Chapter 27
27
Scarlett turned around with a scream and saw Viktor's subordinate, Palin, standing there.
Scarlett was horrified and asked, "Sir Palin? What are you doing here?"
"Are you asking me? Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Palin looked bewildered but quickly let go of Scarlett. She was already frightened on the deserted mountain path, and being suddenly grabbed had brought tears to her eyes.
Palin said awkwardly, "I thought you were going to fall... Anyway, I'll be going."
Palin bowed and left. Evan, who arrived next, asked, "Where are you headed? Seeing you wandering around here, I think we have the same destination."
"The same destination?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to Lüssen Falls."
"Ah, so are we."
'What?'
As Scarlett blinked in confusion, several marines who had been murmuring behind her overtook her. As they passed, they tipped their hats and greeted her with light smiles.
"Good day, Miss."
"It's been a while."
"We'll be going ahead."
Scarlett, who had received a high-level education and was chosen for her lineage and appearance as one of the best bachelors in Salantie, felt a little fluttered by their greetings. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she returned their greetings, but the man who came last said in a leisurely tone, "Looking for a remarriage partner?"
Turning to the familiar voice, Scarlett saw Viktor. She was speechless with bewilderment and asked, "No... what is everyone doing here?"
"What about you?"
"Looking for materials to make a clock."
Scarlett said, holding up her large bag. Viktor gestured with his chin.
"Go. I'll follow behind."
"I want to rest. I can't go."
Scarlett, exhausted, put down her bag and sat on it. Viktor was about to pass by but said, "Oh, you know there are snakes here, right?"
"...There aren't."
Before she could finish her sentence, one of the marines who had been about to leave stopped and opened his bag. He took out a snake and said, "I caught this on the way up."
Scarlett screamed and covered her face with both hands. The marines laughed cheerfully at her reaction and left.
Viktor watched Scarlett trembling even after they had left and chuckled. "Get up."
"I'm tired..."
She said, looking up at the tree. "If I climb a tree, snakes can't climb up, right?"
"Naive."
Viktor said, taking out a pair of handcuffs. He then cuffed her wrist to his and picked up Scarlett's bag with one hand.
"Hold on and come along. Don't try to escape."
"Wait a minute."
Scarlett must have been really tired because she didn't refuse Viktor's help. She took off her wristwatch and put it in her pocket, worried it would get scratched.
Having only sat around, she was completely exhausted by this hike. At first, she held onto the handcuffs as Viktor pulled her along, but eventually, she was too tired even for that and simply let go, allowing herself to be dragged.
Her body was less tired, but her wrist was scratched by the handcuffs and hurt. Still, she didn't want to talk to Viktor, so she just kept going. But then Viktor stopped and turned around, pulling Scarlett toward him by moving his wrist.
He saw the scratch on Scarlett's wrist and looked terrifyingly angry.
Viktor unlocked the handcuffs and said, "Tell me."
"...Honestly, it was comfortable."
"What if a clockmaker hurts her hands?"
As Scarlett looked at the wound after the handcuffs were removed, Viktor took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her wrist.
Scarlett watched him tie the knot and said, "It's similar to the wound back then."
"What is?"
"Oh, before."
At her words, Viktor stared at her. Scarlett said, "Don't you remember?"
"So what are you talking about?"
"Why, when I came back from being interrogated. I had a wound on my wrist... Ah, now that I think about it, I don't think I ever mentioned it."
"...A wound?"
"Yeah. I had the same wound as this. But I didn't remember anything back then, so I had no idea where it came from..."
Scarlett had no memory of it, so she didn't realize how chilling her words were. But when she looked up, she saw a terribly distorted expression on Viktor's face and felt fear.
"I'm kidding."
"..."
"Don't make that face. Okay, I remember. I lied about everything."
"...Did anyone see it?"
"See what?"
"That you were hurt back then."
"Lots of people. My maids, the doctor probably saw it too... But it wasn't a very serious wound, so I don't think anyone remembers it."
"Then how could I not know?"
"Of course you wouldn't know. You didn't see me after that day."
Scarlett laughed as if to say, 'What are you talking about?' and continued, "Maybe... I was so sorry that I hurt myself?"
"..."
"I thought about that back then, but it would have only made you feel worse, right? I'm glad I didn't say anything."
Then she looked up at the sky and said, "By the way, it's getting dark. What should we do... Is there a place to stay here?"
She asked, but Viktor didn't answer.
Scarlett tugged at his arm.
"Viktor, where do the marines stay?"
Only then did Viktor, who had been lost in thought, answer, "At the residence."
"Residence? What residence?"
"Where did you say you were going?"
"Lüssen Falls."
"The materials are at Lüssen Falls?"
"Yeah."
Viktor looked at her with a strange expression and said, "Let's go for now."
For once, he wasn't acting mean as usual. Scarlett was puzzled but exhausted and replied, "I'm going to rest for a bit before going."
She was thinking that she would have terrible muscle pain tomorrow when Viktor turned around and said, "Want me to carry you?"
"...What?"
"You're light, you know."
Even so, how could she with her divorced ex-husband...
Scarlett was really tired, but she shook her head vigorously. Viktor clicked his tongue once, then came back and lifted her up.
"N-No, I said I don't want to!"
Scarlett struggled, but Viktor had already hoisted her onto one shoulder and started walking.
"There will be more snakes after sunset. Want me to put you down?"
"..."
Scarlett pursed her lips and shook her head. She knew he was strong, but she didn't know he was strong enough to climb a mountain path like this. Scarlett felt helpless and closed her eyes tightly.
As they passed, she saw signs that read "No Entry" one after another.
'Is it because of the snakes?'
Thinking that made her skin crawl.
In that state, the two arrived in front of a huge rock wall. Only then did Viktor put Scarlett down.
Scarlett looked up at the mountain peak, the last barrier on the way to Lüssen Falls.
"...How do we get over this?"
"Didn't you know?"
"I saw it on the map, but I didn't know it would be a rock wall like this..."
"You came here without knowing where this is?"
Scarlett flinched at his harsh tone. She said in a flustered voice, "It's Lüssen Falls. I told you, I came to find clock materials."
"Besides that."
"Besides that... I don't know."
Scarlett shook her head, and Viktor sighed and looked up at the mountain peak before speaking.
"Well, it doesn't seem like one or two more illegal acts will make a big difference here."
"Is going to Lüssen Falls illegal too?"
"Yes. You crossed the prohibited line earlier."
"...I thought it was because of the snakes."
Scarlett's voice grew smaller. Anxious feelings gradually spread across her face.
Viktor was dumbfounded and looked up at the mountain peak before opening his mouth.
"Well, whatever. It doesn't seem like one or two more violations of the law here will make a big difference."
"But my parents got clock materials by crossing this peak."
"The former heads of the Crimson family were involved."
"...What relationship do my parents have with the navy?"
Viktor looked at Scarlett's puzzled face without answering.
As the silence grew longer, Scarlett said, "I'm also the legitimate daughter of the Crimson family. I don't know what's going on, but I'm carrying on all the work my parents did. It's the family business."
"Let me tell you, if you can't carry out that family business inside there, then I can't guarantee your life either."
"I can do it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I can't be sure."
"...What?"
"But I have to go there."
Scarlett said firmly, picking up her bag.
