Chapter 27
So, it wasn’t really some erotic contact or anything—it was simply because it was cold.
“…But honestly, I just grabbed you because my ankle hurt so much I couldn’t keep my balance.”
“Yes, lean on me as much as you want.”
Just as she was about to feel a little flutter of excitement,
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
A loud growl of hunger echoed.
“……”
“Haha, but thanks to Eileen being a wonderful bait, we caught the bear, so we can eat well tonight.”
“…Honestly…”
That evening, Floan, who had expertly started a fire as usual, carried Eileen in his arms and went to a nearby stream to butcher the meat.
The bear meat, roasted to a golden brown over the fire, was tougher than expected, and some parts had a peculiar sweetness.
It smelled a bit gamey, but frankly, there was no time to fuss over details.
While chomping down the meat Floan handed her, Eileen poured out her curiosity.
“But it’s kind of amazing. Even nobles who enjoy hunting usually don’t know how to butcher, right?”
“Is that so?”
“…What’s this, bland…?”
“I just learned it out of boredom back then.”
“Well, since you’re from the South, that makes sense… When did you learn to hunt? Usually people use guns, but Floan, it’s kind of amazing how you use such a short dagger to slit a bear’s throat…”
“I’m glad Eileen is becoming more curious about me.”
Floan gave only a slight smile, yet didn’t answer any of Eileen’s detailed questions.
Well, Eileen thought lightly that the Southern Duke must have hunted a lot and been so familiar with nature that learning to butcher was just a hobby.
She wasn’t the type to press someone stubbornly who clearly didn’t want to talk.
After roughly filling her stomach, Eileen took the coat Floan handed her and wrapped it around like a blanket, then lay down.
“Ugh, I feel like I’ve been beaten all over. Ugh.”
“Sorry.”
“Why do you keep apologizing?”
“If I hadn’t left you no choice in the first place—”
“Enough. I’m alive, that’s what matters. Maybe we can add the bear story to our love tale.”
Back at the Duke’s castle, she planned to publish a ‘novel’ of their love story.
She thought if today’s story was included, people would really like it.
“Is it okay to make up a fake love story just to attract attention?”
When he asked that, Eileen suddenly thought—what’s so hard about that?
In her previous life, hadn’t she had several relationships just like that?
What’s stopping her from doing the same in this life?
Her goal was one thing.
Not to die miserably because of some foolish thing called love, but only success and longevity.
“So whatever. People don’t care if it’s true or not—they just want a famous and intriguing romance story… That’s how the public always is. About anything…”
Feeling feverish or something, Eileen’s eyes began to flutter while staring at the glowing flames.
As she dozed off, wrapped tightly in his coat like a rolled kimbap, Floan quietly brushed her forehead once, as if saying it was okay to sleep now.
Normally, she might have snapped or boldly said, “Please stop this kind of skinship,” but perhaps liking the cool touch of his hand, she quietly closed her eyes.
She has a fever.
Despite the ankle injury and the forest’s temperature swings, the small, round forehead in one hand felt quite hot.
Floan silently watched Eileen, who had fallen asleep with soft breathing.
Had he been too harsh?
No, he was being harsh for a reason—he did want to test her limits deliberately.
He hadn’t expected it to turn out like this, though.
Of course, he didn’t wish for her to almost get killed by the bear, to sprain her ankle in pain, or to become feverish and weak.
He only wanted to know what she was hiding, exactly what feelings brought her here.
Most humans reveal their true selves when their stamina and patience reach the limit.
Maybe the reason this woman came to the South wasn’t simply to escape the Northern Duke, but something else entirely—a kind of distrust that stemmed from—
…spite?
Floan thought he had acted quite cowardly.
But even so, he had his reasons.
If he told her, Eileen would surely make a face that said she’d never accept this contract, calling it a fraudulent marriage.
So, cowardly as ever, he apologized in advance, knowing he would have many reasons to be sorry to her in the future.
Something incredibly warm and cozy, yet simultaneously firm, solid, and stable but slightly trembling—a strange feeling made Eileen barely lift her heavy eyelids.
“…Huh?!”
As soon as she opened her eyes, what she saw was a vast, soft yet solid chest.
The faint twitch of muscles made her flinch as well.
‘What is this huge chest?’
Embarrassed, she raised her head and saw Floan’s face walking straight ahead.
Looking up at him from below, so close, felt somehow new.
‘Look at that jawline—it could cut…’
Just then, sensing her gaze, Floan looked down and met her eyes.
“Awake?”
“Yes… well…”
“I had no choice but to carry you. Your ankle was more swollen than I thought.”
“Ah…”
She looked down at her dangling right leg; it was splinted and wrapped with cloth as first aid.
Just yesterday, her ankle felt hot, but now it was cold—he must have done something while she was asleep.
“We’ll be arriving at the village soon. How about staying until you recover?”
“…Yes. Well, that wouldn’t be bad…”
Eileen nervously rolled her eyes around, not knowing where to look.
Still thinking she might have a fever, Floan asked with concern.
“Are you still dizzy?”
“Huh? Ah… yes, a little…?”
If she had to say what made her dizzy, it was probably the gigantic chest in front of her.
Her head didn’t hurt, but saying “Yes, your chest is making me dizzy” would have been awkward.
Like a princess from a fairy tale, Eileen quietly nestled in his arms as they arrived at the village.
They thought arriving at the village meant relief, but it was a mistake.
“Oh my, if that’s the Southern Duke and Duchess, then I’m the emperor.”
“What kind of Duke couple walks around looking like beggars?”
That’s right.
Eileen’s skirt was filthy and torn here and there, and her face was grimy with tears and sweat.
Floan looked better but still rough.
In this state, there was no way the villagers would believe they were the Southern Duke and Duchess.
“Neither of them talks with the Southern dialect—it looks like outsiders, no matter how you look at it?”
“Maybe that azalea couple from the East came down here.”
Azalea? What’s that? Floan looked puzzled, so Eileen whispered.
“I think those people are treating us like lunatics. Instead of that, don’t we have something to prove we’re the Southern Duke and Duchess?”
Unfortunately, Floan had nothing to prove he was a noble—he normally avoided luxury.
Eileen was the same; she only wore a few jewels, but having fled from a bear, she must have dropped crumbs everywhere.
So right now, they were basically scruffy.
“Floan, when will the others arrive?”
“Dalton will take at least two more days to arrive with the escort and carriage.”
In fact, Dalton and the coachman had been told to come slowly on purpose, so under normal circumstances, they should have arrived much earlier.
But Eileen, unaware of this, accepted it as unavoidable since they were on the way back.
Floan felt a bit, no, quite sorry.
“So, we have nothing to prove who we are for now.”
“Looks like it.”
Feeling like ‘whatever,’ Eileen started bothering passersby in the village again.
