Chapter 14
‘Did I make a slip of the tongue again?’
In fact, Kaiden had always been the type to speak bluntly.
Because he was unskilled at speaking indirectly, he often spoke straightforwardly.
It was a particularly prominent flaw in aristocratic society where speaking indirectly was the norm.
Of course, those who knew him well were already used to it, but Reina was different.
He himself was surprised by the fact that he was treating her comfortably without realizing it.
At this rate, things would become awkward between them.
At that moment, he recalled being scolded by his younger sibling for making his nephew cry while playing with him.
]“Brother. You have to handle girls gently like handling a glass bowl. If you treat them like you do me, they’ll all cry and run away.”]
What did he say to do back then?
Kaiden racked his memory and pondered deeply over a solution.
He definitely listened to his sibling’s advice and soothed his nephew.
“Ah.”
Kaiden belatedly recalled the solution but hesitated for a moment.
Would this method really work?
But since no other method came to mind, he decided to try it.
He slowly approached Reina, placed his hand clumsily on her head, and began to stroke it.
“???”
Reina looked up with a bewildered face at the action that felt like pressing down on her head.
Seeing Kaiden’s serious expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say stop.
After an awkward glance passed between them, Kaiden cleared his throat and said.
“I heard this makes you feel better.”
“…….”
“Is this not it?”
Kaiden muttered with a frown.
Reina, who had been watching this quietly, burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
It was because she belatedly realized why he had done such a strange action.
The sight of him, who was always confident, looking unsure felt quite cute.
As Reina’s mood softened gently, Kaiden also wore a satisfied expression.
At that moment, a knock came, and a priest informed them that the meal was ready.
Kaiden lowered the hand that had been stroking Reina and naturally held her hand.
“You must be hungry, let’s go eat.”
Even though she knew it was an act conscious of the priest, Reina felt an inexplicable comfort.
As if conscious of the lingering warmth, Reina touched her head and said.
“Okay.”
* * *
After finishing the meal, Reina headed alone to the prayer room with the goddess statue in the main temple.
It was a place she remembered visiting with her older brother when she was young, so she wanted to come here first.
Reina scanned the prayer room with a face immersed in sentiment.
The prayer room was just as it was when she was young.
Naturally, the conversation she had with her older brother came to mind.
He had held her small hand tightly and pointed to the goddess statue, saying this.
“Reina, if you place your hand on this goddess statue and pray, it grants your wish.”
“Really? Then I’ll make a wish! What wish are you going to make, oppa?”
“I can’t tell you that. Wishes are supposed to be fulfilled only if you keep them to yourself.”
“Then I won’t tell either!”
Recalling how she had covered her mouth with her hand in case she accidentally said her wish, she smiled.
Back then, she thought she would be with her older brother forever.
Now, not even knowing if her older brother was alive or dead, Reina felt bitter.
Perhaps because it was a special prayer period, quite a lot of people had gathered.
Reina joined the line to pray at the goddess statue and quietly waited her turn.
And when her turn came.
Reina placed her hand on the goddess statue and prayed earnestly.
‘Please let my older brother be alive.’
Considering she hadn’t heard any news of him even before the regression, it was right to assume he was dead.
But just in case.
If he was still alive somewhere.
Reina clung to that sliver of hope like a lifeline and prayed desperately.
‘And if he’s alive, please let us meet again.’
Hoping that her prayer would reach the goddess.
* * *
When Reina returned to the bedroom, the room was empty.
Having finished her shower, she hesitated for a moment.
It was because if she went to bed like this, his complaint came to mind.
He had definitely grumbled that the bed was small.
In that case, it seemed better to let him sleep alone.
After all, she was small in stature, so she could sleep sufficiently on the sofa.
Moreover, compared to living on the marble floor in the basement, the sofa was like a luxurious bed.
Having made up her mind, Reina moved to the sofa.
It was when she had dozed off on the sofa.
Suddenly feeling a floating sensation, she opened her eyes and saw Kaiden.
He was moving carefully so as not to wake her.
As he was placing her on the bed, their eyes met.
“Did you wake up because of me?”
“No. What time is it now?”
“It’s 2 a.m. You can sleep more.”
Kaiden said as he pulled the blanket up to Reina’s neck.
Seeing him heading to the sofa next, Reina instinctively grabbed his hand.
“Do you need something more?”
“Are you planning to sleep on the sofa?”
“Wouldn’t that be better for both of us?”
“Then I should be the one sleeping on the sofa.”
As Reina tried to get up from her spot, Kaiden pressed her shoulder to stop her.
“Then I’d be even more uncomfortable. Just sleep here. I can sleep fine as long as I have a place to lay my head anyway.”
“I’m doing this because I feel like I won’t be able to sleep because of you.”
Reina continued, grasping his hand again.
“So don’t do that and sleep next to me. I’ll really sleep quietly.”
Reina was subtly stubborn, so he didn’t have confidence in persuading even that.
At this rate, they would just end up in a standoff.
In the end, Kaiden relented and took a spot at the end of the bed.
Only then did Reina smile with a relieved expression.
When he turned off the lamp by the bedside, the surroundings darkened.
Reina turned her body toward Kaiden’s direction and said softly.
“Good night, Kaiden.”
No answer came from Kaiden. Only a low sigh was heard.
* * *
The next day, they entered the north using the portal.
The north, cold all year round, was famous for its steep rocky mountains and unfreezing lakes created by erupting volcanoes.
Even though they had just entered the northern outskirts, a biting wind filled the carriage.
For Reina, who had always lived only in the mild capital, it was a cold she was feeling for the first time.
As Reina lightly shivered, Kaiden wrapped a blanket around her body and said.
“This is considered cool weather.”
“You’re lying, right?”
When Reina made a face as if it was absurd, Kaiden chuckled.
Actually, half of it was a joke, but her reaction was amusing, so he held back his words.
The carriage carrying the two ran through the north for several days.
Around the time when even looking outside was getting boring, the carriage entered the Crencia territory.
A while later, in the distance, Crencia Castle appeared, with several tall spires clustered together.
Crencia Castle, backed by snow-capped mountains, boasted a terrifying appearance as if a demon king lived there.
An exclamation burst out involuntarily at the sight larger in scale than imagined.
It was the first time seeing Crencia Castle with the naked eye.
Reina quietly looked at Crencia Castle, where she would stay from now on.
It was the castle that had completely burned down and collapsed because of her in the past.
Recalling how the emperor at the time had cackled saying it was good, her heart naturally grew heavy.
It was even more so because it was a place where countless people had died.
‘This time, I’ll definitely protect it.’
As Reina was firming her resolve, the carriage stopped in front of the main castle.
Kaiden got out first and extended his hand to Reina.
Reina gently placed her hand on his and followed out of the carriage.
At that moment, the servants lined up on both sides bowed their heads in unison and greeted the two.
“We congratulate your return, Your Excellency. And welcome to the north, Duchess.”
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By Anna 💓
