TNDHD 14

Chapter 14

[It seems the duchess was greatly surprised that she had not been informed of the duke’s schedule in advance. With all due respect, I suggest that this trip be shortened as much as possible……]

Ben sent a message through Dubon. The duke was not a man who treated other lords lightly, but if he ended up wasting several days being held back by crowds of people using marriage congratulations as an excuse to cling to him, it would be a serious problem.

In any case, he was a master who listened to his aide’s advice. Setting aside his vague attitude toward his wife and his suspicious instructions. Once the duke read Ben’s message, he would surely shorten the trip by at least a day or two.

He would probably return within ten days at most.

“His Grace has returned! Assistant Ben!”

It had been six days.

Polly hurried into the main building’s entrance hall and shouted it out on the afternoon of the sixth day since the duke had left the castle.

“He’s with the lady in the garden right now! They’ll be coming in soon!”

As expected, the duke soon entered the hall following his wife. He trailed behind her in an obedient manner, like a horse following its carriage driver.

While Ben respectfully greeted his master, he also briefly observed his appearance.

A fugitive? A wanted criminal? If one were to be generous, a hunter? He must have ridden back at full speed, because there was a faint smell of sweat. And something else too—the scent of a male anxiously reading the mood of a female.

When their eyes met, the duke’s gaze instantly turned sharp and fierce, locking onto Ben. It was a silent warning: if he so much as opened his mouth carelessly, he would not be forgiven.

Ben did not fully understand the situation.

Was it because of the message I sent? But if he was going to rush back just because of a hint that he might have hurt his wife…… then from the beginning he wouldn’t have……

“Did you have dinner yet? You must be hungry. It might be better to bathe later, right?”

Hearing the duchess’s caring voice toward her husband, Ben thought to himself.

It wouldn’t be about food or bathing. He didn’t know what the duke considered his wife to be—sometimes ignoring her, sometimes acting restless over her—but whatever it was, what the duke urgently needed right now was something else entirely.

After briefly whispering at the foot of the stairs, the duchess suddenly grabbed the duke’s hand and confidently started climbing the stairs. The sight of the duke, who had seemed like he would remain a lifelong bachelor living in absolute independence, obediently following like a tamed beast was quite a spectacle.

But to Ben, it was a rather heartwarming scene. He finally felt a little relieved.

He sincerely prayed that she would continue to hold his hand like that in the future.

To the north of Elhauno Castle was a training ground where knights practiced. Beyond it lay a forest isolated like an island. To the west of the main castle there was another forest across the river, and to the south a birch-lined path stretching all the way to the gates. In short, the castle was surrounded by forest on all sides, but ever since I arrived, I had been curious about the forest behind the training ground.

A forest wrapped in golden sunlight, looking like paradise.

Another world reflected like a twin on the surface of the river that held up the forest.

“So they say fairies used to live there?”

“Fairies?”

“Yes. Our knights laugh and say people in the past just mistook insects for fairies.”

Milra’s words only fueled my curiosity further.

“Still, saying they were insects is a bit much. It’s so different from how fairies are usually described. If I get the chance, I might ask the duke to show me the northern forest.”

It was quite far to walk to the northern forest alone. I would need a horse. It would probably be better to go with Kaigen when he had time.

“That sounds like a date. It’s perfect for a secluded date spot, my lady.”

“Honestly, Milra.”

I only vaguely planned it.

Yet somehow, before I knew it, I had already stepped into the northern forest.

A strange, mysterious landscape unfolded before my eyes. Fresh bird calls captured my ears. The wind flowing through the forest carried a different scent from the one inside the castle. Strangely enough, the tall dense trees, flowers, birds, and even small animals all had unfamiliar appearances.

I walked deeper into the forest, hearing the rustle of grass under my feet.

Soon, I reached the far end where the dense trees began to thin out, opening up the view.

Under the bright pouring sunlight, a blue river rippled gently.

And there was someone there.

“Excuse me.”

I called out cautiously.

A thin, small boy was sitting by the river at the edge of the forest. He sat crouched, looking at the water, the back of his head neatly rounded. His hair looked almost black, but the crown of his head, touched by sunlight filtering through the leaves, shimmered with a warm chocolate color.

“What are you doing there alone?”

When I called a little louder, the boy only turned his head slightly to look back.

His eyes were clear, like a river reflecting the sky and green forest light.

Beautiful—and strangely familiar.

……Kaigen?

“Come here.”

The boy said in a low voice as he looked at me.

Though it was an order, his tone was oddly gentle, and I walked over and sat beside him without hesitation.

I sat on the ground without any hesitation. Only after sitting side by side did I realize we looked like a boy and girl of similar age.

What was he looking at? I quietly watched the flowing river for a moment, but soon grew bored.

“Weren’t you lonely being alone?”

Resting my chin on my knees, I looked up at him sideways.

From closer up, he didn’t look as thin as he first seemed. Especially his arms beneath the thin fabric of his shirt looked surprisingly strong. I widened my eyes comparing them to my own slender arms.

“Not really.”

He answered indifferently, still staring ahead, as if he hadn’t even noticed I was looking at him. Even looking at the river alone seemed enough for him.

“Really? I wasn’t lonely either.”

I echoed him and turned my gaze back to the river.

But contrary to my words, I started to feel lonely from that moment. What even was loneliness? It was the first time I had thought about it. Even thinking about it, I didn’t really understand.

It just… came to mind because I was looking at the boy’s back.

“We’re married.”

The boy suddenly spoke.

“You shouldn’t be lonely.”

Startled, I lifted my head.

The boy, who had somehow grown much taller, was now looking straight at me.

A face marked with masculine shadows. His eyes, like beautiful water-colored jewels, reflected me instead of the river.

“My wife.”

The tall boy whispered as he looked at me.

“Right?”

“…Yes. Kaigen.”

I remembered. It was Kaigen.

Yes, the man who told me to call him by his name when we first met.

The man who added calmly, “Because we’re going to be married.”

I felt a little happier again and looked back at his beautiful face. I wasn’t lonely anymore. I even felt a little dissatisfied with the small distance between us, but I thought it was too soon to close it suddenly.

“Are you happy that you married me?”

I asked jokingly, a little embarrassed.

“Not really.”

Ugh. I frowned and glared at Kaigen, but he only looked back at me calmly.

“Really? I don’t really know if I’m happy about marriage either.”

I picked up a small twig at my feet and tossed it into the river, then glared at the white clouds reflected on the water. Then I suddenly turned my head and looked again at the man sitting to my left.

Does he not even realize I’m mad at him?

His gaze had softened compared to before. The stubborn line of his lips even curved slightly upward.

Is he… smiling?

I should be annoyed, but instead my heart started pounding.

“Can I touch you?”

My heart was pounding like it would burst.

“I’ve wanted to since the first time I saw you.”

He slowly lifted his hand. A large hand. His firm fingertips gently brushed beneath my neck. Then he withdrew his hand, and a few strands of my pale golden hair were caught between his fingers.

“I thought you weren’t human when I first saw you.”

He brought my hair to his nose. He pressed it lightly to his lips, feeling the texture, and took a deep breath.

I held my breath until he let go of my hair.

I wondered if the rose scent from this morning’s bath was still lingering. I hoped it was.

Kaigen then closed the small distance between us.

His breath replaced his touch, reaching me.

“I thought you might be a demon in disguise.”

What? Not an angel or fairy, but a demon?

I frowned and poked his shoulder with my finger.

“Kaigen, you’re the one who looks like that.”

It felt like pressing against a stone. How could a human body be like this? Even having seen many knights since childhood, I had never known a human could be so violently built.

A man comparable even to the first Emperor of Taigaen who once defeated the Demon King. A body that occasionally released a chilling, overwhelming presence.

Before I knew it, the sky had turned orange, casting deep shadows along his cheekbones.

The boy who gently leaned in to kiss me no longer looked like a boy.

It felt like time was passing too quickly, evaporating into the air.

“Ha… Ruwan……”

When he bit down hard on the exposed nape of my neck in the cold air, I flinched and curled up.

It felt like being bitten by a burning ember. When I looked up at him half resentfully, his eyes were also flickering with red light like fire.

Red eyes. A glow like twilight soaked in deep crimson.

Darkness spilled rapidly behind his back.

He suddenly felt unfamiliar. I panicked and struggled.

“Wait… I can’t breathe. Kaigen.”

I tried to escape his arms, which were binding me like tree roots, but I couldn’t even move a finger.

“Kaigen, wait—let go.”

After struggling for a long while in his arms, I finally managed to open my eyes.

Suddenly everything brightened, and the muffled sound of birds chirping filled my ears.

I was in my bed. My bedroom inside Elhauno Castle.

A dream…?

“Haa.”

A hot breath escaped me. My chest still felt heavy. It wasn’t just a feeling—it was because a man was lying on top of me, one arm draped across my chest.

I rolled my eyes to the side and looked at the owner of the heavy arm.

Kaigen was sound asleep, his arm on my chest and the other serving as a pillow under his head.

Why is he sleeping here?