CLWE 20

Chapter 20

What he couldn’t understand was what happened next. He was staying here to obtain the Ego Sword. If so, he should have been deeply disappointed by the fact that the Ego Sword wasn’t following him.

Why do I feel so good?

It was a strange feeling with no discernible cause. As Kamin grinned broadly, the Ego Sword sparkled brightly.

He couldn’t hear the Ego Sword’s voice, but it was clear that it had some intention. And since the Ego Sword didn’t acknowledge Kamin as its master, what could it possibly have to say to him?

“Follow you?”

Nod, nod.

Watching the Ego Sword react so vehemently, Kamin frowned.

Could something have happened to Liena?

No matter how he thought about it, that was the only explanation.

I groaned in pain. I had been fine on the day Father came and left. I just thought I was depressed and kept myself busy in my own way.

But once the sun set, my body grew heavy, like cotton soaked in water. At first I thought I was dizzy because I’d skipped dinner, but before long I realized I was burning up with fever.

Ugh, what a sight.

I let out a hollow laugh. Crawling to the bed with all my remaining strength was one thing, but after that I didn’t even have the energy to move a finger. I didn’t need to look far for the reason my fever had spiked so suddenly.

I thought I was completely fine.

It must have been stress. I’d thought I’d cut things off cleanly and coldly, but it seemed my heart had still been struggling.

Pressing my face into the pillow, breathing shallowly, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Family really is such a nuisance. Just because you’re related by blood, you end up harboring expectations you can’t cut away.

And there was no guarantee whatsoever of that person’s character. It was a gamble—one with your life on the line.

I’d thought that after regaining memories of my past life and viewing everything as if it were someone else’s story, I’d be free of it. But deep down, it seemed I still had expectations of the Duke of Pond’s family.

I should just sleep. I’ll feel better when I wake up.

But sleep wouldn’t come. I lay there in a limbo, barely able to breathe.

That was when a deep voice rang out.

“Liena!”

Someone called my name urgently. Large hands pulled me into an embrace and pressed against my forehead. I forced my eyes open, heavy as lead. Before me shimmered beautiful, gleaming gold.

“…Kamin?”

There was only one man in this world handsome enough to pull off such burdensome hair. At my voice, Kamin’s face twisted in distress.

“Are you okay? Do you know who I am?”

You just called my name, idiot.

I wanted to laugh and say that, but all that escaped my lips was a harsh fit of coughing.

“Cough! Cough!”

At the sound, Kamin startled and quickly straightened up.

“Wait a moment. I’ll get water. And medicine…”

“Medicine?”

Our house was tiny, so finding things wasn’t difficult—but medicine was something he wouldn’t find.

“It’s probably in that bag.”

“Bag?”

Because I’d put it there last night, before collapsing.

Seeing the enormous bag—big enough for a small child to fit inside—Kamin hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened it.

With my face buried in the pillow, I murmured,

“Don’t mess it up… I have to leave soon…”

“Leave?”

Kamin turned toward me in shock.

“You’re leaving here?”

“…”

Instead of answering, I closed my eyes. After Father left like that, my mind had been consumed with what I should do next.

First the nanny came, then Father. He said Crown Prince David was looking for me.

Everything else aside, the fact that Crown Prince David was looking for me was important. I had no idea why he would seek me out when he should have been busy being lovey-dovey with Kang Sena.

In the original story, it ends with a marriage, so who knows.

The problem was the focus of the story. The original novel was about the heroine coming to another world, the church trying to strengthen its position by elevating her as a holy maiden, and the handsome Crown Prince David desperately courting her.

It felt very political—but either way, it had nothing to do with me.

What did concern me was that David was about to trample back into my life again with muddy boots.

Father might have backed down the first time, but next time he would surely try to beat me into submission—to present David with a docile wife.

But I don’t have a way to fight back.

So I packed my bags in a hurry. The money was safely in the bank anyway, so I only needed the essentials.

Didn’t Sun Tzu say it? The thirty-sixth stratagem is to run away.

Since I couldn’t explain all of this in detail, I simply said to Kamin,

“…I have to leave. That’s why.”

At my words, Kamin frowned as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“Why do you have to leave? Isn’t Postin your home?”

“Postin is a good place. It’s warm, friendly, and the lady lord is a wonderful person.”

That was why I couldn’t turn the nanny away as coldly as I had Father. No matter what, the land I’d ended up living in as a commoner being Postin was a stroke of luck for me.

But that was all. Smiling faintly, I murmured,

“I don’t have a home.”

There was nowhere in this world where my heart could settle.

After swallowing the thick, dark-brown medicine, Liena fell back into a deathlike sleep. Thanks to the medicine taking effect, her once-burning forehead cooled again.

Carefully wiping the sweat from her brow so she wouldn’t catch a chill, Kamin wore a grave expression.

Is it because of that former fiancé who came last time?

The reason Liena had packed up and decided to leave the neighborhood she loved. That was the only thing that made sense. If he’d merely come to visit, she wouldn’t be trying to run away.

He’s trying to take her back. Only now has he realized her true worth.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, he clenched his hand so hard he nearly tore the towel he was using.

Kamin slowly exhaled to quell his rising anger. Just then, Rui—who had been flickering beside him like a fluorescent light—tapped the handkerchief near Liena’s head.

“No, this is…”

It was the very handkerchief Kamin had used to bind Liena’s wrist before. And it was damp—not because it had been washed. Anyone, no matter how dull, could tell.

“Did Liena… cry?”

Nod, nod.

Rui nodded vigorously. Kamin’s grip tightened again.

“Just what kind of bastard is he…”

Her reddened eyes looked painfully pitiful. In a low voice, Kamin called her name.

“Liena.”

As he gently pressed down her furrowed brow and smoothed her hair, flattened against the pillow, Liena’s breathing gradually evened out. Kamin gazed down at her for a long moment, then whispered softly by her ear.

“—.”

It was a voice so quiet that only Rui could hear it.

After sleeping deeply, I woke up feeling refreshed. Stretching lazily, I suddenly jolted upright.

“Ah—how much time has passed?!”

There was so much to organize before leaving Postin, and no time to spare. Father could show up at any moment.

As I flailed about in panic, a deep voice sounded from outside the room.

“Not much.”

“Aah! You scared me!!”

I was so startled I nearly rolled halfway off the bed. Clutching my clothes, I staggered outside.

Ahhh! Why is there a handsome man in my house?!

In the combined living room and kitchen stood a blond, broad-chested man far taller than me, wearing a frilly apron.

I rubbed my eyes over and over. No matter how much I rubbed them, he didn’t disappear.

Dumbfounded, I asked,

“Kamin? Why are you in my house?”

“Is it a problem if I am?”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…”

Kamin standing in my kitchen wearing an apron. It didn’t seem to match his prince-like looks—yet somehow fit perfectly. I rubbed my nose, smiling contentedly.

A handsome man in an apron. God, thank you for blessing me with good eyesight.

How heartbreaking it would’ve been to miss a masterpiece like this because of bad vision. Enraptured, I grinned foolishly.

I snapped back to my senses thanks to Rui.

—Maaaster!!! Are you okay?! I thought you were dying!

“Rui-rui!”

Rui flew into me with such force that my arms went numb catching him. He shed dazzling light as he wailed.

—I’ve never seen a master as frail as you in all my life! Waaah!

“Aww, were you worried?”

—Is that even a question?!

Though black in appearance, seeing him like this made him feel like a dog or a cat. I patted Rui’s blade gently, then suddenly looked up.

“Oh! This is no time for that. I’m super busy today.”

I had to ask someone else to take over the farm, relocate the livestock living at my house, explain things to the lady lord and obtain a travel permit…

As my shoulders bounced restlessly, Kamin pressed me down into a chair.

“Eat breakfast first.”

“But…”

“I’ll help you with the busy things, so don’t worry. Eat first.”

“Kamin?”

What did he think I was going to do, offering help like that?