Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 63

The entrance to the walking path had stark contrasts of light and shadow. Under the blue sky and blindingly bright sunlight was a forest thick with dense greenery. And the path leading through it, like a cave, was darker than expected.

“Watch your step.”

As Ashika stumbled after stepping on a clump of grass, a large hand quickly grasped hers.

“Don’t they maintain this area?”

“People haven’t come through here for quite a while. It used to be a hunting lodge that my father used. After that incident, no one had a reason to come.”

“Ah.”

An uncomfortable story from the past. Ashika quickly averted her gaze.

“Even when both my parents were alive, only my father came here. Mother said she was shocked to see the bloody game being dragged into the lodge and never came again.”

Drushia’s voice remained calm even while talking about his parents.

Suddenly Ashika became curious. Had this man also disliked Igraine, like other vassals of Talion? It seemed odd that his attitude would completely change just because she was his lifesaver.

‘Perhaps he didn’t hate me that much after all?’

If so, why had he seemed so eager to devour her every time they met?

‘Was he determined to be spiteful on behalf of Talion?’

He was a man whose change in attitude was too rapid to understand. But she couldn’t very well ask why he no longer hated her. Ashika shook her head.

“That guy, the one who escaped from the poorhouse?”

Drushia suddenly blurted out. Ashika stopped walking, and he turned to look at her. She realized he was talking about Nile, and that Mia must have been the one who relayed this information.

Ashika narrowed her brows and opened her mouth.

“That story has already reached there?”

“Why do you keep someone like that close to you?”

“Our interests simply aligned. And I’ve confirmed his identity.”

“Identity doesn’t guarantee a person’s character.”

Though his demeanor was cautious, distrust was evident on Drushia’s face.

“The Nedrov family has two sons. Strangely enough, leaving behind the second son who was knighted, the eldest son, who wasn’t even a knight, volunteered for the expeditionary forces and left the family. That was already four years ago.”

That eldest son was Nile. When the eldest is the heir, it’s common for the remaining children to become knights. And naturally, the knight—the second son—should have been sent to the expeditionary forces.

But the fact that the eldest son, who wasn’t even a knight, volunteered for the expeditionary forces meant he had abandoned his position as heir and fled.

‘There must be a story behind this.’

Rather than suspicion, she felt that there must be reasons he hadn’t yet revealed.

“I didn’t know you trusted people so easily.”

“Have you forgotten that I meet quite a lot of people? I have that much discernment.”

“So you’ll keep him by your side?”

This wasn’t a matter for Drushia to interfere with. He knew this, but he couldn’t just let it go.

“Don’t you think the child you sent is more problematic than Nile?”

When Mia was mentioned, Drushia subtly averted his gaze.

“She’s not even of age yet. What if something happens to her?”

“Is Igraine a dangerous place?”

“Of course not, but—”

“Don’t underestimate her just because she’s young. She can take care of herself. Do you think it’s easy for a girl to be knighted at the coming-of-age ceremony? It’s disrespectful to Mia to judge her based on age and appearance.”

Realizing that Ashika wasn’t displeased about Mia herself, Drushia instead pushed ahead boldly.

In truth, he had sent Mia because he was anxious. What danger could there be for a precious lady from the Duke’s family? Yet he feared some unknown darkness might snatch Ashika away, and so he had sent Mia.

“Having her around will be helpful.”

Skilled female knights are rare. Moreover, Mia’s transparent personality made her unsuited for deceptive surveillance roles.

‘I understand it’s not with bad intentions.’

She could simply send her back, but that didn’t feel right either.

‘Being with me, where Jeanne is, might be better for Mia than being at Talion.’

The ability to contact Drushia anytime was also a temptation hard to reject.

Drushia watched patiently as Ashika came to a conclusion in her mind.

The two started walking along the path again. After a while, they came across a deeply carved section crossing the trail. Wet weeds grew abundantly around the collected water.

“It’s been neglected too long, creating a water channel.”

Drushia leaped in and stood on a large rock.

“Give me your hand.”

“What are you doing?”

It was quite a wide puddle. Ashika tilted her head, looking at the hand extended toward her.

“I’ll carry you across. Or would you prefer I carry you on my back?”

“What?”

Ashika’s eyes widened. She couldn’t imagine herself being carried by this man.

“If you don’t want to be carried, give me your hand.”

Drushia matter-of-factly demanded Ashika’s hand. The moment her hesitant small hand landed on his, he snatched her.

“Whoa!”

Her body fell into Drushia’s arms. More precisely, she was suspended, trapped in his arms. Drushia looked down at Ashika with a meaningful smile.

“Put me down.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Rushia!”

Despite her kicking legs, the large man didn’t budge.

Ashika was slightly shorter than the average height for women. Yet she looked anything but small, being upright and solid. Drushia liked that such a woman revealed her delicate inner self only to him.

“Ashika.”

“Yes, Rushia. If you want to talk, put me down first.”

“Are you afraid I might drop you?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Relax your body and lean on me. You have that much trust, don’t you?”

“This isn’t about trust.”

She couldn’t understand what he was saying or what this man was thinking.

“It is about trust. Lean on me more. I’m saying it’s okay.”

The man who wouldn’t let her go spoke with a face devoid of any humor.

His face was beaded with sweat from the hot weather. The surroundings were shaded, casting distinct shadows on his face.

Black eyes blinked slowly. Her calm heart began to pound as if caught in violent waves. The throbbing heartbeat, thump, thump, made her breath catch in her throat.

Seeing Ashika’s frozen expression, Drushia embraced her. Her slender frame sank into his arms. Despite the heat making them sweat, she didn’t want to break away.

Drushia carried Ashika across the puddle. With a hint of reluctance, he gently stroked her back and placed her carefully on the ground. With one hand still firmly holding hers, the two continued their walk.

Most of the walking path was covered with weeds, but here and there, stone slabs from the past were visible. It was a much easier path to walk on than before.

After walking for a while, Drushia spoke.

“Do you like opera by any chance? There’s a show opening next week, what do you think?”

“What?”

Ashika stopped walking and looked up at Drushia. Her round, black eyes blinked as if to ask why he was asking her that.

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand. I’m asking you to come with me.”

“Why?”

“Why, you ask…”

Realizing his intentions weren’t being properly conveyed, Drushia’s forehead creased.

“I’m suggesting we change our meeting place. I thought it might be good to clear our heads outside occasionally.”

Ashika tilted her head. The private rooms at the opera house were enclosed spaces, good for avoiding people’s gazes. But still.

‘There’s no reason we need to go there, is there?’

“I don’t really like opera.”

“Ah. I didn’t know that.”

Drushia averted his gaze awkwardly as he spoke.

In reality, he must have known. Knowing her movements as well as he did, Drushia probably knew what she did daily better than anyone except her aide.

“Then, there’s a restaurant that recently opened on Grande Gêne Street, and I was thinking of making a reservation…”

“Are you crazy?”

Ashika raised her voice in alarm. She was already anxious about meeting just the two of them, and now he wanted to meet in a public place.

Drushia’s face crumpled at Ashika’s impulsive reaction.

“That’s not something to call crazy, is it? I mentioned it’s a private room.”

“No matter what, it’s still a public place. What if someone sees us?”

Drushia made no effort to hide his displeasure. It was just a simple suggestion. A simple date that anyone would ordinarily enjoy.

“Are we committing some kind of crime? What’s so significant about two normal adults going to see an opera and dining at a restaurant?”

“What if we get caught up in a scandal? Think about the attention that would focus on us. It’s absolutely not a trivial matter.”

“Are you afraid of that? Are you so afraid of others’ eyes? Talion and Igraine—what are two great families, virtually the twin pillars of the Empire, afraid of, that they tremble at others’ gazes?”

“That’s precisely why it’s more problematic.”

Drushia’s voice rose as if he was angry. Ashika retorted, not backing down.

“You and I…”

At that moment, Ashika stopped speaking.

The realization struck her as she saw the man irritably loosening his collar, his blue eyes conveying hurt rather than annoyance.

‘Rushia wants something more than this relationship.’

More than just bedmates. A relationship where they walk together, talk together, and share daily life.

Her heart sank. Ashika hurriedly lowered her gaze, afraid he might see the fear in her heart.

‘That’s impossible.’

It was a relationship destined to end one way or another. She feared more than the hostility between their families that she couldn’t oppose her grandfather’s will, and even more than that, she feared the secret tied to her birth. If the truth came to light, it could entangle Drushia and all of Talion.

The more desperately she wanted to be with him, the louder the voice of reason telling her it shouldn’t be grew.

‘I don’t want to hurt Rushia.’

She should tell him that those were things that only lovers do, that she had no intention of dating, but she couldn’t.

“Rushia.”

His hardened face turned at her voice, more tender than ever before. Ashika’s heart grew cold at his stiffened expression.

Drushia read rejection in her hesitant lips.

“Let’s go back.”

His voice sounded somehow deflated. Drushia turned back in the direction they had come. Ashika followed him with quick steps.

“Rushia.”

Drushia had only gone a few steps ahead. Unable to resist the fragile voice calling him, he finally turned around.

“You really did choose a good nickname.”

Every time the nickname left her lips, he felt himself melting involuntarily.

When he reluctantly extended his hand, Ashika took it. Confirming that his hand firmly grasped hers, Ashika smiled brightly. At that radiant smile, Drushia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“You find it funny?”

But instead of answering, Ashika smiled even more broadly. Because she had no other words to offer him. Because she never wanted to see him turn away coldly again as he had just done.

Drushia sighed as if giving up and led the way, holding Ashika’s hand.

Her heart rippled gently. Not wanting to lose that feeling, the two walked silently along the path. Wishing this road would never end.