Kieth hurried next to Raphenia as she stepped out of the train. Leaning closer, he whispered, "Hey, how do I handle talking to people here? I can't speak like them."
Raphenia glanced at him and replied calmly, "It's not an issue. Just say you're from Orynthar."
"Yeah, but what if they don't understand me?" Kieth pressed, lowering his voice.
"That's not a problem," Raphenia said, her tone patient. "You won't need to speak to anyone unless you want to."
Paulina chimed in, adding for Raphenia, "Exactly. Just keep quiet, and you'll be fine."
Kieth sighed in relief. "That's... actually a lot better."
He turned and saw Mart holding Serel in his arms. Approaching him, Kieth said, "Hey, thanks for holding her."
Serel's face lit up when she saw Kieth. Stretching her arms toward him, she called, "Papa..."
"What is it?" Kieth asked, taking her into his arms.
"Hungry," Serel murmured, placing her small hands on her stomach.
"Is that so?" Kieth said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Well, don't worry. I'll get you something."
Suddenly, a man with a high, waxed mustache approached, holding a scroll. Bowing slightly, he addressed Raphenia. "The king is eager to see you, Princess. We've awaited your arrival for a long time. Please allow me to ensure your journey to the royal palace is pleasant."
As he spoke, a grand carriage pulled up. Raphenia stepped inside gracefully, and Paulina moved to follow her.
However, the man raised a hand to stop her. "Servants aren't allowed inside. This carriage is meant for royals only," he said, his tone firm, though a faint smirk played on his lips.
Raphenia turned to him, her voice sharp. "Please let her accompany me. She's my attendant."
The man hesitated before bowing slightly. "Princess, I would like to oblige, but the rules forbid it. Only those of pure royal blood may sit in the carriage. The rest must walk alongside."
Paulina's eyes narrowed in irritation as she muttered, "I'll punch his guts out."
"Please don't do that," Kieth said quickly, standing behind her.
Serel, still in Kieth's arms, tugged at Paulina's dress. "Hungry... Palena," she said, stumbling over her name.
Paulina's irritation softened as she smiled at the child. "Alright, let's grab a bite before we head to the castle." She turned to Kieth. "Let's go."
Walking side by side, Paulina cradled Serel in her arms. She glanced at Kieth. "Well, what should we get?"
"Whatever you say," Kieth replied absently, scanning the bustling market stalls around them.
Paulina stopped in her tracks and glared at him. "I'm not repeating myself. Choose something."
Kieth looked back at her, wide-eyed. "Wait, I literally have no idea what to get!"
Paulina sighed heavily, shifting Serel in her arms. "How can you not know? Just pick something," she snapped, her tone sharp but not unkind.
Kieth scratched the back of his head, glancing at the food stalls lined along the bustling street. The aroma of grilled meat, fresh bread, and sweet confections filled the air, making it hard to decide. "Fine, how about those skewers over there?" he pointed toward a stall where a vendor was roasting meat over an open flame, the sizzling sound and smoky aroma inviting.
"Good choice," Paulina muttered, walking briskly toward the stall. Serel, her eyes wide with excitement, clapped her tiny hands. "Meat! Meat!" she chanted, drawing amused looks from passersby.
Paulina handed the vendor a coin and received three skewers in return. She handed one to Kieth, took a bite of her own, and offered the last one to Serel. "Here you go, little one," she said, her voice softening as Serel eagerly bit into the skewer.
Kieth watched Serel with a small smile before taking a bite himself. The flavors burst in his mouth—juicy, smoky, and spiced just right. "Not bad," he admitted, glancing at Paulina.
As they ate, the trio wandered through the lively streets. Kieth couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between this vibrant, bustling capital and the quieter, more rustic towns he'd passed through before. Street performers entertained crowds, merchants shouted out their wares, and children ran around laughing.
"Do you miss it?" Paulina asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Miss what?" Kieth asked, turning to her.
"Your old life, wherever you came from," she said, her tone neutral but curious.
Kieth hesitated for a moment, looking down at his skewer. "Sometimes," he admitted, "but it's not like I can go back. So, I make do with what I have."
Paulina nodded, her expression unreadable. "Well, you're here now. So, stop looking like a lost puppy and try to enjoy the festival."
Kieth chuckled. "I'll try."
They finished their food and continued exploring, Serel happily munching on the remnants of her skewer. For a brief moment, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Kieth glanced at Paulina. A deep sadness settled in his chest. Everyone who had been kind to him in this world had met a cruel fate. He couldn't bear the thought of Paulina, Serel, or Raphenia suffering the same.
I won't let them get caught up in it, he thought, his jaw tightening.
But anger bubbled beneath his sadness, a bitter fury aimed at those who had betrayed him. The ones who left me to die to save themselves... They're still out there, happy and alive. I swear, I'll kill them myself.
His expression hardened, but before he could dwell on the thought, a sharp, searing pain shot through his body.
"P-Paulina..." Kieth stammered, his legs faltering.
Paulina, holding Serel in her arms, turned back at the sound of his voice. Her eyes widened with concern as she saw him stumbling.
"Kieth, what's wrong—" she began, but her words froze as blood suddenly spurted from his body. His wounds, hastily healed before, had torn open with a vengeance.
Kieth collapsed, screaming in agony as the pain ripped through his exposed flesh. Blood pooled around him, painting the ground crimson. Passersby gasped in shock, some frozen in fear at the sudden and horrifying sight.
Paulina quickly set Serel down and rushed to Kieth's side. Her hands moved frantically as she undid the boilspheres and began applying them to his wounds with urgency.
"Kieth!" she shouted, her voice trembling as blood soaked her hands.
Kieth's vision blurred, darkness creeping into the edges. The pain was unbearable, consuming every fiber of his being. He struggled to hold on but could no longer see or hear anything.
Silence. There was silence.
"Well... what now?" Kieth's voice echoed in the emptiness around him, the only sound in the suffocating void. He found himself in complete darkness, nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.
"Haaah... how many times have I fainted now?" he muttered, rubbing his temples as if to relieve an invisible tension. "Goodness, I'm only causing trouble... I'm no protagonist."
He sighed deeply, the weight of his own words settling over him. "Still... why am I here?"
Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. His voice rose, panic bubbling to the surface. "DON'T TELL ME I'M DEAD!"
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. "No, no, no... it can't be. I only lost blood. Just a bit of blood, right?"
...
"Yeah... I lost quite a lot of blood," he admitted reluctantly. "Still, the wounds were bad, but not that bad. And no one told me the damn boilspheres only last a couple of days!" He groaned in frustration.
Now that the panic had subsided, a heavy silence returned. Kieth sat in the darkness, running a hand through his hair. "If I'm stuck here, I might as well use this time to think," he muttered. He looked down at his hands, or at least where they should have been. The darkness was so absolute, so oppressive, that even his own body seemed to vanish.
"Should I... tell Raphenia that I plan to leave this place?" he wondered aloud. His voice was softer now, tinged with guilt. "I used her. It was selfish of me, I won't deny it. But still..."
He clenched his invisible hands into fists. "I just want to go home."
Just as he thought that, he was jolted awake. Gasping for air, Kieth's chest heaved as he took deep, shaky breaths.
"CALM DOWN, KIETH!" Paulina's voice cut through his haze. She was beside him, her face a mix of worry and frustration.
Kieth stared at her for a moment before glancing around. He was lying on a bed, the sheets stained red—likely his own blood. Several people, perhaps medics or caretakers, lingered nearby, their expressions tense.
Still trying to steady his breathing, Kieth nodded. "Y-yeah... thanks," he managed, his voice raspy. But his mind was elsewhere. Just before waking up, he had seen something—a grand door, etched with intricate patterns of stars, standing alone and unguarded.
A tug on his hand brought him back to the present. He looked down to see Paulina gripping his hand tightly. Her expression was trembling, and it seemed like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'm... sorry," Kieth muttered, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Paulina shook her head vehemently. "No, it's not your fault. I'm sorry. I should've beat you up till you took the treatment," she said, her voice cracking with guilt.
Kieth felt a cold sweat on his back as he noticed her tone shifting. She's definitely threatening me, isn't she? he thought nervously.
"Look, no need to get violent here. I said I'm sorry," he said quickly.
Without warning, she smacked his shoulder. "THEN NEXT TIME, LISTEN TO ME!"
"Alright, alright!" he chuckled softly, rubbing his shoulder. Glancing down, he realized he was shirtless, his torso still marked with wounds and scars.
One of the doctors whispered something to Paulina, and she turned to Kieth. "Hey, take a bath. They're providing you with one," she said, her tone a little softer.
Kieth raised an eyebrow, confused as to why the doctor hadn't just told him directly, but he didn't question it. He made his way to the bath, washing off the grime and blood. As he looked down at his reflection in the water, his body told a harsh story—skinny, battered, and weak.
"The boilspheres are temporary," he murmured to himself, running a hand over his injuries. His body couldn't fight, not in this state. But deep down, he knew the time would come when he'd have no choice.
When he emerged, dressed in fresh robes, Serel was waiting for him outside with Paulina. The moment Serel saw him, she ran up and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his robes.
"Papa... are you alright?" she asked, her voice muffled against his robes.
Kieth rested a hand on her head, his heart aching. "Yeah... I've been better," he replied softly.
She didn't move, her face still pressed against him. Kieth gently pulled her back, just enough to see her face. She was sniffling, tears streaking down her cheeks. The sight hit him harder than any wound.
Did she always feel like this whenever I got hurt? Did she act normal on purpose? he thought.
Pulling her back into a hug, he held her close, his grip firm but comforting. As he glanced at Paulina, who stood quietly nearby, he felt a rare sense of gratitude.
"I really am lucky," he muttered under his breath, a small smile forming on his face. Never in his wildest dreams did he think people outside his family could care for him like this.
Kieth gently pulled Serel away, smiling softly. "Shall we leave?" he asked.
Serel nodded, her little hands clutching his robes. Paulina knelt beside her, wiping away the last of her tears along with kieth before standing with a reassuring smile.
The three of them stepped outside to find the carriage waiting. Paulina glanced at it and said, "It arrived while you were asleep. The next stop will take us directly to the castle."
"Alright," Kieth replied, helping Serel into the carriage before climbing in himself. As they settled, he turned to Paulina.
"Hey… about the doctor earlier. Why didn't he just tell me to take a bath? Why did he tell you instead?"
Paulina smiled mischievously. "Oh, that? You don't need to know."
Kieth frowned internally, his thoughts grumbling. This is exactly what I hate—people keeping things from me while smiling about it.
The carriage moved smoothly through the bustling streets, its wheels gliding over the cobblestones like a bird in flight. Outside, the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink as the day drew to an end.
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