Chapter 79 - The Moon Walking in the Wake of the Sun (5)
Ernest decided to clear up the misunderstanding first and tried to explain.
"I wasn't trying to steal your horse…"
"That's what all horse thieves say."
But the girl, still propping up her chin and speaking in a sulky tone, cut off Ernest's explanation firmly.
"I heard everything—you saying you wanted to take Bitber with you."
"…Bitber?"
At the girl's words, Ernest turned to look at the horse—still licking his hair and blinking those pretty eyes at him—with a puzzled expression.
"Why in the world would you name a horse that?"
"What's wrong with Bitber?"
"Who names a horse 'Widow'?"
When Ernest uttered the horse's name, Bitber nudged his chest with her head, acting all affectionate.
"See? You're acting like Bitber already belongs to you. Maybe you're even planning to give her a new name?"
"No, that's not it…"
"Bitber just can't resist handsome men. Just like a young widow, really."
"…"
The girl spoke with a sigh in her voice as she got up and approached Ernest and Bitber.
Ernest felt a bit lost as to how to deal with this girl, who had named her horse "Widow" for such a reason.
"Now, now, Bitber. Just because he's got a nice face doesn't mean you should go following a strange man you don't know."
"What, no, I…"
Ernest couldn't help but grow even more flustered, because the girl pulled Bitber's reins and came so close that her shoulder brushed against his.
He hadn't talked to many girls in his life—Marie was pretty much the only one—but he knew well enough that it was rare to meet a girl who completely disregarded personal space like this.
From her clothing, Ernest could tell she'd been traveling for quite some time. For someone like her to casually approach a boy taller and stronger than herself in a quiet, remote part of such a small village, with no sign of caution, was strange indeed.
Bitber seemed to pout, as if she wanted to stay with Ernest longer, but when the girl stroked her neck, the horse obediently pulled away to follow her.
"Oh my, look at this. So now you're after not just Bitber, but me too?"
"What?"
"Don't give me that sly look."
"..."
Ernest was just observing her as usual. From the girl's perspective, not knowing Ernest, his persistent gaze could easily come across as unpleasant.
But oddly, the girl's teasing words had a hint of laughter behind them. Even her eyes, slightly narrowed in a pout, were full of mischief.
"What were you doing out here?"
Realizing that he was constantly being led around by this girl, Ernest responded in a calm voice.
"And what about you—why did you come to a place like this?"
The girl answered his question with another question. Leaning casually against Bitber's saddle and smiling with her eyes, she showed not a trace of fear or suspicion.
"I heard Bitber trotting."
"Bitber, behave yourself."
The moment Ernest said her name, Bitber immediately tried to leave her owner and trot over to Ernest.
The girl, a bit embarrassed but clearly used to this routine, chided her horse gently.
Ernest thought that, strange as the name "Widow" was, maybe it suited this horse well after all.
Just like the name Bereter, it seemed more fitting the more he thought about it.
"That's not what I mean. I'm asking why you're in this countryside village in the first place."
"Isn't it your turn to answer now?"
"How should I know? You might not believe me, but Bitber walked into this mire all on her own."
The girl spoke with a sigh, resignation coloring her voice. Ernest couldn't quite tell whether that resignation was directed at her stubborn horse, or something else.
The girl gazed steadily at Ernest for a moment. The sky, already dark with clouds, rapidly darkened further as the sun sank lower. Under the shadow of the sky, the turquoise irises of the girl seemed to gradually take on a color Ernest had never seen before.
"…Why are you here."
The girl, who had been staring intently at Ernest, murmured softly. Ernest sensed something strangely off in her words.
Trained to catch the slightest hint of unease, the boy narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"Erika."
Just then, an urgent voice called out.
It was low and rough, trembling slightly with barely-suppressed fear.
"I told you to stay put. No, never mind—just listen: those soldiers are spending the night here. We need to get away fast. If we get caught, we…"
"Werner."
The man, Werner, who had been hurrying across the mire, stopped in his tracks at the sound of Erika's voice.
He stared fixedly at Erika, who was leaning against Bitber, and then noticed another pair of legs between Bitber's.
Ernest slowly tilted his head to look at the man who had been hidden from view by Bitber.
Werner mirrored the motion, craning his neck to see Ernest.
"…My God…"
Werner, upon seeing Ernest in his cadet uniform, unconsciously muttered those words, hastily covering his bearded mouth with his hand. His usually sturdy face had gone ghostly pale, and he was trembling.
"Werner, from now on, don't bother telling me to be careful."
Watching Werner, Erika spoke with playful teasing. Even when confronted with the fear gripping Werner, she remained perfectly composed.
By now, true darkness had fully descended on this lonely spot. Ernest's black eyes gradually moved, calmly studying Werner and Erika in turn. Werner, as if unable to breathe, could only tremble with his thick, rough fingers. Erika, meanwhile, turned her back to Ernest, her gaze fixed on the terrified Werner.
Ernest quietly observed them—Werner's stricken face, Erika's slender back.
He noted how Erika's delicate shoulders shifted smoothly, betraying no sign of unrest, and how Werner, who seemed paralyzed by fear, slowly began to steady his breathing, his gaze fixed on Erika's face, which Ernest could not see.
Soon, the sun set, and the clouded sky lost even its last bit of light. All that remained were faint outlines and silhouettes.
Like a shadow, the girl slowly turned around.
"We're heading west. I don't know how long we'll stay, but in a few days we plan to return east, to Ruybern."
Ernest spoke in a low, calm whisper. In the darkness, a pair of eyes sparkled.
"Should I wait for you in Ruybern?"
"…That's not what I meant…"
"Oh, Bitber would love this. Flirting with a girl you just met—how shameless."
"…"
"You may have a decent face, but I'm not so easily swayed by that kind of charm."
Even in the darkness, Erika's eyes, strangely vivid, curved playfully. Ernest, flustered, couldn't say a word, so she reached out and lightly tapped his chest with her fingertips.
"Hearing the Lady's name and not even thinking to introduce yourself—how incredibly rude."
Erika didn't ask Ernest to tell her his name directly; instead, she teased him in this way.
But despite calling him rude, there wasn't a hint of annoyance in Erika's voice.
She seemed thoroughly amused by the whole exchange.
"…Ernest."
He hesitated before answering in a small voice.
"Ernest."
And the instant Erika spoke his name, Ernest realized something was off.
Her voice was low and gentle, with an inexplicable warmth to it.
Even in the darkness, her sparkling turquoise eyes looked at him with a kindness that seemed almost impossible.
In that moment, Erika acted just like an inexperienced hunter, mistaking herself for well-hidden in the shadows.
Even though she could see Ernest, it was as if she assumed Ernest couldn't see her at all.
"Until we meet again, try to think of something a bit more convincing to say."
Erika pushed lightly against Ernest's chest with her fingertips.
Although she was surely much weaker than him, for some reason that small gesture left Ernest unable to resist and he stumbled a step backward.
"If you can't even come up with a nice compliment, you won't win any woman's heart, you know."
"…My compliment… So, I mean… You want my compliment…"
Strangely, Ernest couldn't think straight and just stammered out his words.
This was truly the first time in his life he'd ever experienced something like this.
"Werner, let's go."
"…Yeah, Erika."
With a bright-eyed smile, Erika slowly turned her head away from Ernest. It was as if Ernest's gaze was pulling on hers, for her dazzling irises just wouldn't leave him.
"No, Bitber."
Whinny!
Bitber seemed really reluctant to leave Ernest, but when Erika spoke firmly, he let out a longing sound and followed after her.
"…Wait, you're leaving the village at this late hour?"
Snapping out of his daze, Ernest called out to Erika. She, who had been walking with Werner but kept turning her head to look at Ernest, let out a small chuckle at his words. It seemed as though she was somehow amused, and perhaps even a little pleased.
And also, maybe, just a bit—or perhaps a lot…
"Running away is always done in the dark, Ernest."
…she seemed a little sad, too.
Erika averted her eyes from Ernest and walked silently into the darkness beyond, where she couldn't even see her own feet. Ernest gazed blankly at the outlines of their figures fading and wavering in the dark.
Werner, who had been carefully walking beside Erika, suddenly stopped, turned around, and removed the hood he'd been wearing. He bowed deeply, bending all the way at the waist, showing Ernest a respectful nod. Then he put his hood back on, and without a pause, used his cane to feel his way along, overtaking Erika as she continued down the dark road.
"..."
Ernest stood watching their retreating figures for a long time. Even after everything was swallowed up by perfect darkness and he couldn't see a thing, he continued to stand there, staring after where they had disappeared.
Drifters, who feared the soldiers in these far-flung regions where the Empire's central power was weak, trying to escape.
From their speech, there's no trace of the Belliang accent, so they're not illegal immigrants. Not that anyone could sneak over the border this easily, anyway—the border region is much too heavily guarded for people as unprepared as them to manage something like that. Their appearance was neat, and both their speech and manners revealed a good education. They weren't vagrants. Even after being discovered by soldiers—officer cadets like Ernest, whom drifters in these regions usually avoided out of fear—they hadn't shown the slightest intention of threatening him. They weren't criminals, either. And then there were Werner's very first words to Ernest. My God.
A Saraan.
There was no concrete proof. Yet, strangely, Ernest felt utterly certain. And Erika and Werner both realized that Ernest knew. That must be why Werner had bowed in gratitude to Ernest for letting them go, and even sharing the schedule for the Military Academy.
And Erika…
"…Why would she need my compliment…"
Ernest murmured blankly.
Was it so I could have some clever words ready next time we met? Is it that if I can't pay a pretty compliment, a girl will never fall for me? Was she telling me to be sure to praise her with nice words next time? But why? Why does she need my praise? On the other hand, do I even need to do that?
Are all girls like that?
Ernest Krieger.
Fifteen years old.
Except for Marie, whose connection to him was so unique it defied explanation, Ernest had never once conversed with a girl his own age.
For a boy like him, this situation felt like wandering lost in a maze engulfed by a dense, unknown mist.
"I thought you'd deserted, Krieger. Or have you just got constipation or something?"
"…I'm sorry."
So, having originally intended to just take a quick look around nearby and return, Ernest ended up coming back only after night had fully fallen. He got a scolding from Thomas for it. It felt unfair, but since he couldn't say a word about Erika or Werner, Ernest decided to quietly accept the disgraceful misunderstanding that he had gotten constipated.
He slipped quietly into the room and lay down among his still-sleeping peers, but Ernie couldn't fall asleep easily.
He tossed and turned for a while, then suddenly reached to touch his own chest.
What on earth made Erika bold enough to put her hand on the chest of a military cadet she'd never met, especially after realizing that Ernest had guessed they were Saraan?
Why had she been so completely sure that Ernest wouldn't attack or report them?
And why, in the world, hadn't Ernest felt the slightest discomfort when a total stranger touched him like that?
"Teacher Robert."
"…Just a moment, Ernest. I'm rather confused right now. I just don't see why a student would need to find a teacher at this hour."
The moment Ernest called for him first thing in the morning, Teacher Robert felt a strong sense of unease, wondering what kind of trouble this fool had gotten into last night that required his help yet again.
Ernest whispered to Robert in a small voice, careful not to let the other cadets overhear.
"What does it mean when a girl puts her hand on your chest, tells you to compliment her prettily the next time you meet, and says that's how you can be loved by a girl?"
Ernest described the situation exactly as it happened. Robert rolled his eyes this way and that, then asked in a serious tone.
"...Did you have a dirty dream?"
"No!"
"Well, it happens."
"I said, no!"
"So, was she pretty?"
"No, I—! ...Hmm, I'm not sure, really..."
Ernest tried to recall Erika, but strangely, he couldn't clearly remember her face.
What stuck in his memory were only her smiling turquoise eyes and the playful yet gentle way she spoke.
Even though he could remember Bitber and Werner perfectly, for some odd reason Erika's face seemed to have faded from his memory, as if erased.
"Well, it's fine if she wasn't pretty."
"You disgusting creature, always the same."
***
"We have to reach the campsite by the end of today! Move quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone still looked exhausted, but since the rain had stopped and the cadets had enjoyed a good half-day's rest, they managed to muster up some energy and resumed marching.
They had to reach the campsite before the day was over.
"Ferdinand, what are some nice words you can use to compliment a girl?"
Ernest, who barely seemed tired, whispered quietly to Ferdinand—who looked even less fatigued—by his side. Fortunately, the two cadets with the best stamina among the Second Years were at the very back of the column, so the others, busy keeping pace, couldn't overhear their conversation.
"…Are you serious? Ernest, you're really asking me that?"
Ferdinand sounded genuinely baffled.
"You're engaged, aren't you?"
"Don't assume that being engaged means I'd know about things like that."
At Ernest's remark, Ferdinand turned serious. Having gotten to know Ferdinand fairly well by now, Ernest felt certain from that reaction, and Ferdinand realized he'd made a misstep.
"Ferdinand, I know you remember lines from books and use them when you need to."
"Enough."
"You even said it to Robert once: if even a weed wants to bloom, then surely, it's a flower."
"..."
To his surprise, Ferdinand Hartmann—the boy who secretly enjoyed reading poetry—couldn't possibly deny it any further.
Thanks to this Damn Bastard, after the whole Tall Older Sister incident, Ferdinand had gotten caught with another weakness!
Quoting poetry to praise or confess your feelings to your fiancée might sound incredibly romantic, but for a fifteen-year-old boy, it was something mortifying if anyone else ever found out.
"Why on earth are you doing this to me?"
Ferdinand muttered in a voice seething with frustration.
He genuinely couldn't understand why Ernest suddenly kept poking at his weaknesses and tormenting him in this underhanded way.
"I'm asking what I should say to compliment a girl?"
"..."
Ferdinand was truly, thoroughly flustered, but he decided that Ernest didn't seem to have any other ulterior motives.
He carefully retraced his memories, then just as cautiously whispered his advice.
"Start by complimenting her appearance. Comparing her to things in nature like flowers, sunsets, or the sea is a good approach."
"Complimenting her looks… doesn't that sound kind of lazy?"
"There's no girl who dislikes being told she's pretty. Even if she pretends otherwise, they all like it."
"Hmmmmm..."
Ernest pondered the problem quite seriously. For the moment, he set aside the question of why Erika had demanded such sweet compliments from him, and instead earnestly searched for something to say, focusing on Erika's appearance and trying to come up with a flattering remark.
'I… can't remember.'
Unfortunately, Ernest couldn't recall what Erika looked like. Was it because it had been too dark?
Or was Erika's appearance simply that unremarkable?
All he could remember was the way her eyes curved in that playful, affectionate smile.
In the end, Ernest just gave up.
There was no reason to worry, since they would probably never meet again anyway.
…But then why had Erika spoken as if they'd see each other again?
Never in his life had Ernest felt so utterly confused and mixed up. No matter how bewildering the situation, he was always able to figure out the background of events and the motives of those involved. But this time, he really had no idea how things had ended up this way or what any of it meant.
It felt as if a series of uncanny coincidences and misunderstandings had collided, catching him off guard like a sudden ambush, leaving him dazed as though he'd taken a blow to the head. And the ambush had been effective.
Ernest, faced with a problem like nothing he'd ever encountered before, was so absorbed in trying to solve it that he lost track of time and forgot how exhausted he was.
It wasn't until evening, when the campsite finally came into view, that Ernest snapped out of it. He couldn't help but come back to his senses.
Because they had arrived at the border region with Belliang—enemy nation territory—far too dangerous for an officer cadet campsite, a place that could erupt into a battlefield at any moment.