Chapter 75 — The Love Story Beneath the Setting Sun

Narrator

The sun was slowly sinking behind the distant hills.

Golden light spilled across Restart Village, touching the wooden rooftops, the quiet river, and the ancient banyan tree standing at the heart of the village.

The day's work was coming to an end.

Farmers were returning home.

Children were playing near the houses.

A gentle evening breeze moved through the leaves, carrying the peaceful scent of the river and the forest beyond.

Beneath the banyan tree sat Lily, V, T, Kai, Nefi, and Lak.

For once, nobody was talking about monsters, magic, or anything dangerous.

They were simply enjoying the evening.

Lak, however, was sitting slightly away from everyone else.

He was quietly watching the sunset.

Lily noticed him.

She looked at him for a moment before smiling.

"Lak."

Lak turned toward her.

"Yes?"

"Why are you sitting over there alone?"

"I'm fine here."

Lily gently shook her head.

"Come sit with us."

Lak looked at the empty space beside them.

"There is room."

After a moment, Lak stood and walked over.

He sat beneath the banyan tree with the others.

Lily smiled.

"Much better."

"Thank you."

"You shouldn't always sit alone."

Lak gave a small smile but said nothing.

The group returned to enjoying the peaceful evening.

Then Kai suddenly looked at Lily.

"Aunty Lily?"

Lily smiled.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

T immediately leaned closer.

V looked up from where he had been quietly sitting.

Nefi also became interested.

Lak remained silent.

Kai asked the question.

"Was your marriage with uncle Brald a love marriage or an arranged marriage?"

Lily blinked.

Then she smiled.

"Love."

Silence.

For approximately three seconds.

Then—

"LOVE?!"

Everyone reacted at once.

T moved closer.

"Really?!"

V stared at his mother.

"You and Father fell in love?"

Kai looked fascinated.

"When did it happen?"

Nefi raised her hand.

"Who fell in love first?"

Lily covered her mouth, hiding a small laugh.

"You all suddenly have so many questions."

"Of course we do!" T said.

V nodded.

"Tell us."

Lily looked toward the setting sun.

For a moment, she said nothing.

The golden light reflected inside her eyes.

Then her smile became softer.

"If you really want to know..."

She paused.

"...I'll tell you about the first time I met your father."

The breeze moved through the banyan leaves.

One leaf slowly detached from its branch.

It drifted downward.

And as it touched the earth—

The past returned.

The First Meeting

Many years ago...

Before V was born.

Before Lily became the mother everyone in Restart Village knew.

Before Brald became the village chief.

The forest was much quieter.

The sun was high above the trees.

A horse-drawn carriage rushed through the forest path.

Its wheels struck the earth again and again.

Beside the reins sat a remarkably handsome Dark Elf.

His dark hair moved with the wind.

His pointed ears were visible beneath his hair.

His sharp features were almost too perfect for someone driving a carriage at such a ridiculous speed.

His name was Alistair.

And he was currently wondering whether his life had taken a terrible turn.

Inside the carriage sat another Dark Elf.

Brald.

Brald's pointed ears were visible beneath his hair.

He was tall, muscular, and handsome, with white hair and sharp features.

He was very popular among the girls in the village.

And beside him...

Sat a girl.

Her hands and feet were tied.

A cloth covered her eyes.

Another cloth covered her mouth.

She was Lily.

Alistair glanced backward.

"Are you sure about this?"

Brald remained silent.

"...Brald?"

"I'm thinking."

"About what?"

Brald looked at Lily.

"About what we're going to do next."

Alistair sighed.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"That's exactly what I was afraid of."

The carriage continued deeper into the forest.

Eventually, they reached a small wooden house hidden among the trees.

Alistair jumped down.

"We're here."

Brald nodded.

Together, they carried Lily inside.

They placed her in a small room.

Alistair looked at Brald.

"Don't talk to her yet."

Brald frowned.

"Why?"

"Because every time you improvise, something goes wrong."

Alistair closed the door.

Brald stared at it.

"...Fair."

The First Look

After a few moments, Brald entered the room.

Lily sat quietly.

The sunlight coming through the wooden window fell across her face.

Brald slowly approached her.

His hand reached toward the cloth covering her eyes.

He untied it.

The cloth fell away.

And Brald froze.

Beautiful eyes looked back at him.

For a moment, the forest itself seemed silent.

The sunlight reflected inside those eyes like tiny stars trapped beneath water.

Brald slowly removed the cloth covering her mouth.

Lips that are pink, like rose petals.

Then he untied her hands.

Then her feet.

But he didn't immediately move away.

He simply looked at her.

Lily slowly opened her eyes fully.

"Who are you?"

Brald blinked.

"And where am I?"

She looked around.

"This isn't my room."

Brald immediately tried to calm her.

"Please don't panic."

Lily looked at him.

Brald took a breath.

"We're kidnappers."

Silence.

Lily stared at him.

Brald continued.

"We kidnapped you."

Another silence.

Brald suddenly realized that his method of calming her was perhaps questionable.

"...I'm not very good at this."

Lily didn't scream.

She simply looked at him.

Strangely...

She wasn't afraid.

Brald noticed.

"You aren't scared?"

Lily shook her head.

"No."

Brald smiled.

"That's surprising."

He studied her face.

"You know..."

Lily tilted her head.

"You are very beautiful."

Lily's cheeks warmed slightly.

Brald continued without realizing how embarrassing his words were becoming.

"And you don't seem frightened at all."

He smiled.

"Perhaps you're so beautiful that even a kidnapper would forget what he was doing."

Lily looked away.

Her cheeks became slightly redder.

Brald smiled.

"I've never seen eyes like yours."

He paused.

"It feels like the Creator had an unusual amount of time when making you."

Lily finally looked back at him.

She should have been frightened.

She should have been angry.

But somehow...

She simply liked listening to him.

The Kidnapper Who Forgot to Kidnap

Brald brought her food.

Lily looked at it.

"No."

"You don't want it?"

"I'm not hungry."

Brald frowned.

"When I brought you here, your face was glowing."

He gently pushed the plate toward her.

"Now look at you."

Lily looked at him.

"You really noticed that?"

"Of course."

Brald smiled.

"So listen to me and eat."

Lily hesitated.

Then she picked up the food.

Brald watched.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Outside the house, the trees swayed gently.

The leaves whispered against one another.

As though the forest itself had noticed something neither of them had understood yet.

Ten Gold Coins

Later, Alistair entered.

"Brald."

"Yes?"

"I have information."

"What happened?"

"Lily's father has announced a reward."

Brald raised an eyebrow.

"How much?"

"Ten gold coins."

Brald looked at Lily.

Then he looked back at Alistair.

"Ten?"

Alistair nodded.

Brald slowly smiled.

He turned toward Lily.

"You are quite valuable."

Lily looked confused.

Brald sat nearby.

"You're beautiful..."

Lily blushed.

"...delicate like a flower."

Her cheeks became even redder.

"And your father has decided that your safe return is worth ten gold coins."

Lily lowered her gaze.

Brald suddenly realized she was blushing.

His own face warmed.

He looked away.

Alistair noticed.

His smile became dangerous.

"Oh..."

Brald glared at him.

"Don't."

Alistair grinned.

"I didn't say anything."

The River Beyond the Trees

A little later, Brald returned with a folded set of clothes.

He handed them to Lily.

"There is a river nearby."

Lily looked at the clothes.

"You can wash there."

She looked at him.

"Whose clothes are these?"

Brald answered casually.

"Mine."

Lily stared at him.

Brald raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Brald smiled.

"You don't want to wear my clothes?"

Lily quickly shook her head.

"No."

"Good."

Brald pointed toward the forest.

"Go ahead. The river is just beyond those trees."

Then he added:

"I know you usually bathe with milk, so you must be used to that."

Lily's eyes widened.

Brald continued with a completely serious expression.

"But there's no milk here."

He gestured toward the river.

"So you'll have to make do with the river."

Lily's cheeks turned red.

"I don't bathe in milk!"

Brald smiled.

"I was joking."

Lily looked away.

"I bathe with water."

Brald laughed softly.

"Then go."

Lily took the clothes.

As she walked toward the river, she glanced back once.

Brald was still watching her.

Their eyes met.

Lily smiled.

Then disappeared between the trees.

A Question Between Friends

The moment Lily was gone, Alistair folded his arms.

"Well?"

Brald looked at him.

"What?"

"We kidnapped the village chief's daughter."

Brald sighed.

"I know."

"How did that happen?"

"I don't know."

Alistair stared at him.

"You don't know?"

Brald rubbed his forehead.

"I never intended to kidnap anyone."

He glanced toward the river.

"And certainly not someone like her."

Alistair's smile widened.

"Someone like her?"

Brald remained silent.

Alistair leaned closer.

"Don't tell me."

Brald sighed.

"What?"

"You fell in love."

Brald looked away.

"I've never experienced love before."

He paused.

Then looked toward the river again.

"If this is what people call love..."

A faint smile appeared.

"...then maybe I did."

Alistair burst out laughing.

"You've known her for barely an hour!"

Brald frowned.

"Keep your voice down."

"You're hopeless."

The Truth

When Lily returned, Brald brought her back inside.

He looked serious now.

"Lily."

"Yes?"

"I need to tell you something."

Lily listened.

"I never intended to kidnap you."

She blinked.

"I was angry with your father."

"Why?"

Brald explained.

Dark Elves in Restart Village were often suspected whenever something went wrong.

Their appearance made people suspicious of them before they even had a chance to speak.

"I wanted your father to understand that we're also members of this village."

He sighed.

"So I wanted to teach him a lesson."

Lily listened quietly.

"But I admit..."

Brald scratched his cheek.

"...kidnapping you may have been a terrible way to make that point."

Lily smiled.

"Maybe."

Brald smiled awkwardly.

"So... I'm sorry."

Lily nodded.

"I forgive you."

Brald looked relieved.

Then Alistair entered.

"We have one problem."

"What?"

"We still have to explain why Lily is with us."

They looked at each other.

Then Lily smiled.

"We could say someone else kidnapped me."

Brald's eyes widened.

"And you two rescued me."

Alistair smiled.

"Perfect."

The Return

The three returned to Restart Village.

Lily's father immediately rushed toward her.

"Lily!"

He embraced his daughter.

Then his eyes turned toward Brald and Alistair.

Suspicion appeared in them.

Before he could speak, Lily stepped forward.

"They saved me."

Her father froze.

"They found me and rescued me."

The suspicion slowly faded.

Brald and Alistair exchanged a glance.

The plan had worked.

The chief offered them the ten gold coins.

Brald shook his head.

"We don't want them."

Alistair nodded.

"We only brought your daughter home."

The village chief thanked them.

Eventually, Lily stood before Brald.

The evening light had begun to paint the village gold.

"Thank you."

Brald smiled.

"For what?"

"For talking to me."

She hesitated.

"And for all those compliments."

Brald became slightly embarrassed.

Lily continued.

"No one had ever looked at me like that before."

Brald listened.

"Most people treated me like a boy."

She touched the sword at her side.

"Because I learned swordsmanship."

Brald smiled.

"Then..."

He looked at the sword.

"...I wish I were that sword."

Lily blinked.

"What?"

Brald smiled.

"The sword you touch every day."

Lily's face turned red.

Behind him, Alistair immediately grabbed Brald's shoulder.

"Stop overacting."

Brald whispered.

"Let go."

"We're leaving."

Brald looked at Lily one last time.

"Thank you for keeping our secret."

Lily smiled.

"You're welcome."

Brald and Alistair walked away.

The wind passed softly between the trees.

And Lily watched them disappear.

She touched her cheek.

It was still warm.

For the first time...

Someone had looked at her not as a warrior.

Not as the village chief's daughter.

But simply as a girl.

And somewhere beyond the village road, Brald was walking with the same foolish smile.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But that strange day...

That ridiculous kidnapping...

That little house hidden inside the forest...

Had become the beginning of something neither of them could escape.

Love.

Back to the Present

The story ended.

The sun had almost disappeared beyond the hills.

Silence filled the space beneath the banyan tree.

Kai stared at Lily.

T's mouth was open.

Nefi looked completely shocked.

V...

V was bright red.

"Wait."

He slowly looked at Lily.

"Father kidnapped you?"

Lily smiled.

"Yes."

V covered his face.

"My father was a kidnapper..."

T burst into laughter.

Kai shook his head.

"Aunty Lily, I still can't believe that happened."

Lily laughed.

"It was a very long time ago."

V slowly lowered his hands.

"I really don't know what kind of love story you two had..."

He looked toward the road.

"...but I'm never letting Father tell this story himself."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lak remained quiet.

He looked toward Lily.

Then, after a moment, his eyes slowly moved upward.

"Author..."

His voice was quiet.

"I have to admit..."

He smiled.

"That was actually pretty good."

He paused.

"Although Brald's way of falling in love was certainly strange."

A faint grin appeared.

"Still, I'll give you this one."

Lak looked upward again.

"Good work."

He fell silent.

Lily had noticed him.

"Lak?"

Lak looked toward her.

"Yes?"

"You were looking up again."

Lak paused.

"Was I?"

Lily smiled.

"You do that quite often."

Lak said nothing.

Lily continued gently.

"I don't know what you are talking about when you look up like that."

Lak looked away.

"But perhaps there is a reason."

She smiled.

"And whatever that reason is, you don't have to explain it to me."

Lak looked at her.

Lily's expression became warm.

"You are a good child, Lak."

His eyes widened slightly.

"You don't have anyone here who is truly your own, do you?"

Lak remained silent.

"So don't think you are alone."

Lily placed a hand gently against her chest.

"I'm here."

She smiled.

"Whenever you need someone, come and talk to me."

Lak looked at her quietly.

"You can always talk to me."

For once, Lak had no joke ready.

No sarcastic answer.

No teasing remark.

Only a small smile.

"Thank you."

Lily nodded.

"You're welcome."

The evening had grown darker.

Kai stood.

"It's getting late."

T stretched.

"Let's go home."

Nefi nodded.

V looked toward the village.

"Mother, we should go."

Lily smiled.

"Yes."

Everyone began leaving the banyan tree.

Kai smiled at Lily.

"Good night, Aunty Lily."

"Good night, Kai."

T waved.

"Good night!"

"Good night."

Nefi smiled.

"See you tomorrow."

V looked back at his mother.

"Good night, Mother."

Lily smiled.

"Good night."

One by one, they walked away toward their homes.

Soon, their voices faded into the evening.

The banyan tree became quiet again.

Lak remained there for a moment.

Then he looked toward the path where Lily had disappeared.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

He raised his eyes toward the sky.

"Author..."

He paused.

"Lily is really kind."

The breeze moved through the banyan leaves.

Lak continued quietly.

"She didn't call me strange."

He smiled.

"She didn't force me to explain myself."

He looked toward the village.

"She just told me that I wasn't alone."

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he looked upward once more.

"You wrote her really well."

His expression became sincere.

"She's a genuinely good character."

A small smile appeared.

"Kind, patient, and caring."

He paused.

"Honestly..."

Lak nodded to himself.

"Good work, Author."

The evening breeze passed through the ancient banyan tree.

Lak slowly turned away and began walking toward his home.

Behind him, the village had fallen into the peaceful quiet of night.

A boy had stood beneath an ancient tree, looking upward and speaking as though someone were listening.

Who he had been speaking to...

No one in the village knew.

And perhaps that was a secret only Lak understood.

The last light of the setting sun disappeared beyond the hills.

Restart Village grew quiet.

The river continued to flow.

The ancient banyan tree stood silently beneath the night sky.

And the memory of a foolish kidnapping remained behind—

A kidnapping that had somehow become the beginning of a lifetime of love.