Chapter 25
I froze stiff in shock. Naturally, I thought Enoch would take a step back—but instead, he moved two steps closer.
Had he always been this aggressive?
I forced myself to pull myself together. If I wanted to survive on this brutal island, I couldn’t let myself be easily swayed by others.
Especially not by such vague feelings that amounted to nothing more than “I’m bothered.”
So I decided to be a little firmer.
“You said there would never be a chance you’d develop feelings for me. You told me not to harbor any pointless expectations.”
At my words, Enoch frowned, as if he’d been hit right where it hurt. His face was conflicted—confused even.
Seeing that expression, I became certain. It really was just that kind of feeling—nothing more than mild concern.
I reaffirmed my resolve. Don’t let him sway me. Not now, not ever.
Of course, the harsh words he’d thrown at me before had been something the past Margaret had brought upon herself, so there was no reason for Enoch to torment himself over it.
“If this goes any further, like you said, it’ll just become troublesome for both of us. So shouldn’t we stop here?”
Once again, I returned his own words to him exactly as they were. I was the sort of person who remembered hurtful remarks all too well.
Enoch fell silent, unable to say anything more. Seeing him look so uncharacteristically guilty made me feel a little sorry for him, so I spoke again.
“Enoch. I want to live. And I want you to survive too. I mean that sincerely.”
The words must have caught him off guard. His golden eyes widened, shaking sharply.
“So for now, let’s just think about surviving. Everything else can wait until later.”
At that, Enoch slowly closed his eyes, as if suppressing some emotion that was surging up inside him.
I couldn’t stand the awkward atmosphere with Enoch, so I stepped out of the cave. Sitting outside was Kaiden.
He was quietly perched on the fallen tree trunk we used as a makeshift bench, gazing into the dim undergrowth.
I sat down beside him.
I still felt uneasy around him, but I wasn’t heartless enough to withhold thanks from someone who had gone searching for me.
“Sorry for worrying you. I heard you went out looking for me.”
Kaiden turned to look at me.
“As long as you’re safe, that’s enough.”
With eyes that revealed nothing of what he was thinking, he stared at me.
“The sky filled with some strange magic circle, the sun was setting, and you were nowhere to be found… The crown prince was running around like he had separation anxiety, nearly losing his mind. It was maddening.”
Ah. So Enoch really was the reason the cave had been such a mess.
Separation anxiety, huh… Was it because I could control his rampages that such a bond had formed?
As I thought that over, I glanced at Kaiden. Unlike earlier, his cloak was dirty. He really must have searched hard for me.
“Are you okay?”
Kaiden didn’t answer. Resting his chin on his hand, he stared straight at my face. The meaning behind that gaze unsettled me.
“What?”
“I heard everything you talked about inside.”
“…Oh. You did?”
You heard all of that embarrassing conversation?
My face burned. I tried to fan myself and avert my gaze, but Kaiden lightly lifted my chin with his fingertips.
Our eyes met again.
“You know… what should I do? I’ve started to take an interest in you too.”
All I could do was blink at him.
Enoch and I had shared time together, but Kaiden—why him too? And the two of them were making confessions so similar, as if they’d rehearsed it together.
“Don’t joke around. Why would you be interested in me? When was it again that you said you hated me?”
Maybe because my first impression of him had been bad—or maybe because I knew what kind of man he was—nothing Kaiden said felt sincere.
His blood-red eyes fixed clearly on my face.
I quietly watched his fine silver hair sway in the warm breeze.
His sharp, catlike eyes curved with amusement. He was smiling.
Why was he smiling now? Bewildered, I could only blink.
“No matter how I look at it, you’re different from the Margaret I knew before. Different from the rumors, too. That’s why my eyes keep going to you. I can’t help it.”
His face moved closer.
Skin so pale it almost looked whiter than mine, and eyes a vivid crimson filled my vision.
I stepped back. I shouldn’t have let my guard down—especially not with Kaiden.
I tried to stand, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Let go.”
When I frowned as if it hurt, he immediately released me.
“Sorry. And I’m sorry for threatening you before. For saying I hated you.”
He spoke sulkily, though his words still didn’t truly reach me.
“That’s fine, but—”
As I started to speak, Kaiden looked at me with an expectant expression.
“You don’t like me anyway. And you never will.”
Kaiden’s lips stiffened.
Both Enoch and Kaiden would probably change once they met the female lead…
I figured only then would I be able to trust my judgment of them.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kaiden replied, pretending ignorance. I nodded as if there was nothing else to be done.
“Think about it. We haven’t known each other long, and you openly said you despised me, like you looked down on me. How could I possibly develop feelings for you?”
Kaiden flinched, looking like he’d realized something too late. Then he smiled again, unfazed. Once more, I couldn’t tell if it was genuine.
Pointing to the earring hanging from his right ear, I spoke.
“You know you’re bad at controlling your emotions. That earring helps regulate them—but it’s broken right now.”
Kaiden looked genuinely shocked.
“You… how do you know that?!”
“I know the person who made it. Anyway, what matters is that you need to control your emotions here without relying on the earring.”
Of course, I didn’t actually know the creator. I just remembered what Kaiden had once said to Yuanna in the original story.
Kaiden stared at me blankly, completely speechless.
“I understand why you’d say something strange like that to someone you don’t even like. It’s because of the earring.”
Being cold to Enoch was a little difficult—but not to Kaiden. We simply hadn’t spent much time together.
“But this is as far as it goes. Don’t say things you’ll regret later.”
I shook off his hand and turned away. But Kaiden urgently grabbed my wrist again, pulling me back.
His face—perhaps tinged with anger—came right up close.
“Yeah. I guess it sounds ridiculous to you.”
He laughed, clearly amused.
“But Margaret, no matter the reason, my interest in you is my emotion. That’s something I decide. So that little lecture just now? That was a bit arrogant.”
With a beautiful smile that formed deep dimples, he pressed a long kiss to the back of my hand.
It was the standard greeting of the Langrid Empire—but coming from Kaiden, it felt different. The soft, lingering sensation clung to me.
I yanked my hand free and hurriedly stood up.
“You’re arrogant too. Completely self-centered. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
Kaiden nodded brightly. I had no idea what he was thinking.
After giving him an uncomfortable look, I awkwardly stood and headed back into the cave.
And there, I ran straight into Enoch, who was standing at the entrance.
…Had he heard my conversation with Kaiden?
But I was too tired to care anymore. I quietly returned to my spot, lay down, and closed my eyes.
“But Margaret, no matter the reason, my interest in you is my emotion. That’s something I decide. That lecture just now was a bit arrogant.”
Kaiden’s voice echoed in my ears.
But I’d only said what needed to be said.
I just hoped that once they met the female lead, they wouldn’t regret what they’d said today.
As expected, I fell ill the next day—not with a cold or fever, but with severe muscle pain.
I’d worried about how I’d face Enoch and Kaiden when I woke up, but that was the least of my problems. My whole body felt like it was falling apart.
Seeing how much pain I was in, Enoch hovered anxiously around me, taking care of me.
I didn’t refuse his help. I honestly felt like I was dying.
Margaret’s body was truly weak. Once I recovered a little, I’d have to start physical training right away. At this rate, how was I supposed to survive on this deadly deserted island?
It took four full days of suffering through muscle pain before I could finally move again.
When I stepped outside the cave for the first time in a while, I saw Enoch tending a campfire at the entrance. Beside him, Kaiden was carefully peeling tree bark into thin strips and twisting them into rope.
Just as described in the novel, Kaiden had all sorts of strange and useful skills in real life too.
“Are you feeling better?”
At some point, Enoch had come up to me and placed a hand on my forehead to check my temperature. Then Kaiden cautiously approached, examining my complexion.
“You should rest more,” Kaiden said.
I shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
Then, looking at Enoch, I emphasized it again.
“I really am.”
Enoch gently brushed my cheek one last time, his face full of worry, before reluctantly stepping back.
Looking exhausted, we sat around the campfire for a long while, silently watching the flames crackle and burn.
“We need to find a way off this island, but I have no idea where to even begin,” Enoch sighed, looking unusually lost.
“Kaiden, did you see anyone else on the island?”
I asked casually, as if just testing the waters.
