The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 25

By the time we emerged from the Deathshade Forest and handed the chimera over to the villagers, the rain had become a full downpour. Thankfully, it was heavy enough to cancel the plans for a celebration, much to my relief.

With the feast postponed, Dirk and I made our way back to the villa.

Although autumn had just begun, the night was cold, especially with the rain. I lit the fireplace in the sitting room and hung my damp coat over a screen to dry.

“Maybe a bit of wind would help this dry faster…”

The chill was starting to seep into my bones, and I considered taking off my wet clothes completely. Just as I was mulling it over, Dirk returned to the room.

“These might be a bit big, but you should change into them. The room next door is warmer,” he said, handing me a set of his clothes.

“Thank you.”

Dirk had already changed into dry clothes. His were large on me, so I wrapped a belt around my waist to make the oversized outfit into a makeshift dress. When I returned, Dirk was hanging his cloak by the fire and paused when he saw me, eyes widening in surprise.

“I know it looks silly. Your clothes are huge on me,” I said, giving a small shrug.

“No, it’s… nothing. I see now why the soldiers make such a fuss when someone wears their clothes,” he muttered under his breath.
I couldn’t catch the last part, but his mood seemed lighter, which put me at ease. With the initial tension gone, the question that had been nagging at me came back.

Why had Dirk come to the Deathshade Forest in the first place?
We hadn’t talked much after he arrived. The rain had picked up quickly, and Dirk had handled all the explanations with the village chief. Now, sitting across from me by the fire, his expression was more serious than I’d ever seen. It made his usually composed features even more imposing.

“Rubel, come sit here,” Dirk said, his voice formal and steady.
Puzzled, I sat down opposite him. He leaned forward, and with a deep, serious expression, he began.

“Why did you leave Neige Castle without telling anyone?”

“Wait, what?” I stared at him, confused.

Dirk’s expression remained stern, and his hands were clasped tightly.

“If you felt you needed to leave Rostorc, I would have understood if you’d gone somewhere safer. I even told the castle staff not to stop you if it came to that. But for you to disappear without warning… it was difficult.”

“Dirk! What are you talking about?” I interrupted, my voice louder than intended.

Dirk’s eyes met mine for the first time since we’d sat down. They were filled with worry, and I took the chance to explain.
“I heard at the barracks that a chimera had been spotted in the Deathshade Forest, threatening nearby villages. I thought I’d take the chance to visit the villa and deal with the chimera on a quick trip. I only got delayed because of the rain.”

“A quick trip?” Dirk’s disbelief was evident.

“Yes, just a day trip.”

Dirk exhaled, pressing his forehead into his hands. I felt a strange sense that there had been a huge misunderstanding.
“Why did you come here, Dirk?” I asked, puzzled.

“I received a messenger bird at the expedition saying you had ‘fled.’ Based on what little I knew, I suspected you’d gone to Carbuncus and rode ahead. When I got here, I found out you’d entered the forest. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

There was so much relief in his voice that I was taken aback.

“I did tell Salia I was heading out…”

“Next time, tell someone where you’re going. The castle was in an uproar,” Dirk said, his serious tone making me pause. His words sent a mix of warmth and guilt through me.

Lifting his head, Dirk continued in a voice laced with concern.

“The Deathshade Forest is a dangerous place, especially for
someone unfamiliar with it. People can get lost and become easy prey for monsters. The abundance of spirits here can make the weather and temperature unpredictable, even in summer. No matter how strong you are, without the right knowledge, you could freeze or succumb to heat.”

His steady explanation felt more like a lecture than an outburst. I’d been yelled at in the military, but a well-reasoned reprimand was rare. It reminded me of my old lieutenant’s cautious advice.

“Were you… worried about me?” I blurted out, interrupting him.
“Of course. I was afraid something had happened to you,” Dirk said without hesitation.

I’d never heard that from anyone before. Warmth spread through my chest, making me feel restless.

“What about the castle?” I asked quietly.

“Salia blames herself for not stopping you. The soldiers who shared their meals with you are worried they did something wrong. The whole castle was dispirited when they thought you were gone.”

“That much?” I said, my voice rising in surprise.

Dirk’s gaze was steady as he replied, “That’s how much you mean to them.”

I felt the weight of it all sink in and leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t realized I’d caused so much worry. Regret bubbled up, and I wanted to apologize, but the words felt stuck. Instead, I looked away.

“But… you didn’t ask for my help, either,” I said, surprised by the petulant tone of my own voice.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dirk’s hard expression soften in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

His voice was gentle, making it even harder to speak, but I pressed on.

“You knew you needed more help with the monster hunts. More were coming down from the mountains, keeping you busy. I could have helped. I can handle creatures like the Thunderhart and chimeras alone, as you saw today.”

As a Holy Maiden, I was used to handling monsters solo. It was faster, more efficient. Sitting in Neige Castle, training and waiting, hadn’t felt right.

“I could have helped, Dirk. You could have relied on me.”

I met his violet eyes, now wide with surprise.

“Were you… sulking?” he asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
The question made me pause. Realization dawned, and I tapped my palm lightly.

“Oh… maybe I was. I think I was sulking,” I said, the weight lifting as I admitted it.

Dirk’s expression shifted from shock to a soft smile as understanding dawned. He stood and came over, kneeling beside my chair.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you felt so connected to Rostorc. I never doubted your abilities,” he said, sincerity in every word.
His apology eased the last of my tension, and I found myself smiling too.

“I’m sorry for worrying everyone. I didn’t think anyone would be that concerned.”

“It’s enough that you know now. Next time, just tell someone where you’re going. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Dirk said, a hint of humor returning to his voice.

I could tell he wasn’t angry, and I let out a relieved laugh. Dirk’s eyes widened briefly before he stood and shook off the moment.

“Well, it looks like we’ll have to stay here for the night. Let’s get something to eat.”

Right then, my stomach let out a loud growl.

“Your stomach is honest,” Dirk said, chuckling as I blushed. But with him smiling, it felt like everything was going to be all right.