Return of the Legendary Runesmith
Chapter 135 134- Past

For the past few days, Ruby had been stuck in her room, recovering.

Luckily, her father wasn't hurt in the explosion. He had been far from where most of the bombs went off.

But Ruby wasn't so lucky. The first blast had gone off right in front of her. If it weren't for the toughness she had built up over the years, she might've died—either from the fire or from hitting her head against the wall.

Most of her burns had faded, but one scar still ran down her neck. It was harsh, and it looked ugly.

Her mother couldn't stop crying—not just because Ruby had nearly died, but because her once-unmarked daughter now carried a scar.

But Ruby didn't care about that. Her looks were never something she cared much for. All that mattered to her was having a clear mind and two working hands.

She never thought much about marriage or dating. If someone was ever going to love her, they'd have to accept her without her family name—and with the scar she now bore.

The only man whose opinion might've ever mattered had already seen her—at her absolute worst. He had been there to heal her and save her life. And not even once he showed any sign of disgust. More like he didn't care about her looks, not in the past nor when she got scars.

So now, there was nothing left for her to be ashamed of.

Ruby sat quietly in her room, reading a book.

Her hair was tied in a high bun, and a soft nightgown clung gently to her slender figure as sunlight streamed in through the window, filling the room with warmth.

She was enjoying the calm when suddenly—

KREAK

The doors flew off their hinges as someone barged in.

Ruby didn't flinch or react. She had sensed her coming from a distance. There was no point in calling out—this person never learned to knock.

"Still can't find him?" the redhead asked, casually flipping a page.

Annabelle let out a sharp breath. "I asked everyone I could, but no one knows anyone named Ruby who had a bomb planted on them. And no one's heard a thing about my Darling either."

Ruby let out a quiet breath of relief. Thankfully, no one had seen them that day. If someone had, things wouldn't have ended so lightly.

She had already lied to Annabelle once. And if Annabelle ever found out… torn doors would be the least of her worries.

Anna sat across from her and asked, "Hey, are you sure you didn't meet someone there who caught your eye?"

Her Darling was an exceptional Runesmith—surely Ruby would have noticed someone like that… right?

"As I said, Anna, I didn't interact with many people there," Ruby replied, her voice calm and steady. "The King had invited all the important guests… he could be anyone."

She lied without the slightest pause.

Anna groaned in frustration. "Ugh, this is so annoying… I got so close, and yet it still feels so far."

But then, a smile lit up her face. "But now I know where to search next—Valmora."

Ruby turned her gaze away to hide the unease in her eyes.

If Annabelle did end up finding Adrian—which Ruby was sure would happen sooner or later—she wouldn't be held responsible. She hadn't technically stopped her.

Annabelle leaned her head against Ruby's knees and sighed dreamily.

"Darling's been so gentle with me these days~ I can hardly take my eyes off our chat."

She looked completely immersed in her little world of happiness.

Ruby tilted her head slightly, curiosity blooming. "You never told me why you love him... Can you tell me now?"

Annabelle glanced at her, then let out a soft sigh.

"Even if I told you, Ruby, you probably wouldn't believe the reason behind my admiration."

Ruby shrugged. "We live in a world where anything's possible. Try me. Maybe I can even help you find him?"

Annabelle sat in thought for a few moments.

Aside from her Darling, Ruby was the only person she truly trusted.

Ruby had helped her at one of the darkest points in her life—a time when Annabelle could have died. Back then, she hadn't even awakened her mana. And yet, Ruby, the esteemed daughter of the prestigious Vermillion family, had reached out to her.

That moment had forged their bond—strong, unwavering, and real.

And that was why Annabelle felt she could share this secret now.

After a short silence, she began, "Actually… I remember my past life. And the Darling I always talk about… he was someone close to me back then."

Ruby hummed, her brows knitting slightly at the unexpected confession.

Annabelle was grateful she didn't laugh or scoff.

The blue-eyed Warden continued, her voice soft but steady.

"I was an orphan. Someone sold into the slave market just because of my pretty face," she said, her tone carrying the weight of a distant but bitter memory.

But then she smiled faintly, the shadow on her face softening.

"One day, a man—a friend of the org's owner—came by the shop on a casual visit. I was helping in the back, storing supplies in the storage room."

She let out a quiet chuckle. "He needed someone to carry things, so he brought me along to his place."

Ruby blinked. "So… he bought you?"

"No," Annabelle shook her head with a small laugh. "He just said, 'I'm looking for an oxen like her,' and the shop owner handed me over. He was grateful to my Darling, so he gave me away without a coin."

"..."

Ruby was left speechless.

So… she was taken in like a heavy-lifting animal?

Annabelle leaned against Ruby, her voice quiet and raw.

"All my life, I was treated like an accursed object. They used to hang me at the town's gate, believing I would keep bad omens away. During festivals, they'd lock me in a bunker—just in case I accidentally ruined their happiness."

Ruby's heart trembled. "That's... horrible. How could they do something so cruel?"

Annabelle shook her head gently. "I never blamed them. In my family, there were seven members… and all of them died around me. Somehow, I was always connected to their deaths. So yes... even I believed I was cursed."

Without thinking, Ruby leaned into her and rubbed her back, a silent comfort.

She didn't know what to say.

But not even for a moment did she doubt Annabelle's words.

Annabelle never lied. And Ruby knew it.

So all she could do was imagine the weight of that pain... and stay close.

Annabelle rested her head against Ruby's, her voice softer now.

"But Darling… he wasn't like the others. He never treated me like a curse. He was kind. He gave me food, a place to stay… and the warmth I didn't know I needed."

A smile touched her lips as she added, "When I told him about my family, about how they died one by one… I found him asleep on his rocking chair, completely unfazed. It was like… he didn't believe in the fears and curses I had been shackled to all my life."

The two of them sat in silence, not a word spoken but Ruby could understand what she must be feeling at the moment

Now, the redhead could somehow understand why she was so obsessed to find him.

"He is also here, that means?" Ruby asked after a few moments of silence.

"Mm-hmm. The chat I told you about allow me to connect with him. It's just that he hasn't recovered the memories of that time."

'True...' Ruby mumbled under her breath.

Adrian didn't seem to know anything about Annabelle or what she once was.

Suddenly, a random thought came to Ruby's mind as she asked, "By the way, what was your Darling's past name?"

"Av-" Annabelle paused, making Ruby tilt her head,

"Av...what?"

"Ahaha~his name...I forgot. I always called him Darling so I can't remember." Annabelle lied knowing that if she told her his real name, she would freak out.

Ruby glared at the girl but didn't ask further.

However, her interest in Adrian surely had grown after hearing the story.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Avalanche, she could have said. But as stated, she hides the truth but doesn't say lies.