TOPWL 193

“What letter?”

“The one you sent along with your hair.”

“Ah, that…”

“You don’t have to answer if it’s hard to talk about.”

When Yudit hesitated, Shane cut him off, as if the question was pointless. In truth, there was no reason he couldn’t answer. It just felt a bit awkward to admit it had been a crude form of threat.

“It’s nothing much. Just…”

Yudit had just started to speak when the sound of galloping hooves echoed from afar. At least fifty riders. His shoulders tensed. He tried hiding behind a nearby tree, but they had likely already spotted him. They were riding straight toward him. Yudit set Shane down and drew his sword. Soon, fifty armored knights reached them. He tried to appear composed, but his legs trembled uncontrollably.

Is this how I die?

If so, then it’s a good thing Shane was saved. If death was certain, he at least wanted to go without shame. Yudit looked back at Shane. It would be too much to expect him to escape alone. Shane parted his lips, as if trying to say something.

“…No.”

“Hm?”

“They’re not… enemies.”

At Shane’s words, Yudit turned to face forward again. The knights had already drawn close. It had been too dark to make out details earlier, but now he saw, they were all wearing the ducal knight order’s armor. Khalid had sent reinforcements. His legs gave out. One of the knights caught him just before he collapsed.

“Are you alright?”

Yudit bit his lip and nodded.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

***

Yudit dreamed for the first time in a long while.

He was in the middle of a vast ocean. But he didn’t feel lost. The sea was calm, without a single wave, and the water was warm. Yudit ran his hand through it. The ripples shining from the sunlight gently brushed through his fingers.

He played in the water for a long time, until a wave began to rise in the distance. It seemed small at first, something that would pass quickly, but it rolled forward like a snowball gaining speed. Startled, Yudit swam away, but the wave overtook him before he could get far.

“…!”

His flailing stopped. He realized he could breathe underwater. The view from beneath was beautiful. Light shimmered above him like a veil. As he watched it flicker, his body slowly rose.

Before long, Yudit was standing on the surface, looking out at the faint horizon. Then the same wave that had swallowed him earlier came back, curling around him like a ribbon. Yudit slowly turned in place. The water moved as if it had a will of its own. When he touched it and pulled his hand away, droplets scattered like gold dust and jewels.

After playing with the wave for a while, Yudit straightened up. It was time to go. The wave clung to his pinky as if to say, don’t leave.

“Sorry. I have to go now.”

When he gently apologized, the water slipped away. The way it pulled back made it look almost sulky.

“Let’s play again next time.”

As soon as he said it, the water leapt up, as if surprised. It spun in circles for a moment, then suddenly threw itself around him in an embrace. The temperature felt as warm as skin.

‘It’s a promise.’

Thinking the voice sounded strangely affectionate, Yudit woke up.

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah…”

Rubbing his eyes, Yudit sat up. The carriage had come to a stop. When he opened the curtain, a broad plain spread before him, lit by the colors of sunset.

“It’s already evening.”

A couple of large tents had been set up outside, and the smell of good food was drifting in. Feeling a bit embarrassed for having slept so long, Yudit rubbed the back of his neck.

“You should’ve woken me.”

“You’ve been sleep-deprived lately. You lost sleep because of me too. It looked like you were finally resting well, so I didn’t wake you.”

Shane spoke plainly. He had been seriously injured that day and was still recovering in the carriage. Yudit had been wounded as well, though less severely, and was staying nearby to help take care of him.

Knock knock. Someone rapped on the carriage door. When they looked out, Bagon stood there with two bowls of stew and a broad grin.

“I brought you dinner.”

Yudit opened the door and took the bowls. A cool breeze slipped in through the gap. It was still sweltering at midday, but in the evening, the wind turned surprisingly pleasant.

“Thanks.”

“No trouble. How are you feeling?”

“Much better. Both of us.”

“That’s good to hear. Enjoy your meal.”

Bagon bowed and headed back toward the rest of the group. Yudit watched his slightly limping gait with care. Fortunately, his walking had improved. Bagon had injured his leg falling off a short cliff while fleeing that day. Luckily, it was just a bad sprain, and he was well enough to ride again.

Darius had been lucky, suffering almost no injuries. It seemed the archers had aimed more toward Yudit’s side.

“The food’s getting cold.”

Shane spoke up, pulling Yudit from his thoughts. He picked up the spoon.

They had restocked food supplies at a village yesterday, so today’s stew was rich with ingredients, potatoes, onions, big chunks of meat, and a thick, hard loaf of bread. Yudit tore the bread into pieces, dropped them in the stew, and stirred. The bread began to soften.

“…”

Chewing on the soaked bread, Yudit recalled that day. Falling from the cliff into the water, walking along the river with Shane leaning on him, and then meeting the knights Khalid had sent.

That day, Khalid had sent around fifty soldiers and archers combined. Two days later, another one hundred fifty arrived with food. Of those, fifty were knights, while the rest were archers and common soldiers. He had practically sent everyone he could spare from the capital. Thanks to that, Yudit had been able to round up everyone involved in the attack. Though they had all taken their own lives, and the mastermind remained unknown, the bodies were enough to begin tracking their identities.

[Don’t come looking. If you do, it won’t end with just a lock of hair.]

Yudit remembered the note he had written to Khalid. He couldn’t bring himself to say he loved him. Couldn’t even tell him not to overdo it. If he showed the slightest hesitation or affection, Khalid might abandon everything and come to him.

Khalid could never win against Yudit when he was resolved. So instead, he sent soldiers. And that was how Yudit had survived. Once everything ended, Yudit asked the commander.

‘Did Khalid leave any words for me?’

The commander had looked troubled and replied.

‘He said nothing at all.’

Yudit didn’t ask anything more. That was how they parted, without even confirming if they were alive or saying a single word of love.

He stared out the window. The sun had vanished beyond the ridgeline, and only the lingering twilight quietly lit the plains. Horses grazed freely, drank water, or jumped about in bursts of movement after being freed from their saddles. Watching that peaceful view, Yudit finished his stew. When he turned, Shane had already finished eating. Yudit picked up the bowls naturally and stepped outside.

Hundreds of soldiers eating and resting under the tents turned to look at him. On top of the knights Khalid had sent, the 9th Order had joined them, so the number of gazes on him had grown into the hundreds. None stared outright, but so many snuck glances that it became overwhelming. Their eyes held curiosity, unease, and sometimes hostility.

That hostility mostly came from alphas. They didn’t seem to like that an omega was in a position to control their lives. A few even pulled childish pranks, releasing alpha pheromones in his direction. But with so many soldiers and the fact that his presence dampened pheromones when close, it was hard to tell who the culprits were.

About ten percent of the soldiers were alphas. If he really wanted to, Yudit could identify them one by one. But he didn’t. He didn’t want to stir up pointless trouble. And strangely, alpha pheromones didn’t feel that threatening to him. If he took a direct hit up close, it might be overwhelming, but for now, all he felt was, ah, someone released their pheromones again.

On the way back from rinsing the stew bowls by the river, Yudit spotted a bird circling above his head. A messenger pigeon. He raised his arm just in case, and the pigeon landed on it with perfect precision.