Chapter 75
As soon as I woke up in the morning, I checked on Enoch’s condition. He didn’t wake easily—probably because all the fatigue he’d accumulated had hit him at once.
The raging fever was gone, leaving only a faint warmth. I wiped Enoch’s face with a damp cloth and checked once more to see if his wounds were healing properly.
“Miss, how do you read the name of this medicine?”
While I was examining Enoch’s injuries, Rujeff, who was sitting beside me, asked. He was sitting quietly, studying the medicines in the case. I carefully explained to him the names and effects of medicines that didn’t exist in this world.
Since we had all slept on the first floor of the cabin, Asdal and Yuanna were also up early, following the others.
“I think we need to reorganize the scouting party.”
At Asdal’s words, I lifted my head from my conversation with Rujeff. Standing in the middle of the living room, Asdal drew everyone’s attention.
Yuanna and Diego were preparing breakfast, while Kaiden was putting firewood he’d gathered that morning into the fireplace.
“I’m talking about checking the place where the Saintess awakened. In his condition, he can’t go, so it would be better to form a new scouting team.”
Asdal gestured toward Enoch, who still hadn’t woken up.
He was right. Because of Enoch’s injuries, we had to reconsider who would go to the place where Yuanna had awakened.
“And since the Half-Emperor can’t be without Miss Flone by his side, it would be best to exclude her from the scouting party as well.”
Everyone now knew about Enoch’s separation anxiety. Embarrassed, I kept my mouth shut and didn’t argue.
“I don’t really mind,” Yuanna said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal, and continued dividing the washed mushrooms into coconut bowls.
While pondering Asdal’s words, I glanced at Kaiden. He yawned, looking completely uninterested in whatever Asdal was saying.
“Kaiden, you should go.”
“What? No way. You’re not going either.”
He rejected my suggestion outright.
“Rujeff needs to help treat Enoch, and I have to stay by Enoch’s side. You’re the only one among us who can go.”
“But the captain of the guard and Crown Prince Asdal are—”
“They’re not our people. You know what I mean, right?”
Only then did Kaiden nod, understanding my point. But soon, as if another thought occurred to him, he pouted in dissatisfaction.
“I want to stay with you too, Margaret. I’ve got separation anxiety as well.”
I shook my head, utterly exasperated by his ridiculous excuse. Suddenly, something Kaiden had said a few days ago came to mind.
“I want you to live. Even if it means I die saving you.”
When I’d asked if that was a confession, he’d looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
He had a way of confusing people. If I hadn’t read the novel, I might’ve mistaken his bold behavior for him liking me.
And even if there was affection, it didn’t necessarily lead straight to love the way it did with Enoch.
I’m being overly self-conscious.
Or maybe it was just the suspension bridge effect. I was certain it was the latter.
Either way, these feelings would disappear once we left the island.
Thinking that, I made Kaiden a proposal.
“If you go and come back safely, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“…Anything?”
His gloomy face instantly brightened as he looked at me, eyes sparkling.
“Not anything. Only something I’m able to do.”
“Hm.”
Kaiden propped his chin on his hand, pondering for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright.”
Feeling proud of him, I found myself patting his head like a puppy—only for Asdal to suddenly cut in.
“Then we’ll consider it settled that Lord Kaiden will join the scouting party. The Saintess, Lord Kaiden, and one more—Sir Diego would be a good choice.”
“Your Highness, you’re not going?” I asked, surprised.
I’d expected him to volunteer himself.
“I’ve simply made a rational decision. Sir Diego’s swordsmanship surpasses mine. I’ll remain at the base camp, while Diego, who’s better suited for danger, joins the scouting party.”
As expected of a crown prince—he knew how to deploy people efficiently.
“Then it would be best to leave today. Haven’t we already delayed enough?” Diego said quietly as he helped Yuanna pour water into the coconut bowls.
“That’s true. Lord Kaiden, can you leave right away?” Asdal asked.
Kaiden pressed his lips together, clearly unhappy, and kept glancing at me.
I sighed and answered for him. “Yes, it looks like he can.”
“Margaret.”
Kaiden suddenly grabbed my arm. His pretty face filled my vision as he leaned in close—so close I could feel his warm breath.
“Wish me luck before I go.”
“I’ll pray for you. Be careful.”
“Not that.”
“Then what?”
Tilting his head, he leaned closer—and before I could react, I felt lips brush against my cheek.
“?!”
Startled, I covered the spot with my hand.
“Something like that.”
He smiled with his eyes, clearly amused by my reaction. It was a captivating smile, one that could easily ensnare someone.
Snapping out of it, irritation flared, and I glared at him.
“Kaiden.”
He widened his eyes, staring back at me.
“I told you not to do things like that if you don’t even like me. That’s a really bad habit.”
When I lowered my voice and scolded him, Kaiden blinked in surprise, then gave an awkward smile.
“Margaret, I’m not really sure what you mean by ‘liking someone.’ If you’re asking whether it’s love, I don’t think it is.”
Is he playing with people’s feelings? What is he even doing?
Just as my irritation threatened to boil over, Kaiden added something even stranger.
“I just miss you when you’re not around. I like it when you smile. I like touching you. I want you to look only at me.”
“…Huh?”
“I like touching you. And I like it when you touch me.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry for kissing you without permission. If I say that’s why, will you hate me?”
I stared at Kaiden as if he were some kind of bizarre creature. I didn’t understand his intent at all—but he was looking at me with an innocent expression.
What was this? Some new kind of confession?
“Hah. That idiot’s hopeless,” Rujeff muttered, having clearly overheard everything, shooting Kaiden a look of pure contempt.
“That’s enough. Hurry up and get ready, Lord,” Asdal added dryly.
Of course, Kaiden paid him no attention and kept his eyes fixed on me.
I fell into deep distress over what to do with him. Kaiden had thrown the bomb, yet somehow I was the one left agonizing over it.
But even if I tried to talk it out with him, it would probably just turn into another pointless loop. Besides, no matter what, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
Before worrying about love or feelings, we needed to prepare extra food, water, and supplies for the scouting party.
Why is there so much to do?
After roughly organizing the luggage, I started preparing the meal. I was utterly exhausted.
The scouting members ate mushroom soup together and made thorough preparations to depart.
“Oh—Margaret. This is a gift.”
Just as they were about ready to leave, Kaiden handed me a longbow and arrows.
I’d casually mentioned wanting one a few days ago, and it seemed he’d actually made them.
“Kaiden, is there anything you can’t make?”
When I praised him with shining eyes, he scratched his cheek shyly and looked away.
I’d expected him to respond casually, so his embarrassment made me feel awkward too.
“Seriously, be careful.”
When I warned him again, he nodded vigorously with a smile.
I pulled out my notebook from my crossbody bag, tore out a page, and stuffed it into Kaiden’s pocket.
He blinked at me in confusion.
“It’s a map I drew of the island. I marked the cabin’s location and the terrain I saw from the mountain peak—just in case.”
I’d only included information he might need, excluding the bunker’s location. Then I took out a compass.
“You know how to use this, right?”
“Of course.”
After he nodded, I slipped the compass into another pocket of his robe.
“If you find something where the key was found, make sure you remember the location.”
If an exit from the island was nearby, that would be ideal.
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind that if they found an escape route, the scouting party might abandon us—but I had no other choice.
I couldn’t leave Enoch behind and escape with them.
“Margaret.”
Kaiden called my name softly and reached out to gently touch my cheek.
“Thank you.”
For once, he offered only a proper thank-you.
“Let’s get going, Lord,” Diego and Yuanna called from the cabin entrance.
Kaiden glanced at me once more, then obediently followed them out of the cabin.
He’ll manage on his own, right?
Kaiden and Diego made a trustworthy team, after all.
