The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 139
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
She was not sure why Jason suddenly appeared in a ghost-like state, but it wouldn’t be unusual if it were related to his power. After all, no one really knew how that power would manifest.
As she pondered this, Jason, who seemed to be struggling with something, opened his mouth again.
“If a hidden path becomes visible, take that route.”
“!”
This time, his voice was clearly transmitted.
However, before Amber could ask anything, Jason dissolved into smoke and faded away.
He left behind only a worried expression.
It was the first time she had experienced something so strange since her return.
‘He said to take the path if it becomes visible. What does that even mean? Is it a literal path?’
Or could it refer to a direction in life or something similar?
Amber couldn’t focus on anything that afternoon.
The symptoms that hinted at pregnancy, Jason’s sudden appearance—
Everything felt overwhelming.
Sometimes, it took time just to process a significant shock, and this was exactly one of those times.
‘Should I just give up and go for a walk instead?’
It was just about the time when the sun was beginning to set.
If she delayed any longer, she might miss her chance to stroll, so if she was going out, it needed to be now.
As Amber stepped out of her bedroom, she found Sir Raphael waiting and greeted her.
“Are you going out?”
“I think I’ll take a walk.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
Igmeyer never left Amber alone.
Raphael was practically her personal guard at this point, and she sometimes felt bad for keeping such a talented knight occupied.
‘If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t be able to endure it. If you disappeared from this world, I wouldn’t be able to breathe for even a second. Protecting you is like protecting the North. He’s on an important mission, so don’t worry, Amber.’
Igmeyer’s words brought her comfort and joy.
“You’ve looked unwell lately.”
As they walked through the garden, Raphael casually remarked.
Amber turned to him and offered a faint smile.
“It’s fine. It’s just nerve pain.”
“But isn’t your friend a doctor? He could come if you called him.”
“I don’t want to worry him unnecessarily. There’s no medicine for nerve pain anyway; it’s just a sensitivity issue.”
Everything Raphael saw and heard would be reported back to Igmeyer. Knowing this, Amber pretended to be fine and came up with another excuse.
She wasn’t even sure if she was pregnant yet. Even if she was, she wanted to come to terms with it herself before telling anyone.
‘My mind is so cluttered.’
If there was a baby inside her, she felt sorry for it.
She wanted to show and tell it only good things, but she couldn’t even start with that.
‘Still, if… if you really are coming to me, little one…’
Mom loves you. That was the one thing she wanted it to know.
As Amber strolled slowly through the garden, she took in the sight of the sky gradually turning purple.
From pink to crimson, from crimson to violet. From violet to darkness.
The sky transitioned from day to night.
Feeling a bit lonely in her heart, Amber decided to turn back.
‘Huh?’
Just then, she noticed something.
“Is there a path over there?”
It was a hidden trail, naturally concealed among small bushes and tall grass.
It was a shortcut she had never seen during her time living in the castle.
Raphael answered her question calmly.
“That side path leads to the forest. It was used by servants to gather mushrooms in the past.”
“And now?”
“I heard it became unused because there hasn’t been a need for it for some time.”
An unused path.
At that moment, a shiver ran down Amber’s spine. Goosebumps prickled her skin, and she felt a tightness in her breath.
‘It’s just like what Jason said!’
He told her to take the path if it became visible.
He also mentioned that it might start out bad but would eventually get better.
She hadn’t understood his riddle, but now, there was a path right in front of her.
“Let’s go that way.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Then Sir can protect me.”
There was also an unexplainable feeling—a strong instinct that she needed to go that way.
It seemed that whatever she was searching for lay beyond that distant forest path.
Excitement mingled with nausea, and she felt both eager and hesitant.
Those conflicting emotions rolled around inside her, creating a whirlwind of thoughts.
But in the end, she decided to follow Jason’s advice. He wouldn’t have suggested anything harmful.
‘The sun is setting.’
Caw, caw!
Somewhere nearby, a crow cawed harshly.
The purple sky, fading into darkness, tangled with the branches overhead. It felt almost like a spiderweb, making her mouth go dry.
