GDTN 13

Chapter 13

Vares drew a slow, deep breath while looking down at the head that was so close it felt like it might press against his chest, then exhaled just as slowly.

Breathing too deeply made it feel as if he might brush against her, so he took a step back.

Celine was dressed in standard riding attire: a shirt, vest, riding trousers, and boots.

So why did he have nowhere to look?

Why did the clothes she wore feel indecent?

…If it looked indecent and pretty to his eyes, did it look the same to others?

Vares let his gaze drift around. The guards had already turned their backs the moment they realized their lord’s destination was toward her. Not a single one remained facing her.

He looked back at her and removed his cloak. Carefully, he draped it over her shoulders.

“How did you get here?” he asked.

Celine pulled the cloak around herself as if it already belonged to her. She had also been uncomfortable with the attention of others.

“I walked here with Anna. You didn’t tell me where to go.”

At the word “you,” a faint intake of breath rippled through the surrounding men.

Even Vares was slightly startled. He showed no outward reaction, but his mind began to spiral.

Did she mean “you” like you, my husband? Did she think of him as her husband? Was she implying he was… her husband? Would she even accept him as one?

The more he thought, the calmer his mind became.

In the end, he realized those thoughts were just his own wishful thinking.

So that wasn’t it.

Looking at Celine as she examined the horse he had prepared, he thought:

She wasn’t just making eye contact with him—she wanted to see him as a man.

Should he start bringing flowers and chasing after her?

Like the guards did with women—whistling, smiling, winking, giving gifts, singing serenades beneath windows?

He had already bought her. He had assigned Anna as her watcher. He had administered drugs to her former lover. And that man was now imprisoned.

He had even tested her through indirect meetings and spoken of sealing the inner domain.

He had already made so many irreversible mistakes.

…Should he just erase it all from her memory and start over? No one would ever know.

If he searched carefully, he might even find a way to erase her memories.

Then he could lock her away.

She was dangerous. She stirred his thoughts like a witch, so it would be easier to simply imprison her and pretend the outside world didn’t exist. That would be more peaceful.

Celine looked at the white horse she would ride. It was her first time seeing a living horse.

It was bigger than she expected, and she briefly worried about mounting it. But when she saw the even larger black horse beside it, she felt a strange confidence that the white one should be manageable.

There was already a lot of baggage tied to the horses. Would it be safe to get on? She swallowed nervously.

“I think the horse might be too heavy if I ride it,” she said.

Vares snorted lightly.

“Don’t worry.”

That horse was so gentle it couldn’t even be used as a warhorse. A creature like her—light as a rabbit—would not be a problem even if five of her rode it.

Vares loosened the reins and walked toward the back of the stable. The rear gate led directly outside the outer wall, with the shortest and least obstructed path.

As he moved, Celine stepped closer to him.

She felt uneasy—and, honestly, a little frightened.

Now she was calm because she was next to Vares, but earlier the whistles and stares from all directions had made her dizzy.

If Anna hadn’t reassured her the entire time, she would never have been able to push through the rough, intimidating men to reach him.

Once she reached Vares, the noise strangely disappeared, and the hostile gazes softened.

More than anything, just being beside him made her feel safe.

Was it because he was the male protagonist of this world, the strongest man? Or because she instinctively relied on him as her husband in this unfamiliar place? Or perhaps simply because her feelings for him blocked out everything else?

As he began walking, she instinctively stayed close at his side. From behind her, a whistle rang out—“fiiiii—”.

Startled, she grabbed Vares’ arm. Or rather, she clutched a corner of his shirt.

Behind her, the last person who had whistled was Anna.

She watched as that small tug on his shirt subtly softened Vares’ presence and smiled faintly.

Celine’s reaction was exactly that of a proper young lady. Without her, things would have gone more harshly. Then Celine would have felt even more secure by his side.

A little disappointing—but acceptable.

When Celine first appeared, the men had been far more excited, but they quieted when Anna arrived. That was her signal: continue, it’s fine.

After that, a brave few restarted the whistles and teasing. None of them dared approach her directly.

Pleased that her plan was working, Anna’s gaze shifted to Zart inspecting a separated carriage near the stable.

She approached him.

“You’re preparing the carriage?” she asked.

“Yes. The lord ordered me to prepare it for L벨라베르그.”

“When?” she asked after thinking briefly.

“Tonight.”

Anna silently sighed.

“You were actually planning to leave at that time?”

“Yes?”

Seeing his blank expression, it seemed he truly intended to go then.

“Men…” she muttered.

“Leave at dawn instead. Arrive around sunrise. That will be better.”

“W-what?”

“It’s better for the lord as well.”

Anna turned away, leaving him confused.

No wonder he’s still unmarried.

She remembered hearing him ask his comrades to introduce him to a decent woman. So he was less “unable” and more “still failed to.”

Zart mulled over her words, then flushed slightly. Thinking of her dismissive look made his face burn.

It was time to mount the horses at the outer north gate.

Vares tried to help Celine up, but she didn’t move, so he waited.

Strangely, he didn’t mind her still holding onto his shirt. It tickled a little—but in a pleasant way.

Still, they couldn’t leave like this forever.

Just as Vares was about to speak, Celine spoke first.

“I can’t ride a horse.”

He tilted his head.

Her expression looked completely sincere as she gazed up at him with round eyes.

Whether or not she could ride was uncertain—but she clearly had no intention of doing it alone.

Vares hesitated. Was this the moment to suggest they ride together?

Celine, meanwhile, felt awkward. She had warned him in advance, but now it seemed strange to suddenly say she couldn’t ride.

When she had led the horse earlier, it had seemed fine. But now that she was about to mount it, it looked far too tall. She felt like she might die falling off.

“I really can’t ride a horse,” she repeated, shaking her head.

Vares offered another option.

“Then we can postpone and practice riding another day.”

That sounded reasonable. She was about to agree when he added:

“Or you can ride with me on the same horse.”

She lowered her head.

That wasn’t what it sounded like?

Ride together—that clearly meant being held while riding.

Why was he so calm saying things like that, while radiating that greenish aura of indifference? Was this the so-called push-and-pull?

If so, the “pull” part was unclear, but the “push” was definitely strong.

After staring at the ground for a while, she finally nodded slightly.

“Since everything’s already prepared… we might as well go.”

She turned her head away.

Vares rolled his neck slightly, clenching and unclenching his fists as if something felt oddly tight.

He tied the white horse behind the black one, then handed Celine part of the reins. She returned his cloak and took them.

With a frightened expression, she stepped into the stirrup. Vares helped lift her onto the horse safely.

Once she was stable, he mounted behind her.

That was when he realized something was seriously wrong.

He ground his teeth and shut his eyes tightly.

Sitting front and back like this, her soft hair tickled his neck.

And the back pressed against his chest—why was it cute? No, why did it feel cute?

But that wasn’t the real problem.

They were both wearing riding trousers. Through a thin layer of fabric, pressed closely together, her… her…