# Chapter 10
Wimu didn’t come to see me. Though I couldn’t fully understand how he felt, I was uneasy thinking I might have forced him to make a difficult choice. However, Wimu’s absence helped me plan a secret trip to the palace. If there was any silver lining, it was that I had given the soldiers an opportunity to express their anger. Since then, their hostility toward me had somewhat subsided, and I planned to take advantage of this weakened vigilance to leave. After all, Kadilen wouldn’t believe me if I just said I was stepping out for a moment. He would probably think I was fleeing after my intentions were discovered.
“You need more time for your wounds to heal. You can’t leave in this condition.”
“When they think I’m moaning and groaning, that’s when I’ll have my chance.”
Though Ludin had his own agenda, I planned to borrow Jiman’s horse. The journey to the royal palace was long. It was uncertain whether Ludin’s body, still not fully recovered and with worsening symptoms, could endure a long journey, but there was no other option.
“You stay here.”
“Are we back to this again?”
Jiman sighed. Though I hadn’t mentioned the rebellion, he too sensed that something was changing within the temple. I told him that Kadilen had been watching us since he misunderstood that I carried a curse. I also told him I needed his help with that.
“Even if he discovers I’m gone, Kadilen won’t harm an innocent person like you. He’s a righteous man.”
“How can you say that when you look like this?”
The soldiers hadn’t considered appearances when throwing their punches. With bandages wrapped all over my body, I couldn’t possibly look beautiful. I smiled a little seeing him get agitated.
“Stay at the temple and keep an eye on the situation. I’ll be back soon.”
“If you don’t return within a month, I’m coming to get you.”
A month. That would be enough time. Jiman knew I was suffering from a ridiculous misunderstanding at the temple, but he thought staying alone at the palace for too long would be more harmful. Though he didn’t ask for the exact reason, I understood what it meant to leave him behind. After all, I was leaving behind the only physician who knew about Ludin’s illness. It would be difficult to deal with emergencies and would require even more effort to hide the illness.
“Everything will be fine. Don’t worry too much.”
“If your body becomes strained during your journey, return immediately. I’ll try to explain things well to His Majesty.”
“But you’re terrible at making excuses.”
“Just trust me this once…!”
It was endearing to see him boasting that he would find the perfect excuse. The first pack he prepared contained so many medicines and bandages that I had to remove half of them. When I told him I couldn’t ride a horse with that much weight, his face fell.
“But they’re all necessary… Are you sure I can’t come with you?”
“My mouth hurts from repeating myself.”
He looked like a child who had lost a toy as he removed the medicines. Until now, I had never thought of myself as someone who was lonely or starved for affection, but since becoming Ludin, even small gestures of care touched my heart. I felt I could understand Kadilen, Wimu, and Jiman, which made their small warmths all the more moving.
“Thank you, truly.”
At my words, Jiman’s sulking face immediately turned red. He really was an easy guy.
Jiman’s horse was a sturdy-looking brown warhorse. Though not ideal for long-distance travel, it had been raised by the royal stable master and had trained with first-class soldiers, making it well-disciplined. Despite not having carried anyone for nearly two years while Ludin and Jiman stayed at the temple, it followed my movements faithfully. It also responded stably to my awkward gestures, having never handled a horse before.
“Travel safely.”
As I packed my bags and received Jiman’s farewell, it finally sank in that I was leaving the temple. The fact that I was temporarily leaving this now-familiar place, that I was deceiving Kadilen and Wimu, made me somewhat afraid, but what frightened me most was that I was going to a new world I had never experienced before. But I reassured myself there was nothing to fear. The Kingdom of Zendal couldn’t make me unhappy. After all, I loved that fictional world more than anyone.
Climbing onto the saddle, I balanced myself and spurred the horse. It was still dawn. I had tried not to look back, but as I nearly reached the bottom of the mountain, my head turned involuntarily. Through the fog that was gradually lifting with the dawn, I could faintly see the temple. All was still quiet.
* * *
The road to the palace was not only long, but there weren’t many private homes until reaching near the capital. The food Jiman had prepared was enough to last about three days. The first thing I needed to solve was provisions. I had brought plenty of travel money, but it would be useless if I couldn’t find a village.
After riding for a while, I arrived at a village where elderly people were working in the fields. Seeing how quiet it was, it seemed like a small village at the foot of the mountain. Having been covered in dust throughout the journey, I desperately needed a place to wash. I approached some of the quietly working elders to speak with them, but they only replied with annoyance, telling me not to bother them and to move along. As I was wandering around the village perplexed, a relatively young woman saw me, looked surprised, and approached.
“Lord Ludin…?”
“Do you know me?”
She greeted me with a bright face, bowing her head.
“Is there anyone in Zendal who doesn’t know Lord Ludin?”
I laughed awkwardly at her words and slightly nodded toward the elders in the field. She laughed loudly at my response.
“Those people have lived here since before unification. They’re only interested in the year’s harvest. They probably don’t even know that King Zendal was victorious.”
“I see. How did you end up here…?”
“Oh, I’m late with my introduction. I’m Yunlin. I was called by Kadilen to manage the village below the temple.”
My body stiffened at the name that came from her lips. Several thoughts crossed my mind simultaneously. Noticing my surprised demeanor, Yunlin tilted her head curiously.
“Are you here to check on things from the temple?”
“Ah…”
I quickly thought about what the best answer would be. She was Kadilen’s person, so I needed to hide the fact that he didn’t know my whereabouts.
“I came out briefly to take care of some business.”
“May I ask where you’re headed?”
“A village not far from here.”
Yunlin nodded without showing any particular suspicion. As I was about to hurriedly leave, it suddenly occurred to me that rushing away would look even more suspicious. If she sensed something was off and contacted Kadilen, it wouldn’t be good for me, as I hadn’t gone far yet.
“Then do you need a place to stay? It may be humble compared to the palace, but I can host you at my home.”
“I would appreciate it if I could stay for a day or two.”
She smiled brightly and took the reins from me. Jiman’s horse stamped the ground warily for a moment, but when I stroked its bridge, it relaxed and followed her. I looked around once more to make sure no one was watching us before heading to Yunlin’s house.
Upon reaching the house, I was grateful to find I could bathe in hot water. Yunlin said she would prepare a meal while I washed. Receiving stiff new clothes and a sweet-smelling soap, I relaxed and surrendered my body to the warm water. As I removed my clothes, the still-unhealed wounds stung when they touched the moisture. Carefully washing the dust covering my wounds, I closed my eyes in the bathtub.
After bathing, I had a simple meal with the food she had prepared for me. Having snuck out of the temple at dawn and spent all day on horseback, fatigue quickly set in. Seeing my movements slowing, Yunlin guided me to the bedroom, saying I should retire early. Though only a day had passed, my body was greatly tired. Sitting down, I took new bandages from my luggage and wrapped the unhealed areas. Looking at the throbbing wounds, I tried not to think about the temple.
Though I had no choice but to leave, many things weighed on my mind. Jiman, of course, but also Wimu who would be troubled, and Kadilen who wouldn’t be able to hide his anger. Whatever they were preparing at the temple, I desperately hoped it would proceed slowly enough to delay the rebellion. To clear my complicated thoughts, I opened the window, and the night breeze entered the room. Feeling the cool wind, I took the medicine Jiman had given me and lay down. Various faces came to mind, but I ignored them and closed my eyes. My heavy body quickly fell into sleep.
When I woke the next day, a delicious smell was flowing into the bedroom. Jiman’s medicine was effective. Feeling energized, I got up and went to the living room where Yunlin was. She was busily preparing food and smiled kindly when she saw me.
“You’re not sleeping longer?”
“Thanks to you, I rested well.”
Yunlin had excellent cooking skills. I didn’t spare my compliments, realizing the taste of the food that I hadn’t properly appreciated last night due to fatigue. Though she shook her head humbly as if embarrassed, she seemed confident in the neatly presented dishes. After breakfast, I felt there wasn’t enough time to stay another day. I was about to say I’d rest until the sun fully rose and then depart, when Yunlin, who was sweeping and cleaning around the house, suddenly remembered something and spoke first.
“Someone from the temple came last night, and I told them that Lord Ludin was safe.”
My relaxed body instantly froze with tension. Only one thought came to mind.
I need to escape.
Greatly flustered, I mumbled some response and hurried back to my room to pack. Yunlin looked at me strangely as I hastily gathered my things. I had no time to care about her gaze. The soldier who returned at night would have immediately reported to Kadilen, and they would soon storm in here. Cold sweat made my hands clammy. After frantically gathering only what was necessary, I rushed to the barn where the horse was kept.
“If you’re in a hurry, at least take some food with you!”
Yunlin, with a perplexed face, hurried along with me and packed food to give me. I felt sorry for her kindness, and my mood wasn’t good even as I accepted the bundle.
“I’ll surely repay you later.”
I had left money in the bedroom, but I wanted to compensate her in some other way later. I felt sad for her, knowing she would be upset when she learned she had unintentionally harmed Kadilen.
“I don’t know what’s happening, but travel safely. You’re welcome to visit anytime.”
Unable to properly respond to her kindness, I mounted the horse. Despite my strange behavior, Yunlin didn’t lose her gentleness. Though I departed without giving her a proper farewell, I soon heard the sound of hooves following behind. Despite urging my horse on, the distance was gradually closing. I looked around for a place to hide, but there were only dirt and trees everywhere, without even a large rock to conceal myself behind.
“There he is!”
Soon, I heard voices calling for me. Gritting my teeth and running, I tried to think of a way out of the situation, but nothing came to mind. Judging by the volume of the sound, quite a number of soldiers seemed to have come out. I needed to come up with a reason for leaving the temple as if escaping, but my urgent mind couldn’t easily form thoughts.
Just as I was tense, with the soldiers’ voices so close they seemed about to grab my neck, something suddenly blocked my path as I was running frantically. I had clearly looked around earlier, but where had this come from?
Black hair, black eyes, black clothes. Unlike his dark appearance, he was smiling brightly.
“It’s been a while, Ludin.”
The loud noise that seemed to be right behind me gradually subsided. Dumbfounded, I quickly looked back, but there were no soldiers rushing with weapons. Just a landscape full of people peacefully going about their business. Where was I? Incomprehensibly, I seemed to have entered some village. Just a moment ago, I was being chased by soldiers in the middle of the forest.
When I came to my senses, the unidentified man was holding my arm. The horse I had ridden was nowhere to be seen. Seeing my surprised expression, he tilted his head with interest and asked softly:
“Have you already forgotten me?”
