Death Can’t Sleep - Chapter 106

“That’s right. It seems that all Northerners who can use knives are gathering.”

 

“You should’ve gotten better at hunting monsters.”

 

Amarion stopped and listened. Her brows narrowed in concentration.

 

What did they mean by a convocation order? Even for her, who grew up in this place, it was unfamiliar. The North was so isolated that each Lord took care of all the decisions concerning their land. There was no commander-in-chief to issue a convocation order for the entire North. So who?

 

But they didn’t seem to know anything more. Following the roar of consent, they kept talking.

“A monster hunt hasn’t been carried out properly since summer, has it? The construction of Amari’s walls has also stopped.”

 

“Oh, that’s right. My friend went there to deliver stones and came back quickly.”

 

“Did he get paid?”

 

“Yes. He said their daily wage was generous. The monsters were the problem.”

 

The man continued.

“I heard that an absurd monster appeared, and everyone was scared and ran away.”

 

“No, why all of a sudden? That’s the way it is, but it wasn’t that much before, was it?”

 

“I don’t know! It must be serious if the Northerners can’t handle it.”

 

‘I suppose.’

 

Amarion breathed out a short breath.

 

The reason why the wall construction stopped was because the number of monsters increased and invaded the village. She didn’t know how the monsters grew beyond the Amari Knights’ control. Still, it didn’t seem like Amari collapsed, judging from the way the men spoke.

 

It was funny that Amarion was relieved by this even though the walls were not completed before winter, but still…

 

She gulped down her drink with a bitter smile. The transparent grain wine, which only came from the North, was extremely strong and burned the throat. Heat spread through her stomach and she felt faint. Amarion put down her fork and thought.

 

‘Anyway, the rumor I heard in Morte was true. That the Northern defense line has collapsed.’

 

‘Someone in the North, who couldn’t handle the situation, ordered men to return to protect his hometown, and even the Northerners who live outside the North seem to be returning to their hometowns. Just like I am now.’

 

Even though it meant that their journey so far had not been in vain, Amarion was not happy at all. Actually, she dreamed that she would regret leaving Morte on a whim. After checking on the Amari people, who were doing fine, she hoped she could apologize to Victor for coming all the way here and for making him suffer.

 

But good dreams didn’t always come true.

 

Amarion got up from the table.

“…Shall we go up and rest?”

 

Victor replied quietly.

“I’ll drink a little more. Rest first.”

 

“All right.”

 

Amarion nodded. It was hard to face him now for some reason. She just hoped they could go to sleep quickly and start for Amari.

 

She waved briefly and headed to the room first.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

Amarion looked depressed all day.

 

At first, he thought it was because she was hungry, but it wasn’t. From the time she entered the North, her expression froze solemnly, and her eyes wandered like the moon floating on a frozen lake. It was as if the air here had revived her nightmare.

 

Victor watched Amarion’s back as she moved away, and called the waitress.

“Give me the same drink that my table ordered earlier.”

 

“Oh, will you be alright? It’s very hard on Southerners.”

 

“How did you know I was from the South?”

 

The waitress smiled slyly.

“There are many good-looking people in this town, but your hair is black.”

 

“…It’s all right, so bring it to me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The waitress disappeared into the kitchen. While she was getting the drink, the men chattering at the table next to Victor started talking to him.

“Brother, are you from the South? What’s your relationship with the lady from before?”

 

“She looked like a Northerner from the way she drank!”

 

“Was there such a beauty in town?”

 

They giggled. Victor replied coldly.

“She is my wife.”

 

“Oh, there’s another person with a twisted life here!”

 

They burst into laughter. They didn’t seem to be aware of their rude remarks. The waitress approached and put down his drink with a look of boredom.

 

The men kept talking while Victor drank his bitter liquor.

“It’s better not to even think about settling down with a Northerner. They can’t leave the North.”

 

“I know! As soon as they receive the order, watch them come running.”

 

“It’s too late. Won’t they be treated like guard dogs?”

 

Victor took a sip of the transparent drink without replying. The terribly bitter liquid heated up his throat.

 

The men didn’t stop talking.

“Ah, but did the Lord of Amari escape in time?”

 

“Yes, she was a great knight. I heard she was sold to some rich aristocrat. Her horse was sold, too. Honestly, I think she ran away because she had a hard time…”

 

“Hey.”

 

A low voice came from the table behind them. Victor looked around coldly as they took off their hoods. Silver hair that was brighter than Amarion’s was revealed. They wore leather armor all over their bodies and had many scars on their skin. Victor recognized at once that they were swordsmen.

 

One of them spoke.

“Why are you talking about her carelessly?”

 

The drunken men faltered for a moment. But soon they shouted at each other.

“What? You guys are Amari knights?”

 

“No, we are Silandians.”

 

“Then why do you… Ahhh!!”

 

The next moment, with great speed, a dagger stuck into the wooden table. Both groups pulled out their swords at the same time.

 

Victor raised his eyebrows a little. It was a very fast attack that he had never seen anywhere else on the continent.

 

The waitress shouted.

“Hey! If you want to fight, go outside!”

 

“It’s these guys who intervened! If ignorant Northerners get excited about nothing…”

 

“What about people who don’t know anything talking recklessly? Didn’t she run away?”

 

The Siland man frowned in indignation.

“It would have been better if she was really able to do that. She is alone, you don’t even know how she’s been living…!”

 

“Ohh! I do not know! No matter how great she is, she was the one who left. So why do you care? Without the Lord of Amari, you won’t be able to fight and die!”

 

“What? By the way!”

 

“Go outside and fight!”

 

Soon, chaos unfolded.

 

In it, Victor emptied his glass quietly. Thoughts overflowed with alcohol.

 

His close friends said that a knight should, of course, return Amarion to her hometown. The mercenaries spoke of her nobility, and the mercenary king questioned him as if he didn’t know what the right choice was.

 

And Victor realized.

 

She was the hero of the North. The people of her hometown admired her greatly, and even those who despised the North could not make fun of her name.

 

Despite being treated like that by the people of the kingdom, she eventually returned here. To protect her hometown.

 

So Victor couldn’t help but admit it. She was too important to keep in his arms. He was distressed.

 

‘I wish we were the only two left in the world.’

 

Victor got up from his seat. No one noticed him disappearing up the stairs.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

Amarion woke up at the sound of the door opening.

 

It had been a while since she drank so much, so she couldn’t open her eyes easily. She analyzed the approaching shadow. It was Victor. He took off his cloak and lay beside her. He smelled of musk.

 

He asked in a low voice.

“When you were in the Empire, were you happy?”

 

‘Why is he asking this?’

 

Amarion nodded vaguely to the question.

 

“Did you enjoy being with me? It wasn’t cold, and you were full?”

 

“Yes… I was happy…”

 

“Then let’s go back.”

 

Amarion frowned.

 

What was he saying?

 

She looked up at him, more awake than before. But his golden eyes were as serious as ever.

 

“We can go back. Leave this land that made you suffer. You can stay with me all day. I can give you anything. Gold, jewels, even the Emperor’s neck if you like.”

 

His finger caressed her cheek. His hot lips touched her forehead several times. Amarion closed her eyes.

 

It was like a dream. No, it might be a drunken fantasy.

 

But…

 

“No, I can’t.”

 

She murmured softly.

“There are families in Amari…”

 

At that remark, the touch stopped. She closed her eyes.

 

To her, ‘family’ was nothing more than a word. Not her indifferent father, nor her mother who hated this land, nor even the Amari people she had to protect gave her happiness.

 

‘They were my family, though. My family, whom I had before I met Victor.’

 

Amarion held back tears by biting her lip. It must be the alcohol that made her feel this way. Victor’s hand stopped her from trying to bury her face on the pillow.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

It was a mournful voice.

“I’m sorry, Marion. I won’t say that again, so please don’t cry…”

 

There was a rustling sound, and a familiar arm pulled her in. She leaned her forehead in his warm arms. He opened his mouth. Victor’s words were as firm as the knight’s oath.

“From the moment you saved me, my soul is yours. I can’t refuse anything you want.”

 

He patted her gently on the back. She drifted off again in a hazy mood.

 

The last words, as if it were a dream, were hard to hear.

“So I’ll let you go if you want, my Marion. I’m not the only one you love…”

***