"Come out now. If you keep hiding, don't blame me for what happens."
Almond suddenly stood up, pointing the mace in his hand straight toward the bush where Cashew was hiding.
"I–I'm sorry…"
Cashew slowly stepped out from the bush. Strands of grass were tangled all over her messy hair.
Her eyes were red and swollen, and tears kept streaming down her face in fear.
"Lord Almond… please spare my life…"
In contrast to Cashew's panic, Almond stood frozen in place.
Only stuttering sounds came out of his mouth.
The mace in his hand suddenly slipped from his grip, falling straight onto his toe. Blood immediately began to flow, but Almond didn't seem to notice at all.
The loud noise startled Cashew. She became so frightened that she started crying even harder.
"L–Lord Almond… are you… going to do something bad to me?"
Cashew timidly stepped out from the bush, clasping her hands in front of her chest as if praying.
"I… I'll bake bread for you every day… just please spare my life…"
Cashew stood there begging in despair.
But in Almond's eyes, he seemed unable to see anything else.
The woman standing before him… was simply too beautiful.
Almond could only stand there, staring blankly at Cashew. Her innocence and gentleness left him completely unsure of how to react.
Seeing Almond stare at her without saying anything made Cashew even more frightened, and her tears kept falling.
When Almond saw those tears rolling down her cheeks, he immediately blushed and hurriedly turned his head away.
"F...Fine. I'm in a good mood today… so I'll spare you."
Cashew's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really? So you won't do anything bad to me anymore, right?"
Almond simply nodded, still not brave enough to look back at her.
Cashew wiped her tears, sniffed a few times, then closed her eyes and gave a bright smile.
"Thank you so much!"
The moment Almond turned his head back, that smile struck straight into his heart.
In Almond's eyes, the world around him suddenly seemed to change color.
Everything was dyed in a soft shade of pink.
The stream behind Cashew looked as if a rainbow had appeared above it. Flowers bloomed everywhere among the grass and trees.
And among all those flowers…
The most radiant flower of all was standing right in front of him.
Cashew.
She smiled so brightly that Almond couldn't take his eyes off her.
Seeing Almond still standing there in a daze, Cashew waved her hand in front of his face.
"Lord Almond?"
When he didn't respond, she carefully bent down to pick up the basket lying near his feet, glancing up at him cautiously while doing so.
Cashew hugged the basket to her chest and stood up, putting her straw hat back on after it had gotten caught in the bushes.
She was about to leave when she suddenly realized her handkerchief had drifted down into the stream.
Cashew carefully walked behind Almond. The handkerchief was still caught on the grass by the water.
But it was too far away for her to reach.
Cashew looked at Almond, hesitated for a long moment, then softly called out.
"Lord Almond…?"
"Lord Almond…"
Only then did Almond snap back to his senses.
Seeing Cashew standing so close to him, he quickly stepped back, nearly slipping into the stream.
"C–could you pick up that handkerchief for me?"
Cashew pointed at the pink handkerchief caught in the flowing water.
"Ah… sure."
Almond reached out and easily grabbed it.
"Here you go."
He held the handkerchief out to her.
"Thank you…"
When Cashew reached out to take it, their fingertips lightly touched.
Cashew quickly pulled her hand back in surprise. Almond was startled as well.
Cashew hurriedly hugged the basket to her chest, stood up straight, and bowed deeply.
"Th–thank you very much, Lord Almond! I promise I won't bother you again!"
With that, she quickly turned around to leave.
But at that moment…
A large hand, covered with scars and wounds, suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Stay here… with me for a while."
Almond lowered his head, trying to hide the face that had turned red from embarrassment.
His rough hand gripping Cashew's arm startled her, and tears began to fall again.
But after sitting together beside the stream for a while…
"So… Almond isn't a bad person after all."
Cashew softly wiped her tears.
She had just listened to Almond tell his story.
"That's right. I've never killed innocent people like those soldiers claim."
Almond spoke while gently rubbing the wounds on his body.
"I fight them to take the money back for the villagers… but now they're the ones who fear me."
When Almond turned to look at Cashew, her clear eyes made him quickly look away again.
"Why? Almond didn't do anything wrong."
Almond looked off into the distance, his voice lowering.
"Those filthy soldiers collect money from the villagers and waste it on drinking and gambling."
He remembered that day when he blocked the path of a group of drunken soldiers.
"I tried my best… but there were too many of them, and they had weapons. Every time, I ended up badly injured."
Almond touched the arrow embedded deep in his arm. Blood was still flowing.
"They couldn't kill me, so they spread rumors that I was a villain. Since then, everyone's been afraid of me."
He sighed softly.
"Injuries like these… I always have to treat them myself. No one cares enough to help."
"I'm… very lonely."
Cashew stayed silent for a moment.
"I understand."
She spoke softly.
"I'm the same as Almond… I don't have anyone by my side either."
Almond was about to pull the arrow out himself when he suddenly felt something cool touching his back.
Cashew was using her handkerchief to clean his wounds.
Almond quickly flinched away. Cashew panicked as well.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I was just worried your wounds might get infected, so…"
Almond shook his head and turned his face away.
Seeing that, Cashew gently continued cleaning his wounds.
The handkerchief, soaked in the cool water of the stream, slowly wiped away the dirt and blood on Almond's back.
"When you get hurt… do you always treat yourself?"
Cashew asked softly as she cleaned the wounds.
"Y–yes."
Almond replied awkwardly.
"Almond is really strong. I can barely handle a small cut on my finger."
While cleaning the wound, Cashew accidentally touched a deep gash.
"Ah!"
Almond let out a soft cry.
Cashew panicked.
"I–I'm sorry!"
"It's fine."
Almond stopped her.
"Just keep going."
Cashew continued carefully cleaning his wounds.
Her small figure standing beside Almond looked fragile.
"Until now…"
Almond murmured softly.
"No one has ever cared about me like this before."
Cashew smiled gently.
"Almond has had it really hard."
"If you get hurt again… come here. I'll help you."
Almond lowered his head, his face red from being so close to her.
A gentle fragrance from Cashew made him whisper unconsciously.
"Jasmine… it smells nice."
Cashew paused, then stepped in front of him.
"Almond."
"From now on, if you get hurt, you're not allowed to treat it yourself anymore. You have to come find me."
Almond looked up at her.
The face before him was so gentle.
For someone like him—an outcast wandering alone in a world that rejected him—this feeling had never existed before.
Cashew held Almond's hand and hooked her finger with his.
"Promise me, Almond!"
She smiled softly once more.
And once again…
The heart that Almond thought had long turned to iron began to tremble.