Chapter 4. Wrath (15)
Eckart’s eyes squeezed shut tightly. Even as darkness fell before his eyes, the scene he had just witnessed didn’t fade—instead, it became even clearer. As if that weren’t enough, the image from his dream overlapped with it. The figure who had mounted him while taking the form of a man.
His breath caught in his throat. Had his subconscious already noticed? That Ronen wasn’t a woman…
And…
“…The angel of the back alleys.”
Perhaps the fact that the person he was searching for might be Ronen as well…
Eckart opened his eyes narrowly and looked at Ronen. The corners of Ronen’s mouth curved up slightly. It was a quiet smile that didn’t suit the situation.
“How hard I worked to be caught by you. I know you wanted to keep holding onto me too. We wasted time missing each other several times, but… it ended up like this, so it’s fine. God truly is merciful. He has shown compassion even to this sinful criminal.”
There had been countless informants, but no one knew his exact appearance. There had been only praise that he was beautiful. As if someone was deliberately luring him in, opportunities kept presenting themselves, but each time, as if someone was interfering, he had missed him repeatedly.
For some reason, Ronen kept coming to mind. The descriptions were vague and absurd, but strangely resembled Ronen’s atmosphere. Still, he had consoled himself that since Ronen was a woman, she couldn’t be related to this male prostitute. That Ronen had already been hidden far away, deep in hiding by the Grand Duke.
Because he didn’t want to catch Ronen with his own hands, because he desperately hoped that the person he was chasing wasn’t Ronen, he had wanted to believe it. He had no choice but to believe it. But then…
Eckart, who had been standing there stupidly, forgetting even to breathe, struggled to speak.
“How can you… You were certainly…”
But he couldn’t form a complete sentence. He wanted to ask how she, who should have been a woman, could be here in such a state, why she, who should have fled with the Grand Duke, was here at all, but his mouth wouldn’t open.
Whether knowing his confusion or not, Ronen smiled brightly.
“Please keep that promise you made to pray for me. If you pray for me, it will be my only comfort at the threshold of walking into hell.”
Ronen, who had come right up to him, extended one hand. Eckart couldn’t bring himself to grasp that hand. The moment he took that hand, Ronen seemed like he would disappear, leaving only a handful of ashes. Like the countless sinners he had captured.
His clenched fist trembled, unable to bear the strength. Eckart, who had been standing there not knowing what to do, suddenly came to his senses at the noise coming from outside. It was a faint sound from far away, but his blood ran cold.
Instead of grasping Ronen’s outstretched hand, Eckart grabbed the blanket that had slipped down below his shoulders. After pulling it over Ronen’s head, he urgently led him outside. Moving swiftly and cautiously, Eckart brought Ronen to the main road and hailed the first carriage he could find.
Even after getting into whatever carriage he could see, he couldn’t take his eyes off the window for a while. His anxious expression clearly showed his worry that someone might be following them.
Only after making eye contact with Ronen, who was slowly pulling down the blanket, did Eckart realize how absurd his current actions were, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. His wavering blue eyes were hidden beneath tightly closed eyelids.
Unfortunately, what carried them was a shabby carriage that shook terribly. The old seats weren’t cushioned at all, making his buttocks ache, and every time it jolted, he had to bump his head against the low ceiling.
Ronen glanced at Eckart while keeping his palm pressed between the ceiling and his head. Eckart was completely hunched over, resting his forehead on his hands clasped together as if in prayer. When the carriage jolted, his broad, solid back also tensed and flinched.
There was exactly one thing he liked about the cramped carriage: being able to see Eckart’s appearance in detail.
No, there was one more thing. The fact that every time it shook violently, his knee touched Eckart’s knee.
Eckart seemed to be trying desperately to pull away, but no matter how hard he tried to fold them, his legs weren’t short enough for that. Just sitting normally, they almost reached the opposite seat.
Inappropriately for the situation, Ronen wore a faint smile. He was happy to see him like this. And he was grateful to Eckart for granting his unreasonable request. Enough to make one corner of his chest throb and tighten.
Having spent a long time on the battlefield, which must have been desperate and confusing, many things should have changed, but how could he remain so consistently kind?
Unlike his cool, emotionless exterior that even appeared cold at first glance, he was a man who knew how to show compassion both as a child and now. He was strong and upright, and knew how to care for the weak. That’s why he must have gained the Pope’s trust and come to bear such a heavy burden.
Because he was more devout than anyone, the clothes he wore now suited him better than anyone else’s. The uniform that revealed his affiliation with the night court that executed sinners.
Although he didn’t grasp the hand he had belatedly extended, nor properly look at him with those blue eyes, he decided to be satisfied with meeting his end in his prayers. Just being allowed such a death was already more than enough.
While examining him carefully out of greed to keep his image in his eyes for as long as possible, Ronen suddenly wanted to touch his jet-black hair. Hair this black would surely feel different somehow. Unlike his own, it was thick, lustrous, and straight, making it all the more appealing.
‘When he first returned from the battlefield, it was long enough to cover his neck and hide his eyes, making him even more beautiful…’
If it were his usual personality, Ronen wouldn’t have dared reach out carelessly, but the situation was different now. Since things had come to this, it seemed like he could be a little selfish.
‘Right. It’s the last time anyway.’
Just as he boldly reached out to touch his hair, Eckart suddenly raised his upper body. His eyes were wide open as if startled. Even though it was just hair, his senses must have been sharp enough that he avoided it just before contact.
His blue eyes remained calm and quiet, but Ronen could feel it. That this man was bewildered by his actions. So he awkwardly withdrew his hand. He didn’t want to trouble him any further.
Eckart looked at Ronen for a moment, then turned his gaze to look out the window. Neither of them spoke until the carriage stopped.
The door opened and Eckart got out first. He extended his hand as if Ronen were a lady. Instead of ignoring it, Ronen placed his hand on top of it. It was rough and calloused, but warm.
However, the moment he looked around, Ronen couldn’t help but be confused. He had naturally thought they would head to the courthouse, or at least somewhere that might have a prison, but they had come to a peaceful village.
‘…Wasn’t he going to grant my request?’
Ronen, who had thought he would be led to the execution ground and prayed for as a sinner, looked up at Eckart with puzzled eyes. Eckart led such a Ronen toward a particularly isolated building and opened the door as if telling him to enter.
When the hesitant Ronen entered, Eckart followed and locked the door.
It was the same once they entered the room. After locking the door, Eckart pushed logs into the fireplace and lit a fire. Perhaps because it would soon be dark, he also lit candles and began tidying the bed.
He seemed to leave the room, then brought more blankets from somewhere and spread them on the bed. While Ronen stood by the window looking outside, he drew the curtains…
Ronen couldn’t mistake what Eckart was doing. He was trying to hide Ronen.
Ronen, who had sat down on the bed, watched Eckart organizing the dusty table and spoke.
“…Why did you bring me here.”
There was a hint of reproach in his voice. As if saying that what you’re doing now is wrong, Eckart’s movements came to an abrupt stop. The flickering firelight illuminated Eckart’s back. He seemed to be suffering somehow.
“You shouldn’t be doing this.”
It was a situation where an officer who executed sinners was trying to hide a sinner. And not just any officer, but Eckart, who was more devout and upright than anyone, and thus had gained the Pope’s trust and been given the grave duty of commanding officers.
At Ronen’s reproach, Eckart readily admitted it. He replied in a low, subdued voice.
“…I know.”
Because he was as calm as usual, it was rather less trustworthy. He seemed to not understand the current situation at all.
“You can’t do this. It’s not too late even now. Report me. Put me in prison. Lead me… to the execution ground.”
Eckart closed his mouth again. He looked around and found an old tablecloth, picked it up, and tore it forcefully.
As Ronen stared at him as if he couldn’t understand what was in his mind, Eckart approached him and wrapped the long strip of cloth around both his hands, tying them.
“What is this supposed to be?”
Even at Ronen’s question, Eckart silently tied the knot, then took the other end and began tying it to the bed. Ronen opened his mouth as if dumbfounded.
“Don’t tell me you’re… trying to confine me now?”
How did I escape… Really, how did I get out. Unable to believe this situation of being confined again, his light green eyes trembled finely.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
