The Forest Where Monsters Live - Chapter 9
9. Returning to each other
The elderly doctor Lennox, nearing retirement, emerged from the top-floor room. The aged physician, who grew weary easily with even slight exertion, wearily greeted the woman waiting outside the door by tipping his hat.
"What a shame not to know the name of such a beautiful young lady."
"It's Leticia."
"Miss Leticia. You may go in now. Mr. Benjamin has stabilized."
With those words, Lennox descended the stairs, muttering to himself, [With this unrelenting snow, there's no way I'm making it home today.] Leticia watched his retreating figure for a moment before hesitantly stepping inside.
Benjamin lay on the bed, with Johann keeping vigil beside him. Seeing Leticia enter, Johann rose and silently moved aside. He didn’t speak a word, visibly avoiding even looking at her.
Leticia, in turn, ignored him just as pointedly and took a seat next to Benjamin.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
Benjamin smiled weakly.
"Just fine. I’ve gotten rather friendly with fire—it’s not as bad as the first time."
Leticia chuckled softly at his joke. Benjamin raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek.
"You’re pretty when you smile. Keep smiling."
"I’ll try."
"Your hair’s shorter."
"It got singed in the fire, so I cut it."
"It’s still pretty."
His hand trailed down to the pendant around her neck.
"We love you, Leticia. We always have, and we always will."
The word "we" included Johann, and Leticia knew it.
Benjamin was wrong.
Johann didn’t love her.
She knew that—but she kept it to herself.
For Benjamin’s sake.
"Leticia. Will you grant me a favor?"
"What is it?"
She took his hand, still fiddling with the pendant, and smiled gently.
To Leticia, the Benjamin before her now was no different from the kind boy of thirteen years ago. The scars, the melted skin—none of it registered in her eyes.
To her, he was still the same boy with the same smile.
"Will you stay by my side until I die?"
"Why would oppa die?"
Unconsciously, the word "oppa" slipped from her lips—the same term she’d used for him long ago. [Oppa=Brother in Korean]
"I might go sooner than expected, or I might last longer. But while I’m alive, I’d like you to stay with me."
"But..."
Leticia glanced at Johann, who stood nearby.
"There’s someone here who might not be comfortable with that."
Johann shot her a glare.
"I wish the two of you could forgive each other... Though I know it’s not easy."
Benjamin looked between them. Johann shifted awkwardly, his gaze fixed on the window, while Leticia made no effort to hide her displeasure.
"Then let’s do this. Leticia, don’t you want to study?"
"Study...?"
Study.
That had been her dream.
Leticia glanced sideways at Benjamin as he spoke of her dreams.
"Go to the city and study while you're still young. Just promise to come back here during winter breaks. I'll be waiting."
"......"
"I want to give you everything I couldn't for those thirteen years."
After a pause, Leticia nodded.
Benjamin's face lit up with a radiant smile.
Looking at him, Leticia made a decision.
I'll hold onto this smile.
I won't waste another thought on that bastard Johann.
Johann Hildesheim can go haunt someone else's life.
---
Since things had settled for now, Leticia—after having her head wound treated by Dr. Lennox—was eating soup in the downstairs kitchen.
Exhausted and starving from the cold and ordeal, she had bluntly demanded food from a maid upon arriving at the estate.
(Incidentally, this was the first time Leticia had ever seen a maid in this castle. She hadn't even known the estate employed any.)
She was halfway through her second bowl of soup and bread when someone sat across from her at the long table.
She knew it was Johann without looking.
But she pretended not to notice.
Unlike her gratitude toward Benjamin, there were too many unresolved things with Johann.
And frankly, she had no desire to resolve them.
Johan Hildesheim.
She hadn't forgotten what he'd done to her.
The more she thought about it, the more her teeth ground and fury burned.
No amount of vengeance would satisfy her.
The purity he stole. The body he violated.
None of that could ever be reclaimed.
The only reason she hadn't killed him yet was Benjamin.
Solely because he was Benjamin's twin.
"Do as Benjamin said."
Johann's cold voice cut across the table.
Leticia didn't respond.
No—she refused to dignify him with an answer.
"I don't want you here either. The thought of you returning every winter, of funding your education—it disgusts me. But if Benjamin wishes it..."
"I don't need your help."
"Benjamin's money is my money. I earned it through business."
"What happened to the castle's treasures then?"
"Buried them."
"You're insane—"
"After what they cost us? After what they did to Father, Mother, and Benjamin? I couldn't stand the sight of them. They're buried beneath the family crypt now."
"......"
She understood his reasoning.
In the end, everyone had suffered because of her mother's greed for that cursed treasure.
Logically, she knew.
Cold, detached logic told her exactly why things had unfolded this way.
Why Johann had done what he did.
If their positions were reversed, she might have burned with the same hatred.
Logic understands. But the heart doesn't forgive so easily.
The marks he left on her body hadn't even faded yet.
Would time eventually erode this resentment?
Not now. But perhaps someday—
"I still haven't forgiven you, Johann Hildesheim."
Leticia set down her spoon and met his gaze.
Johann's expression was equally sour.
"Likewise."
There was only one conclusion to be drawn here.
Johann voiced it first:
"For Benjamin's sake—a temporary truce."
"Not for you."
Leticia agreed.
This was purely for Benjamin.
Not for this human garbage across from her.
A sudden surge of bitterness made her smile frostily as she added:
"You should hide your opium. Who knows when I might decide to pour some into your drink and watch you die?"
"You should be careful. Who knows when I might decide to tell the constables there's a murderer in my house?"
Their gazes collided in midair like blades crossing— neither yielding an inch.
Then, at the same moment, they both turned away.
Beyond their respective windows, an inky blue darkness had settled.
The kind of darkness that heralds the approach of dawn.
Somewhere along the way, the blizzard had ceased.
The relentless snowstorm that had raged just moments ago—
now gone, as if it had never been.
***
The snow fell.
Gazing through the window at the delicate flakes heralding true winter, Johann adjusted his reflection in the mirror.
His attire today was perfect.
It was always perfect, but today—more so.
Baron Johann Hildesheim, still tall and handsome as ever, turned at the sound of a deliberate cough behind him.
"Brother."
Benjamin sat in his wheelchair, smiling.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. Just thought you seemed particularly meticulous about your clothes today."
"That's not it."
"Who's arriving today again? Ah yes—winter means Leticia's returning."
"It's not because of her."
"Did I say it was? I merely mentioned today marks Leticia's return, and that you're paying unusual attention to your appearance."
Benjamin's teasing grin was downright mischievous.
Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a maid peered in.
"Miss Leticia has arrived."
Good news.
Two years had passed since Leticia enrolled in an advanced city school.
At the prestigious women's academy—requiring six years to graduate—she had adapted remarkably well.
Johann had handled everything regarding the men she'd killed.
He met their families, delivered generous compensation, and secured agreements not to pursue her.
Thanks to him, all warrants against her were lifted.
She was now studying medicine.
When asked if she planned to become a doctor, she'd answered: "So I can keep Benjamin healthy and alive for a long time."
Perhaps because of that sentiment, even now, two years later, Benjamin remained in good health.
If winter had once been something he feared, now he awaited it eagerly.
Winter meant Leticia's return.
For Benjamin, winter had become a season of joy.
"Leticia's last letter mentioned a man."
"A man?"
Johann's brow furrowed as they descended the stairs.
"Some student from a nearby men's college keeps sending her letters and flowers. Seems quite taken with her."
"What's wrong with his eyes? What could possibly be appealing about her?"
Though his tone was dismissive, Benjamin knew Johann had been waiting for Letitia too.
Of course, even after two years, their interactions remained awkward—avoiding eye contact, stiff silences, and inevitable arguments when they did speak.
But last year had been better than the year before, and this year would likely improve further.
Thirteen years apart.
No—thirteen years of hatred.
A long separation meant an equally long road back.
But one thing was certain:
They were returning.
Johann to Leticia. Leticia to Johann.
If they kept walking toward each other, they'd eventually meet—somewhere along that path.
That was what Benjamin waited for.
For them to find each other halfway.
If he couldn't stay with them until the end, he hoped they'd become family to each other.
That was his only wish now.
For his beloved brother Johann and beloved sister Leticia to take each other's hands, and become each other's family.
Nothing more.
* * *
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