After the Rain (7)
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The boy furrowed his brows.
He had heard of a demonic beast called a siren that was said to bewitch people and drag them into the deep sea to devour them. He wondered if such a monster came to the plains too.
βThatβs a stupid idea.β
He dismissed that thought and looked at the girl again.
He felt this earlier too but her delicate and exotic appearance was definitely foreign.
Same went for her light hair-color which was unlike an Irugoian.
βIs she a foreigner? She doesnβt look mixed either.β
He thought, remembering the Queenβs children.
γ What in the world is a foreigner doing in the demonic beast plains?γ
γ Donβt ask me. There was a whoosh and I found myself here all of a sudden…γ
γ Shouldnβt you come up with a better excuse?γ
γ Iβm telling the truth though…γ
The girl mumbled and averted her eyes.
It felt awkward and unfamiliar because it had been so long since she talked to someone while making eye contact.
γ That said, I practically saved you, yet youβre interrogating me now?γ
The boy chuckled when he saw her get everything off her chest while also avoiding his gaze.
γ I saved you too.γ
γ Well, since weβve helped each other, you can say weβre good people to each other. γ
γ Youβre very eloquent for a tiny person.γ
The boy laughed.
The feeling of his mouth muscles curving upwards was strange.
The boy wiped his lips and realized he was smiling.
It had already been 10 days since he was practically driven to the demonic plains after his mother passed away.
Naturally, a smile had never crossed his face.
Frankly, it was the same even before he entered the plains.
But to think a smile was something that could appear so easily.
Was it possible because this child was a complete stranger who had nothing to do with him and whose identity he didnβt even know?
He never thought a stranger could be such a comfortable presence.
Aristine was also feeling the same way. She felt more at ease because he was a complete stranger.
It felt like she had been relieved of the burden of considering things like the emperor or the monarchβs sight or her position.
For the first time, she became aware of that burden that she had never even realized because she had never put it down.
The boy studied the girl.
Her eyes were calm unlike a child, but from her size, she seemed about six years old.
He heard foreigners were on the smaller side, so maybe she was a year or two older than that.
Either way, she was still a child, so he ought to be a little kinder.
βHow should I know how to be kind without experiencing it?β
Although he thought that, he could tell that it wasnβt appropriate to ask the foreigner what she was doing in the demonic beast plains.
In an attempt to be ask kind as possible, the boy asked:
γ How old are you?γ
Of course, in the end, his tone was still interrogative, far from being friendly.
But that didnβt matter.
γ Twelve.γ
At that unexpected age, the boyβs eye opened wide.
γAnd you?γ
When Aristine returned the question, the boy fell silent for a moment then answered bluntly.
γ …About the same.γ
γ I thought you were much older.γ
The boy felt pricked by Aristineβs words but he tried to act unaffected.
γ I said about the same, not the same.γ
γ Then how old?γ
γ Well…γ
γ I see.γ
The boy stealthily avoided the girlβs eyes.
To be fair, he wasnβt lying. After all, he didnβt confirm it with his own mouth.
He got up and sat down, leaning against the rock.
Aristine also stopped lying on the floor and sat down next to him.
γ Letβs rest a little bit and Iβll take you to the wall. The border guards will at least try to find your home since youβre a child.γ
γ And you?γ
γ Huh?γ
γ You are a child too. You have to go home.γ
γ Donβt treat me like a child.γ
The boy retorted furiously, but Aristine laughed.
γ You said youβre the same age as me. And you called me a child.γ
The boy was speechless at that.
On a closer look, he could see a faint sense of triumph on the girlβs face. It seemed like this was revenge for treating her like a child.
The boy burst into laughter.
He had never dealt with a girl like this.
γ Either way, you should go back too. Itβs dangerous here.γ
Aristineβs expression changed, and she spoke seriously.
Since earlier, flashes of terrifying monsters appeared on and off before her eyes.
She could instinctively tell that it was in the near future.
γ I… γ
I canβt go back.
The boy shut his mouth.
Aristine watched him do that then she opened her mouth.
γ Thereβs no point going to the border. Because I have nowhere to go back to.γ
The boy turned to Aristine.
Aristine didnβt look at him and hugged her knees together.
The boy looked forward again.
He could see the horizon where the endless plains and the blue sky met.
This place was swarming with demonic beasts, but he never knew it could be so peaceful.
The boy and girl just stared straight ahead, not looking at each other.
They were complete strangers who knew nothing about each other.
But at the same time, they also felt a strange sense of kinship with one another, as if theyβd met someone similar to them for the first time.
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 31 - September 27, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 30 - September 25, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 137 - September 25, 2025
AAAAAAA I want more ππ
Thank u for the translation miss rubyπ₯°β€β€
Thank you so much Miss Ruby β€οΈ I’m having a hard time right now and your update really made my day π₯°
GAAAH, thank you miss Ruby!!
Young Tarkan sound so adorable
Oooh, the sweet feeling of hearing how much your husband likes you π How much he waited for you! β€οΈ I can imagine the thrill Aristide is about to feel, but contrasted with the pain courtladies have to go through by telling π Pure π comedy is about to happenπ€£
Poor court ladies, they are truly my favorite π€© in here compared to all the their books. No schemes, unnecessary drama, or failed seduction. Only support, and comedic assumptions!
Thanks for update, can’t wait for next update. Love this story so much
Did I read to quickly? The content is so good I thought I had barely read half a chapter, let alone 2!! π
Thank you for the chapters Miss Ruby! Hope all is well
So true!! Lately, I feel like I should wait for more chapters to update before reading but I cant stop myself doing so. It’s just so good ~
Thanks for the translation miss Ruby ππ
I really need more not able to wait ππ
Our girlie is a noona LOL.
Ughhhhh I’m so impatient for the reunion/reveal π and hahah the poor court ladies … im kinda intrigued what details tarkan had shared to have everyone know so clearly ab his first love π€
also… didn’t expect/remember aristine to be older than tarkan, i forget if that was mentioned before π€―
Thank you for the chapters π
I’m curious about what she’ll plan to do next.
Thank you for the updates !
Iβm dying to read the next chapter ;~; Is it on break?
(and thank you for the all the effort in translating this story)
why make the girl a bit older though, just to make the size difference in manhwa too much?
and how could a twelve year old looked like 6 TT