“So now, you resented me, right?”
Ines nodded at the undeniable truth.
“Yes.”
“You almost hated me to death, right?”
This time, there was no refusal.
At first, Ines couldn’t understand herself resenting him. However, as time passed, that was the only emotion that accumulated inside her.
She resented and hated him for lying to her and putting himself in danger. If something went wrong, how would she live?
Ines nodded at the undeniable truth.
“Yes.”
“You almost hated me to death, right?”
This time, there was no refusal.
At first, Ines couldn’t understand herself resenting him. However, as time passed, that was the only emotion that accumulated inside her.
She resented and hated him for lying to her and putting himself in danger. If something went wrong, how would she live?
She had hyperventilated more than once while thinking about that. At that time, she felt like she was going to die, more than before. But what was more terrifying than that was the feeling that she might lose him. So now, it seemed okay to hate him a little.
“Yes, keep doing that. If you hate me, you get angry at me and get angry at me.”
If Noah saw this situation now, he would definitely say that Carson had gone crazy from the war. But this moment was almost a miracle to him.
The feeling that Ines was treating him like a normal man was much more appealing than he had thought.
So now she had finally taken a step closer to him.
So Carson moved forward twice as fast as she had.
“I missed you.”
Ines froze again at the sudden confession.
“What about you? Didn’t you miss me?”
“I missed you.”
His lips formed a pleasant curve as he held her in his arms.
“Are you no longer angry?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s enough.”
‘That’s enough for now. I just want you to miss me as much as I missed you.’
“Yes, keep doing that. If you hate me, you get angry at me and get angry at me.”
If Noah saw this situation now, he would definitely say that Carson had gone crazy from the war. But this moment was almost a miracle to him.
The feeling that Ines was treating him like a normal man was much more appealing than he had thought.
So now she had finally taken a step closer to him.
So Carson moved forward twice as fast as she had.
“I missed you.”
Ines froze again at the sudden confession.
“What about you? Didn’t you miss me?”
“I missed you.”
His lips formed a pleasant curve as he held her in his arms.
“Are you no longer angry?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s enough.”
‘That’s enough for now. I just want you to miss me as much as I missed you.’
That’s what he really thought.
This year that he was spending was the slowest of all the days he had ever experienced. But time was also something that no one could stop.
Louis had changed beyond recognition in a few months. She had grown as tall as an average child her age, and her speech had improved significantly. It was clear that the people from the temple had helped her a lot.
Not long ago, she had said that she wanted to increase his economics classes. The child who had always moved a little slowly was now cutting meat with a knife with considerable force, making eye contact and smiling.
“Louis, what is the most interesting thing you’re learning these days?”
“Honestly, nothing is interesting. But since she said that being good at math is important, I’m going to study hard for that.”
“Who?”
“Ines.”
“I see.”
This year that he was spending was the slowest of all the days he had ever experienced. But time was also something that no one could stop.
***
Louis had changed beyond recognition in a few months. She had grown as tall as an average child her age, and her speech had improved significantly. It was clear that the people from the temple had helped her a lot.
Not long ago, she had said that she wanted to increase his economics classes. The child who had always moved a little slowly was now cutting meat with a knife with considerable force, making eye contact and smiling.
“Louis, what is the most interesting thing you’re learning these days?”
“Honestly, nothing is interesting. But since she said that being good at math is important, I’m going to study hard for that.”
“Who?”
“Ines.”
“I see.”
Carson thought of Ines as he answered. A month had passed since he returned to Monstera, but that was the last time he had seen her properly.
She was a temple maid, so she didn’t serve meals or clean the main building. Of course, he had seen her in passing many times. But it wasn’t close enough to feel the warmth of each other.
The two of them talked for a long time after that day.
Even in the middle of their conversation, he didn’t stop apologizing. That was why he liked seeing Ines blush every time.
Before returning to her room, Ines said that she didn’t want to act conspicuously in front of people. He knew that it was Carson’s fault. So before she got angry and got angry again, he had to stop doing things she didn’t like.
When he held her in his arms, she seemed to have lost a lot of weight. It was clear that she hadn’t been able to eat properly because she was worried about him.
‘Whew.’
She was a temple maid, so she didn’t serve meals or clean the main building. Of course, he had seen her in passing many times. But it wasn’t close enough to feel the warmth of each other.
The two of them talked for a long time after that day.
Even in the middle of their conversation, he didn’t stop apologizing. That was why he liked seeing Ines blush every time.
Before returning to her room, Ines said that she didn’t want to act conspicuously in front of people. He knew that it was Carson’s fault. So before she got angry and got angry again, he had to stop doing things she didn’t like.
When he held her in his arms, she seemed to have lost a lot of weight. It was clear that she hadn’t been able to eat properly because she was worried about him.
‘Whew.’
He took a deep breath and Louis stared at him.
“What are you worried about?”
“No. Everything is peaceful these days. Monstera won’t be at war for a while.”
Louis nodded and cut the meat in front of him.
“Brother, do you know that?”
“What are you worried about?”
“No. Everything is peaceful these days. Monstera won’t be at war for a while.”
Louis nodded and cut the meat in front of him.
“Brother, do you know that?”
Louis stared at him with a questioning look in her eyes and Louis put the knife down on the table.
“Winter meat is hard to eat.”
“Really?”
Carson looked down at the meat in front of him. He didn’t feel any difference.
“No, not the one we eat.”
Louis noticed his gaze and said again with emphasis.
“The bread is hard. We eat grains and meat that we saved before.”
In winter, grain does not grow, so they use what is stored. Hunting was the same. They raised livestock, but there were not enough of them. They were not starving due to lack of food, but it was certain that they were not eating good meals.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I heard the maids say that. That’s why they hate winter. Especially, Monstera does not produce good grains compared to Landhill.”
“That’s right.”
Carson was impressed by his sister’s words twice. First, it was the fact that his sister had become much more knowledgeable, and second, it was the fact that she could express her desires indirectly.
“Is it very difficult to hunt in the winter mountains?”
Carson shook his head and laughed.
“No, not necessarily, Frank.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He called the butler standing next to him.
“Go tell Noah that we’re going hunting in three days. Anyone in the castle can join.”
“Understood.”
He glanced over and saw Louis cutting meat again. She raised the corners of her mouth without making a fuss.
News of the December hunt spread throughout the castle. It was almost the first time that people moved so large for the sole purpose of hunting since it was a territory where war could break out at any moment.
Although it was a region where hunting skills were advanced, it meant that each individual’s ability was outstanding. There was no such thing as a group hunting festival.
People were busy preparing for a night’s camping. Ines and Charlotte joined Louis because she was going with them. The two also helped the other servants pack.
“Ines.”
Charlotte called out in a small voice from under the cart, helping Ines load the luggage. She nodded slightly. Following her signal, she saw Glenn and Hugh standing there. They were the faithful knights who had come with her from Landhill.
“Winter meat is hard to eat.”
“Really?”
Carson looked down at the meat in front of him. He didn’t feel any difference.
“No, not the one we eat.”
Louis noticed his gaze and said again with emphasis.
“The bread is hard. We eat grains and meat that we saved before.”
In winter, grain does not grow, so they use what is stored. Hunting was the same. They raised livestock, but there were not enough of them. They were not starving due to lack of food, but it was certain that they were not eating good meals.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I heard the maids say that. That’s why they hate winter. Especially, Monstera does not produce good grains compared to Landhill.”
“That’s right.”
Carson was impressed by his sister’s words twice. First, it was the fact that his sister had become much more knowledgeable, and second, it was the fact that she could express her desires indirectly.
“Is it very difficult to hunt in the winter mountains?”
Carson shook his head and laughed.
“No, not necessarily, Frank.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He called the butler standing next to him.
“Go tell Noah that we’re going hunting in three days. Anyone in the castle can join.”
“Understood.”
He glanced over and saw Louis cutting meat again. She raised the corners of her mouth without making a fuss.
***
News of the December hunt spread throughout the castle. It was almost the first time that people moved so large for the sole purpose of hunting since it was a territory where war could break out at any moment.
Although it was a region where hunting skills were advanced, it meant that each individual’s ability was outstanding. There was no such thing as a group hunting festival.
People were busy preparing for a night’s camping. Ines and Charlotte joined Louis because she was going with them. The two also helped the other servants pack.
“Ines.”
Charlotte called out in a small voice from under the cart, helping Ines load the luggage. She nodded slightly. Following her signal, she saw Glenn and Hugh standing there. They were the faithful knights who had come with her from Landhill.
“Aren’t those knights a little strange?”
“What?”
“No, they seem to have been avoiding us for some time.”
Ines had noticed it, but she didn’t really care.
“We must have made a mistake.”
“Is that so?”
However, she didn’t seem to particularly dislike them. Sometimes, she would feel their gazes and raise her head, and their eyes would meet. When that happened, she would give them an embarrassed smile.
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I guess I can’t help it. Anyway, it’s so exciting.”
Ines moved the luggage around as if she were building a wall, stacking it up neatly without any gaps. Not even noticing the servant helping her from the side watching closely.
“What’s so exciting?”
“They’re going to cook the meat they caught today right in the mountains. It’s a total festival atmosphere.”
Ines smiled as she put the luggage that fit perfectly into the small gap.
“That’s right. It doesn’t seem that cold even though it’s December.”
“Do you think that’s all? The Lord opened the food warehouse today. He said he’s going to load up on high-quality grains. The chef said so. Even the wine is top-notch.”
Ines’s appetite was piqued at the mention of wine.
It was certain that this was going to be a very fun day. She cautiously called out to the servant who was organizing the luggage behind her. Since she never spoke to anyone first, the servant flinched when she called him.
“Why are you calling me?”
Although he was polite, neither the speaker nor the listener felt anything strange.
“I heard that using a noose is not prohibited in Monstera. Is that true?”
The entire empire prohibited the use of nooses. However, Monstera, always under threat of war, did not have time to hunt leisurely, and so the use of snares was legal. The reason was that killing animals for fun was not right, but it was possible for survival.
“Use snares?”
Charlotte asked in surprise after hearing Ines’ words.
“Yeah, it’s hard to see animals in the winter mountains. Since we’re going, it would be good if we could help out.”
“Yeah, I’m really sick of dried meat now.”
At that moment, Charlotte tried to lift a load that looked quite heavy but failed. As Ines was about to get off the carriage to help, Glenn approached them.
He silently lifted the load and entered the carriage. He then filled the remaining space.
“Thank you.”
When Charlotte greeted him, he nodded slightly and left. Ines and Charlotte met eyes and smiled faintly.
“What?”
“No, they seem to have been avoiding us for some time.”
Ines had noticed it, but she didn’t really care.
“We must have made a mistake.”
“Is that so?”
However, she didn’t seem to particularly dislike them. Sometimes, she would feel their gazes and raise her head, and their eyes would meet. When that happened, she would give them an embarrassed smile.
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I guess I can’t help it. Anyway, it’s so exciting.”
Ines moved the luggage around as if she were building a wall, stacking it up neatly without any gaps. Not even noticing the servant helping her from the side watching closely.
“What’s so exciting?”
“They’re going to cook the meat they caught today right in the mountains. It’s a total festival atmosphere.”
Ines smiled as she put the luggage that fit perfectly into the small gap.
“That’s right. It doesn’t seem that cold even though it’s December.”
“Do you think that’s all? The Lord opened the food warehouse today. He said he’s going to load up on high-quality grains. The chef said so. Even the wine is top-notch.”
Ines’s appetite was piqued at the mention of wine.
It was certain that this was going to be a very fun day. She cautiously called out to the servant who was organizing the luggage behind her. Since she never spoke to anyone first, the servant flinched when she called him.
“Why are you calling me?”
Although he was polite, neither the speaker nor the listener felt anything strange.
“I heard that using a noose is not prohibited in Monstera. Is that true?”
The entire empire prohibited the use of nooses. However, Monstera, always under threat of war, did not have time to hunt leisurely, and so the use of snares was legal. The reason was that killing animals for fun was not right, but it was possible for survival.
“Use snares?”
Charlotte asked in surprise after hearing Ines’ words.
“Yeah, it’s hard to see animals in the winter mountains. Since we’re going, it would be good if we could help out.”
“Yeah, I’m really sick of dried meat now.”
At that moment, Charlotte tried to lift a load that looked quite heavy but failed. As Ines was about to get off the carriage to help, Glenn approached them.
He silently lifted the load and entered the carriage. He then filled the remaining space.
“Thank you.”
When Charlotte greeted him, he nodded slightly and left. Ines and Charlotte met eyes and smiled faintly.
It was an unusually warm winter day.
When they reached the middle of the mountain, a large campsite appeared. It was a place where dozens of people could easily unpack. It was said to be a place where knights would briefly prepare for an ambush in case of war.
After climbing the mountain, Ines took the opportunity to set up a noose in a secluded place.
It wasn’t big enough to catch people, but it was big enough to catch small animals. In addition, she made a noose that was tight enough so that if a baby was caught, it could be released or escaped.
Glenn followed her quietly as she went deep into the forest to set up more.
“I’ll help you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
In fact, setting up a noose was difficult enough to do alone.
“I’ll just set up two more.”
He silently helped her without saying much. However, he watched Ines carefully as she made the traps. He could hear her exclamations of admiration here and there. As evening came and the sunset, bonfires were set up here and there in the campsite.
When about forty people gathered, pitched tents, and lit fires, the midwinter forest didn’t feel so cold.
Then, the people who had gone on a real hunt deep in the forest returned. Carson was included in the group, of course. Each knight appeared carrying a huge animal on his back.
“This is what the lord caught.”
When they reached the middle of the mountain, a large campsite appeared. It was a place where dozens of people could easily unpack. It was said to be a place where knights would briefly prepare for an ambush in case of war.
After climbing the mountain, Ines took the opportunity to set up a noose in a secluded place.
It wasn’t big enough to catch people, but it was big enough to catch small animals. In addition, she made a noose that was tight enough so that if a baby was caught, it could be released or escaped.
Glenn followed her quietly as she went deep into the forest to set up more.
“I’ll help you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
In fact, setting up a noose was difficult enough to do alone.
“I’ll just set up two more.”
He silently helped her without saying much. However, he watched Ines carefully as she made the traps. He could hear her exclamations of admiration here and there. As evening came and the sunset, bonfires were set up here and there in the campsite.
When about forty people gathered, pitched tents, and lit fires, the midwinter forest didn’t feel so cold.
Then, the people who had gone on a real hunt deep in the forest returned. Carson was included in the group, of course. Each knight appeared carrying a huge animal on his back.
“This is what the lord caught.”
One knight shouted, pointing to the largest boar among them. The people whistled and cheered.
Carson, who had no interest in hunting, had caught the biggest animal by far.
“Wow, this is enough to last us through winter.”
The people exaggerated as they watched the piled-up game.
Carson, who had no interest in hunting, had caught the biggest animal by far.
“Wow, this is enough to last us through winter.”
The people exaggerated as they watched the piled-up game.
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