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Belinda’s hands began to sweat. The chilling atmosphere of her surroundings, as if covered in thick smoke, made her tremble. The forest that had always felt safe when she was with Aymon was now dry and cold.

“The sun’s set…”

The trio’s faces became more serious. Belinda spread her shawl over the shuddering Lucy’s shoulders. Lart dropped his basket and ran over to them, clutching Belinda.

“….What’s….going….on?”

He looked up at her. His face stiffened.

“Something dangerous. I’m the strongest one here, so stay with me.”

He firmly grabbed his sword. There was no trace of his usual cynical self. Looking up at the sky, he saw the moon disappear behind the fluffy clouds.

They continued to walk down a narrow path, looking for a light they could follow. There was nothing but trees in the darkness, and Lart finally declared the obvious.

“I think we’re lost.”

The three stopped in their tracks and stared at the darkness ahead. No one knew which way to go. It felt like danger could pounce at any moment.

“Belinda, you have a Shinsu friend. Try calling him.”

Lart asked.

She shook her head.

“He might not hear it, and besides, if we make any noise, a wild animal might notice us. Aymon hasn’t even put any marks down here. We don’t know when some beast might attack us.”

Lart bit his lip nervously.

“Don’t you have any form of signal? Like a whistle or something?”

“Nothing.”

Belinda sighed with a gloomy expression. She had no knowledge of the forest outside of where the strawberries grew. Aymon always visited her first, so she wasn’t prepared for an emergency like this.

It’s all my fault.

Always being with Aymon made her forget about fear. She shouldn’t have taken them here. No matter how safe it was, coming to the forest without Aymon was a careless decision.

Lart sighed, sloughing.

“They must be looking for us in the palace.”

By now, the absence of two royals would have caused a frenzy. They could be uselessly searching the palace grounds or nervously standing around the Shinsu forest’s bounds.

They wouldn’t dare invade the Shinsu realm. One hasty step could mean a collision between the Shinsu and them, which would of course end in their favor.

If the Shinsu decided to break into the palace and slaughter everyone, the whole royal family would be destroyed. The risk of that wasn’t worth just two lives.

Lart started to rub his temples.

“This is my fault. I should have stopped you when you said you were coming here.”

Unexpectedly, even he started to blame himself with a serious face.

Belinda shook her head and reassuringly gave him a few pats on the back.

“I was the one who came up with this idea in the first place, so if there’s anyone to blame, it’s me. But we can talk after we get out of here, okay?”

“Mhm.”

Lart nodded obediently.

Normally, he might have told her off for lecturing him, but a crisis like this completely changed him.

“It’s dangerous out here. Belinda, Lucy, stick together.”

He murmured in a subdued voice.

As they walked on, Belinda suddenly turned around. The cold wind swept through her, but Lart was still firmly holding on to her shoulders.

Strangely, it was the first time she felt that he was her “real” brother.

The night dragged on. The sky started to be cloudy. They didn’t even run into a single rabbit, let alone a dangerous animal, but that was somehow even more disturbing. Even the crickets were nowhere to be heard.

They walked carefully, trying to not make any sound.

“Grrrrrrr…”

They heard a threatening noise and froze.

Belinda gulped and turned around to see an animal walking out of a dark cave with flashing eyes, black fur, and a large body.

“It’s a bear.”

Lart tried to speak calmly. Belinda squeezed her damp hands.

“Let’s separate and run away. You and Lucy go left, I’ll go right.”

Splitting up would help them escape. At least one side could stay alive, so Belinda would try to save the other two. She concluded that, since it was her who brought them here, she had to take responsibility.

“Go!”

Belinda quickly shouted and pushed the other two to the left. They couldn’t refuse.

She dashed off in the other direction, quickly followed by the bear.

“Aymon–!”

Belinda’s desperate voice roared through the forest. She called out the name without even realizing it, to no answer.

The bear began to pick up speed.

“Aymon! Aymon…!”

She yelled again and again. There was no vain hope that Aymon would come and save her – she just wanted to draw the bear’s attention.

All this happened because of her. Her death would be a deserved one. If only Lart and Lucy stayed safe…

She called out Aymon’s name like a dying wish.

Remembering something she’d heard about bears not being able to run downhill, she decided to risk her life upon it as she staggered down a hill.

Her throat burned with her short breaths and her heart pounded like it was about to jump out of her chest. A twig brushed against her arm.

As she ran on without stopping, the bear only seemed to get closer.

Usually, it would have gone after her straight away, but it started to stumble and stop as it ran.

Belinda’s sight was blurry, but she ran on into the forest like a madman.

Before she knew it, tears were pouring down her cheeks. She scooped up her cumbersome dress and went on, but the bear was after her. The chase continued on the bare hill for who knows how long until Belinda finally tripped over a tree root.

She tried to get up, but her exhausted muscles wouldn’t let her. Her trembling body fell onto the ground, and the angry beast came closer and closer.

Was it the end?

Tears dripped down her dirty cheeks and fell onto the floor. Gasping for breath as the bear ran towards her, she closed her eyes.

Aymon came to mind. It was a nice coincidence that her last memories would be of traveling with him. She smiled, thinking of stroking the little leopard’s back as they slept on a small inn bed.

Entering the palace was a good thing after all. It let her meet that little cat who became the light in her tiring life.

I wanted to be your strength, as much as you made me happy. I’m sorry for always leaning on you, Aymon.

Just as she drew one last breath, the bear suddenly roared. Belinda flinched, still numb.

There was a loud thump, followed by another roar. She could hear branches breaking.

Belinda couldn’t bear to open her eyes. She curled up against the tree, shaking from the cold and unable to move. With a big breath, she somehow opened her eyes.

“Agh…”

She swallowed a groan.

A giant leopard pounced on the bear, weighing it down.

“Grrrrrr…”

It gave a low warning.

The wounded bear panted under its body, in danger of a lethal bite at any moment.

Belinda blinked. Her stifled tears fell, and a sob slipped out.

「…….」

Only then did the leopard slowly lift its head, eyes flickering.

The awe-inspiring beast was unfamiliar, but Belinda could recognize him at a glance.

It was Aymon.