Loving The Mad King

Rion And Odette Visit The Cemetery

Exactly as Trish had predicted, Aiden's return made Rion remember all the events of six years ago clearly. That made Rion feel very uneasy, and he started blaming himself again. 

He paced the room with his chest heaving. The king felt like screaming when the faces of Helen and Aiden came to mind. He hit the wall in rage, but moments later his expression turned sad. He remembered Rose and Lucas.

He stood there for a moment before Odette walked out with wide strides and a shaking face.

Odette planned to see Rion's condition because she was worried after hearing Trish's words. She saw the man with a tense face and decided to follow him.

"Stop!"

When Rion took his horse and looked like he was about to leave, Odette immediately blocked his path. It caused Rion to forcefully pull the reins of his horse, which almost hit the woman.

"What are you doing here? Get out of the way. I want to pass," Rion said flatly.

Odette shook her head, and said, "No. Not before you tell me where you're going."

"Visiting Lucas. Now get out of the way!"

Odette shook her head again.

"No, you can't go alone," she said stubbornly.

"You want to stop me?"

"No. I'll go with you, to help you if you suddenly relapsed. You don't have to worry about me getting hurt because of Lucifer, I can handle it," said Odette as she tried to reassure him.

Rion didn't say anything. He looked at Odette intensely and seemed to be in deep thought.

"So?" Odette waited for an answer. Rion snorted before he finally nodded in agreement.

"Okay," said Rion.

The sky wasn't very clear tonight. The stars that had always appeared easily now had to work a little harder to break through the clouds that blocked their light from reaching the eyes of the earthlings.

Along the way, as the horse galloped, Odette kept smiling. She felt happy to be able to spend time with Rion.

Two hours later, the horse finally came to a stop near the vast cemetery. Rion went down first, then he told Odette to come down. Odette jumped as he caught her. For a moment, Odette's face turned red when they got closer to each other.

"Th-thank you," she said in a stammer after she stood up straight. Rion didn't say anything, he just turned around, and then walked into the cemetery area.

While she followed Rion, Odette looked to the left and right. She was looking at each tomb she passed. Each tombstone was engraved with the royal coat of arms of Panthera. Namely, the head of the Black Panther framed by a circle.

From the title written along with the name, she could deduce that the cemetery was the burial site of the knights and important officials who had served in Panthera. After walking for about ten minutes, Rion finally stopped near a tombstone that read 'Lucas Adhelard.'

'This is… the grave of Knight Lucas…' Odette muttered in her mind. She then glanced at Rion as she wondered how the man's expression was now. She found an expressionless face with sad eyes. He looked like he was harboring a lot of sadness.

Rion sat beside the tomb, and Odette followed him again. She wanted to give Rion space, but at the same time tried to stay close to him, just in case.

"Lucas." Rion touched the tombstone. 'I thought I had sent all those criminals to the afterlife, but there are still some left. I promise you I'll catch him again. Rest in peace, and please forgive me.'

"If you want to cry, just cry," said Odette as she saw a dejected Rion. He glanced at her. Odette quickly added and smiled, "If you're shy you can think of me as a tree." 

"There are no talking trees," Rion said flatly, then stood up to leave.

"Are you already finished?" Odette rose and followed him.

"If you want to spend the night here, whatever."

"It's not like that. I thought you would..."

"Cry hysterically until the morning comes?" Rion asked Odette in a mocking tone.

"N-no, that's not what I mean." Odette felt hopeless. She wanted to say something but Rion had left her. "Hey, wait for me!"

Odette ran after Rion. Before they got out of the cemetery area, the rain suddenly fell so hard. It grew heavier with time.

The rain was a sign from nature that summer was coming to an end, and autumn was coming near.

Rion swiftly took off his outer garment and used it as an umbrella to protect his head and Odette's head. He then put his arm around her shoulder and made her walk side by side with him.

His action made Odette swoon. If he was like this, how could Odette not fall in love even more?

"How about you?" Odette asked when Rion gave her the clothes they used as umbrellas to Odette, for her own use.

"Rain like this isn't a problem for me. Come on up quickly."

Rion helped the woman onto the horse, after which they left the venue and entered the Baster Inn. He didn't forget that the girl he was with now, had just recovered from a fever. If it rained for longer, then she could catch a fever again.

"Rion, why are we here?" asked Odette, as she walked briskly, trying not to cut down Rion's footsteps towards the entrance of the inn. There, a man who wore a white shirt and black vest greeted them immediately.

"Welcome to the Baster Inn. An inn that always serves guests wholeheartedly, and doesn't ask too many questions," said the man with enthusiasm and cheerfulness, to which Rion responded flatly. Odette put on a strange face when she heard the man's last sentence.

"I'd like to book a room."

"Sure. Please come with me."

"One room?" Odette looked at Rion questioningly, but the man didn't answer. Odette often felt that talking to the guy was like talking to a wall.

They were ushered into a room by the same man who greeted them. Before they entered, Rion made a request to be given a change of clothes. The clothes that he and Odette were currently wearing were wet from the rain. The innkeeper agreed to the request.

While she was in the same room as Rion, Odette became restless and felt uncomfortable. She had never shared a room like this with a man. Even though she liked Rion, that didn't mean she would want to do anything with him.

She'd better get out. In the first place, she shouldn't have come in. Stupid!

"Don't think about weird things. I brought you here just so you don't catch a cold again," Rion explained flatly when he saw Odette who was about to turn and leave.

After she heard this, Odette was stunned, and then looked at Rion intently. She did not expect that Rion would be worried about her health.

She wondered in her mind if the woman Rion was with right now wasn't her, would Rion do the same and pay the same attention to her?

"Excuse me." A female staff member came and stood in the doorway.

"I brought a change of clothes for the Mister and Miss," she said softly. Odette accepted the clothes given by the girl, then thanked her.