Episode 47. Shall we go to the bedroom
Kassius paced in front of the castle.
The sun was slowly setting.
The laborers who had toiled all day had gone to bed.
It was no exaggeration to say that every able-bodied person in Hiloshine Village had been mobilized to help rebuild the castle.
The only silver lining was that those who had heard of Lottera's return to Hiloshine were returning home.
The number of workers was increasing.
Now, if they could just find and bring back the other tribesmen, they could make ends meet.
They had to repair the castle and develop the territory.
Kassius had been extremely busy all day. He had to train, learn about the territory, and spend time with the little guests who had come to visit him.
In the end, he hadn't heard that Renisha had gone out.
That's why he had come out to greet her.
"Ah, Kassius."
“Renisha. Where have you been?”
“I met with the leader of Hiloshine. I had something to discuss. Is Kassius finished? It must have been difficult just to understand the history of Hiloshine.”
“I learned that the Hiloshine people didn’t always have the power of the black snake. And I also learned that the children are very talkative and know more than I thought.”
Kassius answered seriously.
Children are as innocent as they are. They don’t know what to say and what not to say.
Children of Isabella’s age don’t socialize with younger children.
But Isabella played with them so freely that the children were thrilled.
And besides, wasn’t she a noble girl from the islands?
The children, who looked to be only six or seven years old, were gazing with admiration at the older and prettier Isabella.
For a while, it seemed like the children would follow Isabella around like a baby duckling.
Wherever Isabella went, Kassius seemed to be going through a few more hardships.
“Aha. Isabella was like that when she was little, too. I thought she knew everything.”
Kassius and Renisha walked side by side naturally.
The two of them turned toward the garden together, even though no one had suggested it.
The sunset that fell on Renisha’s eyelashes was growing darker.
“Did the children seem to get along well with Isabella?”
“Yes. The children followed Isabella well.”
“She doesn’t tend to talk about difficult things. That’s fortunate. Isabella has children to hang out with. Solein promised to cooperate. Oh, Solein is the name of the leader of Hiloshine.”
“They live on Lottera’s territory. Shouldn’t we do whatever Renisha wants?”
“It’s difficult to achieve the desired result that way. They, too, have reason and the right to make decisions. They were born human. If they cooperate with us through my coercion, I’ll have to keep them in check. I don’t know when they’ll let go. But if I can make them willingly take my hand, and keep that intention, then I won’t have to worry about that.”
Kassius nodded.
“It’s similar to a battlefield. Something similar happened. I saved a man from Ferrisen on the Chorpa Plains. He was a farmer from Chorpa. And there were many people captured that way.”
Renisha listened intently.
It was quite fascinating to hear Kassius’s story of his time on the battlefield.
She had often heard that Kassius was a gentle and virtuous man in front of Renisha, but on the battlefield, he was no different from a devil.
“Tell me more. What happened to them there?”
“Many people were caught up in the war and lost their homes, and many were taken prisoner by Hientri. And the knights of Hiloshine were divided in their opinions."
"Divided?"
Kassius nodded.
Kassius's body moved gracefully and fluidly as he walked, matching Renisha's stride.
Renisha found it fascinating to watch Kassius.
It was amazing how his body, seemingly large enough to hold a boat, could move so quietly and silently.
Kassius, even now, was still training.
Perhaps that was why.
Renisha's lips twitched involuntarily.
She remembered the firmness and heat of his palm against hers.
Kassius, who had seemed to burn her, too.
Renisha had clearly resolved never to spend another night with Kassius.
She thought she was doing a good job of pushing him away, but before she knew it, they were walking side by side.
She couldn't refuse Kassius's kiss, and she didn't stop him from hugging her and falling asleep, using the cold dawn as an excuse.
Renisha swallowed a sigh.
It hadn't been long since she'd known Kassius.
Yet, he had infiltrated Renisha's daily life faster than anyone else.
It was as if he had been there from the beginning.
Renisha bit her lower lip.
Kassius's soft voice continued.
“One group wanted to train them and use them for Hientri, while the other group insisted on killing them.”
“So what decision did Father make?”
Renisha asked, staring intently at Kassius.
Kassius felt his cheeks flush at her gaze for some reason.
Renisha’s pink eyes sparkled with life.
His gaze was captured by her lips, which were twitching as if she was thinking about something, and her cute little tongue flicking across them.
Kassius took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Become a couple first.”
I told you that emotional connection was important, you beast.
Kassius scolded himself and crossed his arms. He unconsciously blocked the hand reaching out to Renisha.
“The Duke... The Duke set them free. He said that they were Ferrisen people, and that even if you coerce them into working for Hientri, they would eventually betray them.”
“...I guess I really am his daughter."
“And he also said that killing those innocent people won’t end the war.”
“Those are the words of my father. He said that we should avoid useless sacrifices as much as possible. This land isn’t just for Hientri, but for all things in the world, so we should know how to share.”
She thought she knew why Kassius had brought this up.
Seeing Renisha reminded him of the Duke of Lottera.
It was a blessing.
Renisha had grown up watching the Duke and Duchess of Lottera since she was little.
Becoming like them meant that they still lived inside her.
Renisha smiled.
“Thank you, Kassius. For telling me that story. It’s a story about my parents that I can’t hear anywhere else.”
“...Isn’t that uncomfortable?”
“It breaks my heart. I’m sure they would have done greater things if they were alive. But that doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I still love them. Didn’t Kassius tell me? My parents loved me until the very end.”
Renisha’s eyes brightened. Her smile deepened.
Kassius stared at her, entranced.
“That’s enough. They will live forever inside me.”
Renisha reached out to Kassius.
It must have been one of those days on the journey to Hiloshine.
The dawn was particularly chilly and cold.
Renisha curled up and tried to fall asleep.
It was an unfamiliar day, and her thoughts were rife.
Her parents died in this cold land.
While Renisha was living somewhere warm, they died in this barren land...
As she repeated these thoughts, her chest tightened and she felt a burning sensation before her eyes.
Kassius hesitantly embraced the sleepless Renisha.
He pressed her buttocks against his firm stomach and held her back tightly, as if to thaw her chilled body.
‘When I couldn’t sleep, I used to count the stars on the battlefield. And I thought, there might come a day when I can’t count those stars, so let’s be thankful for today. I’m comfortable now. I don’t have to worry about death tomorrow. But, Renisha must be uncomfortable.’
Renisha just blinked at the sound of Kassius’ breath brushing her ear.
Kassius rolled over and placed Renisha on top of him.
Kassius said, hugging Renisha’s back as she tried to get up in surprise.
‘I’ll take the discomfort, so Renisha, sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we have a longer journey.’
‘Kassius, I...’
‘On cold days, the Duke of Loterra would hold hands with the Duchess and look into the distance. He would take off his cloak and place it on the Duchess’s shoulder. The Duchess said that since the Duke could not prevent unhappiness, discomfort, and fear, he wished she could at least escape the current cold. I'm doing as I was taught, Renisha.'
Thanks to Cassius, who pretended to sleep and closed his eyes, Renisha was able to close her eyes, avoiding the chill rising from the ground.
Memories of that day came flooding back.
The memories drew Lenisha back to that day.
The warm body of Kassius beneath her, the smell of the earth and the wind.
In the middle of the forest, Renisha found peace.
She was drawn to the baseless reassurance that Kassius would protect her. She had been free of any thoughts in his embrace.
Now, for some reason, she longed to feel that embrace.
Renisha's complexion returned, her lips especially red.
"Hold me, Kassius."
Kassius's eyes widened.
"Don't stand there. Come to me, and hold me."
Renisha spread her arms like a child. Now that she realized it, she felt cold.
Kassius's arm dropped.
"Hurry up and get me..."
All the promises she'd made that day to keep Kassius at arm's length shattered into nothing.
Kassius grabbed Renisha's wrist.
Drawn by a powerful force, Renisha was embraced by Kassius.
His ragged breathing, his hot body temperature, and even his breath pouring down on her head.
Everything was the same.
Just as Renisha had felt.
Renisha buried her head in Kassius's chest.
Was she perhaps lonely, facing Solein alone?
Perhaps she missed Kassius, who had shielded her from the cold.
Renisha sighed.
"I was stupid."
She should have known she couldn't quit once she had a taste.
She had never been addicted to anything before, so she was complacent.
Renisha muttered in a windy voice.
"Shall we go to the bedroom?"
Kassius paced in front of the castle.
The sun was slowly setting.
The laborers who had toiled all day had gone to bed.
It was no exaggeration to say that every able-bodied person in Hiloshine Village had been mobilized to help rebuild the castle.
The only silver lining was that those who had heard of Lottera's return to Hiloshine were returning home.
The number of workers was increasing.
Now, if they could just find and bring back the other tribesmen, they could make ends meet.
They had to repair the castle and develop the territory.
Kassius had been extremely busy all day. He had to train, learn about the territory, and spend time with the little guests who had come to visit him.
In the end, he hadn't heard that Renisha had gone out.
That's why he had come out to greet her.
"Ah, Kassius."
“Renisha. Where have you been?”
“I met with the leader of Hiloshine. I had something to discuss. Is Kassius finished? It must have been difficult just to understand the history of Hiloshine.”
“I learned that the Hiloshine people didn’t always have the power of the black snake. And I also learned that the children are very talkative and know more than I thought.”
Kassius answered seriously.
Children are as innocent as they are. They don’t know what to say and what not to say.
Children of Isabella’s age don’t socialize with younger children.
But Isabella played with them so freely that the children were thrilled.
And besides, wasn’t she a noble girl from the islands?
The children, who looked to be only six or seven years old, were gazing with admiration at the older and prettier Isabella.
For a while, it seemed like the children would follow Isabella around like a baby duckling.
Wherever Isabella went, Kassius seemed to be going through a few more hardships.
“Aha. Isabella was like that when she was little, too. I thought she knew everything.”
Kassius and Renisha walked side by side naturally.
The two of them turned toward the garden together, even though no one had suggested it.
The sunset that fell on Renisha’s eyelashes was growing darker.
“Did the children seem to get along well with Isabella?”
“Yes. The children followed Isabella well.”
“She doesn’t tend to talk about difficult things. That’s fortunate. Isabella has children to hang out with. Solein promised to cooperate. Oh, Solein is the name of the leader of Hiloshine.”
“They live on Lottera’s territory. Shouldn’t we do whatever Renisha wants?”
“It’s difficult to achieve the desired result that way. They, too, have reason and the right to make decisions. They were born human. If they cooperate with us through my coercion, I’ll have to keep them in check. I don’t know when they’ll let go. But if I can make them willingly take my hand, and keep that intention, then I won’t have to worry about that.”
Kassius nodded.
“It’s similar to a battlefield. Something similar happened. I saved a man from Ferrisen on the Chorpa Plains. He was a farmer from Chorpa. And there were many people captured that way.”
Renisha listened intently.
It was quite fascinating to hear Kassius’s story of his time on the battlefield.
She had often heard that Kassius was a gentle and virtuous man in front of Renisha, but on the battlefield, he was no different from a devil.
“Tell me more. What happened to them there?”
“Many people were caught up in the war and lost their homes, and many were taken prisoner by Hientri. And the knights of Hiloshine were divided in their opinions."
"Divided?"
Kassius nodded.
Kassius's body moved gracefully and fluidly as he walked, matching Renisha's stride.
Renisha found it fascinating to watch Kassius.
It was amazing how his body, seemingly large enough to hold a boat, could move so quietly and silently.
Kassius, even now, was still training.
Perhaps that was why.
Renisha's lips twitched involuntarily.
She remembered the firmness and heat of his palm against hers.
Kassius, who had seemed to burn her, too.
Renisha had clearly resolved never to spend another night with Kassius.
She thought she was doing a good job of pushing him away, but before she knew it, they were walking side by side.
She couldn't refuse Kassius's kiss, and she didn't stop him from hugging her and falling asleep, using the cold dawn as an excuse.
Renisha swallowed a sigh.
It hadn't been long since she'd known Kassius.
Yet, he had infiltrated Renisha's daily life faster than anyone else.
It was as if he had been there from the beginning.
Renisha bit her lower lip.
Kassius's soft voice continued.
“One group wanted to train them and use them for Hientri, while the other group insisted on killing them.”
“So what decision did Father make?”
Renisha asked, staring intently at Kassius.
Kassius felt his cheeks flush at her gaze for some reason.
Renisha’s pink eyes sparkled with life.
His gaze was captured by her lips, which were twitching as if she was thinking about something, and her cute little tongue flicking across them.
Kassius took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Become a couple first.”
I told you that emotional connection was important, you beast.
Kassius scolded himself and crossed his arms. He unconsciously blocked the hand reaching out to Renisha.
“The Duke... The Duke set them free. He said that they were Ferrisen people, and that even if you coerce them into working for Hientri, they would eventually betray them.”
“...I guess I really am his daughter."
“And he also said that killing those innocent people won’t end the war.”
“Those are the words of my father. He said that we should avoid useless sacrifices as much as possible. This land isn’t just for Hientri, but for all things in the world, so we should know how to share.”
She thought she knew why Kassius had brought this up.
Seeing Renisha reminded him of the Duke of Lottera.
It was a blessing.
Renisha had grown up watching the Duke and Duchess of Lottera since she was little.
Becoming like them meant that they still lived inside her.
Renisha smiled.
“Thank you, Kassius. For telling me that story. It’s a story about my parents that I can’t hear anywhere else.”
“...Isn’t that uncomfortable?”
“It breaks my heart. I’m sure they would have done greater things if they were alive. But that doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I still love them. Didn’t Kassius tell me? My parents loved me until the very end.”
Renisha’s eyes brightened. Her smile deepened.
Kassius stared at her, entranced.
“That’s enough. They will live forever inside me.”
Renisha reached out to Kassius.
It must have been one of those days on the journey to Hiloshine.
The dawn was particularly chilly and cold.
Renisha curled up and tried to fall asleep.
It was an unfamiliar day, and her thoughts were rife.
Her parents died in this cold land.
While Renisha was living somewhere warm, they died in this barren land...
As she repeated these thoughts, her chest tightened and she felt a burning sensation before her eyes.
Kassius hesitantly embraced the sleepless Renisha.
He pressed her buttocks against his firm stomach and held her back tightly, as if to thaw her chilled body.
‘When I couldn’t sleep, I used to count the stars on the battlefield. And I thought, there might come a day when I can’t count those stars, so let’s be thankful for today. I’m comfortable now. I don’t have to worry about death tomorrow. But, Renisha must be uncomfortable.’
Renisha just blinked at the sound of Kassius’ breath brushing her ear.
Kassius rolled over and placed Renisha on top of him.
Kassius said, hugging Renisha’s back as she tried to get up in surprise.
‘I’ll take the discomfort, so Renisha, sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we have a longer journey.’
‘Kassius, I...’
‘On cold days, the Duke of Loterra would hold hands with the Duchess and look into the distance. He would take off his cloak and place it on the Duchess’s shoulder. The Duchess said that since the Duke could not prevent unhappiness, discomfort, and fear, he wished she could at least escape the current cold. I'm doing as I was taught, Renisha.'
Thanks to Cassius, who pretended to sleep and closed his eyes, Renisha was able to close her eyes, avoiding the chill rising from the ground.
Memories of that day came flooding back.
The memories drew Lenisha back to that day.
The warm body of Kassius beneath her, the smell of the earth and the wind.
In the middle of the forest, Renisha found peace.
She was drawn to the baseless reassurance that Kassius would protect her. She had been free of any thoughts in his embrace.
Now, for some reason, she longed to feel that embrace.
Renisha's complexion returned, her lips especially red.
"Hold me, Kassius."
Kassius's eyes widened.
"Don't stand there. Come to me, and hold me."
Renisha spread her arms like a child. Now that she realized it, she felt cold.
Kassius's arm dropped.
"Hurry up and get me..."
All the promises she'd made that day to keep Kassius at arm's length shattered into nothing.
Kassius grabbed Renisha's wrist.
Drawn by a powerful force, Renisha was embraced by Kassius.
His ragged breathing, his hot body temperature, and even his breath pouring down on her head.
Everything was the same.
Just as Renisha had felt.
Renisha buried her head in Kassius's chest.
Was she perhaps lonely, facing Solein alone?
Perhaps she missed Kassius, who had shielded her from the cold.
Renisha sighed.
"I was stupid."
She should have known she couldn't quit once she had a taste.
She had never been addicted to anything before, so she was complacent.
Renisha muttered in a windy voice.
"Shall we go to the bedroom?"
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