Episode 55. Trust Me
Winter Forest.
The sound of horse hooves cutting through the desolate forest, the youthful cheeks, the white breath pouring out from between his crimson lips.
It had been that way since the first time she saw him.
Lacrahan seemed to have appeared before her, a person leaping through time from a past memory.
Winter Forest.
The sound of horse hooves cutting through the desolate forest, the youthful cheeks, the white breath pouring out from between his crimson lips.
It had been that way since the first time she saw him.
Lacrahan seemed to have appeared before her, a person leaping through time from a past memory.
“I saw you on the tower. I remember you stopping your horse and looking up at me.”
His hand on Bercheria’s cheek shook slightly.
“It only came to me later. That you were that child.”
Lacrahan gently pulled her lips into a smile.
His father ruled the northern people, and hia older brother held the authority to control the servants within the castle.
His mother was the mistress, granting permission and managing the castle’s affairs.
Lacrahan was alone in the north.
So he chose his own subjects.
Bercheria, who, like him, would be lonely and alone.
He hoped that under his rule, she would not be lonely.
Here, he wanted his people to have a ruler who would grant them whatever they wanted, so they wouldn't fear the darkness.
Bercheria watched the young ruler's childish antics.
People laughed at Bercheria, claiming she would never know, but Lacrahan never doubted.
And now, this belated reward.
At the moment when she despaired, feeling like he hadn't properly protected her, Bercheria had already told him that he had been protecting her for a long time.
"You are too much for me."
He lowered his head, his lips brushing Bercheria's, and he swallowed.
So, no matter the cost, he will protect her.
"Stay here. I'll be right back."
Lacrahan pulled away and turned away.
"Just a moment."
Bercheria walked past Lacrahan and toward the door. She peeked out to see the newly arrived Imperial Knights.
"There they are!"
The moment they spotted Bercheria, she slammed the door shut and locked it.
The sound of the Royal Guards rushing in could be heard.
Boom!
"Open the door! Can't you open it now?"
"Open it now or I'll break it down."
Bang, bang, bang!
"Whew."
Bercheria pressed her forehead against the door and let out a deep breath. It was time for her to move, to make sure nothing happened to Lacrahan.
Bercheria met Lacrahan's gaze with a calm face.
There were people at the door, targeting the two of them, and the back was blocked, yet she seemed more composed than before.
"When I go out the window, open the door. If they ask what happened, tell them I did it."
As she was about to head toward the window, Lacrahan urgently grabbed her hand.
"Wait, Bercheria! I...!"
Bercheria wrapped her arms around the back of Lacrahan's hand, which was holding hers, then forcefully pushed him away. She knew his tendency to take the initiative. She knew how she had always pushed him away, having never been fully protected.
But now, it was time for her to protect him.
"It's okay. Trust me."
All they wanted was Bercheria.
She knew he was plotting this to take her away.
The Northern Grand Duke, and especially here in the North, where the Emperor was present, had murdered the Emperor's man.
This would be a retaliation several times more horrific than Bercheria's being blamed.
"Don't worry, Lacrahan."
She smiled, ran back, and leaped out the open window.
"Bercheria!"
Lacrahan's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
Just as he was about to rush towards the window, there was a loud crash as the door shattered.
At the same time, Dylan's blade, its blade blazing blue, slid past Lacrahan's neck.
"Let go."
Dylan remained motionless despite the cold voice.
"I'm sorry, but this is difficult, Your Highness, the Grand Duke Lacrahan."
Lacrahan closed his eyes deeply.
"Where is she?"
"I saw her. She clearly closed the door and went in."
"It appears Bercheria murdered the woman."
The knights of the Royal Guard recited their lines as promised.
It didn't matter what happened in this room.
The culprit had to be Bercheria.
There was no need to even consider whether she was there or not.
The culprit had to be Bercheria.
They simply had to carry out their orders. A man, mixed in among the noise, walked to the window and looked outside.
“Damn it. Where did she run off to?”
He cursed and looked outside, then quickly closed the window and disappeared inside.
Immediately, a breath he had been holding burst out from the windowsill just below.
“Haa.”
Bang, bang, bang!
"Whew."
Bercheria pressed her forehead against the door and let out a deep breath. It was time for her to move, to make sure nothing happened to Lacrahan.
Bercheria met Lacrahan's gaze with a calm face.
There were people at the door, targeting the two of them, and the back was blocked, yet she seemed more composed than before.
"When I go out the window, open the door. If they ask what happened, tell them I did it."
As she was about to head toward the window, Lacrahan urgently grabbed her hand.
"Wait, Bercheria! I...!"
Bercheria wrapped her arms around the back of Lacrahan's hand, which was holding hers, then forcefully pushed him away. She knew his tendency to take the initiative. She knew how she had always pushed him away, having never been fully protected.
But now, it was time for her to protect him.
"It's okay. Trust me."
All they wanted was Bercheria.
She knew he was plotting this to take her away.
The Northern Grand Duke, and especially here in the North, where the Emperor was present, had murdered the Emperor's man.
This would be a retaliation several times more horrific than Bercheria's being blamed.
"Don't worry, Lacrahan."
She smiled, ran back, and leaped out the open window.
"Bercheria!"
Lacrahan's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
Just as he was about to rush towards the window, there was a loud crash as the door shattered.
At the same time, Dylan's blade, its blade blazing blue, slid past Lacrahan's neck.
"Let go."
Dylan remained motionless despite the cold voice.
"I'm sorry, but this is difficult, Your Highness, the Grand Duke Lacrahan."
Lacrahan closed his eyes deeply.
"Where is she?"
"I saw her. She clearly closed the door and went in."
"It appears Bercheria murdered the woman."
The knights of the Royal Guard recited their lines as promised.
It didn't matter what happened in this room.
The culprit had to be Bercheria.
There was no need to even consider whether she was there or not.
The culprit had to be Bercheria.
They simply had to carry out their orders. A man, mixed in among the noise, walked to the window and looked outside.
“Damn it. Where did she run off to?”
He cursed and looked outside, then quickly closed the window and disappeared inside.
Immediately, a breath he had been holding burst out from the windowsill just below.
“Haa.”
A puff of breath rose from the pale hands clutching the railing beneath the windowsill.
Throughout her life, Bercheria had known that emotions, once they began, were hard to change. If her mother had climbed the tower and abused her, that sadness would remain until her next visit. If she had become depressed from hunger, that feeling would remain the same until her mother returned the next day.
In Bercheria’s world, there was only her mother, so her emotions could always be expressed in a single word.
But from the moment Lacrahan appeared, Bercheria's emotions became innumerable.
Even when she was drowning in the helplessness of being unable to do anything, when he appeared and apologized for failing to protect her, her heart felt lightened, knowing it wasn't her fault.
And thanks to Lacrahan's assurance that he wouldn't let go until she was safe, she no longer feared anything.
And the praise for being a worthy subject and the brief kiss made Bercheria want to be a better person.
She realized she dared to change and overcome this situation on her own.
"It's okay."
Bercheria clung to the railing at the top of the castle, her hands slipping inside her dress.
Beneath her feet, supported by one arm, the black floor gaped.
"Whew."
Bercheria lowered her head unconsciously, then looked back with a blank expression upon witnessing the immense height.
Having lived her entire life in the tower, she wasn't afraid of heights.
However, with her self-healing abilities still intact, she clearly understood that if she let go of this hand, she would lose her life.
“What we want is the next Bercheria who appears after you disappear. She’ll make a very pretty prey.”
Bercheria gritted her teeth.
“I won’t be easily defeated.”
Bercheria, who had been holding the railing with both hands, slowly pulled one hand away.
“Ugh!”
Her body swayed weakly in the air.
Holding the railing firmly with one hand, Bercheria thrust the other into her dress.
When she pulled her hand out again, she was holding a small, transparent vial tightly sealed with a stopper.
“If you need Muha, just throw this on any floor. We’ll run to you when we see the smoke. I think it’ll be reassuring if you have it.”
“Please. I hope you haven’t forgotten that promise.”
Bercheria crunched it in her palm.
Soon, purple smoke enveloped Bercheria and began to rise into the sky.
“Muha! Hurry!”
Dipper grabbed one of Muha's hairs and pulled hard.
It was the weakest point for Mucha, who was already nearly bald.
"Kkuuuuk."
Throughout her life, Bercheria had known that emotions, once they began, were hard to change. If her mother had climbed the tower and abused her, that sadness would remain until her next visit. If she had become depressed from hunger, that feeling would remain the same until her mother returned the next day.
In Bercheria’s world, there was only her mother, so her emotions could always be expressed in a single word.
But from the moment Lacrahan appeared, Bercheria's emotions became innumerable.
Even when she was drowning in the helplessness of being unable to do anything, when he appeared and apologized for failing to protect her, her heart felt lightened, knowing it wasn't her fault.
And thanks to Lacrahan's assurance that he wouldn't let go until she was safe, she no longer feared anything.
And the praise for being a worthy subject and the brief kiss made Bercheria want to be a better person.
She realized she dared to change and overcome this situation on her own.
"It's okay."
Bercheria clung to the railing at the top of the castle, her hands slipping inside her dress.
Beneath her feet, supported by one arm, the black floor gaped.
"Whew."
Bercheria lowered her head unconsciously, then looked back with a blank expression upon witnessing the immense height.
Having lived her entire life in the tower, she wasn't afraid of heights.
However, with her self-healing abilities still intact, she clearly understood that if she let go of this hand, she would lose her life.
“What we want is the next Bercheria who appears after you disappear. She’ll make a very pretty prey.”
Bercheria gritted her teeth.
“I won’t be easily defeated.”
Bercheria, who had been holding the railing with both hands, slowly pulled one hand away.
“Ugh!”
Her body swayed weakly in the air.
Holding the railing firmly with one hand, Bercheria thrust the other into her dress.
When she pulled her hand out again, she was holding a small, transparent vial tightly sealed with a stopper.
“If you need Muha, just throw this on any floor. We’ll run to you when we see the smoke. I think it’ll be reassuring if you have it.”
“Please. I hope you haven’t forgotten that promise.”
Bercheria crunched it in her palm.
Soon, purple smoke enveloped Bercheria and began to rise into the sky.
***
“Muha! Hurry!”
Dipper grabbed one of Muha's hairs and pulled hard.
It was the weakest point for Mucha, who was already nearly bald.
"Kkuuuuk."
Purple smoke slowly appeared closer.
Even as he was blasted by the strong wind, Dipper's expression remained unchanged.
He gazed at Lacrahan's castle with sunken eyes.
"I didn't know you'd actually use it."
He hadn't expected much when he gave Bercheria the vial.
Her behavior was so different from what he'd imagined.
He'd thought someone imprisoned in a tower her entire life wouldn't have a voice.
Starved for affection, she'd happily accept anything.
But when he actually met her, Bercheria was completely uninhibited.
He'd said things that would surely captivate other women, but she didn't respond at all.
Was she simply ignorant, or embarrassed, or waiting for the right moment?
"Ah."
Dipper's lips curled into a smile as soon as he spotted Bercheria hanging from the window.
"It's only me. The one who can save you."
Dipper stood on Muha's head, steadying himself with his feet.
His long arms shot through the thick, purple smoke.
He wrapped his arms around Bercheria, who was barely hanging on to the railing, and her thin body, straining to its limit, was pulled into Dipper's arms.
"Bercheria."
Startled, she tried to escape, but Dipper tightened his arms and caught her.
"Get off. Muha is quite the rascal."
Bercheria held onto the railing, her trembling hands reaching for her chest.
Muha stepped on the wall, and the castle wall crumbled like a cookie.
The recoil sent Muha, changing direction, into a powerful flap of wings, carrying Bercheria and Dipper with him towards the forest.
Once they were out of sight, Bercheria pushed Dipper's chest with her hand.
"Now let me down."
Dipper stared at Bercheria for a moment, then nodded.
"As you command."
Bercheria placed her foot on Muha's shoulder and relaxed her tense body.
"Thank you."
She turned her head and looked at Lacrahan's castle, now far in the distance.
"It'll be okay, right?"
Since Bercheria had been the target from the beginning, he believed that with her gone, Lacrahan wouldn't be harmed.
That was the way it had to be.
"Did you meet that friend?"
Dipper, who had come close, asked with a smile.
Bercheria raised an eyebrow as if to ask who he was referring to, and he picked up a strand of her hair.
"The boy whose energy resembled Mana's."
"Oh, yes."
"What do you think? Are they really that similar?"
She pictured Groovy sitting on his horse.
"They were very similar. Even the hair color and skin. It was fascinating."
"There are people like that. Some are complete strangers but look like brothers."
Bercheria nodded in agreement, but the blond hair and golden eyes were too special to dismiss as such.
Plus, she had a strange feeling that there might be some connection.
"Yes. I mean, it was an interesting coincidence."
“Since Emperor Gerard came to the North for you, I think that humans might be obsessed with blondes. It wouldn’t be strange if he brought someone similar to you.”
“...Why is he obsessed with blondes?”
Muha suddenly changed direction, causing Bercheria to stumble, and Dipper naturally wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Well, humans sometimes do things that are inexplicable.”
Bercheria pushed his hand away from her waist and looked at the distant scenery.
The forest that stretched out before her was unnervingly familiar.
Only Bercheria’s tower was gone. Bercheria grabbed her hair, which was blowing wildly in the wind, and tucked it behind her ear, asking,
“Where are we going?”
Even as he was blasted by the strong wind, Dipper's expression remained unchanged.
He gazed at Lacrahan's castle with sunken eyes.
"I didn't know you'd actually use it."
He hadn't expected much when he gave Bercheria the vial.
Her behavior was so different from what he'd imagined.
He'd thought someone imprisoned in a tower her entire life wouldn't have a voice.
Starved for affection, she'd happily accept anything.
But when he actually met her, Bercheria was completely uninhibited.
He'd said things that would surely captivate other women, but she didn't respond at all.
Was she simply ignorant, or embarrassed, or waiting for the right moment?
"Ah."
Dipper's lips curled into a smile as soon as he spotted Bercheria hanging from the window.
"It's only me. The one who can save you."
Dipper stood on Muha's head, steadying himself with his feet.
His long arms shot through the thick, purple smoke.
He wrapped his arms around Bercheria, who was barely hanging on to the railing, and her thin body, straining to its limit, was pulled into Dipper's arms.
"Bercheria."
Startled, she tried to escape, but Dipper tightened his arms and caught her.
"Get off. Muha is quite the rascal."
Bercheria held onto the railing, her trembling hands reaching for her chest.
Muha stepped on the wall, and the castle wall crumbled like a cookie.
The recoil sent Muha, changing direction, into a powerful flap of wings, carrying Bercheria and Dipper with him towards the forest.
Once they were out of sight, Bercheria pushed Dipper's chest with her hand.
"Now let me down."
Dipper stared at Bercheria for a moment, then nodded.
"As you command."
Bercheria placed her foot on Muha's shoulder and relaxed her tense body.
"Thank you."
She turned her head and looked at Lacrahan's castle, now far in the distance.
"It'll be okay, right?"
Since Bercheria had been the target from the beginning, he believed that with her gone, Lacrahan wouldn't be harmed.
That was the way it had to be.
"Did you meet that friend?"
Dipper, who had come close, asked with a smile.
Bercheria raised an eyebrow as if to ask who he was referring to, and he picked up a strand of her hair.
"The boy whose energy resembled Mana's."
"Oh, yes."
"What do you think? Are they really that similar?"
She pictured Groovy sitting on his horse.
"They were very similar. Even the hair color and skin. It was fascinating."
"There are people like that. Some are complete strangers but look like brothers."
Bercheria nodded in agreement, but the blond hair and golden eyes were too special to dismiss as such.
Plus, she had a strange feeling that there might be some connection.
"Yes. I mean, it was an interesting coincidence."
“Since Emperor Gerard came to the North for you, I think that humans might be obsessed with blondes. It wouldn’t be strange if he brought someone similar to you.”
“...Why is he obsessed with blondes?”
Muha suddenly changed direction, causing Bercheria to stumble, and Dipper naturally wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Well, humans sometimes do things that are inexplicable.”
Bercheria pushed his hand away from her waist and looked at the distant scenery.
The forest that stretched out before her was unnervingly familiar.
Only Bercheria’s tower was gone. Bercheria grabbed her hair, which was blowing wildly in the wind, and tucked it behind her ear, asking,
“Where are we going?”
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