The End, and the Beginning (10)
The light that had illuminated the main camp has faded. Everyone's breathless eyes were on Ian.
Time seems like an eternity.
"Hah..."
Ian finally breathed.
The soldiers cheered. It was a louder and more powerful shout than when they won the Great Rift.
"Hey, Lord, I almost died. You bloody guy rots to the end..."
Rahon collapsed without speaking. It was because he fainted due to the aftereffects of exerting too much power.
I approached Ian as the medics carried the Rahon. I put my face on his broad chest and listened to his heartbeat.
Exciting. His heart is beating. His heart was beating furiously
"Thank you, thank you..."
"Please get out of the way! The commander should also be moved to the barracks!"
The medics rushed in and loaded Ian onto a stretcher. I followed them to the barracks.
The medics put Ian to bed, and the military doctor quickly checked his condition.
"Fortunately, there is no problem with his body. Over time, he will naturally regain consciousness."
"Hah, thank you."
"We will be by his side now. Young Lady should rest in a comfortable place."
"What?"
Young Lady?
"I am telling you because your face is pale. I will let you know when he comes to his senses."
When did they find out?
When I saw Ian earlier, I was so shocked that I couldn't remember anything else. Someone must have recognized me at that time.
There was no reason to hide it anymore because it had been found out anyway. Not my identity, nor my feelings for Ian.
"No, I'll be by his side. Please change his clothes."
"Oh... Would you like that?"
"Yes, please."
I bowed my head and walked out of the barracks.
The knights who were stealing glances turned their heads away from me, afraid to make eye contact with me.
"Damn, I don't even know that!'
'I even bought a ring!'
Came a voice that was suppressed by the wind.
I don't know what it meant, but one thing was certain.
Tomorrow morning, rumors will spread that Millenia Astrod couldn't overcome her affection and followed Ian to the battlefield.
"Well, what do you think?"
It's true.
Even if people avoided it, it wasn't so bad. At least they won't ask me how I found your sight.
"Master."
Baba approached without a sound and patted me on the shoulder. Then he blurted out something.
"...What is it?"
"Don't you know when you see it? It's clothes."
"So why do you wear clothes..."
I looked down and was surprised.
When did it get so dirty?
My clothes are covered in mud. It's so ridiculous that you can't find any part that is intact.
"Where did I hang out?"
Baba put thr clothes in my bewildered arms.
"Don't talk stupidly, change your clothes quickly. You have a cold."
"Oh... Thank you, really."
I hurried to my accommodation, changed my clothes, and packed some things.
It would be a big deal if I went back and forth to my lodging for no reason, and Ian came to his senses while I was away.
By the time I returned to the barracks, the medics had changed Ian's clothes. The blood of the monsters that covered his whole body was also wiped clean.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"No, I don't. If you need to take care of him..."
"No, I'll do it."
"I see."
I let the doctors and medics go and move closer to the bedside.
As I was watching Ian asleep, I felt a strange sense of impatience.
I couldn't stand it and put my face back to his chest.
When I heard his heart pounding, my anxious heart subsided.
"Whoa..."
Will you wake up tomorrow morning? If you're lucky, you might wake up before dawn.
"This is not the time to do this."
I swept the carpet with a mess of footprints and wiped off the stains.
Then I cleaned up the mess, filled the teapot with water, and put it on the brazier.
While I was busy, I checked Ian's condition every now and then.
Then, when I got anxious again, I rushed over and listened to Ian's heartbeat.
When the cleaning was almost finished, my father came into the barracks.
"Did you eat?"
Oh, I didn't think of my father.
I stood like a child being punished and bowed my head.
"Nope..."
"I thought so. Come and sit down."
After hesitating, I sat down on the sofa, and my father took out the food from his picnic bag and placed it on the table.
"Eat."
"Yes..."
I didn't have a good appetite, but I didn't dare to refuse. I spoke cautiously in the silence.
"When did you notice?"
"Even if you bring hundreds of people who look the same, I will recognize my daughter. I knew it from the beginning."
It was only then that my father found Ian's barracks. He came in for a while and left quickly, but he recognized me.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
My father put down the dishes.
Even though he had won the Great Rift, he was still in the dark. It must be because of her daughter, who fell in love, that she couldn't fulfill.
"Let's go back with your father tomorrow."
"I'll be here. Please let me be."
My father raised his head and stared at me.
"Won't you regret it?"
"Does my father regret loving my mother?"
My mother had a bad lung from the beginning. Despite the doctor's opinion that she would not live long, my father insisted on getting married.
"I have never regretted it."
"So do I."
"..."
My father let out a heavy sigh. His lips, which had been stubbornly closed for a while, slowly opened.
"I understand what you think. Then you will only be punished for hiding on the battlefield without permission."
"Yes, yes?"
"I'll see you when you get home."
"Now, wait, Father?
My father patted me on the shoulder and walked out of the barracks.
Does it mean that God will allow it anyway?
"..."
The joy that had been soaring rapidly disappeared like a bubble.
Ian and I can't connect anyway.
He has to carry on the family name, and he needs a woman who can touch and embrace him.
I rested my chin on the bed and admired Ian's serene profile.
The flawless forehead, the sheer bridge of the nose, and the line that passed through the clear throat to the lips were perfect.
"You're handsome."
When I was a child suffering from insomnia, Ian had his first day later than usual.
I lay under the blanket until he came. Ian arrived after two hours of standing in that state.
"I'm sorry, you waited a long time, didn't you? I'm late for the professor's errand."
"..."
"Why don't you show your face?"
"..."
"I've been practicing to sing a lullaby."
"...Really?"
What is a lullaby, and with that one word, all the excitement disappears as if it were washed away?
Looking back, I think that even though I took medicine to lose my memory, his voice remained somewhere in my head.
"This is Ian Tennessee Eldern."
When I met Ian for the first time after returning from my past life, It was the first time I didn't feel uncomfortable with other people's voices.
Like snowflakes that melt as soon as they touch the ground, only his voice soaked into my sensitive ears naturally and without being particularly annoying.
"...Huh?"
I must have fallen asleep. I hurriedly opened my eyes and froze.
Ian woke up and was staring at me.
I held back my tears as hard as I could and laughed awkwardly.
"Well...Did you sleep?"
"I feel like I've had a very long dream."
"What kind of dream was it?"
Ian was about to say something, but suddenly he tilted his head.
"I don't know. Remember... I don't think so."
We stared at each other without saying a word.
What does this feel like?
I couldn't describe the feeling of feeling each other's feelings without having a conversation, and I felt like I was about to cry.
Ian's voice fell softly in the quiet barracks.
"I thought about it."
"While sleeping?"
When I returned what I had heard from him one day, Ian laughed.
"I had something I couldn't tell you."
"..."
My heart started beating fast.
In fact, my heart was beating like crazy from the moment I made eye contact with Ian.
Do you want to confess?
My mouth was dry with anticipation. I asked him, pretending to be calm.
"What, do you mean?"
"I'm hungry"
"..."
Is this all?
As my anticipation cooled down, my lips popped out without realizing It.
Ian laughed out loud. When I saw the brilliant golden eyes, I was unexpectedly angry.
Yes, it could be.
You fought monsters all day without eating, and you literally died and came back to life.
"Are you very hungry? Wait a minute. I'll bring you a meal."
Ian grabbed me as I jumped up. My body staggered under the pull force.
A familiar body odor came over me. When I came to my senses, I found myself in Ian's arms.
My body froze for a moment, and I couldn't breathe.
I'm not afraid of death. I've died once, but I'm scared of twice.
But I was afraid that Ian would suffer if I turned to ashes, will he be able to endure it?
"Ian! Let go of me! Hurry up!"
I was stunned and tried to get away, but Ian wouldn't let me go.
Instead, he put pressure on his arms to keep me from moving.
"Stay like this."
"What are you going to do? How are you going to hold on!"
"Shh, it's okay. Nothing happens."
Ian's calm voice fell into my ears. Strength slowly drained from my limbs, which were stiff with fear.
Oh... Doesn't it change?
During that time, I had little contact with Ian to avoid the fate of the "Protector."
At most, it was only two kisses on fingertips. Even that was just a pretense that I couldn't even feel it.
But why?
"Oh..."
Death has escaped the fate of a guardian.
Ian is like me.
My lips trembled. Tears welled up in an instant, dripping down his cheeks.
"Hey, now a Guardian... Isn't it?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe it. Me, Touch me. Hurry up..."
A large, calloused hand carefully wrapped around my cheek. He and my forehead touched.
"I love you."
"..."
I burst out sobbing, like a child.
Ian kissed my crying forehead and wiped away my tears.
When I looked at the golden eyes full of me, I suddenly thought of that.
The reason I came back from the dead is for now.
"I love you."
Be happy.
Inside the cramped barracks. I could hear the voices of the soldiers chattering outside.
The air that does not get warm even if you constantly light the brazier, and the carpet that becomes covered with dust when you turn around, no matter how much you sweep and wipe it. The stench of monsters also came in from all directions.
I didn't care at all about being so untidy, noisy, and vibrating with a bad smell.
"I love you, Millenia."
Be happy.
Be happy.
We don't have to pray for time to stop anymore. There is someone by my side to walk with.
"May I kiss you?"
His voice colors me. My body was filled with warmth.
Be happy.
Be happy.
Be happy.
"Yes."
I smiled and closed my eyes.
< End >
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