[TIDK] 54 – One More Illegal Act

It was easier on her body, but the handcuffs scratched her wrist, and it hurt. Still, she didn’t want to talk to Viktor, so she just kept going, but Viktor stopped in the middle. He then turned around and moved his wrist to pull Scarlett.

He found an unsettling sight in Scarlett’s delicate bruised and blistered wrists.

“Say something,” Viktor said, uncuffing.

“…Honestly, it’s comfortable.”

“How can a watchmaker let her hand be hurt?”

After the handcuffs were released, while Scarlett looked at the wound, Viktor took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her wrist.

Scarlett, watching him tie a knot, said. “It’s like the wound back then.”

“What?”

“Oh, from before.”

Viktor slowly watched her. “I don’t remember.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…this wound?”

“Yes, I got the same wound as this one. I don’t recall the memories back then, so I don’t know how I got it….”

Scarlett had no recollection, so she was not appalled by what she said. But when she raised her head, Viktor’s badly distorted expression was frightening.

“Just kidding.”

“...”

“Don’t make that face. Okay, I remember. I lied.”

“..Has anyone seen it?”

“What?”

“That you were hurt then.”

“Many. I’ve seen the maids in my room, the doctors...But it wasn’t a nasty wound, so I don’t think anyone remembers it.”

“But how can I not know?”

“How can you? You haven’t seen me since that day.”

Scarlett laughed and continued, “What are you talking about?”

“Maybe then... Did you hurt yourself because you were so sorry?”

“…”

“That’s what I thought back then, but it would have made you feel worse, right? I’m glad I didn’t tell you.”

She then looked up at the sky and said.

“By the way, it’s going to get dark. What should I do... Is there a place to sleep here?”

Viktor didn’t answer her question.

Scarlett pulled his arm.

“Viktor, where do the navy sleep?”

Only then did Viktor, thinking about something else for a while, replied

“At the embassy.”

“Embassy? What embassy?”

“Where did you say you were going?”

“Ruse Falls.”

“The materials are in Ruse Falls?”

“Yes.”

Viktor looked at her suspiciously.

“Let’s go for now.”

For some reason, he wasn’t acting as cold as usual.

“I’ll take a break and go,” Scarlett answered, weary.

She thought about the muscle pain she would experience tomorrow, but Viktor turned around.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“…pardon?”

“You’re light, don’t worry.”

No matter how tired she was, how could she do this with her divorced ex-husband?

Though she was exhausted she profusely refused, shaking her head.

Viktor clicked his tongue and then lifted her.

“I don’t want to!”

Scarlett struggled, but Viktor was already walking with her on one shoulder.

“When the sun goes down, there will be more snakes. Do you want me to put you down?”

“...”

Scarlett shut her mouth tightly and shook her head. She knew he was strong but didn’t know if he was strong enough to climb the mountain track in this state. Scarlett shut her eyes at a loss.

As she passed, she saw a series of signs inscribed with ‘no entry’.

‘Is it because of snakes?’

It gave her goosebumps.

The two arrived in front of a massive rock wall. Only then did Viktor drop off Scarlett.

Scarlett looked up at the mountain peak, the last barrier on the way to Ruse Falls.

“…how do I get over this?”

“You don’t know?”

“I saw it on the map, but I didn’t know it was this rock...”

“You didn’t even know where you were going?”

Scarlett paused as his voice became harsh. 

“It’s Ruse Falls. I’m here to get the watch materials.” She said, embarrassed.

“Besides that.”

“Besides that...I don’t know.”

As Scarlett shook her head, Viktor sighed.

“You’re doing a lot of different things against the law,” he said.

“Is it illegal to go to Ruse Falls?”

“Yes, you crossed the line earlier.”

“…I thought it was a warning because of the snakes.”

Scarlett’s voice quivered. A look of uneasiness gradually spread over her face.

Viktor looked up at the mountain peak and opened his mouth.

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be in trouble if you break one or two more laws here.”

“But my parents went beyond this peak to get their watch materials.”

“The former Crimson couple were involved.”

“…what did my parents have to do with the navy?”

At Scarlett’s puzzled expression, Viktor looked at her without answering.

Scarlett said as the silence lengthened.

“I’m a daughter of the Crimson family, too. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m doing everything my parents do. Because it’s a family business.”

“I’m telling you, if you continue with this family business, then I can’t guarantee your life.”

“I can do it.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I’m not.”

“...what?”

“Still, I have to go there.”

Scarlett said resolutely and picked up the bag.

//The figurative language I write, are my English interpretations of Korean metaphors. I try to capture the same mood that the author intends to convey, hence I take creative liberty in translating as if the original lexicon is English.

E.g., 안 그래도 아무도 없는 산길에 겁먹고 있던 스칼렛은 갑자기 붙잡히는 바람에 눈에 눈물이 글썽거리고 있었다.

(Transliteration: Scarlett, who had been frightened on the mountain road where there was no one else, was suddenly caught and tears welled up in her eyes. → Already petrified of the dangers found in the deserted mountain tracks, the fright at slipping and being grabbed brought tears to her eyes.)

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