"Where are we going?" Asia asked, her light footsteps barely keeping up with his pace.
"We need a place to stay first, right? Then we head to the forest," her brother replied.
"The forest?" She raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Yeah, the one southeast of the kingdom. That's where my home is," he said confidently.
She paused, staring at him in shock. "You mean… the Green Garden?!"
He smirked. "Exactly. Scared now? Don't want to follow your big brother?"
The forest, known as the Green Garden, was infamous despite its enchanting beauty. Rumors said it teemed with magical beasts and was ruled by a mythical creature who enforced its own laws.
"Don't worry. I'm much stronger than I look right now," he reassured her.
She sighed, shaking her head. "You really do drag me from one place to another…"
Eventually, they arrived at an inn that seemed slightly upscale.
"Look, this'll be our place for the night," he declared, almost proudly, as if he owned it.
Asia glanced at him for a few seconds before silently stepping inside.
"Ah, I forgot—you're a noble," he muttered.
*"I bet her home was far grander than this inn,"* he thought to himself.
"Two rooms, please," he told the innkeeper.
Asia gave him a strange look.
"...What?"
"Wouldn't a room with two beds be cheaper?" she asked.
He stammered. "What in the hell are you—"
"Separate," she cut in firmly.
"...Ah. Right. Ahem. One room with *two separate beds*, please."
As they headed upstairs, the inn's light revealed the bruises and dirt still marking her body—her pale face, her exhausted eyes. Without hesitation, he asked the servant to prepare a warm bath, summon a doctor, and bring fresh clothes for both of them—their current outfits were stained with blood.
After the examination, the doctor assured them her injuries were superficial and would leave no lasting marks.
Once he was sure she was settled, he retreated to the room and sat down to rest… until soft footsteps sounded outside the door.
Asia stepped in, now in clean clothes, her hair still damp.
He froze.
"You're… beautiful, Asia," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
She halted, silently meeting his gaze, then quickly turned and buried herself completely under the covers of her bed.
"...So cute," he thought to himself, biting his lip with a faint, mischievous smile.
He lay down but couldn't sleep.
Sitting up, he stared at her from across the room. Eventually, she shifted in her sleep, facing him.
He quietly studied her features—her steady breathing, her peaceful expression.
Then, under his breath, he murmured:
"Why did the System punish me with her, of all people…?"