MTEF 12

Chapter 12

“Ronin Alistair, the journey to the North is your opportunity. During this time, you must stick to that brat by any means necessary. Your body, your face… aren’t those the only somewhat useful things you possess? With your body and face, his heart might waver just a little. So, whatever it takes, make sure you cling to that mutt!”

Yes, Father… I will do that. By using what I have, using the only thing I possess, ugh, I’m scared… No, Father—Father is more terrifying… Please don’t hit me! Ah, it hurts! I was wrong! I’ll do it! I will follow everything you say, Father! I’ll se-seduce Sir Leofric… with this useless body… this vulgar body…

“Gasph!”

It felt as though he had been pulled out of the water after being submerged for a long time. Every time he took a breath, his lungs burned as if they were tearing apart.

Only after coughing convulsively several times did he finally manage to look around. His eyes immediately met those of Sir Leofric, who was sitting across from him with his arms crossed, watching him. Only then did his sense of reality return.

‘I was on my way to the North. I kept insisting on riding the horse, ended up sharing the carriage with Sir Leofric… and then my memory cut off. Did I fall asleep?’

It had been a sleep closer to fainting, but he did not realize it. Ronin cleared his raspy throat and spoke.

“…I have shown you an embarrassing sight. How long was I asleep?”

“Not long. Probably about half a day.”

‘Half a day? No…!’

The mobility of those consisting of the Black Wolf Knights was extraordinary. If they had been running at their usual speed for half a day, they would be arriving at the castle before long.

“If you had, cough, woken me…! Cough! Cough!”

“Tsk.”

‘Did he just click his tongue?’

Even while coughing so hard that tears welled up in his eyes, he heard it—the sound of Sir Leofric clicking his tongue.

Ronin’s ears flushed crimson in an instant. He, too, was well aware that he was making a miserable spectacle of himself.

‘This won’t do… If Sir Leofric finds me pathetic, I won’t be able to fulfill Father’s orders!’

The moment that thought crossed his mind, his entire body began to tremble violently. The sound of a cane cutting through the air echoed like an auditory hallucination.

Ronin squeezed out every ounce of his remaining strength to straighten his back, even though his face was flushed red from the fever and embarrassment, and tears clung to his eyes like a child’s.

‘I can’t show any weakness. The opponent is that Callion Leofric. I have to endure it somehow.’

“…It would have been better if you had woken me up.”

His voice came out much clearer than expected, though it was a ridiculous display to Callion, who knew exactly what had happened after Ronin collapsed.

Callion spoke, trying his best not to openly mock him.

“If I had done that, you would have become a walking corpse by the time we reached the North. Neither of us wants that, so just stay as you are.”

Ronin tried to understand and overlook Leofric’s rude remark. Given what the Marquis had said, he couldn’t just remain quietly obedient as Callion wished, but he intended to avoid provoking him as much as possible.

That is, if Leofric, who was sitting across from him, hadn’t started leaning in closer and closer.

“Sir… Leofric?”

“Shh, I told you to stay still.”

Ronin’s eyes, which had been feigning composure, shook unsteadily.

‘Stay still? I can’t—I can’t do that… You keep getting closer, Sir!’

Features as distinct and sharp as the northern mountain ranges filled his vision. Being this close to an Alpha who wasn’t his father… he had truly never experienced this even once in his life.

Callion leaned his upper body over Ronin, who was now in a half-reclined posture. Now, the two were close enough to perceive each other’s scent.

‘This scent is…’

Ronin was not an Omega. However, he knew very well what Callion’s pheromones smelled like, as he had heard stories about them within high society.

“Lord Callion’s pheromones… I think they suit him perfectly. It feels like the North, doesn’t it?”

“Ah, absolutely~ It resembles the wind blowing through a cold pine forest. A very crisp, cool wind at that.”

“Oh my, that’s exactly what I wanted to say!”

‘It’s a completely different scent from what I heard back then.’

A soft, quiet, warm yet subtle aroma. To use a comparison, it was a fragrance like the scent drifting from antique wooden furniture.

Because it was a body scent different from the pheromones he knew of, Ronin realized this was Callion’s natural body odor rather than a pheromone emission. He also realized just how close the two had become.

Overwhelmed by the extreme proximity, Ronin tightly closed his eyes.

Whatever happened here, whatever Sir Leofric chose to do to his body, he intended to endure it all. After all, his body had been sent to the Duke for ‘that exact purpose.’

However, what Ronin anticipated did not happen.

“Ah!”

Ronin opened his eyes at the cold sensation on his forehead. Callion was looking down at him with a somewhat pathetic expression.

“It should still be cool.”

‘Cool?’

Ronin unconsciously placed his hand on his forehead. There was a coarse cotton cloth resting there, packed full of ice. Thanks to that, it felt incredibly refreshing, just as Callion said.

“Since you are awake, take a sip of this. It is medicinal tea.”

Soon after, a thermos was handed to him. Ronin, receiving the thermos from Callion in a daze, slightly opened the lid.

‘Sarandis? No, judging by the strong, astringent scent, it’s Sulapin.’

Sulapin was a medicinal herb used to restore vitality. While Ronin was examining the contents of the thermos, Callion had already returned to his original seat.

‘Ah… so Sir Leofric only leaned over to pick up the fallen cloth…’

Thinking it over calmly, it made sense. The cloth must have been placed on his forehead to bring down his fever. Then, while he was coughing, the cloth slipped off, and Sir Leofric had merely picked it up for him.

‘Then just how absurd was the misunderstanding I made…’

Filled with shame and embarrassment, he could no longer bring himself to speak.

Wishing he could simply faint again, Ronin drank the medicinal tea Callion had given him. He shuddered from the uniquely bitter taste of Sulapin, but thanks to the lemon and ginger added to it, he managed to swallow it down.

This situation was no different. Just as he forced down the bitter Sulapin, he would find a way to smooth over this matter as well.

Regaining his reason with the help of the warm tea, Ronin thought to himself.

‘…There will be plenty of opportunities once we arrive in the North. For now, it’s best to remain quiet.’

In the end, Callion unintentionally achieved exactly what he wanted, as Ronin could do nothing but quietly sip his tea without saying another word. Watching him, Callion spoke concisely.

“Medicinal tea doesn’t solve everything. It would be best for you to get plenty of rest even after we arrive in the North.”

Ronin nodded his head in response.

In that awkward yet comfortable silence, the wheels of the carriage continued to roll forward. Until they reached their destination.

Screeech—

Eventually, the carriage came to a halt. Ronin hesitated, clutching the cloth that had been on his forehead.

Soon, the outside grew noisy, and the carriage door swung open.

‘Sir Leofric will likely dismount first. Then I will quietly follow behind him…’

“Lord Ronin?”

“Yes?”

Lost in thought, Ronin looked up in surprise. Callion was staring at him with his usual blunt expression, extending his left hand toward him.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Ronin hurriedly proffered the cloth he held in his hands. At that gesture, Callion’s expression turned incredibly absurd.