Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 48
She wanted to take with her many memories of him, Roel also packed the scarf she had knitted by hand.
She had made two scarves during the winter, one for him and one for herself. They were identical in pattern but different in size. She left his on the dining table. It would probably be thrown away, but in her mind, she imagined him keeping the same item.
It was yet another selfish greed on her part.
Beyond that, there was little else to take. A few stolen coins from when she had run away from Roniti’s house were all she had.
For the last time, Roel took in the sight of Kyden’s back, then opened the door. He remained still, not stirring at all. Without saying goodbye, Roel stepped over the threshold.
‘Don’t say goodbye. Even hoping for a good farewell is too much to ask.’
He must be pretending not to notice, she thought. It was better not to linger on any regrets and leave cleanly.
She could not delay using her ill health as an excuse. Roniti could bring the villagers to the cabin at any moment. If they knew Roel was there, Kyden wouldn’t just stand by.
She needed to go as soon as possible, before it was light and before any danger could come to Kyden.
‘Take care. Thank you.’
Kyden had taken her in when she was lost in the winter woods. It was almost as if he had saved her life.
Leaving quietly without further indebting herself to him was her way of repaying him. Whether she would ever have a chance to truly repay his kindness was unknown. All she could do was wish for his happiness from afar.
The dense blue dawn sky stretched above her.
A pale light was rising over the ridge, not fully dark nor bright yet.
Limping, Roel walked away from the rising sun. The direction she needed to go to intersect the merchant trails.
The snow had melted. Now she could find the mountain paths more easily. The biting cold had eased, making it easier to cross the ranges without risking her life. It was a hopeful piece of news, though not particularly joyful.
Last winter, in a deep abyss, she had seen hope, felt love, and known happiness.
“Haa.”
The air was still cold, and Roel’s breath appeared white as she limped along. Suddenly, her eyes widened.
“Ah.”
The wide mountain road used by merchant caravans came into view. It was only about a 30-minute walk from the cabin, not far at all.
Roel stood on the trail with a sense of resignation. It wasn’t as far or as difficult as she had imagined.
Now she walked along the mountain road. Faint wagon wheel tracks were visible. It seemed that with the thaw, caravans occasionally traveled this route.
‘I remember now, the caravans were supposed to come.’
She recalled how excited Kyden was when he heard about the caravans coming to the village, and how quickly his mood fell when Roel told him not to go.
A weak smile broke on her face at the memory, but it soon turned to emptiness and desolation. Her expression stiffened.
She realized she would never see him again.
The loneliness was crushing.
Yet, she did not stop walking.
She knew disappearing was the best thing for him.
* * *
Not long after Roel left, Kyden got up. He scanned the empty cabin with a frozen expression, struggling to accept that she had really left.
After staring around the silent house for a long while, he got up. The creaking sound filled the quiet cabin.
He checked what she had taken with her and what she had left behind, and scoffed at how she had only taken a few clothes.
He picked up the scarf neatly folded on the table. Veins bulged on his hand clutching the scarf as he noticed her lingering presence. A sinister glint passed through his yellow eyes.
He buried his face in the scarf, inhaling faint traces of Roel’s scent. After tucking the scarf into his chest, he left the cabin.
Checking Roel’s footprints, he headed toward the old, small shed behind the cabin.
The very place where he had first found Roel when she fled into the mountains.
Clack—
When Kyden opened the shed door, something writhed inside. It was a person, bound at the hands and feet.
“Ugh! Uuuugh!!”
Kyden crouched in front of the writhing figure, who was gagged and unable to speak.
After removing the gag, the person, bound like an animal, began to sob and beg.
“Please, please save me. I won’t chase you again. Just spare my life. Please…”
The person tied up in the shed was Roniti. Having been trapped in the shed all night, Roniti was terrified and was barely able to breathe.
Kyden looked down at her with a cold expression, tilting his head slightly.
“…”
His eyes were those of a hunter contemplating how to dispatch a trapped animal, emotionless and detached.
