Unrequited Love is Over, Fend for Yourselves (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 40

Etienne awoke from a deep slumber with a frown as someone kept poking her head. All she remembered was exhaustion from nonstop hardship, and she just wished they’d leave her alone for once.

She tried waving her hand to brush away whatever was disturbing her sleep, but it seemed to move on its own, evading her grasp entirely.

Finally opening her eyes, Etienne made a pouty face at the culprit who had ruined her rest. She wasn’t even angry—just unfairly treated.

‘You must enjoy tormenting me.’

There was no other explanation for this.

As Etienne groggily sat up, Reinhart greeted her with, “Awake?”

“Yes. Someone kept touching me….”

“Is that all you know, and nothing else?”

“Nothing else? What do you mean?”

Etienne replied while tidying her messy hair, responding to Reinhart’s remark.

“Did something happen?”

She looked into Reinhart’s eyes and asked. Faced with her innocent gaze, Reinhart shook his head as if to say it was nothing.

“No.”

Etienne then turned to Fernando. He approached her and silently offered a water bottle without saying a word.

“Let’s go outside.”

Etienne, mid-sip, widened her eyes in surprise at Fernando’s words.

“We can leave?”

“I found a passage where the wind comes through.”

“Really?”

She had mentioned feeling a breeze before falling asleep, but hadn’t figured out where it came from.

“This way.”

Fernando took Etienne’s hand and helped her stand, then tightly wrapped her in his overcoat. Etienne glanced down at the oversized garment and shook her head with a smile.

“It’s way too long for me.”

“Still, since we’ll be passing through a windy spot, it’s better to wear it. The more it covers, the better.”

“What about you?”

“I’m fine.”

“What if you get sick?”

At Etienne’s worried words, Fernando simply shook his head in silence.

“Then… thank you. Friends really are the best.”

When Etienne accepted the coat without further protest and buttoned it up, Fernando’s relieved expression showed plainly before he turned and started walking toward the passage.

Only Reinhart noticed the fleeting expression that crossed Etienne’s face as she followed behind Fernando.

“You heard everything.”

It felt odd that she was pretending to know nothing. Reinhart turned away with an exasperated look. Etienne, now trailing at the back, let out a soft sigh.

[Etienne probably wants to keep even more distance from me than from you.]

‘There’s no fooling the Crown Prince.’

Though she had denied liking Fernando when asked before, it seemed she couldn’t hide it any longer.

“So, do you like him?”

Reinhart whispered into Etienne’s ear as he watched Fernando’s back ahead of them.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“Will you tell me everything then?”

Etienne gave no answer. Yet Reinhart wore a confident expression, as if certain he could draw out any reply he wanted.

“Let’s go for now.”

Since no one had come to rescue them, they had to find their own way out.

“Oh, wait a moment.”

Etienne suddenly remembered something and asked them to hold on, then walked over to the Mitri tree.

‘I won’t use any of my abilities.’

But just in case there was something she wanted to show, Etienne placed her hand on the tree. Though she still felt that strange sensation, she didn’t pull away.

After a brief moment, Etienne opened her eyes and lowered her hand. She gazed at the Mitri tree for a while, then turned around with a noticeably lighter expression.

“Shall we really go now?”

[This is the timeline separator]

The spot where the wind entered had thin walls, seemingly riddled with holes in places. After breaking through that wall and discovering a new passage, the three walked out of the place devoid of even a single ray of light.

At one point, their feet became visible beneath them, and soon after, they emerged outside.

“But, you know…”

They had come out right in the middle of a mountain. Etienne tilted her head curiously and asked,

“Couldn’t we just retrace our steps? Even if no one’s coming to save us, people would still enter from there eventually…”

“No. That won’t work.”

Reinhart gently denied it, making Etienne pout. She had no idea how deep the fall had been before she blacked out.

“The final reason it’s called the Sanctuary…”

Reinhart emphasized his words as if sharing something special.

“It reveals itself only to the chosen. That’s why it’s called the Sanctuary…”

As Etienne listened to the Crown Prince, she jumped at a sudden rumbling sound from the ground. Before she could figure out what was happening, the floor shifted abruptly, causing all three to stagger.

Dirt fell from above, and Etienne covered her head with her hands, crouching down. Someone wrapped their arms around her. Unable to lift her head, she stayed still until the trembling finally ceased.

Slowly, Etienne raised her gaze.

“Your face is dirty again.”

Reinhart joked with a smile, but Etienne couldn’t return it. She’d seen someone from this angle before—at dawn, when the surroundings were dim and shadows deep, the air thick with the scent of early morning.

“Why are you staring like that? Didn’t expect me to shield you?”

“I guess not. You always show up beside me when I least expect it.”

“That’s exactly why it’s so flustering, isn’t it?”

When Reinhart said this with a grin, Etienne pulled away from him.

“Thank you.”

Reinhart gave her a bewildered look, but Etienne avoided his gaze and turned toward Fernando, who was examining the collapsed passage.

“Did it collapse right after we came out?”

“It seems so.”

“What about that space inside? Someone might try to rescue us. Could something have happened in there?”

“Alex is on that side. He’ll handle it.”

Reinhart answered with feigned composure. Etienne immediately stopped worrying, nodding in agreement.

“Counselor Alex is reliable, so I’m sure he’s taken care of everything. But it seems I’m the only one who gained nothing from this.”

Etienne laughed with a sense of emptiness.

“You two at least walked where your distant ancestors once stood, but I’ve got nothing.”

Seeing her exhausted face after all she’d been through, Reinhart awkwardly brushed the dust off her shoulder.

Was touching the tree before leaving just a final farewell? Since Etienne offered no explanation, he decided to assume as much.

“Think of it as a good experience.”

“…Please don’t come looking for me for a while after we get back. I really just want to rest deeply.”

“Understood.”

Reinhart readily agreed without hesitation. Seeing him uncharacteristically considerate, Etienne finally burst into laughter.

After all, simply getting out safely was enough. Etienne turned around with a lighter heart. Reinhart scanned the surroundings, then spoke.

“Let’s head back.”

“I have somewhere else to go.”

“Fernando? Where do you think you’re going alone?”

Startled by his sudden statement, Etienne asked in confusion. Fernando gave a faint smile and stepped backward.

“There’s somewhere I must go.”

His manner made it clear he wouldn’t say more. Etienne didn’t press further and instead gave him a small wave. She hadn’t expected to part ways here, but there was nothing to be done.

“You’ll be back soon, right?”

Fernando paused in thought for a moment, then gave a slow, heavy nod.

With that, Fernando started walking up the mountainside first. Reinhart then tapped Etienne lightly on the shoulder—not to brush off dust this time.

When Etienne turned, Reinhart pointed down the path below.

“Shall we go too?”

Instead of answering, Etienne simply took a step forward.

[This is the timeline separator]

In front of the hole where the Crown Prince had fallen, knights from the Duchy stood waiting. Upon hearing their heir had fallen, they sprang into action immediately.

Their commander raised his hand as he examined the hole.

“We’re going in.”

He clenched his fist, and those behind him simultaneously tightened the ropes tied around their bodies, preparing to descend. At that moment—

“Wait.”

Alex, sensing something, reached out to stop them. The knight at the front shot Alex an irritated look. Alex shook his head at him.

“It’s better not to go in.”

He’d felt something subtle but distinct.

[There will be a reaction. You must notice it.]

The Crown Prince hadn’t explained exactly what it was, but Alex, with his heightened senses, understood. Just now, there had been a faint vibration.

“It’s already been a full day. If we don’t go in now, something terrible will happen to the young lord and His Highness. They can endure without food, but going without water has its limits…”

The knight, trying to persuade Alex to let them proceed, suddenly changed expression—he too had sensed something.

“Everyone, fall back!”

The moment they obeyed the knight’s order and stepped away from the hole, the ground shook violently.

“Guh!”

“What… what is this?”

Noble youths watching from a distance lost their balance as the earth trembled beneath them.

“What’s going on?”

“Why is the ground shaking all of a sudden…?”

Sola and Nick exchanged remarks while Bazon crouched low and approached the hole.

“Dangerous!”

Alex grabbed Bazon by the collar and yanked him back just as the tremor stopped as abruptly as it had begun.

“Is it safe now?”

Bazon grinned and inched closer to the hole, then turned to Alex.

“The opening is still there, but something below seems to have collapsed. If they went in, they probably didn’t die instantly—though who knows what would’ve happened if their rope snapped.”

“How do you know the lower part collapsed?”

“Before, I heard a faint sound of wind passing through. Now, I don’t.”

Bazon said with another grin. Alex stared at the hole once, then looked back at Bazon. He’d thought of him only as a curious boy…

“How about coming under my command?”

He was smarter than he’d appeared.