Chapter 42 – It’s Good

Alicia slowly closed her eyes and then opened them.

Her thick eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly and made the grey eyes appear and disappear.

It seemed like she slept well, but she still felt heavy.

‘As expected, it was a dream.’

While lying in bed, Alicia reached out to the vacant spot beside her.

The bedsheets were wrinkled, but no warmth remained.

That was the sad truth.

The dream yesterday was so vivid that it made her think that Cabellenus might have been there all night.

Alicia sighed deeply after gazing at the vacant spot for a long time.

Her body felt heavy, but her eyes were stiff because she fell asleep after crying yesterday.

‘After the dream, I miss you even more.’

Alicia pressed her swollen eyes with her palms.

It was a pleasant dream, so it felt even more futile.

Because the more distinct the gap between dream and reality, the greater she felt the vacancy of Cabellenus.

“Are you going to sleep some more?”

Her eyes widened at the familiar voice heard from behind her back.

Alicia blinked slowly, then quickly raised herself.

It was not an illusion.

It was Cabellenus.

“Why, Your Grace…….”

“It’s been a long time since we have eaten together.”

“…….”

“Do you not want to?”

Cabellenus raised his head.

“Oh, no. No way!”

Alicia frantically flailed her arms in the air.

She was so embarrassed that she kept moving her arms, causing her to sway.

“Be careful.”

“Yes, yes.”

Alicia blushed, biting her lips firmly.

She wasn’t hurt as she was on the bed, but the man’s gaze made her feel self-conscious.

“If you were here, you should have made it obvious…….”

“You were sleeping too soundly for that.”

“…….”

She wondered if he watched her sleep.

While pressing her hot cheeks with both hands, Alicia’s gaze landed on the clothes Cabellenus was wearing.

He was wearing a lighter outfit, not the usual uniform.

At that moment, Alicia’s smooth forehead wrinkled.

“……Did you come at dawn?”

“I finished work late. Even though I tried to come earlier, it ended up being that time.”

“Well, then…….”

“I deliberately didn’t wake you up because you were sleeping so well.”

She wondered if her dream was really a dream.

Alicia’s gaze grew uneasy.

Her shaking eyes were already busy casting sidelong glances at the man.

However, it was difficult to recognise the intention of a man whose facial expression did not change.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“Yesterday, I didn’t make any mistakes, did I?”

Alicia’s voice trembled.

She clearly remembered that she poured out all kinds of words on the pretext that it was her dream.

“You didn’t really make any mistakes.”

“Is that so…….”

Her mouth, which was hardened with tension, slightly relaxed.

Cabellenus squeezed his chin as he looked at her face that he could easily read.

A light smile hung around the edge of his mouth, which he stealthily covered with his fingers.

“However, we may need to talk a little more about the deal between us.”

“Pardon?”

The mouth, which previously slightly relaxed, tensed again.

Cabellenus looked at the expression that was quickly reversed and continued, pretending not to know.

“For your information, I’m a pretty expensive guy. You’ll be in trouble if you don’t pay the right price.”

Alicia’s eyelashes trembled noticeably.

She didn’t know that Cabellenus’s smile – hidden behind his hand – was growing wider.

“Wh-what does that…….”

“You said you wanted me.”

Cabellenus’s eyes bent mischievously.

He never thought of himself as a childish person, but looking at such a face made him want to tease it.

“I didn’t expect you to want that.”

“……Don’t make fun of me.”

Alicia’s shoulders drooped.

Cabellenus rose from his chair and walked to where she was.

It was a leisurely pace of a satiated beast.

“How much will you give me?”

“……What can I give you?”

Naturally, his composure collapsed at the pure gaze that looked up at him.

Cabellenus paused and looked down at Alicia.

This woman always deviated from his expectations.

Cabellenus let out a short breath.

He thought he would be satisfied by just the return of liveliness in those eyes, but he wasn’t.

The eyes of a young woman filled with desire were more than he expected.

“Your eyes.”

Cabellenus took a step forward.

“I want you to keep looking at me with those eyes.”

“Just that?”

“I want to hear you chatter endlessly about stories with those lips.”

One step.

“……And?”

“I want to embrace your small body.”

Another step.

“I want to kiss your soft skin.”

And, one more step.

Alicia reflexively gulped at the short distance between them.

Since when did it start?

The satiated beast suddenly had the eyes of a hungry beast.

“I have nothing to give you.”

“I know.”

“But you still keep me beside you. You’re not going to gain any benefits.”

“It’s too late to think about that.”

He stopped walking.

Alicia let out a long breath.

“You might regret it.”

“That’s why I’m still doing things that don’t suit me.”

To not regret it.

Cabellenus’s hands wrapped around Alicia’s face.

Confusion spread across Alicia’s face.

Cabellenus was kneeling before her.

“Ge-get up quickly!”

“That’s why you should keep looking at me.”

Unlike Alicia, who was confused, Cabellenus calmly met her gaze.

Alicia had a tearful look, her lips clenched.

“Why do you make that expression?”

“Your Grace is not supposed to be like this.”

“That’s right. I’m not supposed to be like this. Except for you.”

“…….”

“Because for me, you will be the only one who is important.”

Alicia nervously bit her lips and then clenched her fist.

Her heart was rapidly pounding as if she had run, but she didn’t want to ignore the man’s gaze.

She was greedy, and she wanted to be greedy.

“……I don’t have anything right now, so I can’t pay for it. However, the future me can.”

Alicia touched Cabellenus’s face with her trembling hands.

Although the man had the eyes of a beast that looked as if it would bite the nape of her neck at any moment, the man quietly accepted Alicia’s touch.

“I’ll be by Your Grace’s side. I’ll stay by your side and pay for the price that I can’t pay right now.”

“You’ll bet your future to buy me?”

“I will become a grand duchess that suits you, Your Grace.”

She stiffly said everything she had to say on the subject.

Cabellenus laughed at the contradictory expression mixed with anxiety and confidence.

“You’ll have to work hard to become a grand duchess that suits me.”

“I will.”

“You’re confident?”

“Just like Your Grace.”

Alicia’s fingertips fluttered.

The man’s cheeks felt strange to touch as they were soft, unlike his sturdy, muscular body.

“What does that mean?”

“Your Grace is always confident and strong, so wouldn’t that be appropriate for the person standing next to you?”

Alicia’s eyes sparkled.

Now it was finally clear what she wanted to do.

A person who was not shabby when standing beside Cabellenus.

A person who was not under his protection but could walk shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

She wanted to be that kind of person.

“You don’t have to be strong.”

“I will be strong.”

Alicia shook her head.

The movement of her head was still weak, but the firm resolution was evident.

The warmth in her tightly held hands was so warm she didn’t want to let go.

Alicia hesitated for a moment and then cautiously lowered her head.

“I’ll give you my future. Instead, give me Your Grace.”

Alicia’s lips touched Cabellenus’s forehead.

The action alone made her face heat up, but she didn’t intend to let go of his hand.

“I thought you weren’t greedy, but that’s not the case.”

“So you don’t like it?”

“No.”

It’s good.

His last words were barely audible from the lips that suddenly approached closer.

A large hand hastily dug into Alicia’s hair.

Alicia willingly swallowed her breath and hugged his firm neck with her arms.

Hot breaths flowed through each other’s open lips.

 

* * *

“You don’t like the food.”

Cabellenus’s eyes narrowed onto Alicia’s hesitating fork.

Alicia smiled awkwardly and poked the innocent lettuce with the fork.

“No. It’s not like that. Rather, I haven’t been feeling well lately.”

“I’ll call a doctor.”

Cabellenus’s gaze naturally turned towards Alicia’s belly.

Although he was informed of the possibility, it was difficult to determine if something was inside by only looking at her flat belly.

“No. It’s not that bad. I think I lost my appetite because I don’t like eating alone…….”

She was worried that her words sounded like a complaint.

Alicia stole a glance at Cabellenus.

Cabellenus’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Once the current situation is over, we’ll be able to dine together again.”

“Don’t overdo it. I can eat alone. I’m used to it now.”

“More than that, it’s because I’ll regret it.”

“Pardon?”

Alicia’s eyes widened.

“If you don’t care if I’m not there, I’ll be the one to regret it.”

Cabellenus’s eyes were slightly curved.

Alicia looked at him with her cheeks flushed.

The hand holding the fork tightened, but she didn’t keep her mouth shut.

“……If that’s the case, I can’t help it.”

“Is it so?”

It was a mischievous smile, but she liked it.

Alicia nodded, holding herself together.

“Yes. I prefer eating with Your Grace.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but regardless, make sure you eat properly.”

“Does Your Grace eat well?”

“Don’t worry about me. You have to eat well.”

She was still skinny.

Cabellenus’s eyes narrowed.

Even though he was feeding her everything good, Alicia, in his eyes, still looked like she would break at the slightest touch.

“This is the first time that I’ve been eager for the hunting season to return.”

“The hunting season?”

“Every year, the last month in Schwarhan is the hunting season. By that time, the monsters are particularly rampant and cause severe damage in many ways.”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

Alicia’s eyes narrowed.

A strange form of life that was different from ordinary animals.

She had never actually seen it, but the book defined the monsters in that way.

The book explained it as a very dangerous being and illustrated it with bizarre pictures.

“It’s dangerous, but we cannot help but fight. If we leave the monsters as they are, they will destroy the land. In the end, it’s something someone must do.”

“Even so, I hope you don’t do anything dangerous.”

Alicia murmured in a cautious voice.

“Are you worried?”

“Yes.”

Alicia nodded straight away.

She knew that Cabellenus was strong, but she still felt uneasy.

Cabellenus, no matter how strong, was also a human.

And every human was bound to die.

Alicia was most afraid of losing someone.

Even more so, if it was the man in front of her.

“You don’t have to worry. The biggest Balman will be mine this year anyway.”

“What’s a Balman?”

She had never heard of that name before.

Alicia tilted her head.

“It is the largest and most ferocious monster in Schwarhan.”

At the same time, it was also used as the best health tonic.

Cabellenus nodded lightly, omitting the last sentence.

Sometimes it was best for the truth to remain unknown.

“Then it’s terribly dangerous.”

“I’ve been doing this every year, so I’m used to it. Besides, this year, I have more reasons to do it.”

Despite its hideous appearance, the heart of Balman was a popular ingredient for health tonics in the capital.

As soon as the hunting season came, Gerpenus would excessively pester his brother for several days until he sent the heart.

From this year onwards, he would not send a single heart of Balman to the capital.

It seemed that there was already a protest from Gerpenus, but Cabellenus didn’t mind at all.

The health tonic was necessary for Alicia, who was skinnier than his powerful half-brother.

“I can’t help it if you have to, but I don’t want Your Grace to get hurt.”

“If you’re uneasy, why don’t you give me an amulet?”

“An amulet?”

“In Schwarhan, there is a custom of giving gifts to warriors before they go to war so that they can return safely.”

The custom that he had considered a nuisance was now a good excuse.

Cabellenus stared at Alicia while holding his chin.

He meant half of it as a joke, but since her eyes sparkled with eagerness, he now didn’t want to take back his words

“What can I give you?”

“Are you going to give it to me?”

“Yes. If it’s something I can give.”

Even with the lightly posed question, Alicia had a very serious face.

“You don’t have to speak so grandly. Words are like amulets – they don’t have to be great things.”

“Then what kind of thing should it be? Is there a set rule?”

“There’s no set rule. It’s something that you can always carry with you and contains your heart. You have plenty of time, so take your time.”

Cabellenus grinned.

He found the agonising look on Alicia’s face very pleasing.

She would naturally have no choice but to think about him while selecting the amulet.