Chapter 10 - Blossoming Love

Chapter 10 – Blossoming Love

“She was a woman abandoned by God!”

“What kind of devil that fox might be!”

“Apparently, it jumped out of her shadow!”

There was an uproar in the hallway. Meanwhile, Ronée was locked in the room, and even her maid, Ryne, was unable to go to her. Rather, Ryne was reprimanded for dragging a devil into the house. There were even stories of accomplices.

“Ryne must be safe.” Ronée was bowing her head as she listened to the clamor in the hallway. The room was dark and there was no Ryne to set the fire on the lamp.

Nabel tried to do Ryne’s work. He wasn’t familiar with all those works so it took time to light the lamps. Then, he sat next to Ronée after lighting the room’s lamps and handing her a warm tea.

In the quiet room, Ronée said suddenly. “What was that fox?”

Nabel answered immediately. “It’s not a devil.” He answered as if he knew something about it. Ronée’s gaze turned to Nabel. “Do you know what it is?”

“That’s…” Nabel reached out without hesitation. Originally, he was extremely reluctant to reveal himself, but in these months, he was different, at least not in front of Ronée.

She was a strange, grave and tickling person to Nabel. A person who he wanted to keep touching. A person who he wanted to reach down. That was the first time in Nabel’s short life. He was able to reveal everything.

His hands touched the shadow of Ronée. A knocking sound rang the room. Ronée was looking at the shadow with her eyes wide open.

Kwang!

“Ah?”

It was the cry they heard earlier. It seemed a little sore. Then, Ronée’s shadow moved a little, and the fox she saw then, popped out.

“Ah…!”

The fox stayed in Ronée’s arms. As if it had known Ronée for a long time, the fox snuggled on her shoulder. When Nabel and the creature’s gaze met, the little crying fox crouched in Ronée’s arms. Ronée was frozen, unable to move.

It was the fox that felt something familiar. It was as if Ronée had been raising it for a long time, as if she had known it for a long time.

“This fox…” Ronée looked at Nabel. Nabel seemed to know something.

“From the West… I can see it.”

She was surprised at his answer. When did he go to the Western Continent if he was a slave in a wagon?For the first time, her curiosity peaked, and she wanted to ask Nabel despite his past being painful.

“Animals that protect people… In the Western Continent, it is called Shinsu.”

Nabel had noticed her shadow and suspected it several times. He thought there were no people with Shinsu in the Eastern Continent. However, the fox in shadow moved whenever Ronée was in trouble, and in her shadow, there was a nervousness whenever she was threatened. It was undoubtedly a Shinsu.

“My god, you have a god’s animal.”

Ronée had been told that the gods had abandoned her, which was why magic had no effect on her. Ronée looked down at the fox, speechless. Nabel nodded slightly. “Yes, it’s a creature from the gods. And maybe it was thanks to this fox that sister isn’t affected by magic.”

Stupid people. Nabel curled his hands into a ball.

Shinsu, the animals of the gods were sacred beings in the Western Continent. Although it was never common in the Western world, Nabel was another man possessing such divine power. He was a man who was also highly revered.

There, they couldn’t recognize Shinsu, and they were foolishly referring to the master of the gods as a person abandoned by  the gods.

“God did not abandon my sister.” Nabel said with a soft smile on his lips. It was said that when the gods’ love transcended, it took the form of an animal. “Foolish ones.” He said again. Ronée stared at him.

“You have to send her to the temple right now!”

“You must purify her at the temple altar!”

Outside the window, in the training ground, the cruel voices of the knights bellowed. Nabel laughed, clenching his fists. “…Do you want to go out there?” His voice was low and sweet. Nabel’s expression, shrouded by shadows of the moonlight, was invisible to Ronée.

Ronée closed her eyes, tears trickling down her face. “…I want to go out.” But I can’t go out.

Nabel silently put her hand in his hand and Ronée’s thoughts flowed through his hands. She no longer needed to say out loud what she desired.

“If I can go out, I want to go out.”

“Neither you nor I can get out without getting hurt.”

Then, Nabel made up his mind completely. “I said I must pay back my grace.”

It was the story he told the first day they met. Ronée opened her eyes. Her vision was slightly blurred.

“I like you, sister.” He whispered. Although still young, he said it wholeheartedly. “Even after ten years later, I want to live by seeing you.”

In his short life, spending time with Ronée was the most meaningful time. He wasn’t happy where he was then, but now, it was different. It was good anywhere beside her. Even a mansion full of mindless creatures. Because he only had one sister.

Ronée was the first to save him. It was a small favour, and now it was time for Nabel to save her. He was completely determined.

“Forever, I want to be with you.”

He thought of leaving Ronée’s side for a short period, so that he could see her free.