Episode 150. Crime and the Thrilling Honeymoon
I'd never thought of such profound thoughts before. I was so busy living today that I didn't have the time to imagine what I'd look like at 97.
But forcing myself to think about it in this situation made me feel much better.
In my imagination, standing beside me, old and wrinkled, was Grandfather Locard Kydel, a much more upright figure than I.
For the first time, my heart pounded as I contemplated my future.
'Is this life...?'
To think that spending the rest of my life with someone could be such a heartbreaking joy.
I was finally beginning to understand why most people get married and have children, the secret of that simple life. It was thanks to that. That's why I couldn't hate him.
As I was smiling bashfully, dull footsteps drew nearer from outside.
The man who slammed the door shut was imposing and wore a black mask. He placed the food bowl on the floor as if he were feeding a dog and said.
“Do you want to live?”
“...!”
I took a deep breath, my eyes wide in surprise.
The man slowly approached me, and I was so frightened by his physique that I couldn’t speak.
“My employer said I could do as I pleased. So your fate is in my hands.”
“...”
“I’ll kill you and throw you away, or make you so that you can never return to your husband.”
I gritted my teeth to keep from showing my fear. But I couldn’t help but tremble.
The man seemed satisfied with my reaction and pushed the bowl towards me with his foot. A strange smell wafted from it.
After he left with a very dark laugh, I sat there, trying to calm myself down. It took a while for my heart to return to its normal pace.
I pulled the smelly blanket over me and tried to catch my breath.
“Go to sleep. Let’s sleep for now.”
I woke up to a small creaking sound. When I opened my eyes, Prince Kydel was burrowing into me.
He squirmed and clung to me on the small bed, and I found myself pressed against the wall.
Deep into the night, the moon shone round through the open window. I could faintly hear the sounds of various night creatures.
I whispered softly,
“Wasn’t it hard for you to come?”
Prince Kydel lay on his side, resting his arm on it, looking down at me. His fingertips gently brushed a stray strand of my hair away from my cheek.
“Did you wait?”
“Yes. I waited.”
When I answered, Prince Kydel’s breathing calmed. I sensed he was smiling.
I tried my best to appear calm, but looking at him, the fear I’d felt and the relief of meeting him were all intertwined in my mind. He spoke as if he could see right through me.
“Tell me. Everything.”
I whispered, my head resting against his chest, breathless.
“There’s a masked man. He said he’d kill me and throw me away, or make me so incapable of returning to you. He even kicked my food bowl away. He’s a bad guy, isn’t he?”
I'd never thought of such profound thoughts before. I was so busy living today that I didn't have the time to imagine what I'd look like at 97.
But forcing myself to think about it in this situation made me feel much better.
In my imagination, standing beside me, old and wrinkled, was Grandfather Locard Kydel, a much more upright figure than I.
For the first time, my heart pounded as I contemplated my future.
'Is this life...?'
To think that spending the rest of my life with someone could be such a heartbreaking joy.
I was finally beginning to understand why most people get married and have children, the secret of that simple life. It was thanks to that. That's why I couldn't hate him.
As I was smiling bashfully, dull footsteps drew nearer from outside.
The man who slammed the door shut was imposing and wore a black mask. He placed the food bowl on the floor as if he were feeding a dog and said.
“Do you want to live?”
“...!”
I took a deep breath, my eyes wide in surprise.
The man slowly approached me, and I was so frightened by his physique that I couldn’t speak.
“My employer said I could do as I pleased. So your fate is in my hands.”
“...”
“I’ll kill you and throw you away, or make you so that you can never return to your husband.”
I gritted my teeth to keep from showing my fear. But I couldn’t help but tremble.
The man seemed satisfied with my reaction and pushed the bowl towards me with his foot. A strange smell wafted from it.
After he left with a very dark laugh, I sat there, trying to calm myself down. It took a while for my heart to return to its normal pace.
I pulled the smelly blanket over me and tried to catch my breath.
“Go to sleep. Let’s sleep for now.”
***
I woke up to a small creaking sound. When I opened my eyes, Prince Kydel was burrowing into me.
He squirmed and clung to me on the small bed, and I found myself pressed against the wall.
Deep into the night, the moon shone round through the open window. I could faintly hear the sounds of various night creatures.
I whispered softly,
“Wasn’t it hard for you to come?”
Prince Kydel lay on his side, resting his arm on it, looking down at me. His fingertips gently brushed a stray strand of my hair away from my cheek.
“Did you wait?”
“Yes. I waited.”
When I answered, Prince Kydel’s breathing calmed. I sensed he was smiling.
I tried my best to appear calm, but looking at him, the fear I’d felt and the relief of meeting him were all intertwined in my mind. He spoke as if he could see right through me.
“Tell me. Everything.”
I whispered, my head resting against his chest, breathless.
“There’s a masked man. He said he’d kill me and throw me away, or make me so incapable of returning to you. He even kicked my food bowl away. He’s a bad guy, isn’t he?”
“Ah. He’s a bad guy.”
“Right?”
His voice was so somber and subdued that I couldn’t hear it unless I concentrated. But he was slowly stroking my head, and I felt better.
His fingertips were now lightly brushing the hairs that had fallen on my forehead, tucking them behind my ears.
“Lorisha, you don’t have to do this.”
I gently placed my palm on the back of his hand, feeling his warmth. The surface area of his hand was so vast that it felt like a light had been turned on in my heart, which had been so numb until then.
He whispered again,
“Come out through that door with me now.”
He was relaxed. Those outside that door wouldn’t be an obstacle to him.
But I rested my forehead against his chest and shook my head.
“Not yet. We haven’t figured out who the culprit is yet.”
“...”
"Is the Duke also having a hard time with all the proposals pouring in?"
"Father, don't worry about it."
"How can you?"
I buried my face in his chest and took a deep breath, his scent permeating me. We'd only been apart for a day, and now I'm missing everything about him.
It seemed I'd become a fool, a child.
"My wife is too brave. Sometimes I don't like that."
“I just realized I’m really greedy. I have so many things I want to do, and I don’t want to waste my time struggling with this. It also bothers me that the Kydel family is being subjected to such petty tricks.”
“Such words befitting the mistress of the Kydel family.”
He leaned in and placed his body on top of mine. His heavy weight overwhelmed me, making my heart race.
“So, what do you want to do?”
I was already lost. I turned my head, averting my gaze as best I could, and muttered.
“I-Is this what the Prince was going to do...?”
Then, Prince Kydel’s lips gently brushed mine. I lightly ruffled his hair and embraced his warmth.
He whispered, breathing raggedly,
“I can’t study because of you. I have to see you at night, I have to see you during the day, I have to see you even when I close my eyes. His Highness the Crown Prince got angry today, saying, ‘You’ve changed, Locard!’”
“Lorisha was wrong.”
He chuckled.
“Then our spunky Crown Princess took my side, saying, ‘It’s not normal for people not to change!’ And she asked me to tell you that she’s bored and to tell you to come to the palace as soon as possible.”
“Right?”
His voice was so somber and subdued that I couldn’t hear it unless I concentrated. But he was slowly stroking my head, and I felt better.
His fingertips were now lightly brushing the hairs that had fallen on my forehead, tucking them behind my ears.
“Lorisha, you don’t have to do this.”
I gently placed my palm on the back of his hand, feeling his warmth. The surface area of his hand was so vast that it felt like a light had been turned on in my heart, which had been so numb until then.
He whispered again,
“Come out through that door with me now.”
He was relaxed. Those outside that door wouldn’t be an obstacle to him.
But I rested my forehead against his chest and shook my head.
“Not yet. We haven’t figured out who the culprit is yet.”
“...”
"Is the Duke also having a hard time with all the proposals pouring in?"
"Father, don't worry about it."
"How can you?"
I buried my face in his chest and took a deep breath, his scent permeating me. We'd only been apart for a day, and now I'm missing everything about him.
It seemed I'd become a fool, a child.
"My wife is too brave. Sometimes I don't like that."
“I just realized I’m really greedy. I have so many things I want to do, and I don’t want to waste my time struggling with this. It also bothers me that the Kydel family is being subjected to such petty tricks.”
“Such words befitting the mistress of the Kydel family.”
He leaned in and placed his body on top of mine. His heavy weight overwhelmed me, making my heart race.
“So, what do you want to do?”
I was already lost. I turned my head, averting my gaze as best I could, and muttered.
“I-Is this what the Prince was going to do...?”
Then, Prince Kydel’s lips gently brushed mine. I lightly ruffled his hair and embraced his warmth.
He whispered, breathing raggedly,
“I can’t study because of you. I have to see you at night, I have to see you during the day, I have to see you even when I close my eyes. His Highness the Crown Prince got angry today, saying, ‘You’ve changed, Locard!’”
“Lorisha was wrong.”
He chuckled.
“Then our spunky Crown Princess took my side, saying, ‘It’s not normal for people not to change!’ And she asked me to tell you that she’s bored and to tell you to come to the palace as soon as possible.”
“What should I do? If I hear it now, I’ll forget it.”
He pressed his lips against mine and spat out.
“Why?”
“Because of my husband. I can’t come to my senses when he holds me. My mind goes blank.”
“Haa...”
We groped and kissed until dawn. Given the circumstances, we couldn’t spend time like we did in the bedroom. If I couldn’t hold back, even a sound...
But we both realized that this forced restraint was as stimulating as the explosion of desire. No, we were completely absorbed in it.
Who would have thought that kidnapped hostages could spend such a secret and romantic time?
In fact, we both knew the invitation Misha sent was fake the moment we saw it.
It was a card used in the Loire family. There was no way the kid in the academy dorm would bother to take that and send it to me.
There was even less chance she'd take up precious time, even studying for exams, to ask me to meet her outside. If Misha had something truly important to say, she would have come to me right away.
Our kidnapper tried too hard to be perfect and failed.
But the truth is, his biggest failure lay elsewhere.
Whoever he was, he probably didn't know that I, we, would be having such a thrilling and sweet time thanks to him.
The kidnapper came to see me this morning.
Seeing me in a good mood thanks to Prince Kydel the night before, I could tell he was inflating his massive body and deliberately stomping to scare me.
But I trembled and said,
"I'll do whatever you want. I'll write the divorce papers right now and tell you Duke Kydel's weaknesses. Just spare me!"
"Weaknesses?"
I shook my head vigorously.
"I won't tell you! I'll only tell someone who can save me!"
"..."
The man dropped his shabby bowl of porridge on the floor and walked away. I sniffed it and pushed it away.
Then I took out the soft bread and cheese that Prince Kydel had secretly hidden away and ate them.
And as evening approached, the sound of a woman's footsteps drew nearer to me.
What appeared before me was an unexpected figure: a middle-aged woman with pink hair tied up in a bun.
Her hair and slightly upturned eyes made her identity unnecessary. She was Countess Robail, Evelyn's mother.
She glared at me with aplomb, and the kidnapper stood behind her.
The kidnapper had worn a mask, apparently out of fear of provoking "Madame Kydel," but the Countess appeared bare-faced, a remarkable act of defiance.
It meant she believed I could never disobey her, or that she would not spare me.
She spoke to me in a threatening tone.
"You should know that I didn't come here to listen to the nonsense of some illegitimate girl."
I was offended by her first words. In fact, I had initially intended to dig up information step by step, but that desire vanished.
“I’m not your illegitimate child, so watch your words, yes?”
“What...? What did she just say to me, Ollington?”
Ollington, whose name was revealed, groaned in pain and took off his mask. He was a rough-looking middle-aged man.
“Correct that bitch’s habits, Ollington! I tried to be a little nice to her, but it turned out really bad.”
Ollington approached me threateningly. I said to the Countess.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Ha! I’ll admit you dare to be dauntless. So you stole my son-in-law!”
I couldn’t even scoff in disbelief.
What the heck? How did Locard Kydel end up the son-in-law of an entire empire?
I quickly spoke before Ollington grabbed me by the collar.
“You’d better keep things moderate, if only for Miss Evelyn’s sake.”
“Do you think this is a personal matter just for Evelyn? How low-level!”
Gasp. I think someone just said ‘low-level’ to me.
“Our five families swore a blood oath to protect the noble bloodline of the empire and restore order!”
He pressed his lips against mine and spat out.
“Why?”
“Because of my husband. I can’t come to my senses when he holds me. My mind goes blank.”
“Haa...”
We groped and kissed until dawn. Given the circumstances, we couldn’t spend time like we did in the bedroom. If I couldn’t hold back, even a sound...
But we both realized that this forced restraint was as stimulating as the explosion of desire. No, we were completely absorbed in it.
Who would have thought that kidnapped hostages could spend such a secret and romantic time?
In fact, we both knew the invitation Misha sent was fake the moment we saw it.
It was a card used in the Loire family. There was no way the kid in the academy dorm would bother to take that and send it to me.
There was even less chance she'd take up precious time, even studying for exams, to ask me to meet her outside. If Misha had something truly important to say, she would have come to me right away.
Our kidnapper tried too hard to be perfect and failed.
But the truth is, his biggest failure lay elsewhere.
Whoever he was, he probably didn't know that I, we, would be having such a thrilling and sweet time thanks to him.
***
The kidnapper came to see me this morning.
Seeing me in a good mood thanks to Prince Kydel the night before, I could tell he was inflating his massive body and deliberately stomping to scare me.
But I trembled and said,
"I'll do whatever you want. I'll write the divorce papers right now and tell you Duke Kydel's weaknesses. Just spare me!"
"Weaknesses?"
I shook my head vigorously.
"I won't tell you! I'll only tell someone who can save me!"
"..."
The man dropped his shabby bowl of porridge on the floor and walked away. I sniffed it and pushed it away.
Then I took out the soft bread and cheese that Prince Kydel had secretly hidden away and ate them.
And as evening approached, the sound of a woman's footsteps drew nearer to me.
What appeared before me was an unexpected figure: a middle-aged woman with pink hair tied up in a bun.
Her hair and slightly upturned eyes made her identity unnecessary. She was Countess Robail, Evelyn's mother.
She glared at me with aplomb, and the kidnapper stood behind her.
The kidnapper had worn a mask, apparently out of fear of provoking "Madame Kydel," but the Countess appeared bare-faced, a remarkable act of defiance.
It meant she believed I could never disobey her, or that she would not spare me.
She spoke to me in a threatening tone.
"You should know that I didn't come here to listen to the nonsense of some illegitimate girl."
I was offended by her first words. In fact, I had initially intended to dig up information step by step, but that desire vanished.
“I’m not your illegitimate child, so watch your words, yes?”
“What...? What did she just say to me, Ollington?”
Ollington, whose name was revealed, groaned in pain and took off his mask. He was a rough-looking middle-aged man.
“Correct that bitch’s habits, Ollington! I tried to be a little nice to her, but it turned out really bad.”
Ollington approached me threateningly. I said to the Countess.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Ha! I’ll admit you dare to be dauntless. So you stole my son-in-law!”
I couldn’t even scoff in disbelief.
What the heck? How did Locard Kydel end up the son-in-law of an entire empire?
I quickly spoke before Ollington grabbed me by the collar.
“You’d better keep things moderate, if only for Miss Evelyn’s sake.”
“Do you think this is a personal matter just for Evelyn? How low-level!”
Gasp. I think someone just said ‘low-level’ to me.
“Our five families swore a blood oath to protect the noble bloodline of the empire and restore order!”
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