“Thank you, Lord Banning,” expressed Emilia with gratitude, before voicing her inquiries. \
She had countless questions for him.
“Lord Banning, my memories of last night’s events are hazy. Could you enlighten me on what transpired?”
Banning nodded, tidying up while addressing her queries.
Banning informed Emilia:
The Crimson Serpent King, Splurt, ensnared itself and was slain by the Poison Blade Rat King;
Oleg’s cherished Secret Saber: Blaze Steed remained unscathed;
Although the Branch Chief suffered severe burns, his life was not in danger, and he was receiving treatment;
Among the 35 bounty hunters who participated in the battle, excluding Emilia and Banning, 9 perished, 11 were gravely wounded, and 15 sustained minor injuries;
Everyone, including the deceased, had returned to Sunny Town, with the burial ceremony scheduled for that afternoon.
…
These tragic events were recounted dispassionately by Banning, as if they bore no relation to him, though he was deeply involved.
“Does it not sadden you, Lord Banning?”
“Grieving won’t solve the issue… The only way to honor the sacrifices of the fallen is to pull ourselves together and live on,” Banning replied coldly, tearing apart a piece of black bread and dipping it in hot water.
Only then did Emilia remember that she had been too preoccupied eating and had left nothing for Banning!
—(How could I be so shameless!)
Blushing furiously, Emilia stammered, struggling to find the right words to apologize. She wished she could knock her head on the table and perish from the impact.
“Don’t worry, I only prepared a single serving of potato soup. I intended to eat the black bread from the beginning,” Banning added, deepening Emilia’s embarrassment.
.
“Lord Banning… Why do you take such care of me?”
Emilia covered her face, unable to look at Banning. She owed him so much.
“Isn’t it my duty to tend to the wounded?” Banning replied indifferently.
At first, it seemed reasonable, but upon further reflection, Emilia found it unconvincing.
“But weren’t there other injured people last night?” she asked.
“Indeed,” Banning nodded, then pondered with closed eyes before providing an answer that made Emilia’s heart race.
“However, you are the only wounded person I wish to care for.”
Emilia was left dumbstruck.
—(What does this mean?)
—(Is this… a confession?)
—(W-Wait… isn’t this too direct?)
Emilia’s breathing hastened.
She covertly studied Banning’s expression, noticing his composure—uncharacteristic of a confession.
Could it be… a misunderstanding?
“Why do you wish to care for me alone?”
Emilia cautiously probed. At this point, she needed clarity.
Banning glanced at Emilia with an expression reserved for fools, as if she had asked an absurd question.
“Because you still owe me money. You need to recover quickly so you can buy me potion books and teach me magic.”
Each word from Banning felt like a dagger piercing Emilia’s heart. Her accelerated breathing and flushed cheeks plummeted to icy depths.
Emilia felt like a fool for even entertaining the notion that the devious Banning could… could harbor… affection for her.
—(But, did I think that way because I’ve fallen for him?)
The thought lingered in Emilia’s mind, refusing to dissipate.
—(Do I… like Banning?)
.
“Would you return to bed for some rest? I can assist you.”
“No need for now, thank you… I seem to be gradually adjusting.”
Emilia, feeling unsettled and wary of physical contact with Banning, attempted to stand and walk on her own.
She discovered her body was no longer as sore as when she had first awakened.
Her swift recovery was due entirely to Banning’s attentive care throughout the morning.
“That’s good… I’ll bring you food at noon,” Banning said as he began tidying up, leaving Emilia with a sense of loss.
It dawned on Emilia that she had unwittingly grown accustomed to Banning’s presence. However, he was not obliged to remain with her indefinitely.
Would he continue to visit her daily once her injuries healed?
Emilia knew the answer was likely negative.
After their debt involving two third-tier magic books was settled, there might be no continuation to their relationship.
The thought of permanently losing Banning pained her heart and left her breathless.
“I’ll be going now, Emilia,” Banning said, gripping his parcel and heading for the door.
Emilia wished to say something to make him stay, but couldn’t find a suitable excuse, so she just nodded dumbly.
Banning turned and walked towards the door, distancing himself from Emilia step by step.
As she watched his retreating figure, Emilia recalled the delicious soup from the morning;
His meticulous care;
His insistence on looking after her despite the previous night’s grueling battle;
And how he had urgently lifted her onto the horse at the end of the encounter.
She remembered Banning’s concern as he applied the antidote after she had been bitten by the snake;
She thought of how he had single-handedly diverted the powerful enemy for the team’s safety;
How he had discovered Nassar’s abnormality;
How he had timely dealt with the monster rat infestation in the slums;
How Banning had accrued numerous merits, yet sought no recognition;
How he acted benevolent and treated non-human races equally;
…
Reflecting on these memories, Emilia realized Banning was not a bad guy.
When he had forcefully given her two third-tier magic books, he wasn’t seeking compensation but was, in his own way, unlocking her refusal to engage in battle.
This young man who daily pasted cute little foxes on the inn’s walls was not a wicked person.
As memories continued to flash before her eyes, Emilia found herself unwittingly following Banning to the door.
Watching Banning prepare to leave, Emilia remembered her mom’s words from childhood:
“Emilia, when you grow up and find someone you love, pursue them bravely. We fox people are a passionate and fearless tribe~”
Instinctively, Emilia reached for Banning’s hand. 𝒩𝞸𝓋𝗅𝐞xt.𝔠𝔬𝔪
Then, as he turned to face her, she tiptoed and gave Banning a quick peck on the cheek.
Before Banning could react, Emilia pushed him out the door and quickly closed it behind him.
—(Heavens… What have I done!)
—(I… I…!)
Emilia sat on the floor, leaning against the door.
Her cheeks burned as her heart threatened to burst from her chest…!