Cashew quickly ran into the house. The sight before her made her freeze.
"Almond!?"
Almond was leaning against the wall. His body was covered in wounds, one hand clutching his shoulder tightly. Blood kept flowing from a long cut. An arrow was still stuck deep in his leg, and blood dripped steadily onto the wooden floor.
"Almond? Why are you here?"
Cashew rushed over in panic to support him.
"This morning they discovered me… I was wounded, so I had to hide inside the village."
Almond breathed heavily.
"I didn't expect them to arrive here so soon… so I had no choice but to enter your house."
Cashew stared at him in confusion for a moment before asking,
"But… how did you know where my house is?"
Almond shook his head slightly.
"Last night… I followed you back here. But this isn't the time to talk about that."
He struggled to stand upright, lifting his injured leg.
"Do you have somewhere I can hide?"
Cashew looked around the house for a moment before suddenly brightening.
"I do!"
Behind the house, John had heard the entire conversation.
"Oh… how interesting."
The corner of his mouth curled upward.
"So I've found the one who's harboring him."
John slowly stepped out from behind the house and headed toward the door.
At that moment, he ran into Daniel.
"John? You got here fast."
Daniel asked in surprise and was about to step inside.
"No need."
John raised a hand to stop him.
"You keep searching the other houses. Leave this one to me."
He pushed Daniel aside and walked in.
The wooden floor creaked under his steps.
"A familiar flavor…"
he said loudly.
"Sweetness… courage… and a little bit of strength."
In the corner of the house, Cashew was struggling to push a large wooden chest against the wall, but it was too heavy.
"Hello, girl."
John smiled.
"I've been hoping to see you again."
Cashew turned sharply and glared at him.
"So captivating…"
John said slowly.
"Like a rose. If you want to possess its beauty… you must accept being pricked by its thorns."
John walked further inside. On the floor were streaks of Almond's blood.
"The ingredients for your cakes seem rather unusual."
He looked down at the stains.
"But they do look quite interesting."
He stepped closer and reached out to touch her cheek.
"Stay away!"
Cashew immediately slapped his hand away.
"There are plenty of villagers around here! If I shout, you're finished!"
John didn't seem afraid at all.
"Oh… then I won't bother you anymore."
His eyes shifted to the wooden chest.
"But there's something far more interesting here."
John placed his hand on it.
"Are you… hiding something very valuable inside?"
He knocked on the lid.
"Last night I was attacked by someone…"
He glanced at her.
"Do you happen to know who that was?"
Cashew shook her head.
"I don't know anything. Now get out."
John laughed.
"Oh… then I'll have to check myself."
He grabbed the lid of the chest.
"It should be quite fun to see what's inside."
Behind the wall, Almond held his breath.
"Damn it…"
He clenched his fists.
John slowly lifted the lid.
But when the chest opened…
it was completely empty.
"What…?"
John frowned.
"It was clearly…"
He looked up at Cashew.
"I told you already."
Cashew replied coldly.
"There's no one inside."
John angrily threw the lid aside.
"Fine… then I'll—"
"Duke Athur's orders! Soldiers, assemble outside!"
The shout came from outside.
John froze.
"What a shame…"
He sighed.
"Just a little more."
He turned and walked toward the door.
But before leaving, John stopped for a moment.
He turned his head toward Cashew.
"Next time…"
"You definitely won't escape from me."
He smiled faintly.
"Little lamb."
Outside, Athur stood among the soldiers.
"The trail leading into the village was probably fake."
he said.
"Almond must be somewhere else."
Several soldiers nearby were holding large bags.
"We're heading back."
But before leaving, Athur called one soldier over.
"What did you take? Report it."
Inside the house, Cashew finally let out a breath of relief.
She quickly dragged the wooden chest away from the wall.
Behind it was a small door hidden in the wall.
The door opened.
Almond crawled out, breathing heavily.
"That was close…"
"Good thing there was this hole."
Cashew shook her head.
"It's not a hole."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"My father built it for me."
Memories from the past surfaced in her mind.
The sound of a hammer striking the wall echoed.
"Cashew."
A man's voice spoke gently.
"If you're ever scared and I'm not around… hide here."
A small door was installed in the wall.
"It's safe here."
Cashew spoke quietly.
"My father made it before he passed away… I haven't used it in a long time."
Suddenly, a voice called from outside.
"Cashew! It's the Mayor! Did you lose anything?"
Cashew flinched.
She quickly pushed Almond back inside.
Almond crawled in, and Cashew shut the door before using all her strength to push the wooden chest back to cover it.
At that exact moment, the house door opened.
Heguel stepped inside.
Standing in the middle of the house was Cashew, wearing a bright smile.
As if nothing had happened.
"Ah… there you are."
Heguel sighed in relief.
"I was worried the soldiers had caused trouble for you."
Cashew smiled.
"It's alright, Mayor. I didn't lose anything."
Heguel looked around the house for a moment and nodded.
"That's good to hear."
He stepped further inside to check.
Outside the door, Heartman leaned against the frame and laughed before calling inside.
"Mayor Heguel has always blamed himself for not being able to save your parents."
He spoke gently.
"So he wants to make it up to you, Cashew."
Cashew kept the same smile on her lips.
But inside the wall behind her, Almond was holding his breath.
The silence in the room was so deep that even the smallest sound…
could reveal everything.