The soldier who had been held back was struggling as Cashew ran into the house.
The two old men tried to restrain him, but they couldn't match the strength of the young soldier. He shoved them aside, sending both of them to the ground.
Cashew rushed inside.
The sight before her made her freeze.
Her house had been reduced to a complete mess.
"Take the rest of those eggs, Mule!"
"Hey, look! Money!"
The soldiers weren't searching for anything at all.
They were simply looting everything they could find.
"You idiot, why are you taking her sleepwear?"
"Who cares!"
The loaves of bread she had stored on the high cabinet were dragged down.
Some of the soldiers grabbed her nightclothes and stuffed them into a sack.
Cashew shouted.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
But the men continued rummaging through the house, not even bothering to look at her.
Suddenly, one soldier walked toward her.
He reached out and touched her arm.
"Sorry, miss… we're just looking for a traitor."
Startled, Cashew immediately slapped his hand away.
From the back of the room, several soldiers finally noticed her. They burst into laughter.
"John! Found yourself another girl again?"
John only laughed in amusement after being brushed off.
"This girl's pretty feisty."
He lifted his hand and touched her cheek.
"You live alone, don't you? A beauty like you… what a waste."
His hand slid down from her shoulder along her arm.
"Come be my woman. You'll have money… power… and—"
SLAP!
Cashew struck him hard across the face.
"You scum! Aren't you supposed to be soldiers who stand for justice?!"
With that, she immediately ran outside.
The villagers hurried toward her.
"What happened, Cashew?"
"Did they hurt you?"
A few people tried to go inside, but a soldier blocked their way.
Inside the house, the soldiers burst into mocking laughter.
"Look at that! John just got slapped by that girl!"
John's face turned red.
He was about to chase after her, but Cashew was already standing at the doorway, staring straight at them.
She took a deep breath, ready to shout.
John immediately panicked.
"Wait! Alright! I'm sorry!"
He shouted toward her.
The soldiers reluctantly started filing out of the house.
John walked past Cashew with a scowl.
He clenched his teeth.
"Don't let me catch you again… or you'll regret it."
He stormed off, while the other soldiers behind him kept laughing at him.
The villagers stepped aside to let them pass.
A woman quickly grabbed Cashew's hand.
"Are you hurt?"
"Did they do anything to you?"
Cashew shook her head.
"I'm fine… really."
From behind them, old Hendrik slowly approached, leaning on his worn wooden cane.
As he stepped forward, John walked past him.
Without saying a word, he kicked the cane.
Crack!
The cane snapped in half.
Hendrik collapsed to the ground.
He pushed himself up with his hands and looked at the soldiers as they walked away.
His voice was hoarse.
"The warriors of this generation… have they truly become such scum…"
In front of Cashew's house, the villagers began murmuring among themselves.
"I'm telling you, they were clearly stealing!"
"I need to go check my house to see if anything's missing!"
Another man shook his head.
"You're exaggerating. Maybe Cashew just got upset because they entered her house."
Mr. Gouda approached, holding his grandchild's hand.
"Cashew… did you cause trouble with them?"
Cashew shook her head.
"No. They were the ones who started it."
From the distance, Mayor Heguel came running.
"I just… just heard that someone interfered with the soldiers carrying out their duty!"
He bent over, catching his breath before looking around.
"Who did it? If that person isn't handed over… they won't leave this village alone!"
Everyone glanced at Cashew… then lowered their heads.
"We don't know."
Mr. Gouda stepped forward.
"Mayor! Those men were stealing from the villagers! You have to do something!"
Heguel scratched his head awkwardly.
"I… I can't do anything. They're protected by the royal army."
He slowly walked toward Cashew.
His voice lowered.
"Cashew… were you the one who caused this? Tell me the truth."
Cashew nodded.
"Those scum were robbing the villagers… and they even tried to take me."
Her hands clenched tightly.
"Just like Almond said."
Heguel looked confused.
"What? Almond… what are you talking about, Cashew?"
Cashew shook her head.
"It's nothing."
Heguel sighed.
"Cashew… listen to me."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You should leave this village."
Cashew looked surprised.
"Why? I'm not afraid of them."
Heguel looked at her for a long moment before speaking quietly.
"If they catch you… I don't even want to imagine what they might do."
On a nearby hill, Daniel saw that the soldiers had returned.
He quickly stood up.
"Fenna… I think I have to go back now."
Fenna brushed the leaves and dust off her dress.
"Be careful, Daniel. Don't let them discover you."
Daniel opened the small pouch at his waist.
He took out a silver hairpin.
"Take this, Fenna."
He placed it in her hand.
"It might be a long time… before we see each other again."
Fenna covered her face and burst into tears.
"Daniel…"
She threw her arms around him.
Daniel kissed her gently on the forehead before turning and leaving.
In front of Cashew's house, Heguel looked inside the wrecked home.
"Cashew… do you need—"
Cashew gave a faint smile.
"It's alright. I'll clean it up myself."
She stepped inside.
The cabinets had been overturned.
Broken dishes lay scattered across the floor.
Flour and cracked eggs were smeared everywhere.
Cashew sighed and began cleaning.
The small jar where she kept her money was completely empty.
The eggs and flour she had prepared for baking were gone.
Even the basket containing her nightclothes and personal belongings had been taken.
On the tall cabinet where she used to keep her bread samples, only a few crumbs remained.
Cashew quietly lifted each cabinet back into place.
She picked up the broken bowls.
Slowly putting everything back where it belonged.
On the floor, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper.
Cashew bent down and picked it up.
It was a drawing.
A crude drawing made with charcoal.
Two crooked figures standing next to each other.
One was taller.
The other much smaller.
Above them was a round sun with uneven rays.
Below it were shaky childish words.
"Mom and Cashew."
It was a drawing she had made herself when she was a child.
Now the paper was torn, its corners wrinkled, a muddy boot print stamped across the picture.
Cashew gently smoothed the paper.
Her trembling fingers touched the drawing of the woman.
Her eyes slowly filled with sorrow.