Black Rose in the Abyss Chapter 17

The village after the hurricane passed was a scene of devastation.

Roxy arrived in time with ample supplies and manpower, taking over most of the aftermath work.

Seeing the villagers properly settled and reconstruction work proceeding in an orderly manner, Bianca's nerves, taut for days, finally relaxed a little.

The prolonged high tension and physical exhaustion made her feel a wave of fatigue.

She needed some time alone to sort out her chaotic thoughts.

She remembered the small hill behind the island. It was her favorite place to go during her two years of recovery.

Walking up the familiar path, the soil under her feet was still moist from the rain.

Sitting on the flat rock at the top of the hill, she looked at the vast Atlantic Ocean in the distance, her gaze drifting.

The experiences of these few days, Dante's silent but omnipresent protection, and the past events Maria inadvertently mentioned all acted like small stones thrown into the lake of her heart, which she thought had long been calm, creating ripples.

After an unknown amount of time, light footsteps came from behind.

She didn't look back. She knew who it was.

Dante walked to her side and silently handed her a sandwich wrapped in a clean leaf, along with a small flask of water.

"Eat something."

His voice came through the mask, carrying a trace of imperceptible huskiness. "I haven't seen you eat much these past few days. Your stomach won't be able to take it."

Bianca was slightly stunned. Since the hurricane arrived, she had been running on willpower, eating without tasting.

She hadn't expected him to notice this amidst such chaos.

Whispering a "thank you," she took the sandwich.

The food still held warmth. The simple aroma triggered her delayed hunger.

The two sat side by side, separated by a distance.

Only the occasional cry of seabirds filled the silence.

This silence lasted a long time, long enough for Bianca to think he would sit with her until sunset.

Eventually, Dante broke the silence first.

His voice was low, carrying a bitterness that had been brewing for a long time.

"Bianca," for the first time since she became "Boss," he clearly called out her name. "I'm sorry."

He didn't say what it was for. But this apology seemed to cover everything—

For the choice on the cliff two years ago;

For the past mistrust and hurt;

For the pain and despair she endured alone.

Bianca's hand holding the flask tightened, then relaxed. The corners of her mouth pulled into a very faint arc.

"It's all in the past," she said softly, her tone devoid of much emotion.

It was exactly this near-complete release that made Dante's heart sink violently. It panicked him more than if she had scolded or resented him.

She seemed truly ready to gently turn the page on him in the book of her life.

Just as he wanted to say something more, the earth beneath their feet trembled violently without warning!

Rumble—!

It wasn't thunder, but a muffled sound from deep underground!

Immediately after, a more violent shaking followed. Loose stones rolled down.

"Look out!" Dante's face changed drastically.

Bianca, startled by this sudden change, stood up. The rock beneath her feet was shaking so hard she could barely stand.

In the instant a giant boulder at the top of the hill broke loose and rolled down, Dante lunged at Bianca. He held her tightly in his arms and rolled toward a relatively stable depression to the side.

The world spun, accompanied by a deafening roar.

Bianca felt only a massive impact and pressure before her vision went black and she lost consciousness.

She didn't know how much time had passed. She woke up in a suffocating pain and darkness.

She tried to move her body but found herself pinned down by something heavy, unable to move.

The surrounding space was cramped, filled with the smell of soil and rock. Only a few faint rays of light filtered in through the cracks in the stones.

It was a landslide! They were buried!

"Dante?!" She immediately remembered the person who shielded her at the last moment. Her heart tightened, and she called out in panic.

No one answered.

In the darkness, there was only the sound of her rapid breathing.