Chapter 29
“…….”
“I was adopted.”
“…….”
“The previous generation took me in when I was dying on the streets. I was chased out by the village and abandoned by my parents. Around that time, the south itself was in danger because of a severe drought. I was probably a useless child to them.”
As he spoke casually about it, Aileen thought there might be far more about him she didn’t know than she had initially imagined.
“…….”
“You’re right, ma’am. Actually, although I was adopted, I never received proper heir training, and above all, I had neither the passion nor the sense of duty to revive the south.”
“…….”
“To be precise—I hate this place. Deeply.”
His expression was so bitter when he said that that Aileen couldn’t bring herself to ask why.
But at least she thought she now understood why Florn wanted to leave this place — and that this reason might be the biggest among many.
“Separately, the previous generation was a good person, but after he grew old and couldn’t manage state affairs as before, many places were neglected. I know there’s still a lot to be done.”
“……I’m sorry. I—”
“That’s why I need you.”
“…….”
“Aileen, you would cherish this place more than I ever could.”
He smiled faintly as he said this, and Aileen thought:
So this man smiles when he’s hiding something.
And one more thing:
I absolutely must never fall in love with this man.
But such resolutions always seemed to prove useless.
He was the kind of man who easily seduced Aileen, always leaving her flustered.
Aileen lay down to go to sleep.
‘Ah, it’s a little chilly.’
She thought about asking for an extra blanket but remembered the humble household she saw when he invited her over earlier and felt it would be too presumptuous.
She thought curling up like a cat might be enough to keep warm.
“Aileen.”
“Yes?”
“It’s cold, isn’t it?”
“……A little?”
“Come here.”
“……Whaaat?!”
Florn casually opened his arms as if it were no big deal and told her to come into his embrace, which left Aileen utterly baffled.
“Are you crazy?”
“What do you mean?”
“Men and women shouldn’t be like this! I believe in strict separation between the sexes!”
Ironically, she wasn’t the type to shout this kind of thing.
If someone did shout it, she would have just scoffed at how closed-minded they were.
She wasn’t one of those naive or conservative girls who blush and panic at skin contact.
She was more likely to scoff at men’s covert touches and even tease them.
Surely, she was not the type to fall for such nonsense.
“I don’t know what you mean, but Aileen, your lips look a little blue.”
“…….”
“It’s not summer yet. The temperature difference in the south is quite large this time of year.”
He placed his hand on her forehead as he spoke.
What is this man doing, barging in like this?
Before Aileen could even ask what he was doing, he pulled her into his arms.
“I thought if you fell asleep like this, you might end up a widower.”
“……Are you saying I’m going to die?!”
“I’ve seen many people die from hypothermia. You haven’t eaten properly since yesterday, your leg is injured, and you haven’t rested at all. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? I saw your hands and feet were cold earlier.”
“That’s because I’ve always had… cold extremities…”
“Stop making excuses and just hold me like this.”
“…….”
“Isn’t it warm?”
She recalled a movie where a man and woman lost in the mountains stripped down and shared a sleeping bag tightly to preserve body heat.
In reality, staying close is necessary to keep warm, and indeed, Florn’s embrace was very warm.
‘Is this really okay?’
Of course it was.
Better than falling asleep shivering and never waking up again.
‘…Is it really okay?!’
She asked herself again, not because of some old-fashioned idea about men and women hugging.
But because her heart was pounding so hard over something so simple.
Had she just been out of love for so long?
Or had the memories of being jaded by handsome men faded, letting her “love-struck” feelings creep back?
“Get a grip, get a grip… keep your mind clear…”
Mumbling to herself, Aileen felt a breath on the back of her neck — he was chuckling softly.
Though it was warm, the way he held her felt a bit strange, so she squirmed to turn toward him.
“Why are you doing that?”
“No, you’re doing this on purpose. I can feel your breath on my neck—”
“I’m not making a move.”
“You say that, but to me it always seems like—”
“If you’re trying to seduce me—”
“You really are something!”
At that, Aileen sprang up.
“D-Don’t cross the line.”
“Is it a pillow in the castle, but a straw sandal here?”
“Whatever it is, don’t cross the line, seriously.”
“It’s cold, you know?”
“…….”
Giving up, Aileen burrowed herself into the straw bed like a hamster digging under sawdust.
“This way I’m not cold, it’s fine. Let’s refrain from unnecessary skinship, okay? We don’t have to pretend to be a showy couple when it’s just the two of us.”
She stuck only her face out from the straw, laughing heartily.
Florn couldn’t help but laugh too, with an expression like he couldn’t do anything about her.
“Aileen, you really are like a paramecium.”
“Can’t you at least say I’m like a hamster?”
He probably just meant to tease her.
Otherwise, how could he call a woman he was trying to seduce a paramecium?
Seduce? Seduce—? If he’s trying to seduce me? Ridiculous.
He’s definitely doing this on purpose to tease me.
Annoyed, Aileen said sharply, “I’m going to sleep now, so don’t talk to me.”
She shut her eyes tightly.
“If you’re cold, hug me. Okay?”
“I said no.”
“We’re married.”
“Stop with the nonsense.”
“I said it’s seduction.”
“You’re trying to seduce a paramecium, you must really be a humanitarian.”
“The south is originally a place full of love, isn’t it?”
“Ha!”
Ridiculous.
Aileen was so exasperated she didn’t reply anymore.
“Are you really going to sleep like that?”
“…….”
“There might be bugs in there.”
“I spent my childhood catching bugs and getting snacks from it.”
“That’s surprising.”
He continued teasing her a few more times, but Aileen had no energy to answer.
Slowly, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Florn looked down at the peacefully sleeping Aileen.
Noticing her frown in sleep, he gently placed his hand on her forehead.
‘She has a slight fever.’
He also placed a hand on her sprained ankle.
It felt warm. She might come down with a fever tomorrow.
He fetched water and repeatedly placed cold wet cloths on her forehead and ankle.
“You’re kind and gentle to me, but you don’t seem to care much about your own people.”
Aileen’s earlier words echoed like a ghost in his ears.
She was perceptive.
Or maybe she knew something and was trying to draw it out.
Knowing her personality, it was probably the former.
He had no intention to deceive Aileen.
Nothing he said so far was a lie.
He really was an orphan found dying on the streets, not the legitimate heir, adopted by the previous generation.
Above all, he hated the south deeply.
“It’s better to sell that child off.”
“I’m sorry, child, but this is how we survive.”
“If useless, you are naturally abandoned. If born, that’s enough. Now it’s time to repay the favor!”
Giving birth doesn’t make one a parent.
For Florn, memories of that village and his biological parents were the worst.
The closed-mindedness unique to the south, the scorching sun beating down, and the image of his withering young self flashed before him.
‘What on earth did this woman see as an opportunity in the south?’
