I Will Walk with You Through the Sorrow

Beside the burning campfire, the two of them sat in silence, not saying a word as the flames crackled in the air.

Xia De quietly went about his work. A few skinned horned rabbits were skewered and roasting over the fire.

Seasoned with his homemade spices, the rabbit meat sizzled and dripped with fat, releasing an invisible, mouthwatering aroma that drifted through the air.

Hilia sat curled up nearby, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees and her face buried deep between them.

The delicious scent naturally made Hilia's mouth water, but she didn't raise her head.

Out of Xia De's line of sight, Hilia's composure had completely shattered. A deep blush rushed to her cheeks, gradually dyeing even the tips of her ears red.

Peeking through the gap between her knees, Hilia stole a red-faced glance at Xia De, who was busy roasting the meat, before quickly retracting her gaze like a startled rabbit.

She pursed her lips tightly, her thoughts growing increasingly chaotic for some reason.

This was the first time a man had ever seen her body. Since he had clearly seen everything, why was he staying so quiet? What on earth was he thinking?

Little did she know, Xia De's mind was also in complete disarray.

Just as he had realized before, he really didn't know how to deal with women. Now that he had accidentally seen her completely naked, what was he supposed to do?

Moreover, whenever Xia De thought about this, a deep sense of resistance would always well up in his heart—a trauma carried over from his past life.

Even after making countless promises, some people would just throw them all away the moment they met someone new, leaving only him behind to grieve alone.

Since then, he had stopped placing expectations on others. As long as he expected nothing, he would never be hurt. This applied to his career, family, and romance alike.

It was with this exact mindset that he had managed to survive in this new world.

The same went for his time in the village. He hadn't expected anything from the villagers. Whether it was Huey or Lili, any kindness he returned was simply because they had shown him kindness first.

So... although he felt incredibly sorry toward Hilia...

Xia De turned his head to look at Hilia. The young woman remained curled up, her face buried deep within her knees.

The warm, bright yellow glow of the fire illuminated his face, but it only served to make his dark eyes look even more hollow.

“I'm sorry. I will act as if I saw nothing.”

His voice wasn't quiet, yet it was completely flat, as if he were speaking of some trivial, everyday matter.

Hearing Xia De's words, the first thought that popped into Hilia's head was:

Immediately afterward, an inexplicable anger welled up from the depths of her heart, accompanied by a sudden tidal wave of grievance.

As a princess, she had always been extremely mindful of her etiquette. Whether she was with the elves or adventuring outside, she had never interacted with any male other than her own relatives.

Yet, the very first time her body was seen completely naked by a man, he had brushed it off so casually.

Biting her lower lip tightly with her upper teeth, she suddenly raised her head and glared at Xia De with aggrieved eyes.

But the moment her eyes met Xia De's, she froze.

His hollow gaze seemed to hold an endless, profound sorrow. It was a look Hilia was all too familiar with.

It was so familiar that it made her heart ache. It was a look of loss. A look of shutting oneself away from the world.

For some reason, looking at Xia De like this filled her with a deep sadness for him, and she buried her face once more.

She took a deep breath, repeatedly whispering to herself in her mind.

At that thought, a smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of Hilia's lips, though it was filled with deep sympathy.

She raised her head slightly, revealing only half of her face. Staring at the dancing flames of the campfire, she spoke.

“I was born into the Elven Royal Family, but I feel like these past few days have been the happiest time of my life.”

Xia De's hands paused slightly. He didn't say anything, not understanding why Hilia was suddenly sharing her past.

However, he didn't interrupt her, simply continuing to silently roast the horned rabbit meat.

“My talent was poor. I was slower to learn everything compared to my older brother, and even my younger sister, who is seven years younger than me, learned new magic faster than I did.

“My parents practically ignored me. Even when they occasionally made promises, they would gradually break them.

“My childhood consisted of nothing but empty rooms and cold ceilings. I, too, slowly stopped expecting anything from the world, gradually shutting myself away.

“Later, I came across an adventure book from the human world. Captivated by the stories inside, a thought sprouted in my mind: Since nobody needs me anyway, why not go on an adventure?

“However, as an elf—and a princess at that—I couldn't just leave our clan lands at will, so I never acted on it.

“But one day, my parents returned from a diplomatic visit to a human empire with my younger sister, and she told me all about what she had seen.

“The bustling streets of the Royal Capital, the beautifully decorated palaces, the interesting toys, the delicious pastries, and the endless streams of people—adventurers, merchants, knights, and so much more.

“For the first time, I felt jealous of my sister. I could no longer endure being constantly ignored. Since I wasn't needed anyway, it wouldn't matter if I wasn't there, right?

“So, I sneaked out, came to the human world, and became an adventurer.

“But back then, deep down, I was still holding onto the hope of gaining my parents' attention.”

By now, the meat was fully cooked, its sizzling surface releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

Xia De tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Hilia. She took it, took a small bite, and continued.

“When I first arrived in the human world, everything was so new and exciting. I didn't hide my identity as an elf either, so I drew crowds of onlookers wherever I went.

“I was actually quite happy at the time, because after being ignored for so long, I was suddenly the center of attention.”

As Hilia said this, she scratched her head in embarrassment and giggled sheepishly. Then, her gaze softened as she touched the necklace around her neck.

“Fortunately, I managed to escape under the protection of this necklace, though my trust had been shattered once again.

“From then on, I realized that the life of an adventurer in reality wasn't nearly as beautiful as the books described, so I began to hide my identity.”

“The quests I accepted also gradually shifted toward those that didn't require interacting with other people.”

“Later, I heard that my parents had thrown a massive birthday banquet for my sister. Out of an ugly sense of jealousy, I took on an A-rank quest, and ended up encountering a Tier Six magical beast.

“Unlike my encounter with the slave traders, faced with the power of a Tier Six beast, I couldn't even run away. On the brink of death, many thoughts flashed through my mind, and I suddenly found myself ridiculous. It was as if I had constantly been risking my life just because I craved my parents' attention.

“After you saved me, I really, really, really, really thought about it for a long time. I decided that I want to live for myself. I want to follow you!

“And then, you asked me so many questions. I was so happy and grateful, because for the very first time in my life, I felt needed.”

She took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked over to stand right in front of Xia De, looking at him with absolute sincerity.

“After saying all this, what I want to tell you is that, just as you said I am important to you, you are also incredibly important to me. You saved me when I was at my most terrified and desperate. So...”

She slowly extended her hand, a blissful smile gracing her lips. Her emerald eyes were filled with endless tenderness and resolve, and her pale golden hair glowed warmly under the bright yellow light of the campfire.

“...I will walk with you through your sorrow.”

The elven girl's radiant smile, blooming in the night, was reflected in Xia De's eyes. His gaze flickered slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

Staring at her outstretched hand, Xia De hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not take it. He awkwardly turned his gaze aside and muttered softly,

“My hands are greasy.”

Hilia gasped in surprise, hurriedly raising her hands to check them. Only after confirming there was no grease on her hands did she let out a sigh of relief. It was then that she heard Xia De whisper:

“Thank you.”

Seeing that Xia De's expression had visibly softened, Hilia finally felt at ease. She returned to her spot, watching Xia De as he silently ate his roasted meat, lost in thought. Her expression grew inexplicably determined.