~Chapter 67~
“H-Hide quickly!”
Simon panicked, stomping his feet, and dragged us toward a large box in the corner.
Thud!
Ricardo and I tumbled inside. Simon hurriedly threw a worn-out cloth over us.
Darkness.
I could barely move in the cramped space, trying to hold my breath.
Ricardo shifted slightly and adjusted my posture—his hand brushing my waist.
…!
We were so close that I could feel his breath.
I didn’t know where to look, so I awkwardly turned my head… and ended up facing his chest.
Thump, thump.
His heartbeat echoed right into my ear.
“Um… do you have a heart condition or something?”
Ricardo didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed my face away with a look that seemed almost betrayed.
His hand on my cheek was strangely warm.
Just then, Simon’s voice returned—closer this time.
“…What brings you all the way out here, sir?”
“Hmph! Your brother said he saw you climbing the mountain with outsiders!”
“Oh, we already split up. I’m from Bilpart too, you think I like outsiders?”
“You talk smoothly, don’t you? And yet you had the nerve to leave and try to become a mage?”
There were multiple footsteps—quite a few people.
“My father didn’t stop me, so what right does the village chief have to order me not to leave?”
“Tell the truth. Where are they hiding?”
“For goodness’ sake, I told you, we split up! Why won’t you listen?!”
Simon snapped, his voice filled with frustration.
“And besides, you know how much I care about this cave!”
“Search everything,” the chief ordered, ignoring Simon.
I started to sweat as the rustling of hands digging through the cave echoed around us.
“Hey! I found all of that stuff, you can’t just touch it like that! At least pay me if you’re going to!”
Footsteps approached dangerously close.
Ricardo’s hand quietly reached for his sword.
Just then—
“Chief! The outsiders are headed north!”
“What? Why there?”
“Who cares why! Wasn’t there an incident last time? Outsiders always bring trouble!”
Simon quickly added, “Then go! Stop accusing innocent people like me!”
His flawless act worked. One by one, the villagers left.
Silence.
“…I think they’re gone now.”
I shifted to get up, putting pressure somewhere without meaning to—Ricardo flinched hard.
“Wait—don’t!”
“What?! Why?!”
Startled, I jerked my hand back, and Ricardo scrambled too.
Crash!
The box tipped over, dumping us onto the floor.
I stared at him, speechless.
His face was bright red as he huffed in embarrassment.
“Pervert…”
“…Excuse me?!”
He said it again, slower.
“You’re a pervert.”
“What did I do?!”
Ricardo hastily straightened his clothes, still flustered.
“You did the same thing yesterday. I should’ve known.”
I just opened and closed my mouth, trying to come up with a response.
“That was… for first aid!”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
“Oh yeah? And what about you touching my clothes like it’s nothing—”
Ricardo quickly reached over and clamped his hand over my mouth.
“Mmfp!”
“Let’s stop. Please.”
I gave him a long, annoyed look until he slowly lowered his hand.
He then held his hand out.
“What are you planning to do with a pervert’s hand?”
“Maybe see where it leads.”
He helped me up with a light smirk, then pointed to my cheek.
“You’ve got dirt there.”
“Here?”
I rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand, but he hesitated.
Noticing I couldn’t find the spot, he gently raised his bandaged hand and brushed my cheek with it.
Then he let out a soft chuckle.
“…”
Feeling awkward, I mumbled,
“You could’ve just told me.”
“I’m not good at explaining things.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away.
The cave entrance looked darker than before.
Worried, I stepped toward the opening.
Outside, the sky was covered in thick, dark clouds.
“It’s going to rain soon.”
Ricardo followed, frowning slightly.
Plip… Plop…
Raindrops began to fall.
The soft drizzle turned into heavy rain.
Whish—!
Suddenly, an arrow flew toward us.
Ricardo immediately shielded me.
The wind carried the sharp scent of blood.
His hand around me trembled.
“Are you okay?” he asked urgently.
“I… I’m fine…”
But my eyes were fixed on his shoulder.
Ricardo stood up quickly, despite the pouring rain.
“Damn.”
I stared at the blood on my hands, panicked.
Only then did I notice the arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
He frowned and yanked it out without hesitation.
“Why would you do that?!”
My voice cracked with frustration.
“Do you want to lose use of that shoulder?! Why pull it out like that?!”
I ran back into the cave, desperately looking for medicine.
There has to be something—please…
In the middle of searching, I realized something was wrong.
Ricardo’s face was flushed.
I reached out and touched his forehead.
Burning hot.
“You have a fever too?!”
“I’m fine.”
“Since when have you been like this?”
“…”
“Now that I think about it, even the first time we met, you seemed a bit out of it…”
Ricardo blinked slowly, as if surprised.
“…You were watching me?”
“What?”
“Why?”
Wasn’t I the one asking questions? How did this turn around?
“Because… you’re not someone I’d get to see often.”
“….”
“And this really isn’t the time for questions.”
Frustrated, I shut my eyes tight.
“Why did you even come with me like this? You’re sick!”
“Because I wanted to.”
“You didn’t even know how bad your condition was. That’s not bravery—it’s just stubbornness! And you don’t even get treated on time—!”
Did he think I’d be grateful for this?
Just because he took the blame for me in high society?
Did he think I’d feel thankful?
I didn’t know how to feel.
He didn’t deserve the hurt I caused.
Yet I didn’t know how to stop either.
What do you expect from someone like me?
Then Ricardo spoke quietly.
“I know. It’s stubborn.”
His eyes trembled slightly.
“I know you probably hate it…”
“….”
“But if I’m going to be hated anyway, I figured I might as well do what I want.”
My hands clenched tighter.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to look for medicine.”
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand.
“Stop pretending, Bianca.”
“…!”
He roughly pulled off the ring from my finger.
The ring clattered and rolled across the ground.
My pink hair fell over him like a veil.
He let out a bitter smile.
“So it was you… all along…”
His voice trembled with disbelief.
Then he let out a pained sigh.
“How could I not recognize you…?”
Ricardo gently held the ends of my hair.
“…How could I ever not know?”
