Free Web NovelChapter 187: Facing Ren
Now that I knew that Shin would be accompanying me in there, I felt slightly better. I was certain that Ren would still be mad about all of this even if Shin were to tell him that it was ordered by the emperor. Ren’s not stupid, he’ll see through this whole plan right away that it was Shin and my idea and not the emperor’s.
I knew I had to face him soon or later so I might as well get this over and done with.
“Let’s go...” I said softly to Shin.
Taking in a deep breath, I steeled my nerve as Shin pulled the flap of the large tent open.
Come what may...
After all that stressful mental preparation, I was extremely disappointed by the fact that the tent was empty. There was no one inside.
I turned to Shin in shock, and he shrugged helplessly at me.
“I guess he went out...” Shin said before he started laughing at my shocked expression.
“What?!” I cried out loudly in frustration.
Ren isn’t even here. Where did he go?
“Don’t blame me. I went to fetch you so how am I supposed to know that he would have gone out during that time?” Shin said defensively.
“Now what? We just wait here for him to come back?” I asked, feeling slightly annoyed.
“Yup. That’s probably the best. Ren probably went to see how the soldiers are doing. It’s good for boosting morale right before the battle,” Shin said.
I watched as he sat down on one of the chairs in the room. On the other hand, I decided to walk around the large tent to look around. The tent was sparsely furnished but it had all the necessities. It wasn’t like I was expecting the crown prince to sleep on a mat in a small tent where he couldn’t even roll around, but the size of this tent still amazed me.
The tent had everything that Ren might need. A single bed, a table, some chairs, and some basic shelves. It resembled a small hut of sorts. There were some scrolls of paper on his table, and I could tell that there were details regarding the supply for the army, recorded in a very detailed and organized manner. Just as I was absorbed in my observation of the other things in the tent, I heard the flap of the tent open.
Turning my head around at the sound, I was greeted with the sight of Ren standing in the entrance dressed in his full armor. His sudden arrival caught me off guard and all the words that I had prepared to say slipped from my mind as I stared at him in panic.
I had assumed that Ren would be more shocked at seeing me here; however, he seemed more irritated and angry than surprised. His eyes stared at me before glancing over at Shin, who was still sitting on the chair.
“Why is she here?” Ren asked Shin.
I didn’t miss the fact that he had chosen to ask Shin instead of asking me why I was here. After processing the situation, Ren had decided that it must have been Shin’s idea. He was only half correct.
Ren’s eyes returned to me before he closed them for a few seconds and opened them again. It was as if he wanted to test if I would disappear into thin air if he just closed and reopened his eyes. Unfortunately for Ren, I wasn’t a mirage or some illusion.
“The emperor ordered that she join the march,” Shin replied defensively.
“Take her back. I’ll deal with the emperor,” Ren said without a second thought.
“No...wait, Ren...” I began protesting.
Ren turned to look at me and I was shocked at how cold his eyes were. He’s so angry but I couldn’t stand for him to send me back.
“This is my hometown. If there’s a war here, then I want to help out...” I quickly continued before I lost all of my nerve.
“I told you to stay back at the palace and behave yourself! You gave me your word so why are you here?!” Ren thundered and I flinched.
“Ren...there’s no need for you take it out on her. It’s true that Rin wanted to join the march, but she did get proper permission from the emperor,” Shin explained calmly. Technically that was true.
“She got permission, or did you ask the emperor for permission? You’re knowingly putting her at risk. She’s a woman! What do you have to say for yourself, Shin?” Ren screamed at his friend.
This is getting so out of hand. Ren was outright angry, and he’s not even bothered to hide it. It was very rare for Ren to raise his voice consecutively like this. I was beginning to lose confidence that Shin and I can really handle him. freewēbnoveℓ.com
“She will be safe. Rin just wants to help out in the medical camp...” Shin said, trying to sound calm.
“Safe? How can you be so sure that she will be safe? There is no war that we’re guaranteed to win. You’ve been a soldier and a general all your life and you’re telling me that you don’t know that?” Ren said in shock and disbelief.
“I’ve got my qualifications already, so I really want to help the other doctors heal the wounded soldiers. Please let me stay, Ren. I promise I won’t be a burden to you or to anyone...” I pleaded softly.
“You won’t be a burden? The fact that you’re standing here right now is a burden. The fact that you don’t fully understand the risk you’re placing your life in is a burden. Your stubbornness is a burden. Your lack of experience on the battlefield is a burden to the soldiers, the medical team, to Shin, to me and to everyone else here,” Ren spat as he stared down at me.
My whole body trembled, and my lips felt numb at the gravity of his words. I didn’t dare look him in the eyes or speak back. The main reason was that I knew his words to be true. He’s right, I knew that I would be a burden to everyone if I came along but I still chose to come anyways. I thought of the medical staff and how they had to explain and teach me everything since I got on the wagon. Unlike the other people here, I was inexperienced, and I didn’t know any better.
--To be continued...
