Acidity of Regret Ch 98
- Feb 19
- 6 min read
[Dina] "My Lady? What are you doing?"
Dina tilted her head, clutching the bouquet she had retrieved from the center of the plaza on Vanessa’s behalf.
A brilliant, vermillion sunset slowly consumed the sky.
Vanessa stood motionless, her silhouette bathed in that radiant, distant glow. A sharp pang pierced her chest. The sight of a small child cradled in a parent’s arms nearby struck a chord deep within her.
It’s alright.
Over the years, her perspective had shifted. She told herself that the child who had breathed only briefly within her now lived happily in heaven, enjoying the time they were denied on earth.
Perhaps the child was too precious, too beautiful, and God had called them back sooner than the rest. She couldn't prove it, but she vowed to believe it.
[Vanessa] "It’s nothing."
She masked her complex emotions with a faint smile and turned away.
[Vanessa] "Shall we head back?"
[Dina] "Yes. The carriage is this way."
They needed to hurry to reach the estate before total darkness fell. They wove through a crowd even thicker than the one at the morning market.
[Vanessa] "......?"
Suddenly, a heavy arm clamped around her shoulders, pulling her close as if they were intimate companions.
Before she could process the intrusion or shove the stranger away, he steered her into a narrow, winding alley.
[Dina] "Wait! Stop!"
Dina tried to intervene, but another man seized her, dragging her into the shadows along with Vanessa.
Vanessa scowled as her hood was roughly pulled back, exposing her face. She found herself pinned against a cold stone wall.
[Vanessa] "What is the meaning of this? Who are you?"
She glared at the massive wall of a man blocking her path. The man, also shrouded in a robe, slowly lowered his hood.
The sight of his face sent a jolt of alarm through her. It wasn't just his rugged features; a long scar slashed across his cheek, and a black tattoo coiled from under his eye down toward his collarbone.
She recalled hearing that such menacing markings were the hallmark of brigands—the lawless sort.
The bandits from Mount Siltria.
The realization made her flinch. Though the wall pressed against her back, she instinctively tried to shrink further into the shadows.
[Man] "Well, well. I didn't expect to find such a beauty in a backwater village like this."
The man scanned her with predatory eyes, baring yellowed teeth in a grin. A second man chimed in with a frantic, eager energy.
[Man 2] "Right? Didn't I tell you? I caught a glimpse of her face earlier and nearly lost my mind. I knew the boss would want her."
He saw my face?
Vanessa hadn't lowered her hood once since arriving at the festival. Then she remembered.
The child. The flower crown.
She had lowered her hood for only a heartbeat. She never imagined that a single, innocent gesture would invite such a disaster.
If these truly—no, if these men were indeed the bandits raiding the mountain passes, she was in grave peril. These were ruthless monsters.
She forced the darkest possibilities out of her mind and scanned her surroundings.
Fortunately, the entire gang wasn't present. Only three men stood in the alley. Beyond the leader’s broad shoulders, she saw Dina trembling with terror.
Three of them.
Could she get herself and Dina away? Could she even attempt to run?
She bit her lip and sharpened her gaze into a blade.
[Leader] "Ha! Look at that fire in her eyes."
[Man 2] "Pretty things always think they’re too good for the rest of us. They’re so damn haughty. But once we pin her down......"
Their lewd gestures and gutter-talk churned her stomach.
While they were distracted by their own filth, Vanessa shifted her weight. Her best chance was to wait for a moment of overconfidence, grab Dina, and sprint for the carriage.
[Leader] "Where do you think you’re going, My Lady? We haven't even started having fun yet."
The leader anticipated her movement. He gripped her shoulder with a crushing strength, a silent warning against any further struggle.
As his sleeve slid up, more tattoos appeared on his forearm.
She had heard that bandits and pirates tattooed themselves for every life they took. If true, how many people had this monster slaughtered?
[Vanessa] "Let go of me!"
She cursed her luck. To be caught by such a revolting creature was a nightmare.
She struggled to wrench her shoulder free, but his grip remained an iron vice. She tensed her muscles, preparing to drive a kick between his legs.
Then, it happened.
[Leader] "Aaargh!"
The hand pinning her shoulder suddenly buckled backward. A hand had darted from the shadows, seizing the leader’s wrist and twisting it with savage force.
Her eyes widened. Standing at the edge of her vision was Declan, his face a mask of frigid fury.
[Leader] "Wh-what?! Agggh!"
Declan used the grip to yank the brute away from Vanessa, tearing him from her personal space. He slammed the man against the wall, pinning his arm behind his back.
The subjugation happened in a heartbeat—a violent display of superior strength. The leader’s cheek scraped against the rough stone. He thrashed, trying to break the hold, but Declan remained immovable.
[Man 2] "Boss!"
[Man 3] "Damn it! Who is this guy? Let him go, or......"
The two lackeys lunged forward to save their leader. Their momentum died instantly as knights appeared behind them, drawing swords with a terrifying, metallic ring.
The men who had just been mocking a lone woman were now the ones surrounded.
Declan showed zero mercy, grinding the leader’s arm further into the wall.
[Leader] "H-hey. Listen, pal."
The leader realized he was outmatched. He stopped struggling and spoke with a forced, casual tone.
[Leader] "It was just a joke. A joke! A pretty lady walks by, and you have a little fun. That’s all."
[Declan] "A joke?"
His voice cut through the air like a winter gale.
The leader’s attempt at an excuse was a fatal mistake; Declan twisted the arm further. The sound of straining bone made the bandit’s blood run cold.
[Leader] "No! A mistake! I meant it was a mistake!"
[Declan] "Then perhaps I’ll break your wrist and call it a joke. Or a mistake."
Cruelty dripped from his smooth, low voice.
Declan had followed Vanessa in secret, and he had heard every vile word this trash had directed at her.
The heat of his rage threatened to char his lungs. Just as he applied enough pressure to snap the bone—
[Vanessa] "Declan."
The red haze in his vision cleared instantly. One word. Her voice.
Declan turned his head slowly. Vanessa watched him. He didn't need a lecture; he read the silent plea for restraint in her eyes.
[Declan] "Don't even think about moving."
He growled the warning into the leader’s ear before finally releasing him.
Vanessa watched the bandit warily, expecting a counterattack, but the man merely clutched his wrist, his face twisted in genuine agony.
Declan pointed the tip of his unsheathed sword toward the alley exit. He didn't need to speak; the message was clear: Leave while you still have your lives.
[Leader] "Fine. Just let my men go."
Declan nodded, and the knights sheathed their weapons.
[Declan] "Consider this your only mercy. Get out before I change my mind."
The bandits, who had been so arrogant when they held the advantage, fled the moment they realized they were prey. They vanished into the crowd outside the alley.
[Dina] "My Lady!"
Dina rushed over, her hands fluttering as she checked Vanessa for injuries. She gently took the maid’s hands to steady her, then looked at Declan.
[Vanessa] "...You haven't left yet?"
The question reminded him of his previous claim—that their meeting was a coincidence and his purpose was not her.
Declan, who had been glaring at the alleyway with a murderous intensity, immediately softened his gaze. He stepped forward.
Her eyes dropped to his left hand, which remained heavily bandaged.
[Declan] "Because of my hand......"
[Vanessa] "......"
[Declan] "I had to delay my departure."
Vanessa realized she had completely forgotten about his injury. It was hard to remember when he had just dismantled a mountain bandit using what appeared to be effortless strength.
She knew he was a formidable warrior, but seeing him work with such precision—even while hindered—was jarring.
[Vanessa] "...Thank you for the help. I’ll be going now."
The gratitude felt clunky in her mouth.
Twice now, he had saved her from disaster. The thought of what those bandits might have done made her skin crawl.
But gratitude didn't erase the suffocating tension between them.
She turned to flee the awkwardness.
[Declan] "Wait."
And once again, his voice stopped her.
[Declan] "Wait...... can we talk for a moment?"
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