Marantaceae ate his soup silently while Amaryllis sat across from him, watching.
Marantaceae finally looked up.
"How did we get here?"
"I asked Magnolia. He said someone brought us here," Amaryllis replied.
"Who attacked us?"
Amaryllis shrugged.
"Let's go find out."
The two of them went to the place where Magnolia had found them. It was a small wooden house. They waited outside, hoping to meet the owner.
"Why do you think they left us alive?" Amaryllis asked.
"Let's look inside the house," Marantaceae suggested.
Marantaceae broke the door open and stepped inside.
The house was a mess. It didn't look like anyone lived there.
They searched around, hoping to find something useful.
"There's nothing important here," Amaryllis said.
Suddenly, an old man appeared at the doorway.
"What are you doing inside my house?"
Amaryllis turned toward him.
"You're the owner of this place?"
"Yes. What are you doing here?" the old man replied.
Marantaceae stepped forward.
"Forgive us. We're looking for the person who saved us."
"I didn't save you. Someone else brought you here."
"Magnolia?" Amaryllis asked.
"Not that man. He was irritating enough already. I don't know who brought you here. When I opened my gate that morning, you two were already lying outside."
"What is your name?" Amaryllis asked.
The old man frowned.
"Why do you want to know my name?"
"You took care of us."
"My name is Lupin Attis."
"Thank you, Mr. Lupin," Marantaceae said. "We'll leave now."
They left the house and headed toward the place where they had lost consciousness.
"Do you believe Lupin?" Marantaceae asked.
"No," Amaryllis admitted. "But we don't have any other leads."
"True."
Even after searching for a long time, they couldn't find the place.
Disappointed, they turned back.
On their way, they ran into Lupin again.
"What are you doing here?" Amaryllis asked.
"I came to collect firewood," Lupin replied.
"Can you tell us if there's any strange place around here? Maybe somewhere people avoid?"
Lupin chuckled.
"This forest is cursed, or so people say. You shouldn't be wandering around here at this time. It's dangerous."
"Cursed?" Marantaceae asked skeptically.
"Ten years ago, people died mysteriously. Later, their bodies were found hanging from trees. Since then, everyone has been afraid of this forest."
"But why do people think it's cursed?" Marantaceae asked.
"Because those people were responsible for killing the Ulmarians."
Amaryllis and Marantaceae exchanged shocked glances.
"So people believe the forest took revenge," Lupin continued.
"The forest?" Marantaceae repeated.
Lupin nodded.
"So be careful. Don't harm anything here."
"Sure," Amaryllis replied.
Marantaceae looked at Lupin suspiciously.
Before he could question him further, Amaryllis grabbed his wrist.
"Let's go."
After they had walked some distance away, Marantaceae spoke.
"Do you believe his story?"
"No," Amaryllis replied. "But let's get away from here first."
They returned toward Magnolia's hideout.
On the way, they stopped at a small tea stall.
"Do you think Lupin was telling the truth?" Marantaceae asked.
"I don't know," Amaryllis said. "And honestly, I don't care."
"Why not?"
"Because right now, we're wanted fugitives, and the royal palace is searching for us."
Marantaceae sighed.
"Then what's your plan?"
Amaryllis looked at him.
"Maybe I'll just follow you."
"I already told you. We're not friends."
Amaryllis smiled playfully.
"You're so selfish. I've saved your life several times."
To Amaryllis's surprise, Marantaceae let out a small laugh.
Amaryllis stared at him.
"You can laugh?"
Marantaceae immediately returned to his usual expression and focused on his tea.
"Where are you going after this?" Amaryllis asked.
Marantaceae didn't answer.
"How am I supposed to follow you if you won't tell me?"
"Why do you want to follow me?"
Amaryllis looked at him seriously.
"Because no matter what you think of me, I consider you my friend."
Marantaceae stood up.
"Try those lines on women."
Then he started walking away.
Amaryllis immediately threw some coins onto the table and hurried after him.
"You can't just leave me!"
"I don't think we can be friends," Marantaceae replied.
He took a few steps away and gestured between them.
"This is the distance between us."
Amaryllis immediately stepped closer.
"What distance? I can't see any."
Marantaceae sighed and, without responding, started walking toward Magnolia. Magnolia was waving at someone riding away in a carriage.
"Who was that?" Marantaceae asked.
"Prin—" Magnolia stopped himself. "Syring. I sent her south."
"Okay," Marantaceae replied before walking into the house.
Amaryllis was about to follow him when Magnolia stopped him.
"Did you hear? The royal guards went south," Magnolia said. "An informer just came to tell me."
"What did my brother say?" Amaryllis asked.
"He said he doesn't believe anyone from the south tried to assassinate Anemone. My presence alone doesn't prove that the south was involved."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. They don't have enough evidence to prove anything." Magnolia looked at Amaryllis suspiciously. "Which means the fourth person tried to kill Anemone."
Amaryllis frowned.
"Where are you trying to lead this conversation? I don't want to hear it."
He turned and headed toward the house.
"Stop right there," Magnolia said, following him. "Marantaceae did it, didn't he?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That means I'm right."
"You know people in this country aren't supposed to accuse others without evidence."
"Fine. Then I'll find evidence."
Magnolia turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Amaryllis asked.
"To find evidence so I can save you."
Amaryllis sighed and headed inside.
He went straight to his room to change his bandage. After removing his shirt, he carefully cleaned the wound. Just as he was about to apply the medicine, Marantaceae entered the room.
The moment he noticed Amaryllis half-dressed, he turned to leave.
"Why are you leaving?" Amaryllis asked.
"It's fine. I'll come back later."
Amaryllis looked toward him and accidentally pressed on his wound.
He cried out in pain.
Marantaceae stopped immediately.
Taking the medicine from Amaryllis's hand, he said, "Let me do it."
He stood behind him and began applying the medicine to the wound.
Amaryllis sat quietly on the bed.
"Have you done this before?"
"Yes."
"To whom?"
Marantaceae studied him carefully.
There were no old scars or major injuries on his body.
He doesn't look like an ordinary guard, Marantaceae thought.
"Aren't you afraid?" Marantaceae asked. "What if I kill you right now?"
"I know you won't."
"Why?"
"Because I trust you."
Marantaceae paused.
"Trust is fragile. Don't waste it on everyone."
"I don't trust everyone. It's just you."
"You don't even know me. If you trust me that easily, I'd be suspicious of you."
"Then why don't you tell me about yourself?"
For a moment, they stared at each other.
Finally, Marantaceae spoke.
"I'm a Thistle."
He expected a dramatic reaction.
Instead, Amaryllis simply nodded.
"Okay."
Marantaceae frowned.
"Okay?"
"Yes. It's fine."
"You already knew."
"No. I mean... kind of."
Marantaceae narrowed his eyes.
"You're lying again. You already knew."
He shoved Amaryllis lightly aside and headed for the door.
Amaryllis immediately followed him.
"Okay, I found out earlier."
"When?"
Amaryllis hesitated. He didn't want to admit he had known from the beginning.
Before he could think of an excuse, Magnolia returned.
"What are you two doing?" he asked.
"Nothing," Marantaceae replied.
He tried to leave, but Magnolia stopped him.
"You can't go. We need to discuss what we're going to do next."
The three of them gathered around a square table inside the house. Amaryllis sat in the middle.
"We're stuck—" Magnolia began.
Marantaceae interrupted him.
"First, tell me how you found us at Lupin's house."
"I didn't, actually."
Both of them stared at him.
Magnolia quickly raised his hands.
"I mean, Syring and I had just come out of the jungle. We were wandering around when we saw a small wooden house. It looked abandoned, so we went inside to rest. That's where we found you."
Marantaceae frowned.
"That sounds too easy."
Magnolia nodded.
"Exactly. This jungle is strange. The way in, the way out, the old man, and even the way we found you—it all feels too convenient. Almost as if someone was leading us here."
"Yes," Marantaceae agreed.
"I searched the area while you were unconscious, and I think the jungle—"
"Forget it," Amaryllis interrupted. "Right now, we have a bigger problem. If we don't do something soon, they'll figure out where we are."