Chapter 2
Back then, his eyes were full of only me.
He was the young chief revered by all, a formidable force on the battlefield.
But back in the yurt, he would always whisper affectionately in my ear.
Even before every campaign, he'd ask for my kiss as a blessing.
Now, his eyes still held me, but I could no longer decipher his heart.
"So beautiful! Maya, you were already fair. This necklace makes your skin look like snow, stunning," Lukas said.
He wrapped his arms around my waist again, pulling me close as he used to. "Maya, I know you haven't been happy lately. How about I take you hunting tomorrow?"
He pointed to the white fox pelt in the yurt.
"Winter is coming to the grasslands. Let me hunt another white fox for you!" Lukas said, his tone gentle and coaxing.
"Alright, let's go hunting together tomorrow," I replied.
I turned to look at this man I had loved for five years, tracing his features with my eyes.
Let this hunt be our final farewell.
After all, in three days, I would vanish completely from his world.
*****
The autumn sky was clear and crisp. Lukas took me galloping across the vast grasslands on his horse.
"Maya, it's been so long since you've been out. Today, I'll make sure you have a great time!" Lukas called out, his voice bright and lively.
He was as enthusiastic as ever, but my spirits were far lower than before.
The emerald grass, the warm yellow sunlight, these were once my favorite scenes.
It's just a pity there was now a glaringly out-of-place figure.
Isabelle stood on the grassland in a vibrant red dress, strikingly bold.
The moment Lukas saw her, his eyes lit up. He slowed his horse and approached her.
"Izzy, what brings you out here today?" he asked, his voice full of warmth.
She lifted her lips, deliberately showing off the expensive necklace around her neck.
It looked very similar to mine, just seemingly more precious.
"Of course, I heard you were hunting, so I came too," she replied.
"There aren't many interesting things on the grassland. Watching you hunt barely counts as one," she added.
Lukas laughed heartily, wild and unrestrained. "Great! Then you can join me!"
"Join you? But you already have someone behind you," Isabelle said, raising an eyebrow at me. "A horse can't carry three people."
Lukas's expression froze, then turned awkward and flustered.
I understood his hesitation, a mocking glint flashing in my eyes.
He had invited me to hunt, yet now he wavered because of Isabelle.
It was clear who held more weight in his heart.
Yeah, I could never compare to his dream girl.
I let out a scornful laugh and sensibly dismounted. "It's fine, you two go ahead. My injury hasn't fully healed; I'll head back and rest."
After all this, I'd already seen through it.
Rather than humiliate myself by fighting, it was better to let go early.
Isabelle looked at me and snorted disdainfully.
"At least you know your place!" she said, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Let's go, Lukas," she called out, already turning away like she owned the place.
Lukas glanced at me guiltily, telling me to be careful.
The horse galloped away with the wind. As I turned to leave, I spotted a peace talisman on the ground from the corner of my eye.
I had sewn it for Lukas with my own hands.
Supplies were scarce on the grassland. I had twisted dry grass into fine threads, working tirelessly by lamplight for five days and nights to weave this talisman.
The day I gave it to Lukas, he excitedly spun me around three times, saying he would keep it with him even in his burial.
Now, it was discarded on the grassland, trampled by hooves.
I bent down, picked up the peace talisman, looked at it silently for a moment, then took out scissors and cut it into pieces.
The fabric scattered in the wind, and a piece of my heart felt empty too.
The grassland was vast; it was almost evening by the time I walked back to the yurt.
Lighting an oil lamp, I sat at the desk and began writing a farewell letter.
I don't know how much time passed when Lukas suddenly lifted the flap and entered.
"Maya, look! I got another white fox for you!" he called out, his excitement obvious.
"Look, it's still alive!" he added, holding it up so I could see.
Noticing I had my back to him, his voice held a note of confusion. "Maya, what are you writing?"