The Queen Who Shares Love
S2 Chapter 23 Be Ashamed

Leonard's fingers are moving. His consciousness is beginning to return. He blinked his eyes. Judith turned to Leonard. 

"Are you okay?" ask Judtih.

Leonard found himself held by a girl. They almost fell if Judith did not immediately balance her body.

"Don't move much" Judith said, upset with Leonard.

"Why are you holding me?" leonard asked embarrassedly. His pride as a man has been tarnished. Not only lost by a girl, he carried her.

"So you want me to leave it in the woods when it rains like this?" reply Judith cynical.

"Find me another way to take me," muttered Leonard.

Judith took a long breath. He could not bear to drag the person who had protected him, let alone hurt Leonard's shoulder.

"This is the best way, or do you want me to carry it in front, or just haul it up like during a rebellion?"

Leonard confirmed Judith in heart. This is better than bearing the shame of being carried like a woman, or the pain of being dragged by Judith.

"Here you go, why didn't you move?"

Judith pointed to the river rushing in front of them. Without being told Leonard understood what Judith was thinking. They had to go down that river, but because of the injuries they suffered it would definitely be difficult.

"Hold tightly" Judith commanded.

"Because" 

Leonard's words faltered as Judith immediately jumped through the river. Judith's legs have been fed with aura so that they can jump strongly. From earlier he gathered an aura at his feet during a conversation with Leonard.

Judith let Leonard down before continuing to be showered with scolding. Leonard was limping. His left leg was injured. Judith prodded Leonard by the shoulder, helping him walk. They arrived in goa. 

Judith leaned Leonard against the wall of the cave. He went down the cave to find materials that could be used to light a fireplace. At the end of the cave there is a haystack that is used as a wolf bed. Disturbed, the wolf attacked Judith. Judith beat the wolf to the wall. Though unwilling, he is forced to kill the wolf to defend his life and protect the wounded Leonard. He ended the wolf's life quickly. When he finished he took the haystack to Leonard's place.

"Why are you bleeding?" leonard asked, looking at the blood on Judith's face. Previously not the Duchess's face was white clean.

Judith wiped the blood on her face, she was unharmed, she must have been splashed with the wolf's blood.

"So I fought with wolves, no need to worry about this wolf's blood." 

Judith placed the straws near Leonard, creating sparks by swiping the stones. The fireplace has lit, they can warm themselves. 

Suddenly Leonard took off his shirt. Judith turned her face away. "What are you doing?"

"I want to dry my clothes and wearing wet clothes will only bring sickness. Quickly take off your shirt," suggested Leonard.

"Are you crazy to tell me to undress in front of you? I'd better be sick." 

Judith did not think of Leonard. How could the former mercenary easily strip off his clothes in front of the opposite sex? Indeed Judith often saw knights who practiced by removing their superiors, but being alone with men who were bare-chested made her fret.

"Just give it up." 

Leonard put his clothes near the fireplace. He glanced at the Duchess who rubbed her hands together to warm herself up. The Duchess' body shivered. Unable to bear seeing that, Leonard walked up to him and grabbed him.

Judith jerks. He distanced himself from Leonard. "I can't take more care than this" Judith said.

Judith stared intently at Leonard as if she wanted to kill him. Leonard realized his words were impressed to invite Judith to commit indecent acts.

"You're cold with a hug we'll be warmer. Ah, that's it." Leonard is getting misbehaved because his explanation even aggravates misunderstandings. Her face flushed. 

Judith saw bruises and cuts on Leonard's shoulder. His finger involuntarily traced Leonard's shoulder. This time it was Leonard's turn to distance himself. 

"Now you want to attack me" accused Leonard.

"You're hurt, I'll bandage the wound." 

Judith tore off the coat she bought for Leonard, and tied it to Leonard's shoulder. 

Leonard was silent to witness Judith's treatment. After being bandaged, Leonard hugged Judith as a thank you for helping.

"I'm not gonna do anything. So don't protest."

Judith nodded slowly. Leonard's words have a point, his body feels warm. Somehow he remembered his mother's embrace, his warmth was almost the same.

"Never tell anyone this" Judith threatened.

"No, I can die killed by many people if it's widespread."

The warmth they feel how the sleeping song that accompanies the cold night. They fell asleep hugging each other until morning.

***

Sunlight enters the cave. The straw used as the fireplace turned to ashes. Feeling disturbed, Judith awoke. He took off Leonard's arms and woke up his bodyguard. 

Leonard opened his eyes. He immediately put on his dry clothes. They did not say a single word because they went through the most shameful night of their lives together.

A voice called out to the Duchess. "Where is your Duchess?"

Judith recognized Flint's scream. He helped Leonard through the rushing river in front of the cave once again. They immediately approached the voice. Flint's figure is beginning to show. His worried face began to turn into relief.

"Thank God, you're okay. I heard you didn't come home last night. After tracing the path that you passed from the Loid residence, I found your coachman lying on the street. I asked the coachman and it turns out you fell into a ravine. I order the knights to help with the search, if anything happens to you, I will not forgive myself, Duchess." Flint felt guilty.

Duchess Hillbright patted Flint on the shoulder to appease the aide. "Most importantly I survived, let's go back to my residence" Judith asked.

Leonard felt excluded, but did not want to waste his strength to protest. For them he was just a bodyguard, his life was not important.

However, his estimation was wrong when he arrived at the Hillbright residence, the Duchess ordered the maid to tend to her injuries. 

"Call the doctor to check the wound" the Duchess added.

Judith only wanted to return the favor to the one who saved her no more. The steps are getting heavier. His head kept circling. He pressed his temple. 

"You okay Duchess?" ask Flint to worry.

Judith nodded slowly. "It's okay, Flint, it just seems tired."

Judith tried to look strong, but her legs could no longer stand. It also collapsed.