Can an Enemy Become Salvation? - Chapter 37

“Lia!”

As soon as Ibnel returned to the palace, she searched for Lia and embraced her tightly upon seeing her.

“My lady?”

Lia was pleased yet bewildered to see Ibnel suddenly regain her vigor, having appeared listless just this morning.

“I trained with the knights today.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I really trained together with them. Together.”

Though they had exchanged a few words before, this was the first time they had mixed and trained together like today. Ibnel was still excited, feeling like she had truly become their comrade.

Lia’s mood brightened as well, seeing Ibnel excitedly recount the events at the training grounds like a child. In fact, she had occasionally felt that Ibnel seemed lonely, always being alone.

“But what sudden change of heart came over them?”

On the other hand, she couldn’t understand their abrupt change in attitude. It had seemed they would never let Ibnel get close to them.

“Well, actually, earlier…”

Upon hearing from Ibnel about what happened with the First Knight Order, Lia urgently checked if she was alright.

“Were you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. His Majesty appeared at just the right moment.”

“I was so worried. Please don’t do such reckless things anymore. I feel like my life is being shortened.”

Since coming to Caries, Ibnel had been injured many times, and it would be no exaggeration to say that everyone viewed her unfavorably. So every time Ibnel rushed in without thinking, Lia felt like she was going back and forth between heaven and hell several times a day.

“I understand. But I’m really so happy.”

Although this wasn’t the outcome she had aimed for, with just one invitation to train together, it felt like all the resentment that had built up until now melted away like snow.

Seeing Ibnel’s genuine joy, Lia still couldn’t quite empathize.

“Don’t you resent those people, my lady? You’ve only heard harsh words from them until now.”

She had seen up close how Ibnel had been treated more than anyone. Lia was in the same situation, so she often felt resentful towards the others.

Ibnel pondered her question before shaking her head.

“It would be a lie to say not at all, but I don’t think they’re bad people. I’ve learned things I didn’t know since coming here. Perhaps if the situation were reversed, wouldn’t we think the same? Of course, bullying you like that was truly wrong.”

Lia couldn’t deny that question either. Though the situation was frustrating, she had come to understand Caries’ position a little now. As Ibnel said, they had learned things they didn’t know when they were in Aodin.

So she couldn’t deny that it was naturally something to be endured. And Ibnel’s influence had been significant in making her think that way. In the end, weren’t they slowly gaining acceptance?

“Hearing your words makes me want to work harder too, my lady.”

“This is why I like you, Lia. But you’ll always be my number one.”

“You’ll always be my number one too, my lady. Wait a moment, your hand…”

At that moment, Lia’s eyes fell on Ibnel’s clearly swollen right hand.

“Ah, I think it’s because I’ve been overdoing it lately. Earlier too.”

Ibnel looked down at her own hand as if it were nothing. In any case, this body had never handled guns before, so on days of intense training, her hands would sometimes become numb.

On top of that, it seemed she had overexerted herself today by using a gun that wasn’t in good condition.

“Your hand is badly hurt.”

“Is it?”

Calluses had formed on her hands as proof of training, and scars had appeared. The white, delicate hands she had at first were nowhere to be seen.

Knowing this was a badge of honor, Ibnel felt even more proud.

“I should bring an ice pack.”

Intending to apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling, Lia quickly brought a pouch filled with ice and placed it on Ibnel’s right hand.

“Thank you. I’ll do it, you can go now.”

“Don’t do anything else today and rest well.”

Ibnel took a moment to catch her breath while applying the ice compress. But soon after, she sat down at her desk and picked up a pen.

Ibnel focused on the book in front of her, unaware of how time passed except for the brief moments she took to eat. Only when she felt a dull ache in her hand did she put down the pen.

After flexing and relaxing her right hand a few times, she decided to call it a day.

‘Maybe I should apply another cold compress before bed.’

Realizing it had gotten late, Ibnel draped a shawl over her shoulders and left her room to fetch ice herself.

“This eerie atmosphere is the one thing I just can’t get used to.”

When alone in the dark corridor without a sign of life, she couldn’t help but feel a chill. As if a ghost might appear at any moment from the end of the hallway.

Fortunately, she quickly found ice in the kitchen and filled the pouch Lia had brought earlier. As she was about to return to her room, she was drawn by the bright moonlight and stepped outside the palace.

Walking towards the garden in the cool breeze, the serene atmosphere, different from daytime, calmed her heart.

“Wow, I didn’t know there was a place like this here.”

Discovering a table and bench set up like a resting area at one end of the garden, Ibnel went over and sat down. She enjoyed the silence while applying the ice compress.

After being exposed to the loud noises of shooting for so long, she needed time alone in quiet like this. Perhaps she had grown accustomed to Caries’ weather, as she didn’t feel cold.

The slight chill in the air actually felt pleasant.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching where she was. The sound was particularly clear in the quiet surroundings.

‘What is it? At this hour.’

Ibnel reflexively placed her hand on her waist, but of course, there was no gun there.

“Who’s there?”

There was no answer to her question. The footsteps only drew closer to where she was.

‘Could they be targeting me?’

Rising from her seat, she raised the ice pack above her head as a last line of defense, ready to throw it with all her might if the unidentified figure appeared before her.

If not for the voice that followed.

“What are you doing there?”

Ibnel froze at the familiar voice. The one who appeared was none other than Shuher. He approached Ibnel, then shifted his gaze to the object in her hand.

Noticing his gaze, Ibnel awkwardly smiled and hid the ice pack behind her back.

“This is just because I was startled.”

“If anything, I should have been the one surprised. Holding something like that in the middle of the night.”

“No, if you had answered when I asked who it was, it would have been fine.”

“I’m not in a place I shouldn’t be, so why should I have to?”

When Shuher put it that way, Ibnel had nothing to say. This was his palace, and strictly speaking, she was the intruder.

“I shot myself in the foot there. But really, what brings you here? At this hour?”

“I often came here originally.”

“Ah, did you come to get some fresh air like me?”

He didn’t answer, but as she said, this was a space for him to catch his breath away from people’s eyes. So he was just as surprised to find Ibnel here.

Who would have thought they’d run into each other here.

“Then please sit down, Your Majesty. The weather is too nice.”

Saying that, Ibnel sat back down where she had been sitting earlier. Though bemused by her speaking as if it were her own space, he obediently sat down a little distance from her.

“It seems I only meet Your Majesty at times like this, not during the sunny daytime.”

He was about to agree when he asked about the unidentified object she had been holding since earlier.

“So what is that?”

“It’s an ice pack. I was applying a cold compress. My hand is a bit sore.”

“Because of today’s events?”

“I suppose I’ve been pushing myself since coming to Caries. But I really enjoyed training together today.”

Shuher watched her smile slightly as if recalling the day’s events, when he suddenly remembered the words she had spoken to the First Knight Order earlier in an emotional voice.

“Don’t carelessly belittle others’ efforts, don’t speak recklessly about things you don’t know well, and…”

“Stop, stop. Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”

Realizing they were her own words to the First Knight Order, Ibnel desperately tried to stop him from saying more. It was extremely embarrassing to hear them again now that they were alone.

“Why did you stand up for the knights? Is that really the only reason? That you didn’t want to be a coward?”

“What if it is?”

Shuher turned his head to look directly at her. Meeting those black eyes of unfathomable depth, Ibnel felt as if her whole body was bound.

Eventually, faced with his gaze that seemed to demand the truth, she spoke with a defeated expression.

“I can’t fool you, Your Majesty. While that reason is true, strictly speaking, it was also for my own sake.”

“What do you mean?”

“The words Your Majesty just said were actually what I wanted to say to people. Please just see me as Ibnel.”

Only then did Shuher realize the completely different meaning behind those words. Is that why she had spoken with such a desperate expression?

“But I have no intention of clinging stubbornly to things that can’t be changed. Still, even if it’s much later, I’d like them to know just this one thing. That although I’m from Aodin, I didn’t do anything shameful. I may be from Aodin… but I’m not a criminal.”

The moment he met her mismatched eyes, he held his breath for a moment. Those calmly shining eyes even looked strong.

“Let’s stop talking about that now. More importantly, when will you give me a new gun? Lord Demil did say I could use a spare gun.”

It had been so long since she asked for a new one after her gun broke, but there was no word from him. So she thought to get a definite answer now while she had the chance.

“It doesn’t have to be a good one.”

“Who said I’d give you a good one?”

“Oh, really. Then please prepare something quickly. I’ll accept whatever you give without complaint. I’m someone who feels on edge if I don’t shoot for even one day.”

As Ibnel looked him straight in the eye waiting for an answer, Shuher suddenly stood up.

“I’ll think about it.”

“No, you need to give me a definite answer, not just think about it. Otherwise I’ll just get one from Lord Demil. Okay?”

She followed him as he walked ahead, strongly demanding, but there was no answer. Before they knew it, the two had entered the palace and naturally began climbing the dark stairs.

Between the few lights illuminating the corridor and stairs, the only sound was their footsteps.

“Every time I pass through here, I can’t help but feel like a ghost might appear, don’t you think?”

“A ghost?”

“Yes. It’s the kind of atmosphere where it wouldn’t be strange if something appeared right away.”

Shuher couldn’t understand her seemingly frightened appearance. Hadn’t she faced many monsters recently and even fallen off a cliff?

“You’re not afraid of monsters, yet you’re afraid of mere ghosts?”

“The unseen is always scarier.”

“Then you could have called a maid to bring ice. There was no need to come out yourself.”

“They would all be sleeping, how could I call them?”

Just then, when an eerie sound of unknown origin was heard, Ibnel instinctively grabbed his clothes and drew close to him.

“Did you hear that?”

“It’s the wind.”

Despite Shuher’s explanation, she kept looking around anxiously, just in case. His gaze fell on Ibnel’s hand tightly gripping his clothes like a lifeline.

At that moment, their eyes met unexpectedly at close range.