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Chapter 06

Although it was late, the chef of Levgaen Castle had prepared an excellent meal. My eyes widened at the sight of the glistening, aromatic meat that made my mouth water.

‘Would they really serve meat at this hour?’

Even as I worried about that in my head, my hands were busy carving the meat. I popped a small piece into my mouth, and it melted away smoothly. After that, I diligently worked my fork to fill my stomach. It wasn’t until I had cleaned my plate of mashed potatoes and roasted onions that I thought of Jess.

I quickly turned my head, and Jess was watching me eat, resting his chin lightly on one hand.

“Good? You’re eating well.”

“Mm. Aren’t you going to eat?”

Jess’s plate sat exactly as it had been placed. Even considering his growth spurt, Jess ate quite a lot. He was the type who would finish two plates and still want more while I barely managed one. Seeing him not touch his food at all made me worry. Was he really so tired that he had no appetite?

“Don’t worry about me, just eat.”

Jess didn’t even look at the food, as if he had no interest in it. He had definitely said he hadn’t eaten dinner earlier.

My fork slowed down. Surely the chef hadn’t put all that effort in just to feed me? It must have been for Jess, so why wouldn’t he eat? It wasn’t even my cooking, but seeing the food go cold made me feel uneasy. I kept glancing at him, and Jess raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

When I hesitated to answer, Jess seemed to guess what I was thinking and pushed his plate toward me. This was possible because we weren’t sitting across from each other, but at the corner of the table, close enough that we could reach each other.

I pulled the plate a little closer, cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, and slid it back in front of Jess.

“Here. Eat at least a little.”

But Jess didn’t even look at it, opening his mouth with a sullen expression.

“Why. You eat it. You said you wanted it.”

“Me? When?”

“You kept looking at it with that expression.”

“That wasn’t because I wanted to eat it—”

“It wasn’t?”

It was because I wanted you to eat. Instead of explaining at length, I speared a piece of meat with my fork, turned the handle toward him, and held it out.

“Not eating a single bite is bad manners.”

Of course, what I was doing was also very rude by dining etiquette. But I figured, so what? I lightly waved the fork, urging him. What are you waiting for? Just take it.

Jess let out a short laugh and leaned his upper body toward me. Then he turned only his head, neatly plucking the meat off the fork with his mouth.

“You just—”

“I’m eating one bite. Delicious.”

He must not have seen my flabbergasted expression.

“Are you a child?”

It’s not like you don’t have hands. Despite my grumbling, Jess chewed the meat, saying it was delicious. Seeing him actually eat softened my resolve.

I speared another piece of the cut meat and held it out, and he ducked his head again to take it neatly.

“Good?”

“Yeah. It’s to my taste.”

Our eyes met, and Jess smiled, his blue eyes curving round. My hand moved on its own, spearing another piece with the fork.

He looked so docile accepting the food that I could have done it over and over. Jess swallowed every piece I offered without hesitation.

I moved my hands quietly, then a thought struck me, and my eyes narrowed.

…Was this brat just not eating because he was too lazy to move? I thought he had no appetite, but he’s eating so well! The plate emptied in no time.

Still, seeing him finish everything made me satisfied. I didn’t hide my proud expression and pointed at the plate, praising him.

“Not a single bite left. Good job.”

Jess glanced at me at the praise, as if he had something to say.

“What? Still hungry? Should I ask for more?”

“You… No, never mind. I’m full, let’s go. Get up.”

“What about dessert?”

“It’s night. If you eat too much this late, your stomach will hurt tomorrow.”

Jess put on a rather stern face. It wasn’t scary, but I just nodded and rose from my seat.

Jess approached me and bent down, as if to pick me up like he did on the way here. I stayed still and let myself be lifted like a sack of potatoes, and he laughed lowly.

“You’re not saying anything this time? Getting used to it already?”

“Mm. Well. It is comfortable.”

I answered curtly and leaned into Jess a little more than before.

The throbbing pain was rising from my ankle. The painkiller seemed to be wearing off as time passed. It was better to get to rest quickly than to waste time arguing about not being carried. And honestly, not walking and having someone take me was definitely better.

With a full stomach, I felt drowsy. Maybe it was because I was in Jess’s arms, which ran warm, but I felt like I was wrapped in a cozy blanket.

“Linea? You’re not falling asleep, are you?”

“……Mm.”

Even as I heard Jess’s exasperated voice, I couldn’t easily open my eyes. I took a breath, and a pleasant scent washed over me. It was the fragrance from Jess.

It felt like being in a snowy forest on a sunny, warm day. If I walked on the untouched white snow, it would crunch softly with each step.

Being next to Jess always felt so refreshing, filled with clean air.

Would Jess, as an adult, have had this same scent? He would have aged and inherited the dukedom, so perhaps it was heavier.

I don’t remember what it was like in my past life. After we parted at sixteen, when we met again much later, it was hard to stand beside him because of the cold aura and hesitant demeanor that had settled on Jess.

I stopped recalling the past and decided to just enjoy the cool fragrance in front of me. The scent lingering around my nose never tired me, no matter how many times I smelled it.

“……Linea.”

“Mm.”

“……Don’t laugh against my neck.”

“Mm.”

I thought I heard Jess let out a long sigh. Half-asleep, I managed to lift my hazy head from Jess’s shoulder.

“We’re here. Go in and sleep.”

I nodded, and Jess lowered me slowly. I wobbled briefly when my feet touched the ground, but not because of my ankle—the drowsiness hadn’t faded. As I opened the door, I patted Jess’s back a few times for bringing me this far.

“You sleep well too.”

I barely managed to say goodnight and turned around, but Jess stopped me from closing the door. I looked up at him blankly, and his fingers gripping the doorframe twitched.

“I won’t be at the castle starting tomorrow.”

“Why? Ah… you’re going on a monster subjugation.”

I realized as soon as I asked. He was heading out to lead the knights properly, touring villages farther north than here to subdue monsters. For as long as half a month, or as short as a week. During the warm spring and summer, Jess would leave the castle several times and return.

“The ice is melting fast, so I decided to go early. I’ll leave early tomorrow morning, so you don’t have to see me off. I’ll leave Sylvia behind.”

Sylvia, who was behind him, puffed out her shoulders. I nodded.

Ever since I got engaged to Jess, whenever he went out for subjugation, I would give him something imbued with my divine power. Like a small jewel, for example.

Filled with my heartfelt wish for his safety. But now I couldn’t do that. I swallowed my regret and forced a smile.

“Have a safe trip.”

“That’s it?”

“Hm?”

Jess leaned his shoulder against the doorframe with a dissatisfied expression.

“That’s all? Nothing more?”

“……What more should there be?”

“I don’t know. Just… worry more, or give me something.”

I briefly doubted my ears. But looking at Jess’s crooked posture, I realized I hadn’t misheard. A wry laugh escaped me. Worry more, he says.

“More? You want me to worry more?”

Goodness. When Jess went out for monster subjugation, I even cut back on sleep to think about him.

No, that’s not it. Considering I dreamed of him safe and sound, I suppose I thought about him even while sleeping.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say my life revolved around Jess, so how could I possibly be more concerned than that?

“I worry about you to the point of being sick of it. I think about you more than I breathe. So…….”

I stopped. Maybe I was being too dramatic. The drowsiness vanished as if it had never been there. My whole face flushed hot.

“So, anyway, just be careful and come back.”

I finished hastily, unable to look up at Jess. I was worried I had indirectly revealed how much I liked him.

What would happen if Jess noticed? Would he brush it off with annoyance, asking what that was supposed to mean? Or would he think I was being too greedy, not knowing my place?

Mostly I was anxious, but I was also curious about his reaction. In the end, unable to resist my curiosity, I stole a glance upward.