Tangled By Fate

Veronica explained her plan to everyone, but no one paid attention to her.

She was surprised and frustrated by their behavior. "Anybody listening?" 

Darius tore a piece of meat from the roasted rabbit and chewed deliciously.

While chewing, he said, "Ahh, yes, we heard you and we will plan how to rescue you after being caught by them. We will prepare for the worst. So, don't worry. No matter how much of a troublemaker you are, we will be there to fix it."

"…" Veronica didn't know what to say.

'Am I that worthless in their eyes?' she wondered, feeling bewildered.

As she realized that they didn't trust her enough and brushed her off, she was overwhelmed with shame and guilt. She lowered her head, looking down. 

Observing her downcast expression, Arthur reprimanded his friend, "Enough. Don't bully her. She didn't mean to cause trouble."

Veronica gaped at her husband. 'Does he also think I'm causing trouble?' Feeling devastated, she couldn't eat her meal anymore.

"Arthur, now you made her upset. She needs energy before she causes another massacre!" Zinnia rebuked Arthur.

"You aren't making it any better,' Ironin calmly stated.

His calm eyes landed on the depressed woman. He frowned as though he was debating on something. In the end, he concluded.

"I will take her to the temple," he declared.

Others paused eating.

"You will? Are you sure?" Darius was surprised.

Ironin was someone who never meddled in other businesses. Furthermore, he didn't like taking troublesome jobs. He was quiet and liked working on assignments alone.

Whenever a bothersome person was disturbing him, he would quickly disappear.

Just what made him want to help her out of the blue?

As if the dark cloud moved away and the sun shone brightly, Veronica's downcast face beamed in happiness and surprise.

She was beyond happy as someone believed in her and wished to work with her, and at the same time, she was astonished that out of all people, Ironin wished to assist her.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! We will head to the capital city today. We will reach by night. We can stay at Arthur's house for the night and then sneak inside the temple at dawn. 

"We will ambush the Head Priest before he gets out of his room and heads to the prayer hall. After talking with him, we will leave before others wake up. We have one hour in our hands."

After she was done explaining, she asked him, "Anything you want to ask?"

Ironin was paying attention to what he was eating. He quietly replied, "No. We will do as you said."

"All right!" Veronica resumed eating again. She looked relieved. She found her meal extra tasty this time.

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"Why did you encourage her?" Zinnia asked Ironin after breakfast.

Ironin was sharpening his small knife. Without looking at her, he answered, "I did what I should have done."

"Did you really think encouraging her was the right choice?" Zinnia's eyes narrowed. "I know for certain that you didn't do it because she is Arthur's wife. You don't care about that. You didn't like her from the start."

"…" Ironin didn't reply.

Maybe he didn't know what to say or he didn't know why he was trying to help the person he didn't like.

Zinnia stared at him in disbelief.

"Don't tell me you fell in love!"

She was surprised at her own assumption. For this quiet and skillful archer who was her comrade, she had high respect.

She sometimes wondered what kind of woman could make Ironin fall for her.

But to think he would go after a married woman whose husband was his longtime friend – it was unbelievable.

Ironin ceased and raised his head. His sharp purple eyes stared at her through his dirty blonde locks.

In the end, he opened his mouth. "Think whatever you want."

His answer was unexpected.

Zinnia froze on the spot. She was expecting a strong denial or a warning. His calm answer threw her off the shore.

'Was I wrong to believe he fell in love with Veronica?' she wondered.

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Later, they all packed up and headed to the town. Veronica knew the way to the temple, and they knew the way to the city.

This time, Zinnia took the lead. She was in the front. Behind her were Veronica, Arthur, Darius, and Ironin.

Darius suddenly halted on his track and created some distance between him and Arthur. Afterward, he grabbed Ironin's shoulder.

"Dude, what's with you? How come you are helping her? This is a suicide mission if you ask me. Do you think the Head Priest will believe her and hand over the key just because she asked? 

"She is going to the trap. I don't care what the Saint told her. I think the Saint hid everything from Veronica thinking she was dumb or the Saint is trying to set a trap. Just think about it."

Ironin walked forward and replied in a low voice, "Aside from her, who knows the Head Priest and Saint more? We never met them."

He wished to say that since they never knew them in person, they shouldn't make assumptions.

Veronica knew them and she had better knowledge about the temple. If she said it was all right, then it was all right.

She wasn't a baby. She was a grown-up woman who experienced what could happen to the people around her if she selfishly made a mistake.

She was guilty of her mistake and wanted to make amends by helping them.

It was true that she was a novice compared to them but weren't they also like her at some point?

They became mature after experiencing more hardship and by working hard they became professional warriors. They were heroes respected by many people.

It didn't happen on a whim. It was years of hard work, making mistakes, and learning from the mistakes.

Veronica was in the stage where she would make mistakes and learn from them.

She was a smart girl who adapted and learned quickly.