My Love, My Rival

Roadside Tensions II

The gentle rocking of the wagon was surprisingly soothing. Ryuu Hana had long since fallen asleep, her head tilted against the wooden edge of the seat, her body tucked under a blanket she’d grabbed earlier. The soft sway of the wheels on the uneven path, the rhythmic clatter of hooves, and the occasional creak of the wagon itself formed a lullaby that carried her into a peaceful slumber.

Siwoo sat across from her, stiff and alert despite the calm. His eyes never strayed far from the dark forest beyond the wagon’s edges. He leaned back against the rough wooden walls, his fingers tapping a slow, absentminded rhythm on the rim of his glass. The firelight from the wagon’s small lantern flickered in the corner of his eye, casting long shadows over his sharp features.

Neo, however, seemed entirely at ease. The man was lounging with his feet up, his eyes lazily watching the shadows play across the trees. He’d been nursing a bottle of wine for hours, his expression half-absent as he sipped occasionally from it, letting the wine slip past his lips with an exaggerated slowness. His posture was all casual indifference, his every movement measured to create the illusion of effortless grace.

“You keep glancing at her,” Neo remarked suddenly, his voice slurred just enough to carry a teasing edge. His eyes flicked toward Siwoo, his smirk wide and knowing. “I’ve been watching you.”

Siwoo stiffened, his hand gripping his glass a little too tightly. “What? I’m not looking at anyone,” he said quickly, trying to sound casual.

Neo raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Sure, sure. But you keep glancing over at her. It’s... pretty obvious.”

Siwoo shifted, uncomfortable under Neo’s gaze. His eyes darted briefly toward Ryuu, asleep as she was. Her breathing was slow and steady, and the peacefulness of her face gave her a strange sort of vulnerability that Siwoo couldn’t quite shake. He let out a soft sigh, but quickly refocused his attention elsewhere. “I’m just... making sure she’s alright,” he muttered, his voice softer than usual. “She’s asleep.”

Neo tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. “Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that. You’ve been watching her for hours. She’s cute, isn’t she?”

Siwoo’s cheeks flushed red at the suggestion, and he quickly stood, brushing off his clothes as if the motion could erase the heat from his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think you do,” Neo insisted, still lounging lazily. “You’re like a puppy in love, Siwoo. It’s clear as day. You’re protective of her, aren’t you?”

Siwoo’s heart stuttered in his chest, and his breath caught for a moment. He blinked quickly, forcing the words from his lips. “I’m not *protective* of her. She can handle herself. She’s... different.”

Neo’s smile turned almost predatory, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Mm-hmm, different. That’s what they all say. You don’t have to admit it, Siwoo. I can see it in your eyes. You’re smitten.”

Siwoo felt a mix of anger and embarrassment rise up inside him, but he said nothing. The idea that he might actually like Ryuu—more than just as a companion—felt like something raw and too dangerous to acknowledge aloud.

Neo chuckled at Siwoo’s silence, clearly pleased with himself. “It’s okay, you know. Love’s a beautiful thing, even if you don’t know it yet.”

Siwoo shot him a sharp look. “Stop being ridiculous.” He reached for his glass, his fingers trembling ever so slightly, betraying his emotions.

But before the tension could deepen, the wagon jolted suddenly, pulling Siwoo from his thoughts.

“What the—?” he muttered, eyes widening as the wagon swerved violently, nearly throwing him off balance. His heart raced in his chest as he glanced toward the front.

The sound of hooves grew louder, followed by shouts from the front of the wagon. The driver’s frantic voice came next.

“Bandits! We’ve got bandits up ahead!” The coachman’s words were full of terror, his hands shaking as he fought to rein in the panicked horses.

“s**t,” Siwoo cursed under his breath, moving quickly to the front of the wagon. Neo, too, sprang to his feet, all traces of amusement gone from his face.

“Get down!” one of the bandits shouted from outside. They appeared out of the shadows, wearing mismatched armor and carrying crude weapons. The sound of blades scraping against metal filled the air as the bandits began to surround them, their faces lit only by the flickering light from their torches.

Siwoo’s fingers reached for his sword, but the sheath was empty. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline flooding through him. He cursed again. His sword was in the wagon, resting in his pack. “Damn it,” he muttered.

Ryuu, now awake, was already reaching for the hilt of her own weapon, but then she froze, realizing it was still packed away. “What the hell is this?” she growled, staring at the bandits. Her eyes were cold with anger, and her lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “You think you can just take whatever you want?”

Neo let out a dark chuckle. “A woman with fire in her belly. I’m enjoying this.”

Siwoo shot Neo a glare, but the situation was too urgent to argue. He raised his voice toward the front. “Coachman, we need to move! Get us out of here!”

The driver was pale, his hand trembling on the reins as the bandits began to climb aboard, dragging him to the ground. One of them shouted. “Give us your valuables! *Everything!*”

Ryuu, despite her surprise, stood tall and unyielding, her eyes narrowed at the bandits. “You greedy bastards don’t know when to quit, do you?”

Neo leaned back, clearly unconcerned by the situation. He took another swig from his bottle of wine. “Ah, bandits. Always a pleasure.”

One of the bandits, noticing Ryuu’s movement, sneered. “What’s this? A warrior trying to defend herself?” He took a step forward, cracking his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Ryuu’s hand tensed on the hilt of her sword, but the bandits were already closing in, cutting off her movement. “Not today,” she muttered under her breath, her hand still hovering over the hilt, but she knew she was at a disadvantage.

Siwoo shot her a brief glance. “We can’t fight them all off,” he warned. “We need to figure out—”

Before he could finish, the sound of hooves once again pierced the air, louder this time, drowning out the bandits’ jeering. Siwoo’s head snapped up, his eyes flicking toward the road. Relief flooded his chest. “Reinforcements,” he breathed.

But as the figures drew closer, Siwoo’s heart sank. The riders wore the gleaming armor of knights, their steeds powerful and strong. Siwoo’s hope began to rise, but then, as the knights closed in, he saw the unmistakable flicker of recognition in the bandits’ eyes. They didn’t scatter. They didn’t flee.

These knights weren’t here to help.

“They’re with them,” Ryuu muttered darkly. She stepped forward, her hand tightening around the hilt of her blade. “Figures. We’re surrounded.”

Siwoo’s fists clenched. “How can you...?”

But before he could finish his sentence, the lead knight—his face hidden behind his helmet—spoke in a cold, disinterested tone. “Hand over your valuables. Cooperate, or we will make you regret it.”

The bandit leader’s rough voice cut through the tension. “Thought we might need a little backup. These knights sure know how to make things easier.”

Siwoo’s blood boiled. “Knights *should* be protecting the people, not working with scum like you.”

The knight leader’s voice was flat, emotionless. “Your life is worth no more than the price we’ve been paid to take what’s ours. Cooperate or face the consequences.”

Ryuu, her voice laced with sarcasm, scoffed. “Cooperate? You want us to just roll over and hand everything to you?” She turned to Siwoo, her eyes cold with disbelief. “Mercenaries and bandits. What a world.”

Siwoo’s eyes burned with fury, but before he could respond, Neo spoke up. “Sure, take everything. What do we care?” He reached into his coat pocket, producing a small pouch and tossing it at the bandit leader’s feet. “Here’s my contribution. Don’t spend it all in one place.”

The bandits, momentarily distracted, quickly turned their focus back to the group.

Siwoo’s expression twisted. “So this is how it ends?” His voice was dark, full of quiet rage. “We give up everything to thieves and traitors?”

The knight leader, who had remained silent up until now, raised a hand to silence the others. “Take one horse,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of regret. “It’s the least we can do. The road ahead is dangerous. Use it to survive.”

Siwoo’s frustration flared. “Mercy? Is this *mercy*?” His voice shook with emotion. “You steal from us, take everything we have, and now you want to give us one *horse*?

For what?”

“Survival,” the knight muttered. “It’s all about survival.”

As the knights and bandits departed, leaving them with little but the wagon and one horse, Ryuu stared after them, her fists clenched tightly. “I’ll find them again,” she whispered fiercely. “Every last one of them.”

Siwoo stood quietly for a moment before turning to her, his face resolute. “For now, we get out of here.”

Neo let out a dramatic sigh. “Well, at least we’ve got the wine.”

Siwoo turned toward him. “Wine won’t fix this.”

Ryuu, her face hard with determination, said nothing. She just mounted the horse, the weight of the night bearing heavily on her shoulders.

They were silent for a long while, but eventually, Siwoo followed, his jaw set. They had no choice but to move forward.

As the group began to leave the scene, the tension between them was palpable. The road ahead was uncertain, dangerous. But they would move on because there was no other choice.