“Karina!”
Karina realized in an instant that she had been struck by lightning.
The kind of affection in Mikhail’s eyes was completely different from what she had thought.
‘No way... that can’t be.’
She tried to deny it, to deny it, but it was no use.
When she looked straight into Mikhail’s eyes, she couldn’t help but understand the meaning contained in those eyes.
Karina’s eyelashes fluttered thinly.
She was so embarrassed and confused.
Even though she kept telling herself that it couldn’t be true, she was afraid that Mikhail might bring up such a thing.
Karina did not want her relationship with Mikhail to change from its current state.
Even if Mikhail confessed his feelings to her, she could not return his feelings. She could not reciprocate.
Karina did not believe in the feeling called love.
She knew better than anyone how useless and worthless the feeling called love was.
And at the same time, she knew too well how miserably the feeling called love could drag a person down to the bottom.
That was why she could not bear it.
The moment Mikhail opened his mouth to speak, Karina spoke first.
“Michael.”
Karina’s voice was urgent as she called his name.
Karina, who had been thinking about what to say for a moment while hiding her emotional turmoil, continued.
“Thank you. It is all thanks to you that I was able to be safe.”
“No. I...”
“It is thanks to you fulfilling your responsibilities as my bodyguard. There are not many people who are this responsible. I think I really chose a good bodyguard.”
“...”
Karina continued speaking quickly, not giving Mikhail a chance to respond.
“So I want you to continue to be my escort.”
“...?”
Mikhail looked embarrassed after hearing Karina’s words.
“I like it this way. I want it to continue that way.”
“...”
Karina forced the corners of her trembling lips to lift and smiled.
“Can you do that?”
“...”
Mikhail’s expression became clouded.
The hurt was clearly visible on his face.
Karina, who could no longer look at his face, lowered her gaze.
She did not want to hurt Mikhail.
However, she had no choice.
The current relationship was the best. She wanted to maintain this relationship.
She did not want to taint this new relationship with a trivial emotion called love.
The relationship with Mikhail was precious to Karina right now.
On the other hand, Mikhail did not say anything. No, he could not say anything. He could not think of the right words to say in this situation. He had been rejected before he could even confess.
He had heard that she wanted to remain in this relationship.
It was a clear rejection.
He could not hide his disappointed expression.
His heart ached. His heart was filled with sorrow and sadness from the depths of his heart.
He didn’t think that Karina was rejecting him because she didn’t like him.
Karina definitely had feelings for him.
She was the one who only smiled sincerely at him. She was the one who only showed herself honestly to him. There was no way Karina would reject him for no reason.
Mikhail wondered why Karina had rejected him.
‘Because they hadn’t divorced yet? Because she was tied to the Grand Duke by marriage?’
However, since she had already decided and planned the divorce and declared it to the person involved, he didn’t think that was the case.
It felt like she was fundamentally reluctant to change this relationship.
Mikhail doggedly studied Karina’s expression.
He quickly noticed that Karina’s eyes were trembling with anxiety.
‘Is it closer to fear than reluctance?’
As soon as he thought about it, another reason came to mind.
‘Could it be because of that bastard?’
Mikhail’s mouth was tightly shut.
If Karina rejected him because of the Grand Duke.
If she couldn’t trust people and distrust love because of the wounds she received from the Grand Duke. If that’s why she rejected him.
Mikhail’s jaw tightened.
He thought that he really shouldn’t keep Karina by the Grand Duke's side.
‘I have to take her away quickly.’
Mikhail, who guessed the reason, quickly gathered his emotions.
He had no intention of burdening Karina, who was hurt and forcing his feelings on her.
“Lady Karina.”
Mikhail smiled softly and called Karina.
When he put a little more strength into his hand, Karina’s gaze rose again.
“Do you remember that you promised to grant my wish before?”
Karina hesitated and answered.
“...Yes.”
“I want to use that wish right now.”
“Right now?”
He felt Karina’s hand twitching.
It seemed like she was worried that he might use the wish right to get a confession.
“What?”
“Please let me continue to stay by Karina’s side.”
“Yes?”
“Even after Karina gets divorced and leaves the Grand Duke’s family. Take me with you then.”
Karina’s eyes widened.
“Take you with me?”
“Yes. Is that okay?”
“That...”
Karina’s expression was clearly worried as if it was an unexpected wish.
Mikhail added with a sullen expression.
“As you know, I’m a wanderer. I don’t really have anywhere to go, and nothing to do...”
“...”
“Karina, please continue to take me with you and use me as your escort. I’ll also have fun and earn money. Is that okay?”
“Um...”
Karina trailed off as if she was worried.
“Karina. This is a wish, so you can’t say no.”
Mikhail insisted strongly, not giving Karina time to think.
“You’re not going to abandon me, are you?”
“Don’t you think abandoning you sounds a little strange? You have your own life, so I should let you go freely.”
Karina asked back, bewildered.
“So you’re saying that you’ll follow me freely?”
Mikhail raised the corners of his mouth and smiled prettily.
“If you don’t take me with you, I’ll just follow you.”
Mikhail filled his field of vision with his fixated eyes.
He was determined to follow her even if she said she wouldn’t.
Karina, who was silent for a moment, smiled as if she had no choice.
“If you tell me you have nowhere to go, I’ll take you.”
“You said you’d take me with you. Don’t forget. I won’t change my mind.”
Mikhail checked and rechecked as if asking for a promise.
“Yes.”
Only after hearing Karina’s definitive answer did Mikhail feel relieved and smile softly as usual.
The next day.
The three of them were gathered in Karina’s room.
Karina was sitting with her back against the headboard.
Jeremiah and Mikhail were sitting side by side in the chair next to the bed.
Since Karina woke up, Jeremiah had been busy receiving incident reports and dealing with the piled-up work.
However, he still visited her three times a day.
‘Why are you doing something you’ve never done before?’
Karina was bewildered.
And every time he came, he would fight with Mikhail.
Even at this moment, there was a strange hostility between Jeremiah and Mikhail.
'Are you coming here to fight?'
Karina made a trembling expression.
After being told that both of them should leave if they were going to fight, they hadn't done it openly, but it was still uncomfortable.
'Why do they insist on meeting each other when they don't like each other?'
Karina's way of thinking couldn't understand it.
"Do you really plan on keeping him as your escort?"
Jeremiah looked like he couldn't accept it.
"I already told you. Mikhail saved my life several times. I need him."
Jeremiah still maintained his position that he couldn't accept it even though he said he needed Mikhail.
Nevertheless, when Karina insisted that it had to be Mikhail, he couldn't force a change of escort.
"Didn't you say it had to be me?"
Mikhail, who was next to him, smiled like a winner and acted triumphantly.
Jeremiah glared at Mikhail with a grim expression.
Mikhail didn’t avoid that gaze and met it head-on.
Then, a tense atmosphere formed as if a fight would break out at any moment.
“You’re not trying to fight again, are you?”
Karina immediately interjected.
“...”
Then, the two of them turned their heads toward Karina while glaring at each other until the end.
“Sometimes, being sick helps.”
They both seemed to be a bit weaker when dealing with patients.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness. It’s me.”
Ron happened to come to Karina’s room.
Mikhail, who had been released, came to see Karina.
“Are you feeling better now?”
His handsome face was badly damaged.
“You suffered so much in prison because of me.”
She felt sorry.
“I’m fine. It was you who suffered because I collapsed. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. Don’t say that. I’m happy that Karina is safe.”
Mikhail tried to grab Karina’s hand.
Jeremiah stopped Mikhail’s actions.
“What are you trying to do?”
Jeremiah asked with a frown.
“I’m just glad that Karina is safe. Can’t I even express it?”
Mikhail glared at Jeremiah with cold eyes.
“Don’t be presumptuous.”
“My master is Karina. It’s up to her to decide whether or not I've been presumptuous.”
Mikhail now openly called Karina by her name.
Jeremiah’s eyes turned fierce.
“Do you think your crimes are gone just because you’re released from prison?”
“No way. I’ll repay my crimes by protecting Karina more thoroughly from now on. I won’t leave her side for even a moment.”
Mikhail responded with shameless confidence.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“Nonsense? I’m serious, aren’t I?”
It felt like sparks were flying in the air where Jeremiah and Mikhail’s eyes met.
Karina’s head started to hurt from their fight.
“Huh? I’m still a patient. If you’re going to fight, both of you, leave.”
“...”
“...”
With Karina’s firm words, their fight ended there.
That afternoon.
“It’s mealtime.”
Mikhail came in carrying a tray of soup.
Jeremiah was kicked out of the room by Karina’s uncomfortable, not-so-disloyal order.
Even without that, it would have been impossible to stay by Karina’s side all this time because of the piled-up work.
Mikhail put the tray down on the bedside table.
He helped Karina sit up.
“I thought you might still have trouble swallowing things, so I asked them to prepare something thin.”
Mikhail stayed by Karina’s side after she woke up.
He kept checking on her condition and took care of her carefully.
“It might not be good for your wound, so I cooled it down a little so it’s not too hot.”
Mikhail scooped up some soup with a spoon and brought it to Karina’s mouth.
“Here, go ahead.”
Karina glanced at her hand.
Strangely enough, the wound on her hand had completely healed.
She could see her clean palm.
She felt embarrassed to receive it while leaving her healthy hand behind.
“I’ll eat it.”
Karina took the spoon from Mikhail’s hand. She stirred the soup with a spoon and ate it little by little.
The soup, which was just the right temperature, went down her throat.
“How does it taste?”
It was made to be fed to patients, so it wasn’t salty.
“The taste is just bland.”
“That’s just right for patients.”
Mikhail watched Karina eating the soup with a big smile.
A complex emotion was evident in Mikhail’s eyes as he looked at Karina.
Sensing that, Karina immediately opened her mouth.
“I’m okay now. Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? He said I’m almost better.”
“...”
“He said you got the healing potion yourself and used it on me.”
Karina heard the doctor who came to check on her progress exclaim in admiration, saying that it was like seeing a miracle when he saw Mikhail next to her.
“I survived this time too thanks to you. Now, it’s not like I can just grant you one or two wishes.”
Karina snickered and looked at Mikhail, joking.
“But you can’t ask me to feed you for the rest of my life or take responsibility for you with the wish ticket, right?”
Karina said it playfully.
However, Mikhail’s expression was serious.
He grabbed Karina’s hands with both of his.
Mikhail, who was gently wrapping his hands around Karina's waist, called her name in a soft voice.
"Karina."
"...Huh?"
She was surprised by the informal address, but she remembered that she had told him to stop talking before, so she let it go.
Mikhail opened his mouth in a low voice.
“I have something to say.”
Mikhail raised his body and came closer to Karina. He lowered his eyes to Karina’s level and met her gaze.
“It’s very important.”
His ruby-like pretty eyes reflected Karina’s appearance.
His eyes were still full of worry.
At the same time, they were filled with affection for Karina.
‘Huh...?’
“Are you feeling better now?”
His handsome face was badly damaged.
“You suffered so much in prison because of me.”
She felt sorry.
“I’m fine. It was you who suffered because I collapsed. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. Don’t say that. I’m happy that Karina is safe.”
Mikhail tried to grab Karina’s hand.
Jeremiah stopped Mikhail’s actions.
“What are you trying to do?”
Jeremiah asked with a frown.
“I’m just glad that Karina is safe. Can’t I even express it?”
Mikhail glared at Jeremiah with cold eyes.
“Don’t be presumptuous.”
“My master is Karina. It’s up to her to decide whether or not I've been presumptuous.”
Mikhail now openly called Karina by her name.
Jeremiah’s eyes turned fierce.
“Do you think your crimes are gone just because you’re released from prison?”
“No way. I’ll repay my crimes by protecting Karina more thoroughly from now on. I won’t leave her side for even a moment.”
Mikhail responded with shameless confidence.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“Nonsense? I’m serious, aren’t I?”
It felt like sparks were flying in the air where Jeremiah and Mikhail’s eyes met.
Karina’s head started to hurt from their fight.
“Huh? I’m still a patient. If you’re going to fight, both of you, leave.”
“...”
“...”
With Karina’s firm words, their fight ended there.
That afternoon.
“It’s mealtime.”
Mikhail came in carrying a tray of soup.
Jeremiah was kicked out of the room by Karina’s uncomfortable, not-so-disloyal order.
Even without that, it would have been impossible to stay by Karina’s side all this time because of the piled-up work.
Mikhail put the tray down on the bedside table.
He helped Karina sit up.
“I thought you might still have trouble swallowing things, so I asked them to prepare something thin.”
Mikhail stayed by Karina’s side after she woke up.
He kept checking on her condition and took care of her carefully.
“It might not be good for your wound, so I cooled it down a little so it’s not too hot.”
Mikhail scooped up some soup with a spoon and brought it to Karina’s mouth.
“Here, go ahead.”
Karina glanced at her hand.
Strangely enough, the wound on her hand had completely healed.
She could see her clean palm.
She felt embarrassed to receive it while leaving her healthy hand behind.
“I’ll eat it.”
Karina took the spoon from Mikhail’s hand. She stirred the soup with a spoon and ate it little by little.
The soup, which was just the right temperature, went down her throat.
“How does it taste?”
It was made to be fed to patients, so it wasn’t salty.
“The taste is just bland.”
“That’s just right for patients.”
Mikhail watched Karina eating the soup with a big smile.
A complex emotion was evident in Mikhail’s eyes as he looked at Karina.
Sensing that, Karina immediately opened her mouth.
“I’m okay now. Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? He said I’m almost better.”
“...”
“He said you got the healing potion yourself and used it on me.”
Karina heard the doctor who came to check on her progress exclaim in admiration, saying that it was like seeing a miracle when he saw Mikhail next to her.
“I survived this time too thanks to you. Now, it’s not like I can just grant you one or two wishes.”
Karina snickered and looked at Mikhail, joking.
“But you can’t ask me to feed you for the rest of my life or take responsibility for you with the wish ticket, right?”
Karina said it playfully.
However, Mikhail’s expression was serious.
He grabbed Karina’s hands with both of his.
Mikhail, who was gently wrapping his hands around Karina's waist, called her name in a soft voice.
"Karina."
"...Huh?"
She was surprised by the informal address, but she remembered that she had told him to stop talking before, so she let it go.
Mikhail opened his mouth in a low voice.
“I have something to say.”
Mikhail raised his body and came closer to Karina. He lowered his eyes to Karina’s level and met her gaze.
“It’s very important.”
His ruby-like pretty eyes reflected Karina’s appearance.
His eyes were still full of worry.
At the same time, they were filled with affection for Karina.
‘Huh...?’
Karina realized in an instant that she had been struck by lightning.
The kind of affection in Mikhail’s eyes was completely different from what she had thought.
‘No way... that can’t be.’
She tried to deny it, to deny it, but it was no use.
When she looked straight into Mikhail’s eyes, she couldn’t help but understand the meaning contained in those eyes.
Karina’s eyelashes fluttered thinly.
She was so embarrassed and confused.
Even though she kept telling herself that it couldn’t be true, she was afraid that Mikhail might bring up such a thing.
Karina did not want her relationship with Mikhail to change from its current state.
Even if Mikhail confessed his feelings to her, she could not return his feelings. She could not reciprocate.
Karina did not believe in the feeling called love.
She knew better than anyone how useless and worthless the feeling called love was.
And at the same time, she knew too well how miserably the feeling called love could drag a person down to the bottom.
That was why she could not bear it.
The moment Mikhail opened his mouth to speak, Karina spoke first.
“Michael.”
Karina’s voice was urgent as she called his name.
Karina, who had been thinking about what to say for a moment while hiding her emotional turmoil, continued.
“Thank you. It is all thanks to you that I was able to be safe.”
“No. I...”
“It is thanks to you fulfilling your responsibilities as my bodyguard. There are not many people who are this responsible. I think I really chose a good bodyguard.”
“...”
Karina continued speaking quickly, not giving Mikhail a chance to respond.
“So I want you to continue to be my escort.”
“...?”
Mikhail looked embarrassed after hearing Karina’s words.
“I like it this way. I want it to continue that way.”
“...”
Karina forced the corners of her trembling lips to lift and smiled.
“Can you do that?”
“...”
Mikhail’s expression became clouded.
The hurt was clearly visible on his face.
Karina, who could no longer look at his face, lowered her gaze.
She did not want to hurt Mikhail.
However, she had no choice.
The current relationship was the best. She wanted to maintain this relationship.
She did not want to taint this new relationship with a trivial emotion called love.
The relationship with Mikhail was precious to Karina right now.
On the other hand, Mikhail did not say anything. No, he could not say anything. He could not think of the right words to say in this situation. He had been rejected before he could even confess.
He had heard that she wanted to remain in this relationship.
It was a clear rejection.
He could not hide his disappointed expression.
His heart ached. His heart was filled with sorrow and sadness from the depths of his heart.
He didn’t think that Karina was rejecting him because she didn’t like him.
Karina definitely had feelings for him.
She was the one who only smiled sincerely at him. She was the one who only showed herself honestly to him. There was no way Karina would reject him for no reason.
Mikhail wondered why Karina had rejected him.
‘Because they hadn’t divorced yet? Because she was tied to the Grand Duke by marriage?’
However, since she had already decided and planned the divorce and declared it to the person involved, he didn’t think that was the case.
It felt like she was fundamentally reluctant to change this relationship.
Mikhail doggedly studied Karina’s expression.
He quickly noticed that Karina’s eyes were trembling with anxiety.
‘Is it closer to fear than reluctance?’
As soon as he thought about it, another reason came to mind.
‘Could it be because of that bastard?’
Mikhail’s mouth was tightly shut.
If Karina rejected him because of the Grand Duke.
If she couldn’t trust people and distrust love because of the wounds she received from the Grand Duke. If that’s why she rejected him.
Mikhail’s jaw tightened.
He thought that he really shouldn’t keep Karina by the Grand Duke's side.
‘I have to take her away quickly.’
Mikhail, who guessed the reason, quickly gathered his emotions.
He had no intention of burdening Karina, who was hurt and forcing his feelings on her.
“Lady Karina.”
Mikhail smiled softly and called Karina.
When he put a little more strength into his hand, Karina’s gaze rose again.
“Do you remember that you promised to grant my wish before?”
Karina hesitated and answered.
“...Yes.”
“I want to use that wish right now.”
“Right now?”
He felt Karina’s hand twitching.
It seemed like she was worried that he might use the wish right to get a confession.
“What?”
“Please let me continue to stay by Karina’s side.”
“Yes?”
“Even after Karina gets divorced and leaves the Grand Duke’s family. Take me with you then.”
Karina’s eyes widened.
“Take you with me?”
“Yes. Is that okay?”
“That...”
Karina’s expression was clearly worried as if it was an unexpected wish.
Mikhail added with a sullen expression.
“As you know, I’m a wanderer. I don’t really have anywhere to go, and nothing to do...”
“...”
“Karina, please continue to take me with you and use me as your escort. I’ll also have fun and earn money. Is that okay?”
“Um...”
Karina trailed off as if she was worried.
“Karina. This is a wish, so you can’t say no.”
Mikhail insisted strongly, not giving Karina time to think.
“You’re not going to abandon me, are you?”
“Don’t you think abandoning you sounds a little strange? You have your own life, so I should let you go freely.”
Karina asked back, bewildered.
“So you’re saying that you’ll follow me freely?”
Mikhail raised the corners of his mouth and smiled prettily.
“If you don’t take me with you, I’ll just follow you.”
Mikhail filled his field of vision with his fixated eyes.
He was determined to follow her even if she said she wouldn’t.
Karina, who was silent for a moment, smiled as if she had no choice.
“If you tell me you have nowhere to go, I’ll take you.”
“You said you’d take me with you. Don’t forget. I won’t change my mind.”
Mikhail checked and rechecked as if asking for a promise.
“Yes.”
Only after hearing Karina’s definitive answer did Mikhail feel relieved and smile softly as usual.
***
The next day.
The three of them were gathered in Karina’s room.
Karina was sitting with her back against the headboard.
Jeremiah and Mikhail were sitting side by side in the chair next to the bed.
Since Karina woke up, Jeremiah had been busy receiving incident reports and dealing with the piled-up work.
However, he still visited her three times a day.
‘Why are you doing something you’ve never done before?’
Karina was bewildered.
And every time he came, he would fight with Mikhail.
Even at this moment, there was a strange hostility between Jeremiah and Mikhail.
'Are you coming here to fight?'
Karina made a trembling expression.
After being told that both of them should leave if they were going to fight, they hadn't done it openly, but it was still uncomfortable.
'Why do they insist on meeting each other when they don't like each other?'
Karina's way of thinking couldn't understand it.
"Do you really plan on keeping him as your escort?"
Jeremiah looked like he couldn't accept it.
"I already told you. Mikhail saved my life several times. I need him."
Jeremiah still maintained his position that he couldn't accept it even though he said he needed Mikhail.
Nevertheless, when Karina insisted that it had to be Mikhail, he couldn't force a change of escort.
"Didn't you say it had to be me?"
Mikhail, who was next to him, smiled like a winner and acted triumphantly.
Jeremiah glared at Mikhail with a grim expression.
Mikhail didn’t avoid that gaze and met it head-on.
Then, a tense atmosphere formed as if a fight would break out at any moment.
“You’re not trying to fight again, are you?”
Karina immediately interjected.
“...”
Then, the two of them turned their heads toward Karina while glaring at each other until the end.
“Sometimes, being sick helps.”
They both seemed to be a bit weaker when dealing with patients.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness. It’s me.”
Ron happened to come to Karina’s room.
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