Page 28 of Cursed By Gold

I watch as a castle healer strides into the room, a long red cloak billowing behind him. He kneels on the floor beside the man and runs his fingers lightly over his arm. After a few moments of observation, he looks up at me with surprise in his eyes.

"You did this?" he asks, his tone neutral.

My heart skips a beat. Is he accusing me of poisoning him? I nod slowly, feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention. "It's... I-I had to help him."

The healer's face softens into a smile. "You did a good job. If you hadn't acted quickly, he wouldn't have survived."

Relief washes over me. He’s not accusing me; he’s thanking me. My hands finally stop trembling.

He pats my shoulder in gratitude before turning his attention back to the man on the ground. I watch in silence as they continue their work, grateful that he is going to be alright.

Sitting back on my heels, I let out a sigh of relief. Rose approaches me, her expression calculating. "That was foolish," she hisses. "You gained no points and drew attention to yourself."

I watch Rose warily, my stomach sinking. Her cold indifference shocks me more than I expected. I thought she might be angry, but this level of callousness? It's an unsettlingreminder that many other members of the guild are much more ruthless than me.

I stand up slowly, meeting her gaze. "Maybe," I mumble, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I couldn't just let him die when I had the knowledge to save him."

Rose shakes her head, her eyes narrowing. "Well, don't expect me to risk myself for the sake of others. Each person is on their own here." With that, she returns to her seat, eyeing the other contestants warily.

The healer finishes his work, and the castle staff takes the man away. The crowd soon disperses, leaving the room eerily silent. I remain standing in the middle of the room, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Pride in helping someone in need battles with the shame I feel from Rose's heartlessness. I can't let myself become like her. I refuse to fall into that way of thinking.

Needing a moment, I sink into a nearby chair, my hands still trembling from the adrenaline. The weight of what just happened presses down on me. We're truly fighting for our lives, and not everyone will play fair. The room feels colder, emptier without the others, but I need this solitude to gather my thoughts.

I look around, my eyes settling on the remnants of the meal we never got to finish. My stomach churns, the food now unappetizing. The enormity of the situation hits me again—this isn't just a game. It's survival, and people like Rose will do whatever it takes to win.

Leaning back, I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The reality of the tournament and its dangers looms larger than ever. Rose's words echo in my mind, a stark reminder of the ruthlessness I'll face.

But I can't let that change me. I won't let fear or the cruelty of others dictate my actions. I take a deep breath, drawing strength from within. I have to stay true to myself, no matter what

Unexpectedly, I feel a presence behind me and jump slightly before turning around to see who it is. A tall figure with dark skin and bright green eyes regards me curiously, a faint smile playing on his lips. He is dressed in the competitor leathers, with a heavy woolen cloak draped over one shoulder.

"I apologize if I startled you," he says politely, bowing his head slightly. "My name is Darius."

I smile back at him in surprise. "No need to apologize, Darius. I just thought I was alone."

Darius nods in understanding, his gaze flickering around the room before landing back on me. "It seems like we both had the same thought—helping out a fellow contestant in need."

His words hang in the air, and I can feel my face flush as he studies me. He seems to sense my discomfort and smiles reassuringly.

"I don't mean to embarrass you, merely to express my admiration for what you did," Darius says kindly. "It's not often that I see selflessness in a situation like this. There were plenty of people here with the knowledge to save him. But they didn't. Most figured it was one less person to have to defeat later. You saw the value of another life."

"Thank you," I mumble, feeling a little more at ease now that the conversation has shifted away from me.

Darius chuckles softly. "You know, you were alone in the middle of the room after everyone else had left. I was worried you may have gone into shock."

He pauses, then adds with a mischievous grin, "Plus, I wanted to meet the person who had the courage to challenge Rose."

"You know Rose?" I ask, curiosity piqued.

Darius nods. "We've crossed paths before. She has a... reputation." His expression darkens briefly before brightening again. "But enough about Rose. Tell me, what's your name?"

I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. But this man has approached me out of genuine curiosity and gratitude, not malice.

"I'm Scarlet," I say finally.

Darius smiles warmly. "A beautiful name for a brave woman." His tone is genuine, and it makes me blush slightly

"Thank you," I mumble shyly, tucking a strand of my golden hair behind my ear.

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