ICTFF - Chapter 163



Late awakening (2)

Rahon, who had taken me to the bedroom, gently cupped my cheek.

"Take a warm bath and rest. Don't worry about what I said earlier."

"How can I not care?"

"I like it if you care about me."

"Rahon, would you like to talk to me a little more?"

"No. I'll be fine."

"...Is it time for dinner now?"

How can I not know the time when Rahon goes to bed after spending so much time with him? And Rahon doesn't sleep at all...

I squinted my eyes.

"You're avoiding me right now."

"Look at me. It's so pitiful that I have to fight twice a day."

"You don't have to propose!"

"Give up on life? Isn't that too much?"

“Rahon!”

Rahon shrugged and quickly kissed my cheek. Then he stepped back and chuckled.

"See you tomorrow."

"No, I do not want."

"Yeah, I love you."

"... I guess you're really crazy."

I was staring at him with my cheeks flushed as he disappeared when the bedroom door burst open.

"Miss, what are you doing standing there?"

"Oh, no."

"Come in quickly. I have prepared a bath for you."

"Oh, yes."

With Nadia's help, I took off my dress and headed to the bathroom.

I let out a sigh as I soaked in the warm water. I had no idea it was cold.

I closed my eyes tightly, savored the warmth, and then burst out laughing.

'This is ridiculous.'

Just a little while ago, while I was walking with Rahon, I had all sorts of thoughts.

What if Rahon gets hurt because of me? I worried about it so much that I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

But is there a way in this world to reject someone without hurting them? That was just my greed.

I flatly rejected Rahon's proposal, thinking that the resulting guilt was my responsibility.

But I felt less uncomfortable than I had expected.

It was thanks to Rahon who playfully accepted my call instead of worrying that I would be sad.

I rejected that guy... I'm going to regret today for a long time.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Just..."

"What did you and Rahon talk about for so long?"

"Just, talking about this and that..."

"Just like that again? Miss, I feel like you've been keeping too many secrets from me lately."

Nadia pursed her lips with a disappointed expression.

"It's not just you. I'm sorry."

"Oh, really? Why are you apologizing again? Of course, there are many things you can't tell me. I was just pretending to be upset."

Nadia freckled her nose and rubbed soap on the sponge.

"By the way, the knights want to tell you something. Please tell the Marquis to stop them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I heard that the training intensity has been increased. There are complaints among the knights that they might die if they continue like this."

"Our Knights have also decided to participate in the Great Rift, so of course they must train hard."

"That's because the Marquis also trains with them."

"Father too?"

"He's been flying around so much since he was healed by Lord Rahon. He's even become more energetic than before."

I feel sorry for the knights of the family, but it was good news for me.

"Tell him to be patient for a little while, I'll be going on duty in a few days."

"The knights said the same thing. They just wait for the day of the inauguration ceremony."

I smiled slightly and continued speaking.

"Is my big brother here?"

"Yes, he just got home."

"What about Ian? He didn't come back today either?"

"Um... Yes, I don't think I've seen the little Duke."

"Yes?"

While Kjer is busy and comes home without a moment to breathe, Ian seems to live in the palace.

Even for an imperial commander, isn't this too much?

Not only can't Ian join the war, but it's so frustrating that I can't even see his face.

'It won't work.'

I guess I'll have to wait a little longer and then go to the palace.

After taking a bath, I changed into my indoor clothes. They are called indoor clothes, but in reality, they are just dresses that are a little more comfortable than clothes for going out.

"You can wear whatever you want." 

I was laughing heartily as I recalled Rahon's words when someone knocked on the bedroom door.

"Youngest."

"...Yes?"

Is this Chevio's voice? But he, who was the busiest person before the inauguration ceremony, could not have come home.

Besides, if Chevio had come, Nadia would have told me. When I looked at Nadia just in case, she smiled broadly.

"The young master told me not to say anything."

"Are you really my brother?"

As soon as the question was asked, the bedroom door opened and Chevio came in.

"Wow, I thought I was dying because I missed our youngest."

"LBrother!"

He strode over to me, picked me up, and spun me around. I laughed loudly and hung on to his neck.

"How did you get here? You didn't sneak out, did you?"

"Oh! What did you see your brother? I officially got off work."

It was his first time back home in almost a month, as he hadn't been able to leave work since before the summit started.

Chevio looked up at me and raised his eyebrows.

"You didn't eat well again because your brother wasn't around."

"No, I ate well."

"But why are you so light? Even though you already look like a doll, you really do look like a doll."

"Stop making that doll noise. I told you, you're the only one who does that."

"You're a doll in my eyes, what can I do?"

He responded indifferently and let me down.

"Shall we have a meal together after a long time? Your father and brother are waiting for you too."

"Just wait a minute. I'm just going to change my clothes."

"What's the big deal? You're still so pretty."

"I'm not saying I'm going to dress up, but it's just rude."

"When you were little, you crawled on the table to eat. What do you mean by manners?"

"T-When did that happen..."

"I'm hungry, let's go."

Eventually, I went down to the dining room wearing only a shawl over my dressing gown.

My father and Kjer, who had arrived early, saw me and stood up as if it was natural.

"The youngest is here."

"Yes, father."

Kjer pulled out the chair next to his father.

"Sit down."

"Thank you, brother."

The meal has begun.

As usual, Nadia served me food on a plate. Much less than I usually eat.

"Try this. It tastes good."

"I put the salmon stew on the right."

"Youngest, this is a flavor you'll like. Eat this."

Because it happens like this in no time.

I slowly savored the food piled high on my plate.

"But how did you all get together? I heard you were busy."

"Yes." 

Chevio answered, munching on his bread.

"His Majesty gave me a vacation to spend time with my family before I went on a campaign. What a relief. I was on the verge of giving up."

"Eat and tell me."

Chevio pursed his lips obediently at Kjer's dreary gaze.

"But why didn't Ian come with you?"

"I don't know, that kid. He said he wanted to go and have dinner with me, but he said he had a lot of work to do and he'd stay at the palace until the end. Seriously. He's the busiest person in the world."

Are you avoiding me? Are you afraid that I will tell you not to participate in the war?

Kner took a sip of wine.

"I met with the Golden Tree Master. We decided to invest in anti-demon herbs."

"Good! How is Miss Erica? She's smart and cool, isn't she?"

"Was it so?"

Kner tilted his head and put down his wine glass.

"I don't know her personality, but she stutters a lot."

"Miss Erica?"

She, who always spoke her mind clearly, stuttered in front of Kjer?

'That can't be true...'

Suddenly, I remembered her blushing when I mentioned Kjer one day.

Could it be that Erica had feelings for Kjer?

"Hmm..."

"Why?"

"No, I was wondering when you two would meet again."

"Is there anything else we need to meet up for? Jason will handle the rest of the procedures."

As he said, once Kjer decided to invest, his aide Jason took care of the rest.

So, If Erica needed to discuss an investment, she would meet with Jason, not Kjer.

'Can I help you out a little?'

"There's something I want to explain to Erica about an investment. Can I meet with you?"

"Or so."

As expected, Kjer agreed without any questions.

The moment I swallowed a smile of repentance, my father, who had been silently listening to our conversation, declared solemnly.

"I decided to participate in the Great Rift."


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