagers, recalling those they had lost, wiped away tears while listening. Though the song was foreign to Sharie—an outsider—it clearly held a profound meaning for them.

Curious, she glanced to the side, and a soft voice answered her unspoken question.

“It’s a folk song from the southern provinces. A mourning hymn, sung for the departed.”

His sculpted features, shaded by firelight, revealed no ulterior motives—hardly the face of the man who only earlier had declared he would take her fiercely tonight.

“I… see.”

Sharie trailed off, realizing that at some point the distance between them had disappeared. She had been sitting apart, warming herself by the fire after washing up, yet Kaisa had drifted closer.

He remained composed, unlike her own frozen nerves.

“How is the rum?”
“It’s… good. Very good.”

It was a lie. With him sitting so near, she was too tense to taste anything properly. Compared to the sweet fruit wines she had once sipped in the palace, this was bitter—though perhaps that was only her imagination.

As she edged her body subtly away, his claw-like hand caught her waist.

“Going somewhere? Do you have someplace you’d rather be?”

Though his smile was genial, the pressure he exuded was undeniable. She shook her head quickly, only to find the distance between them shrink even further.

Side by side, their faces remained unseen to each other, yet the press of his arm against hers made his presence unmistakable. Her blood boiled, searing through her body as though it might overflow.

“Then stay here, with me.”

Almost hypnotized, Sharie nodded before hastily lowering her head, startled by her own response.

‘Was he serious about what he said earlier?’

She did not dislike the thought of intimacy with Kaisa.

What unsettled her was the uncertainty of experiencing something entirely new—and the grim knowledge of the future she remembered from the original tale.

While she wrestled with her thoughts, Alex’s song drew to an end.

A wave of applause erupted.

“And now, how about another song? What’s that—you want a love song? Very well!”

Ignoring the men, Alex seized upon the laughter and pleas of the village maidens, raising his hand.

“This one is a love song!”

He clapped once and sang with renewed vigor.

Song of Love

“Oh, my noble one!
Your cheeks are red as ripened fruit,
Your skin pure as falling snow.
Before the immortal love I sing!
For those who do not love are all sinners.
Yes, those who do not love are all sinners!”

The festive mood deepened. Couples clasped hands and began dancing around the bonfire, their faces radiant with joy. For this brief moment, the blazing fire was no less than a grand ballroom.

“Shall we dance?”

Before she could protest, Kaisa was already on his feet, extending his hand toward her. His calm smile disarmed any resistance.

Almost entranced, Sharie placed her hand in his and stood. Looking around, her cheeks flamed with embarrassment—she had been pulled into dancing before everyone.

“But… you should know, I’ve never danced before!”

She had theoretical knowledge, taught by a tutor her grandfather had hired in preparation for possible political marriage alliances. But that was all.

Among the Rabbitfolk, no one had ever offered her a hand in dance. Even in Barhad, she had been too busy studying and adapting to ever dream of attending a ball.

“It doesn’t matter,”
Kaisa said lightly.

“Still…”

“No, you should know this,” he interrupted, playfully tapping the tip of her nose.
“Dance is meant only for your own joy.”

Sharie stared at him, stunned by the boyish grin on his lips. Whether it was the liquor or simply his words, she felt strangely at ease.

From there, everything flowed naturally.

“Follow my lead. Yes, that’s it. Like that.”

Guided by Kaisa, she moved her steps in rhythm. Occasionally, their chests brushed together, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

“Oh, my noble one!
Your cheeks are red as ripened fruit,
Your skin pure as falling snow…”

The world spun around her, wind tinged with smoke caressing her cheeks. Yet the clearest sensation was the dance itself—his broad hand steady on her waist, the firm chest she sometimes collided with, and the weightless thrill when he lifted her into a turn.