“Oh, you’re awake. Did you have a nice sleep?”

I asked her while smiling in satisfaction over my work.

“You made… all of this…?”

She asked shocked.

“Yes. I’m fortunate I didn’t need to cut down anything other than wood earlier.”

Still in a daze, I answered her easily.

“How… How long have I been asleep…?”

“Just for several hours.”

“Are you sure I haven’t been sleeping for days…?”

“Indeed. I’m quite proud of my work.”

“Are you a knight or a builder…?”

“I’m neither a knight nor a builder. Just a traveler if you don’t mind.”

I shouldn’t let this girl have any false assumptions due to my skill.

“This is pretty amazing…”

“It’s nothing much. This place should prove suitable enough as our base for now. We’ll need to rest up some more before leaving.”

“For now…?”

Viola looked a bit surprised.

“Yes, it’s best to construct a base to rest before heading out. We should first scout our surroundings then find the best path to escape. Well, you’ll be leaving first.”

“Huh? I’m leaving first…?”

“Yes. I still have something to accomplish here. That’s why I cannot leave.”

“Then, can I wait for you?”

She asked me timidly.

Wait for me…

No, I won’t be able to leave after I finish my task.

“I’m afraid not. You see, it will take some time for me to finish. I intend to head to the mansion back later on and settle my task. I cannot guarantee your safety as well as my own, so until I escort you safely outside this Cursed Area, you’d best prepare to leave.”

“I see.”

She cast her gaze downwards slightly depressed.

“Have no fear, I found a bow and made some arrows. They should serve you well.”

“Thank you.”

She looked a bit happier but she still looks dispirited after my refusal.

“Now then… Let’s go find something to eat. There should be some food here…”

“You didn’t look for food?”

A bit ashamed I answered her.

“No. I prioritized our safety first. Sorry…”

“It’s alright.”

“Well then…”

I began to head back into the cabin.

“Let’s go back inside to settle our affairs. It’s creepy enough in this cursed forest.”

“Yes…”

I lead Viola inside.

Inside the cabin, I found several days worth of supplies. They should be good enough for Viola. I also gave her the bow I found as well as a quiver and several dozen arrows. In case I fall or she faces danger outside, she should stand a chance at living.

I don’t need food so I’m alright.

The body of an undead truly serves for my purpose.

At present, Viola is eating some bread and meat in a table across me.

I’m sitting across her but there’s no food in front of me.

“Um… Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No need to worry. I’m alright.”

She continued eating after I assured her.

“By the way… Lady Viola, how about we talk a bit for now?”

“Er… Yes.”

I think this time should be alright to ask her some questions.

“I’m quite curious as to why an aristocratic girl like yourself is here in the middle of this forest.”

I went straight to the point.

A bit timid, she replied.

“I am an aristocrat… But I ran away from home.”

Expecting that much, I nodded.

“I see, but that doesn’t explain why you’re in such a place like this.”

“Yes… Well, the truth is, my parents arranged a wedding to a noble who I fear… When the carriage I was on was attacked by bandits, I seized the chance to run away.”

I nodded to show my understanding.

“Where you were attacked… It was this forest wasn’t it? If so, are you headed to the Avarin Capital?”

She nodded.

“Yes… I managed to get away for a few days. I managed to bring some food and water with me and found that mansion. I thought I was safe and rested there for a few more days. Besides some supplies and some gold, I don’t have anything else.”

“That was quite fortunate. If this didn’t happen, would you have stayed in the mansion for long?”

“Er… No… Although the mansion was peaceful and there was a garden to grow food, I knew I couldn’t stay long here with my pursuers… Also, this mansion… It made me feed somehow sorrowful when I stayed here…”

“I see…”

Indeed, this mansion has been the site where countless people died in myriads of ways. Majority died brutal deaths.

“I was preparing to leave soon when the curse was brought on…”

She trailed on and stopped speaking.

“How unfortunate. Well now, I believe I should speak about myself a bit. It would be unfair otherwise if I tell someone to reveal their past while I keep silent about mine.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

I laughed calmly.

“Now then… Where to start…?”

I began pondering on this for a few moments.

“Perhaps it would be too obvious, but I was a noble too before.”

“The same as me?”

She asked me quickly.

“Ahaha, not at all. You see, I come from a distinguished family in the Capital you’re headed to. I was quite mischievous back then when I was a child. I was often bored with the house and the stiff etiquette we followed so I often disguised myself to live among the commoners. I took up an identity as a traveler and took up carpentry. I’ve learned a great deal from the man in charge there. He was a good friend.”

I paused and reminisced about that old friend of mine still smiling heartily.

It’s been several years now. I wonder if he’s been well?

“Then, why are you here?”

“Ah that… Well you see… I was wrongly accused of a treasonous crime and was exiled.”

I laughed wryly as I casually made that remark.

“Oh… I-I’m sorry…!”

She began to fluster a bit.

“Ahahaha, no need to mind that. I no longer care for such matters. It’s been several years now you know?”

“Is… is that so…? But then… what about your family?”

“My family? Well, I do care about my sister and some other friends and knights were loyal to me. But I no longer hold an ounce of respect towards my parents. Even if they do try to bring me back, it’s already too late…”

I said ominously.

“Too…Too late?”

“Yes. You’re in the same situation as me now. Separated from your family that sees you nothing more than a tool. My parents never did care for me so I’m perfectly alright with not seeing them again even for eternity. Since if I do come back, they probably would just say something like “We feel great sorrow from your fate and felt aggrieved that Our child would suffer wrongly from such events…” and simply consider me as a nuisance. Even if they did punish the villain, they would only do so to save face.”

“I see…”

She fell silent at my words.

Laughing cheerily to brighten the mood, I spoke once more.

“Listen here then. A life in that world is nothing more than a life filled with lies and greed. A life where you are merely a pawn to be used. There is no value in remaining there. Justice and truth are merely dreams shattered to pieces.”

“…”

I continued on.

“When I was exiled, I was at first distraught, but eventually, I recovered. For some time, I’ve been travelling. I’ve seen many lands and met many good people. It’s a beautifully world where I enjoyed my freedom, free of any restraints. Though I face many dangers and thieves, such is the price of freedom. Lady Viola, you have a choice whether to return to that world, a world of lies where you may never attain true happiness, only wealth with no value whatsoever, or leave here to discover a life of your own. Where the chance of a tragic death always lingers, but within it, a chance at achieving true happiness to claim as your own. It’s merely a matter of choice.”

I finished grandly.

“A chance of true happiness…”

My words lingered on in her mind.

I merely smiled.

“Don’t think too deeply now. There is plenty of time for you to think. It should be better to rest now and prepare for the moment right?”

I diverted her train of thought.

Afterwards, we chatted a bit more.

She told me of various friends of hers and some of the rules of their family.

In turn, I told her some stories from old friends of mine when I once laughed alongside them.

It was a splendid way to pass the time.

----------------------------------------

Good morning everyone. It might be a surprise as to why I posted this chapter due two days later early, but it's mainly due to the reason that I'm transferring schools and I need the time to do so. As for how I was able to post this chapter, that's easily the longest so far, it's mainly due to the reason that I use my free time effectively to write the chapters ahead of time. I still have some chapters ahead of this one... But that can wait until Friday. So I won't be posting anything on Wednesday but I will on Friday. Here's a trivia on my RL. There's a kitten that's the child of a certain cat my cousin owns that really won't let me approach. Well, the mother's fine with it but I'm rather vexed unable to pet it. I will definitely pet it one day... Cuteness is justice. Well, so long till Friday. By the way, although I like cats, I like dogs more due to an old pet of mine... Well, I'll post the story about her on Friday along with the new chapter.