Chapter 462: Make Yourself At Home
Following Marcus through the forest path, Serah kept her eyes fixed on the way he moved with ease, as if the woods themselves parted for him. After several minutes, the thick curtain of trees broke open, revealing a cabin tucked neatly into the clearing. It was built of thick, sturdy timber, its roof slanted, and a small front porch extended from its face with a couple of wooden steps leading up. Not far from the cabin, a river wound gracefully, its water flowing steady and clear, catching streaks of moonlight between the branches.
Serah paused as her gaze swept over the scene. The place was simple, modest compared to the grandeur of her home back in the royal palace, yet the beauty here was undeniable. The cabin seemed to hum with peace, surrounded by the wilderness, as though time itself slowed around it. For some reason, the sight struck her more deeply than gilded halls ever had.
"You don’t plan on just standing out there all night, do you, princess?" Marcus’s voice cut through her trance.
Serah blinked, realizing she had been staring. She looked up to see him already halfway up the short steps of the porch, waiting with that familiar half-smile tugging at his lips. Quickly, she collected herself and followed him.
Inside, she was met with a warmly lit room that surprised her with its homeliness. The first thing she noticed was a sturdy wooden table set with benches on each side, bowls resting neatly upon it as though ready for use. Beyond that, her eyes drifted to a wooden bed, dressed with striped bedding. Beside it, a small fireplace rested, faintly crackling with lingering warmth. Patterned rugs softened the wooden floor, while shelves lined with cooking pots, utensils, and jars filled the corner. Lamps hung from the beams and walls, their gentle glow illuminating the cabin with a rustic charm.
"You can set your stuff there," Marcus said, gesturing toward the bed before turning to face her fully. "From the look of your luggage and what you told me earlier, I doubt you’re planning on heading back soon. I know this isn’t a palace, but... try to make yourself comfortable."
Serah lingered for a moment, her crimson eyes studying both the room and him. "Do you live here alone?"
"Oh, no. Not at all," Marcus answered quickly, shaking his head. "Truth is, I built this place not long ago. I don’t even stay here much. My dad’s cabin is a few miles out from here. This is more like a resting spot. Somewhere I can stay without bothering the old man too much."
"Oh... I see," Serah said softly. She set her luggage down by the bed, her fingers brushing the striped bedding absentmindedly before she straightened. "So... your father. Does he know I’m here, or am I some kind of secret?"
Marcus leaned back against the wooden wall with ease, crossing his arms. "Oh, he knows. Wanted to meet you, actually. But I told him I had to ask you first. Besides, you’re here for your little Pureblood research mission, aren’t you?"
Serah arched a brow. "He wants to meet me? Isn’t he... you know..."
"Suspicious?" Marcus cut in with a smirk. "Cautious? Oh yeah. More than me, even. But he’s curious. Keeps saying he doesn’t get what the princess of Solara could possibly see in an idiot like me." His tone was casual, but there was a spark of humor in his eyes.
Serah’s eyes widened slightly before she scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "I ask myself the same thing every single time," she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for him to catch.
Marcus chuckled, shaking his head.
Out loud, Serah said more firmly, "I’d like to meet him. Whenever the time’s right."
"Nice," Marcus replied, pushing off the wall. "But that’ll have to wait until you’ve proven yourself against your new fighting buddies. And hey, after that, maybe we’ll finally have that talk you’ve been itching for."
He walked closer, gesturing toward the table. "There’s food there if you’re hungry. And if you feel like bathing, just follow the river downstream in the opposite direction. There’s a smaller waterfall with a pool—it’s private, you’ll like it."
"Got it. Thank you," Serah said, her tone polite but softer than before.
"You’re welcome, princess," Marcus said with a small grin. He headed toward the door, his steps lazy, casual. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be stepping out. Don’t want you thinking I’m some kind of pervert hanging around while you settle in. I’ll be up the third tree to the left, catching some rest. Wake me if you need anything."
He was halfway through the door when her voice stopped him.
"Wait a second," Serah said calmly, her tone carrying weight enough to halt him in his tracks.
"Hm," Marcus turned slightly, one brow arched. "Need help with something?"
"No, I don’t actually," Serah said, her voice calm but edged with concern. "I just wanted to ask what’s wrong with your torso. You’ve been favoring it ever since Caelmoor, and you groan slightly every now and then. I know something’s wrong. You told me in the call you’d explain when I got here."
Marcus looked at her for a moment before smirking faintly. "Guess I can’t hide it much, huh?"
Slowly, he raised his tunic, pulling it up above his abs.
Serah’s cheeks burned at the sudden movement, her eyes catching sight of his defined muscles and the countless scars carved across his skin. But then her blush faded instantly as something else drew her attention.
On the left side of Marcus’s abdomen, running up toward his ribs, were deep crimson lines that pulsed faintly, glowing like veins of molten fire beneath his flesh.
"I got ambushed by some Blood Demons a few months back," Marcus began, his tone almost casual despite the sight, "and even though I managed to survive and win, I was left with this. They hit me with countless poison attacks in the same spot. I underestimated them, thought their venom wasn’t as strong as before. I was wrong. I overdosed on it, and using my magic to heal it all at once is impossible." He gave a shrug. "But it’s healing, just at a very slow pace."
Serah stared at the wound, wide-eyed, her heart tightening as the realization sank in. He spoke as if it were nothing, but she couldn’t shake her worry.
"Anyway," Marcus said, dropping his tunic back into place, "I should be fine in the next three days or so. It’s been long enough now, so wipe that concerned look off your face, princess. Doesn’t suit you."
Serah blinked rapidly, trying to gather herself, but the image of the wound remained burned in her mind.
"But I can’t deny," Marcus added with his usual flirtatious grin, "that I love how worried you are about me."
"Marcus—" she began, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"Relax. If you need help, you know where to find me. For now, I’d advise you rest. Big day tomorrow—got your Pureblood study and all that fun stuff waiting."
"Sure... I guess," Serah muttered softly.
"Wow, very understanding. Guess I hit a jackpot, father," Marcus chuckled to himself. "Well, see you in the morning then. Good night."
"Yeah... good night," she whispered.
With that, Marcus turned and walked out of the cabin, leaving Serah standing alone.
She eventually sat down on the bed, sinking into the softness. It wasn’t the luxury of the palace, but it was comforting in its own way. Her hand brushed against the bedding, but her mind was far from the present.
"So that’s the reason he couldn’t call me all that time..." she murmured under her breath. "And here I thought he’d forgotten me. Turns out, he was fighting for his life."
She smacked her forehead lightly with her palm. "Why didn’t I even consider that?" Sighing, she laid back on the bed, eyes closing briefly.
"Well, no use whining about it now," she whispered. "There’s nothing I can do except hope he heals like he said... and that we can have that heart-to-heart. If not... leaving Ilis would’ve been for nothing."
Her stomach growled suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. With a small groan, she sat up, recalling Marcus’s words about food on the table.
Moving calmly, she approached the table, lifting the wooden covers from the bowls. What she found inside widened her eyes.
One bowl contained steaming rice, and the other held a rich, aromatic sauce.
Serah leaned closer, inhaling deeply, and her stomach growled again as the savory scent filled her senses. Without hesitation, she served herself, scooping rice and sauce onto a plate.
The moment she took her first bite, her mind went blank.
Her eyes widened as the flavors spread across her tongue, her lips parting in disbelief.
"No way... he prepared this," she muttered between bites. "It’s... it’s so good."
Her spoon moved faster, her hunger taking control. "Ahhh," she moaned softly, savoring the warmth in her mouth. "I think I just fell for him even more."
She smiled faintly as she took another spoonful, completely lost in the taste.