Without a Word

I woke up with a heavy sensation pressing down on me. Despite my overwhelming exhaustion, I struggled to open my eyes. My back throbbed with pain, as if I had been struck by an elephant, and every joint ached intensely. My head pounded with a relentless ache, and my stomach churned with a mixture of hunger and thirst.

Yet, amidst all this physical agony, the emotional pain cut even deeper as I realized that returning home was now an impossible dream.

Throughout my journey, I had fervently sought answers, beseeching the heavens for guidance, for a way back home. And now, finally equipped with the knowledge of how to return, I couldn't find joy in it. The realization that I couldn't go back, despite knowing the way, was a bitter pill to swallow.

The realization hit me hard—I would never see Elizabeth again. I was an Elven, an outsider in their eyes. It seemed that in our town, there was no place for anyone deemed "not normal." They had subjected Elizabeth to cruel treatment, ostracizing our family because of her inability to walk.

They hurled insults and threats at us, even going so far as to cost my uncle his job. The townsfolk's prejudice extended to attempting to erase us simply because they viewed Elizabeth as the offspring of a monster due to her disability. Knowing this, I was certain that if they caught sight of my pointed ears, they would mercilessly destroy my family, all because of me.

I couldn't bear the thought of their suffering because of my existence. They had given me a second chance at life, a glimmer of hope. I couldn't let them endure pain because of me. It would shatter me completely, breaking me into irreparable pieces.

Despite the heart-wrenching realization that I couldn't return home, I had to accept it for their safety.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and with trembling hands, I wiped them away. I forced myself to open my eyes, determined to stop the tears and show bravery.

As my vision cleared, I realized I was in an unfamiliar room. It was dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through an open window to my left.

Memories of recent events flooded back, causing me to sit up abruptly. However, a wave of pain crashed over me, forcing me to clutch my head as the room spun. I closed my eyes and counted to ten, trying to steady my racing heart and calm the overwhelming terror gripping me.

"What happened? Does your head hurt?" A voice filled with worry and concern broke through my thoughts.

Still preoccupied with massaging my throbbing head, it took a moment for the situation to register in my mind. It was only when the person touched my forehead that I blinked abruptly, shifting my gaze to Ludwig's handsome face. He appeared weary and fatigued, evident from the dark circles under his eyes.

Without hesitation, Ludwig handed me a glass of water, urging me to drink. The liquid's bitterness and sourness nearly made me gag—it tasted reminiscent of vomit itself.

"Drink it. It'll help with the pain," Ludwig reassured me in a soft voice.

Reluctantly, I forced myself to finish the water, and then Ludwig took my hand that had been massaging my temple and began to massage it gently with his own hands. "Let me help," he said softly, to which I no longer protested.

His touch was soothing, easing the pain gradually. As the discomfort subsided, I found myself gazing at Ludwig, only to realize that we were both on the same bed.

My mind remained clouded, oblivious to the fact that Ludwig had gently guided me to lie back against the bed. He covered me with a blanket, tucking it under my chin, and smoothed down my hair that had fallen over my eyes.

"Your body is still recovering from your Awakening," Ludwig whispered softly. "Rest now to expedite the healing of your wounds."

His words were like a soothing lullaby, calming my racing thoughts. After a moment of silence and a slight nod, he settled beside me. I was taken aback by his actions, especially when I felt his arm slowly wrap around my waist.

Just as I was about to sit up and confront the reality of what had happened, a question escaped my lips in a hoarse, almost silent voice. "Where's Amelia?"

Ludwig's movements stilled, and he let out a sigh before responding, his voice carrying a hint of firmness. "You don't need to worry about her. She won't harm you anymore." With that assurance, he pulled me closer, and I closed my eyes, succumbing to the comfort of his presence.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling as I leaned into Ludwig's comforting presence.

A heavy silence lingered before Ludwig spoke again, his voice carrying a weight of somberness. "When Commander Leonel returned to your hiding place, you were already gone. Amelia had taken you, and it took us days to locate where they were keeping you."

The floodgates of memories opened in my mind, causing me to stammer as I spoke, "Commander Rivalz... where is he?"

Ludwig held me tighter as he sensed my shivers and distress.

"He protected me," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "He sacrificed himself for me to live. It's all my fault. I should have listened to him and run away. I failed to save him. I couldn't help him."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I buried my face in Ludwig's neck, allowing my emotions to pour out in sobs. "I should have helped him," I murmured between sobs, seeking solace in Ludwig's embrace.

"Let it out, Louise," Ludwig encouraged softly, and I clung to him, my tears flowing freely as I grieved for Commander Rivalz and my perceived failure.

The hours stretched on in our embrace, and despite my attempts to push the memories away, my mind kept returning to the innocent face of Commander Rivalz. He had confronted every challenge head-on, embodying the qualities of a true soldier and a loyal friend.

When my legs began to ache from our prolonged position, I shifted to sit up properly. "But... how did you find me?" I asked, my thoughts drifting back to the dark room where I had been imprisoned, the narrow passages, and the torment inflicted by Amelia that had caused me to lose consciousness. The memories felt vivid, as if they had just occurred.

Ludwig paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before explaining, "After a day had passed with no sign of you, we considered hiring Werebeasts to track you down. However, that would have taken another one to two days to reach their continent. Not wanting to waste any more time, we explored other options. It was this pendant that led us to you."

He gently traced his fingers over the pendant that Alexa had given me, a reminder of its significance. "Because of this?" I asked, intrigued by the red crystalline that glowed in the darkness.

Ludwig's response was firm and unexpected. "The red substance inside that pendant is my blood," he stated, causing my eyes to widen in surprise, shock, and disbelief. The revelation left me speechless for a moment, processing the implications of what he had just disclosed.

Ludwig's voice softened as he mentioned Alexa, clearly remembering her absence. "It would have been easier if Alexa were here. She was the one who crafted the necklace," he murmured. "But going to Primotheus to find a Witch would have been time-consuming and raised suspicions. Plus, I didn't want to risk traveling while they had you. So we relied on what we had... Yuri."

Disbelief painted my expression. "Yuri? The girl from the orphanage?"

Ludwig nodded slowly. "Yes, Yuri. Since she's still young and hasn't mastered magic, it still took her two days to detect my blood. She couldn't pinpoint your exact location, but we learned that you were hidden in a forest near the Water Kingdom. Amelia used dark magic to conceal her presence, cloaking the surrounding area, making it difficult for us to detect her when we scouted the forest."

Ludwig shifted and enveloped me in his arms, providing comfort and security. "Once we located your whereabouts, we launched an attack. We eliminated the traitors who aided Amelia, including the Minister of War, Leaf, the Ghouls, Emberocks, and the Ravager."

"Both Ravagers are gone?" I questioned, recalling their intimidating presence, especially in their monstrous forms as their bodies grew and their skin changed color.

"One was killed by Liam and Leonel," Ludwig explained. "The other managed to escape, but don't worry. Leonel injured it with a poisoned sword. We'll track it down soon enough."

"And Amelia?" I inquired, still harboring doubts.

"She's dead," Ludwig stated firmly and simply. "I killed her." His words carried a weight of finality, signaling the end of Amelia's threat.

I struggled with my emotions. She was my mother, yet I couldn't summon any sadness upon learning of her death. Instead, a strange sense of relief washed over me. Did this make me a bad daughter, for not grieving the loss of a mother I no longer had?

Sensing the weight of my thoughts, Ludwig pulled me close, seeking to distract me. He nestled against me, burying his face in my neck. "You smell amazing," he murmured, nibbling gently on the sensitive skin.

A wave of pleasure rippled through me, but I quickly sat up, needing space to clear my mind and breathe freely.

"What's wrong?" Ludwig's voice was tinged with sleepiness as he drew me back into his embrace. "Come here, Louise. Let's rest." He gently pulled me closer, his lips tracing soft kisses along my neck.

"Ludwig," I called softly, confusion and uncertainty clouding my thoughts. Why was he acting so sweet all of a sudden? Was I even still alive?

"Mmm?" He grunted, his lips still grazing my skin.

"What are you doing?" I asked, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in my voice. I wanted to push him away, to resist his sudden affection. After all, he was already married to Princess Amethyst. Despite her alliance with Amelia, their marriage was a fact I couldn't ignore. I didn't want to be involved in an affair.

I attempted to move my hand to push Ludwig away, but he swiftly caught it with his hand that had been resting on my waist. With a quick motion, he raised my hand to my head, then moved swiftly to position his large body over mine. Before I could protest or speak, he showered me with soft kisses, overwhelming me with unexpected tenderness.

He gently touched my lips with his agile tongue, seeking entrance as his other hand gripped my thigh. He bit my lower lip before softly sucking on it, igniting a desire that left me yearning for more. With hunger and thirst evident in his kisses, he parted my legs and settled between them.

Trailing kisses from my mouth to my cheeks, then down to my jaw and throat, he elicited audible moans from me. His lips moved to the sensitive skin between my neck and shoulder, drawing a mild whimper from my lips. Overwhelmed with ecstasy, I bit my lip, the sensations unfamiliar yet intoxicating to all my senses.

I shuddered as his tongue traced wet kisses along my collarbone, sending a wave of sensation through my body. He released my hands, expecting me to push him away, but instead, I gripped his arms tightly as if they were my lifeline.

His hands roamed from my thighs to my waist, then up to my stomach and further to my rib cage, eliciting a groan of mixed pleasure and pain from me.

"Damn it!" he cursed sharply, pulling away from me abruptly.

I felt a surge of self-blame as my instincts almost compelled me to pull him back towards me. However, I was taken aback and nearly breathless when I saw the guilt clearly etched on his face. He appeared lost and terrified.

"Shit," Ludwig muttered. "I forgot you're wounded."

I couldn't bear to meet Ludwig's gaze. He seemed so remorseful for what had transpired. Despite the pain coursing through my body, I managed to stand up and walked towards the door without a word.