At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 295
“But I also know what kind of person you are, so I never misunderstood your intentions. I knew you hadn’t chosen me for that reason… If anything, I assumed you selected whoever would be most effective on this trip. After all, you learned that I handled the Silaran Hill clan on my own.”
“So, so you’re really not upset?”
“No. You thought well enough of me to ask me to come with you. That is an honor.”
Silence fell again.
“Jiwoo… there is one more thing.”
Until now, Quilon had spoken with nothing but courtesy, saying everything he could to put her at ease. He had not misunderstood her, and he genuinely seemed pleased to accompany her on the trip.
Which was why she never could have anticipated what he said next.
“…You don’t have to be so kind to me.”
“What?”
The words caught Jiwoo completely off guard.
“I don’t deserve such undeserved affection. It would be better if you gave that kindness to my other brothers instead.”
“What do you mean by…”
“Jiwoo. There’s something I want to discuss about this trip.”
Lanceil’s voice drifted over from several paces away.
Quilon immediately turned his head toward him. The movement was so abrupt that Jiwoo instinctively followed his gaze.
The instant she looked at Lanceil, Quilon lowered his head, as though that had been his intention all along.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah…”
By the time she realized what had happened, Quilon was already hurrying away in the distance.
‘Why does he keep acting like this?’
Her husbands usually looked for excuses to spend time with her. In fact, they far preferred it when Jiwoo was the one who invited them rather than the other way around.
If Quilon kept stepping aside like this, they would naturally spend less and less time together.
She was used to them trying to win her over. She had never dealt with one who fled whenever he had the chance.
‘I’m glad I asked him to come on this trip.’
If they were traveling together, he couldn’t avoid her forever.
It wasn’t as though she had never seen this sort of behavior before. She had a fair idea how to handle it.
Hadn’t Solmih and Kaman been like this once?
Because they hadn’t taken the initiative in courting her or hadn’t considered themselves the ones who had won her over, they tended to hold themselves back more than the others.
Still, whenever they shared an experience that belonged to them alone, they always became a little more confident afterward. Perhaps this trip would help her grow closer to Quilon as well.
“Jiwoo.”
By the time Quilon had disappeared from sight, Lanceil had walked over.
“Jiwoo, I have something for you.”
“Hm?”
Lanceil placed a light, keen-edged dagger in her hands. Along with it came a belt designed to wear at the waist, clearly meant for carrying the weapon herself.
The sheath, crafted by one of her husbands, bore delicate floral embroidery. Three tiny forget-me-nots, just like Lanceil himself.
The hilt was carved to resemble intertwining tree roots. The grooves had been cut there for grip, yet the elegant pattern also reminded her of a stag’s antlers, giving it an understated beauty.
“Take it with you this time.”
Was he giving her a weapon because she was heading somewhere dangerous? The thought reminded her of something, and she couldn’t help smiling.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Mmm… It reminded me of the gifts people give before someone leaves on an trip. They often embroider something like this.”
“Really? Is that the custom?”
Jiwoo knew that, traditionally, noblewomen presented gifts to knights riding off to battle. Usually it was a handkerchief rather than a weapon.
The embroidered flowers on the sheath served much the same purpose. Lanceil’s smile was so bright that she couldn’t bring herself to explain the difference. She simply smiled back and nodded.
Jiwoo turned the dagger over in her hands, admiring it from every angle. Watching her, Lanceil hesitated, unable to speak for a while.
“Lanceil? Is there something you want to say?”
“I thought about this for a long time. Whether I should really place something like this in your hands…”
The first time Jiwoo met Lanceil was she who had taken a blade he had dropped and used it to hurt herself. Even afterward, whenever she held anything sharp, it had always been turned toward her own body.
This was the first time he was giving her a blade with the hope that she would wield it against something else. Even so, he still couldn’t completely put his mind at ease.
“No. Thank you. I’ve never received something like this before.”
She had owned weapons before. But never one entrusted to her so that she could protect herself.
Running her fingers over the blade, she noticed how cool and smooth it felt beneath her fingertips. It was nothing like the heavy swords she had handled in the past.
She didn’t know what material it was made from, but it was remarkably light without sacrificing any sharpness. It had clearly been crafted with care, beautiful enough to wear as an ornament.
“But promise me one thing. Never use it on yourself.”
“I know.”
“When you’re down there, stay close to the others….”
“Okay.”
“If something happens and you need a weapon, don’t grab someone else’s or pick up whatever you find. I’m giving you this because anything too heavy or unfamiliar is more likely to get you hurt.”
“…Okay.”
“And even if you want to help someone, don’t rush in immediately. Make sure they’re someone you can safely help first…”
At some point, Jiwoo stopped answering and simply stared at him. Only then did Lanceil looked at her.
“Jiwoo? What is it?”
She had always thought this about him, ever since they first met. Lanceil really was like this.
“Lanceil. You’re such a worrywart.”
“…Jiwoo.”
Perhaps because he had witnessed her at her most vulnerable, Lanceil still couldn’t help seeing her as someone terribly fragile.