The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 53, 54
## Chapter 53 – THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
Varkas, who had been handing a priest a bundle of parchments with the list of identities of the deceased, turned his head to look at her. Talia quickly lowered her gaze.
Under the summer sunlight that exposed every flaw, she suddenly felt ragged, unable to raise her head with confidence.
—The Second Princess must receive medical treatment immediately, so please omit the palace entry procedures.
A mage from House Tarren, who had stopped before Varkas, spoke politely.
Receiving no immediate response, Talia raised her eyes again. Varkas, with a slight crease between his brows, stared fixedly at her face, as if he wanted to pierce through her with his gaze.
Could it be because the woman who used to fly into a rage at the slightest contact from others was now sitting there so quietly?
With narrowed eyes, Varkas examined her pale face as if dissecting it, then slowly lowered his gaze.
His cold eyes lingered for a moment on the hands supporting her back and legs, and then moved down to her calf, which hung limply beneath her skirt. Noticing the dark, blood-soaked stain on the bandages, his brow furrowed even further.
A look of immediate interrogation shot toward the mages of House Tarren.
Ignoring it, the mage added softly:
—His Majesty will understand that Her Highness the Second Princess must be taken directly to her quarters.
—…Very well. Take the girl at once.
A clear, elegant voice replied in his stead.
Turning toward the sound, Talia tensed upon seeing Ayla crossing the messy clearing, leading a group of ladies-in-waiting.
Standing beside Varkas, Ayla looked at her with a gaze of pity.
—After a long and difficult journey in such poor conditions, it is best that you receive treatment and rest as soon as possible.
Talia clenched her teeth.
A wave of humiliation surged at that lukewarm, compassionate look.
If she were capable of moving even a single finger, she would have gouged those eyes out without hesitation.
Apparently oblivious to the storm brewing inside her, Ayla gently placed a hand on Varkas’s forearm, a serene smile on her lips.
—I will explain everything to His Majesty.
Then she turned gracefully and urged Varkas:
—Come, we must go inside. His Majesty is waiting.
Only then did the man, who had remained motionless, begin to walk, moving his steps slowly.
Talia watched his back recede with lingering eyes, and finally lowered her eyelids.
The mages passed by the main palace and entered a wide garden teeming with flowers. Soon, a lavish and grand structure swallowed her completely.
Talia felt as if she were being sucked into the intestines of a massive beast.
Crossing the marble foyer in an instant, the mages climbed the stairs and entered Senevier’s study. After passing several imposing bookshelves filled with hundreds of volumes, a hidden passage appeared between the columns. The mages entered it as if they were very accustomed to the route.
At last, Senevier’s laboratory came into view.
Talia wrinkled her brow at the overwhelming smell of strong oils and various herbs that clouded her head.
—Lay her down here.
A mage crossed the laboratory in a few long strides and threw open a door beside the display case.
It was a room she had visited many times, but into which she had never entered.
The man carrying her laid her down on the bed situated in the center.
Talia looked around with anxiety in her eyes.
The neatly arranged room was filled with strange instruments she had never seen before.
After examining them, she turned to look at the two mages. They were organizing unfamiliar equipment on the table.
Was this what a calf felt upon entering a slaughterhouse?
A cold sweat drenched the back of her neck. If she had not been under the magical restriction, she would have screamed.
—We will examine the injury first.
A mage positioned himself near her legs.
Feeling her skirt being lifted, Talia tensed.
The man removed the bandages with clinical detachment and clicked his tongue softly.
—It is more serious than expected.
His freezing fingers pressed along her knee with meticulous care.
—Someone tried to reset the bone, but it was done poorly. If we let it heal like this, the nerve will be permanently damaged and you will never use this leg again.
—Honestly… the incompetence of human mages… —muttering between his teeth, the other mage took a small knife from the table.
—There is no choice. We will have to reset it again.
A muffled sob broke from her tightly constricted throat.
Seeing her face turn terribly pale, the mage pulled down the cloth wrapped around his chin and raised the corner of his mouth.
—There is no need to worry so much.
Perhaps his intention was to reassure her, but the sight only made Talia’s blood run cold.
It looked less like a human smile and more like that of a fish imitating one.
He continued speaking:
—We won’t be able to restore it exactly to how it was before, but you will be able to walk without problems.
Her lips trembled as she struggled to speak.
*Stop.*
If it cannot go back to the way it was before, there is no reason to endure this.
She wanted to scream those words, but only broken sobs came out.
The mage covered his face with the cloth again and ordered:
—Burn the sleep herb.
The other mage brought a small brazier to the side of her bed and burned a bundle of heavily dried herbs.
Talia held her breath immediately.
But she could not hold it for long. As suffocation forced its way in, she inhaled the smoke, and her vision blurred instantly.
Narrowing her eyes desperately to push away the hazy veil, she soon fell unconscious, as if she had fainted.
Raindrops fell upon the lake.
She knew she was dreaming.
The landscape before her was the fragment of an old memory.
Fourteen-year-old Talia huddled under a large oak tree, staring fixedly at the grey surface of the lake whipped by the rain as if it were her sworn enemy.
Varkas approached, drenched from head to toe.
—Has our game of hide-and-seek finally ended?
She looked at him with eyes full of venom.
His clothes and his hair —always perfectly neat— were in total disarray, probably from having searched through all the palace grounds. But Talia’s mood did not improve in the slightest.
She grabbed a handful of wet mud and threw it at him.
—Go away! I don’t even want to see your face!
A dirty stain splattered across the embroidered velvet of his uniform, but Varkas didn’t even blink.
His indifference only stoked her fury further. Talia threw piece after piece of mud.
—Just disappear! Go back to Ayla!
—I would like that very much.
Varkas sighed briefly and knelt beside her, sinking one knee into the ground.
—But until Your Highness turns sixteen, I am bound to remain with you.
Talia stared at him, her face contorted with emotion.
Pathetically, she felt like she was going to cry. To hide it, she forced a sneer onto her lips.
—Do I have to see your face for two more years? How horrific. Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.
—…
—You are the worst. Disgusting. Repulsive. Totally loathsome.
—Are you finished yet?
—I’m not finished. Your breath stinks.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
Talia startled and lowered her gaze.
Varkas, who had spent his childhood in a monastery, was extremely meticulous about cleanliness.
He always smelled faintly of fresh soap.
He knew it well, and surely knew that her accusation was utter nonsense.
Instead of pointing it out, Varkas placed the coat he had been holding over her shoulders and stood up.
—I will listen to the rest of your insults at the annex palace. Let’s go. Your lips are turning purple.
—
## Chapter 54 – THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
—Why should you care if my lips turn purple or green?!
As she threw his coat to the ground and raised her voice, another sigh escaped his lips.
Her eyes stung.
He would smile at Ayla… but he always sighed with her.
She couldn’t stand it.
—Even if I freeze to death out here, I’ll make sure it doesn’t cause you any trouble! So just go! Go back to the twins’ birthday banquet and fawn over those precious siblings of yours as much as you want!
—Even if you spend the whole night out here, Your Highness will not freeze to death. At most, you will catch a bad cold.
—Then I’ll die of that cold!
When she erupted into a scream, he ran a hand roughly through his wet hair that clung to the corner of his eyes.
Talia startled. His gesture was one of irritation, but his voice —as always— was insufferably calm.
—What exactly must I do for you to stop pretending to be the tragic heroine?
His biting tone made Talia’s eyes narrow again.
Always so polite to Ayla, but always sarcastic with her; she hated him for it.
With eyes blazing with anger, Talia reached into her tightly braided hair and pulled out a pearl ornament. Without hesitation, she threw it toward the rough lake.
—Go get that. Then I’ll stop.
Varkas’s gaze narrowed.
Talia thought he would burst into a cold fury, or that he would turn around without a word.
Then she would stay here all night until she collapsed.
Let him feel guilty looking at her corpse.
But, as always, Varkas never behaved the way she expected.
Right before her eyes, he began to unbutton his uniform jacket, one by one.
Talia opened her eyes wide and then mocked him.
*He’s bluffing, thinking I’ll stop him. There’s no way he’s actually going to jump.*
Feigning composure, she watched him remove his knight’s jacket and place it beneath the tree, then remove his boots that reached up to his shins.
*Fine, does he want to play this game?*
He even took off his sword belt, until he was dressed only in a thin, almost transparent shirt and light trousers. Then he took a step toward the water’s edge and silently contemplated the lake upon which a soft rain fell.
*See? He’s waiting for me to back down. He really won’t—*
Before she could finish the thought, he dived into the water with a loud splash.
Talia stood up in a jump.
The ashen lake swallowed his body in an instant.
Shocked, Talia ran forward and looked desperately into the dark water.
—Varkas?
Only silence answered.
There was no trace of the boy who had grown at a terrifying rate in the two years since he turned sixteen.
Nothing.
Not a single ripple from him anywhere.
Her voice cracked.
—Varkas!
Her cry echoed sharply through the soft rain.
Now she began to scream, full of panic.
—H-hey! Stop joking around!
A sudden gust swept the water, breaking the surface into ripples…
but there was still no sign of him.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Without a second thought, Talia threw herself into the lake. She had barely taken a few steps when the water reached her waist.
She splashed wildly, screaming:
—Varkas! Varkas! Where are you?!
The slippery mud and floating branches at her feet made her stumble.
She waded deeper until the water rose above her chest.
Talia forged her way through the freezing water, sobbing uncontrollably.
—I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry, okay?! Just come out now!
As she screamed, half out of her mind, the surface nearby suddenly surged and an elongated form emerged from the water.
Talia stood staring, frozen.
Varkas shook his head, sending water dripping, and then turned toward her. Beneath his dripping eyelashes, his blue eyes gleamed faintly.
—Here.
He lightly gripped her shoulder with one hand and extended something to her with the other.
Talia stared at him, blinking blankly.
—Is this enough for you?
In his palm rested the pearl ornament she had thrown away.
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
Talia brought a hand to her forehead and let out small, hysterical giggles. But the next instant, as if possessed, she contorted her face, snatched the ornament from him… only to fling it far away again.
Even after she discarded what he had just retrieved with effort, Varkas did not react at all.
Looking at that infuriatingly calm face, Talia could not contain herself any longer and slapped him.
—You did it on purpose, didn’t you?! You wanted to scare me!
Even after being slapped, he remained silent.
For some reason, that composure enraged her even more.
Talia clenched her fists and began to beat him wildly.
—You waited until I said I was sorry! You stubborn, cursed bastard! I hate you so much!
—Enough.
Suddenly, Varkas caught both of her wrists and his voice turned low.
Talia looked at him with eyes full of tears, as if the entire world had wronged her. He let out a sigh, one that sounded almost exasperated.
—You’ve already reached your quota of tantrums for today. Stop now and get out.
—No! I will never listen to you! I’m going to drown right here, so you get lost!
Ignoring her sharp protests, he dragged her out of the water.
Even then, she continued to beat his back with her fists.
Varkas looked at her with an expression of incredulity, then shook his head, took his discarded coat and wrapped it tightly around her, tying the sleeves so she could no longer hit him.
Talia struggled to free herself and then, seeing that her arms wouldn’t move, kicked him in the shin.
—How dare you tie up a princess?! You thug!
—Look who’s talking.
With a long sigh, Varkas carried her over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
Talia shrieked like an enraged goose.
—I am royalty, you idiot! What kind of knight treats a princess this way?!
Varkas said nothing as he picked up his sword and clothes and moved forward with difficulty under the rain.
She writhed like a wild animal, screaming every insult she could think of… until she finally went limp.
Only when they reached the annex palace did he set her down.
Talia looked at him severely as she panted, but soon collapsed from exhaustion.
And that night, just as she had proclaimed, she fell into a fierce fever.
Varkas pulled up a chair to her side and read a book in silence while she burned with fever.
She couldn’t believe how irritating he looked sitting there in such peace.
Annoyed beyond her limits, she accused him:
—You love it when I get sick, don’t you?
He turned a page and replied:
—Sometimes, it’s not so bad.
Talia stared fixedly at him through her fever-blurred eyes, thinking: *It’s not sometimes. It’s always.*
Then she buried her face in the blankets.
Deep down, she was happy that he had chosen to stay with her instead of going to Ayla’s birthday banquet. A little bad mood was a low price to pay.
She tried to fall asleep, hiding the laughter bubbling up inside her.
Despite the fever making her feel miserable, for some reason she couldn’t stop smiling.
Being with Varkas was always like that.
Painful, frustrating, infuriating…
and at the same time, overwhelmingly moving.
Sometimes, he felt closer than anyone else in the world.
Maybe… maybe they were something like friends?
In that brazen illusion, the years they shared accumulated silently.
It must have been torture for him…
but for her, those days were like jewels.
Thanks to him, she survived the brutally lonely years.
But now, those memories were no longer a comfort.
They were shackles from which she could no longer break free.
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