That Lady’s Stalker - Chapter 43
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 00:01
“Ugh!”
A faint sound of breath cutting off reached my ears. The guards stationed outside had been struck down. And then, I sensed the presence of enemies surrounding my tent. The soldiers in my direct unit inside the tent began to tense up. I drew my sword.
I would return to Olivia. No one could stop my steps toward her.
Suddenly, blades began to fly in from all directions, piercing through the tent. The number of attackers was greater than I had anticipated, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.
“It’s an ambush!”
The sound of a trumpet echoed loudly across the area. The difference in strength between our troops and the enemy’s was vast, so we shouldn’t lose to such an ambush. But if the objective was assassination, it changed things.
Every blade from the enemy turned toward me.
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 02:26
I dodged and blocked the incoming blades in a blur of movement. Bodies began to pile up around me. I avoided a blade aimed at my leg and kicked the fallen enemy soldier in the face. With a sickening crack, his skull shattered and blood splattered.
This time, it came from behind. I instinctively twisted my body, avoiding the strike, and thrust my sword into the exposed neck. My armor was soaked in blood.
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 03:48
“Protect the commander!”
The enemy’s movements, focused entirely on me, were starting to shift. Shouts began to come from all around.
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 05:33
Ragged breaths escaped from my chest. The number of soldiers protecting me had decreased dramatically. The cramped tent couldn’t hold many, and we were already low in numbers.
“Hold on just a little longer!”
The blades that had been aimed solely at me began to scatter in all directions. The movements of those trying to protect me grew stronger. It was a brief moment of respite.
Perhaps things hadn’t gone as planned, but I saw Haeg Barthan, his eyes bloodshot with rage, charging toward me. No one tried to stop him, except for one of my own men.
“Damn it! Ruben, get out of the way!”
The red-haired boy, still looking like a child, was trying to stop Haeg with his sword. But with the force Haeg was charging at him, a boy barely past adolescence couldn’t hope to block him.
In the end, he lost his grip on the sword and fell to the ground. Haeg raised his blade, aiming for the boy’s head.
I shoved the enemy I was facing aside and ran to Ruben. A thousand thoughts flooded my mind.
The position of commander is not to be taken lightly. I can’t be swayed by the life of a single soldier. But why couldn’t I turn away from that red-haired boy?
I couldn’t pass by that dull hair, not like Olivia and Oliver’s brilliant red. I barely deflected the blade aimed at Ruben’s head. Haeg’s eyes twisted in disgust when he saw me.
“You damn…”
“No! Commander!”
Why did I see Oliver’s face in this young soldier, who resembled him in no way? Why did I recall Olivia’s eyes when I looked into the terrified soldier’s gaze?
Before Haeg could recover his stance, I shoved my sword into his gaping mouth. For someone who had been leading this chaos by betraying both his country and mine, his death was anticlimactic. But his plan hadn’t failed completely.
The tips of the blades that had come from all directions merely scratched the surface of my armor, but they still managed to pierce through. The enemy I had pushed away had somehow managed to follow me.
Ah…
The laugh I had thought had disappeared echoed in my head like thunder.
“Didn’t I tell you?! You are cursed!”
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 06:01
A burning heat spread from my pierced shoulder. I didn’t feel the pain as I swung my sword. The black night, which hadn’t even shown the moon, passed, and the dim light of dawn shimmered like a mirage. My strength was slowly draining away.
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 06:57
Finally, I dropped my sword. Red blood spilled from my shoulder. The blades that had been heading toward me disappeared. I regretted it. The moment I thought of you. I wouldn’t be able to keep the promise I made to you.
I was a foolish idiot. I hadn’t considered the pain you would have to bear.
When would my news reach you? I hoped it would be as late as possible. No, I wish you never knew.
999th Year of the Empire, December 27th 07:00
The sound of blades clashing sharply echoed throughout the area, but it didn’t reach me. Instead, the voice of Olivia, which shouldn’t have been able to reach my ears, kept whispering in them.
“Asher…”
Her white flowers-like skin, her blue lakes like her eyes, and the griffon that symbolized her family swirled before my eyes.
I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them again. In that brief moment, I saw Olivia, looking at me with her playful smile. I missed her so much… I closed my eyes again, this time holding onto the image longer. She smiled at me. Again, she spoke to me.
“I love you, Asher.”
“Olivia…”
Olivia embraced me tightly. I could feel her warmth, like she was right there with me. I didn’t want to let go. I wanted to hold her soft shoulders. But I resented how weak my body felt.
“Olivia, Olivia. Liv, Liv…”
Something hot rose from within. I couldn’t hold it back and let it spill out. It wet my face. Was it tears, or was it blood?
“Liv.”
Her laughter echoed faintly in my ears.
“I love you.”
If I could see her just one more time…
Beyond the fading consciousness, I saw, like a lie, a white flower.
“Must… save! Must…”
I had a long dream. Olivia whispered her love to me.
“Found the one… colluding with the Barthan family…”
I saw Olivia’s pale face. I wanted to focus entirely on her, but a voice from somewhere kept interrupting me.
“Traitor. Leave none alive, eradicate them all!”
My brother’s angry voice shook my head.
The consciousness that had been submerged beneath the surface suddenly returned. I forced my eyes open with difficulty, feeling the weight in my eyes. My vision was blurry, but I could tell.
The familiar ceiling… This was my room.
Through the thick curtains, faint light seeped in. As soon as I saw it, my mind came awake.
I’m alive…!
I quickly sat up. My head spun, and my shoulder throbbed painfully, but I ignored it.
I took a step toward the light that stretched across the room. It was blinding. I threw open the curtains. The world before me was washed in pure white. The light was so intense I couldn’t tell if I was opening or closing my eyes.
Through the white light, a blue hue began to emerge. The sky, glowing a brilliant blue, and the leaves shimmering with a refreshing light filled my view.
It wasn’t the barren winter; it was the vibrant spring. Spring…
I kicked open the door and ran out.
“You’re awake…! Commander, you can’t move like that!”
I heard a voice trying to stop me, but I couldn’t be stopped. I had to go to Olivia. That was the only thought in my mind. I mounted a horse and headed toward her. My shoulder ached painfully, but I welcomed it. I was alive to see her again.
The Flonari residence was quiet. Despite the lively spring, it seemed stuck in winter.
I looked up at Olivia’s room from beneath the white flowering tree, as I always did. Through the swaying flowers, I could see the curtains fluttering in the breeze. As I stared at them, impossibly, Olivia emerged.
Her gaze, which had been lingering on the drooping flowers, slowly descended until it finally met mine.
The fragile woman looked at me in surprise.
“Asher…!”
I could see her mouth covered, tears streaming down her face, and my heart ached for her. Like the barren winter branches, she had withered.
“Liv.”
I watched Olivia leap into my arms.
Winter was fading. Spring began to fill her face.
“I love you, Asher.”
Her voice, full of joy, sparkled with tears.
My father and I were wrong. I was not cursed.
“I love you, Liv.”
Olivia brought the gentle spring to me.
