“Erna!”
Erna stepped back in surprise at Callion's voice coming from beyond the door.
While she remained still, the door leading to the couple's bedroom rattled violently, followed by banging and the voice of Callion calling her, as if threatening to break it down if she didn't open the door.
Erna looked at the shaking door with disbelief.
'What's wrong with him!'
The day after Callion simply left, Erna heard from Vanessa that she had left the Grand Duke's Castle to subdue the monsters that had reappeared. She also learned that the subjugation was so trivial that Callion didn't even need to go. This only reinforced her conviction that Callion had left the castle out of embarrassment after purifying the poison.
Erna stepped back in surprise at Callion's voice coming from beyond the door.
While she remained still, the door leading to the couple's bedroom rattled violently, followed by banging and the voice of Callion calling her, as if threatening to break it down if she didn't open the door.
Erna looked at the shaking door with disbelief.
'What's wrong with him!'
The day after Callion simply left, Erna heard from Vanessa that she had left the Grand Duke's Castle to subdue the monsters that had reappeared. She also learned that the subjugation was so trivial that Callion didn't even need to go. This only reinforced her conviction that Callion had left the castle out of embarrassment after purifying the poison.
Erna understood him. She, too, felt ashamed to die. So, after clearing away all the items, Erna stopped going to the couple's bedroom. In her own way, it was an act of kindness. If the bedroom became clean as if nothing had happened, both she and Callion would be able to forget how strangely accustomed they had become to each other over the past two weeks.
And a moment ago, she had heard the sound of Callion returning. As soon as she heard the sound, Erna quickly rose from her chair and approached the window. Then, hiding beneath the window, she stealthily raised her head to look at him.
'But why am I hiding?'
No matter how much she thought about it, she hadn't done anything wrong. Yet, even she couldn't understand why she was acting this way. One thing was certain: she couldn't look Callion straight in the right eye now. He had clung to her because of the monster's poison, but hadn't she been perfectly fine, having accepted him without a word?
While Erna rolled her eyes out the window, Callion headed toward the Knights without looking back. At the sight, Erna went to her bed and flopped down.
'I don't think he'll come today.'
He might not come for a few days. He must be embarrassed enough to leave the Grand Duke's castle on purpose, so there is no way he would come straight to the couple's bedroom upon arrival.
'Thank god.'
She, too, was too embarrassed to look him straight in the eye. Thinking that, Erna reached out and grabbed a cushion rolling on the bed.
Pow! Pow pow!
She, too, was too embarrassed to look him straight in the eye. Thinking that, Erna reached out and grabbed a cushion rolling on the bed. Pow! Pow pow! It seemed like it was already embarrassing enough, but the innocent cushion had to take another hit from Erna's fists. After tormenting the cushion for quite a while, Erna crawled into her bed, rolled up the blanket, and curled up like a slug.
'I'm going to sleep well tonight.'
Since Callion won't be visiting the couple's bedroom today, she can simply sleep comfortably in her own room.
“…”
Even though she thought that, a moment later, Erna crawled out from under the covers and listened to the door leading to the couple's bedroom.
'What on earth is this?'
Erna felt pathetic. Even though it was a promise, she couldn't understand why she was watching Callion's every move to this extent. It was as if she were waiting for him.
“…”
Erna, who had been pressing her ear against the door, unconsciously pulled and twisted her hair with her hand. The sensation of her hair being gently pulled made her feel strangely at ease. It was likely because she had grown accustomed to the feeling over the past two weeks.
'It's because that guy keeps touching me.'
Callion touched various parts of her body with an odd amount of care. Of all the places, the spot he spent the most time fiddling with was her hair. Of course, this was because Erna would swat away her hands from her waist or chest. Thinking that touching her hair was better than touching those other spots, she let him be, but he touched her so continuously that it could be said he did so as long as he was in the room.
Just as she was thinking that she had really gotten used to everything, she heard the sound of Callion entering through the door.
“...!”
Erna listened intently to the sound. It seemed as though his steps had paused for a moment. He likely noticed that she wasn't there. She thought she might return to her room, but then she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and now she was knocking on the door.
Erna stared at the shaking door and hurriedly turned the handle. She felt that if she left it like this, she would really break it down. No, she thought she would hear sounds from outside before that happened.
Click. As the handle turned and the door opened, Callion stood there with wet hair, as if he had just washed it. He lowered his hand from knocking and stared intently at Erna.
“Why, why do you like this?”
"He will ask why I didn't come."
Callion touched various parts of her body with an odd amount of care. Of all the places, the spot he spent the most time fiddling with was her hair. Of course, this was because Erna would swat away her hands from her waist or chest. Thinking that touching her hair was better than touching those other spots, she let him be, but he touched her so continuously that it could be said he did so as long as he was in the room.
Just as she was thinking that she had really gotten used to everything, she heard the sound of Callion entering through the door.
“...!”
Erna listened intently to the sound. It seemed as though his steps had paused for a moment. He likely noticed that she wasn't there. She thought she might return to her room, but then she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and now she was knocking on the door.
Erna stared at the shaking door and hurriedly turned the handle. She felt that if she left it like this, she would really break it down. No, she thought she would hear sounds from outside before that happened.
Click. As the handle turned and the door opened, Callion stood there with wet hair, as if he had just washed it. He lowered his hand from knocking and stared intently at Erna.
“Why, why do you like this?”
"He will ask why I didn't come."
Just as Erna was about to answer that she was late anyway, Callion asked her a question.
“Why did you clear away all the things?”
"Yes?"
It was a random question. She thought he would at least ask why she didn't come, but to think he would ask about the missing item first.
"I cleaned it up because I thought it might bother you. Is there a problem? I didn't touch your things. I even put back what I had taken. You didn't like my stuff accumulating, did you? You said it was a mess."
“…”
At Erna's answer, Callion stared at her, unable to say a word. It certainly had been that way at first. That is why he used to look at her with disapproval whenever items piled up on the table next to the sofa where she lay. He thought he had even told her to clean it up a few times. But when did that stop bothering him? It seems he thought it was natural for her belongings to increase and wander around him, just as it was natural for Erna to be lying on the sofa. So when he saw that everything had vanished a moment ago, he wondered if Erna had disappeared as well.
“...I didn't mean for you to clean it up.”
Callion swallowed hard and repeatedly ran his hand over his face. He felt like he should say something, but no words came out. His head was spinning. Callion wasn't a fool. He knew very well what it meant for a person to crave and want to see another person. What was difficult for him was the fact that the person was Erna. He still wasn't glad to see Erna. Whenever he saw her, he was reminded of the past—all the moments of humiliation he had helplessly endured.
Now, there were a few in Hessengard who remembered when he first arrived here. At best, Vanessa and a few council members, and perhaps the elderly attendants of the Grand Duke's castle. But they were the ones who bowed their heads before him. No one looked him straight in the eye. Among those who remembered his past, Erna was the only one who met his gaze and mocked him as if nothing had happened.
wasn't a fool. He knew very well what it meant for a person to crave and want to see another person. What was difficult for him was the fact that the person was Erna.
Callion slammed the door shut as if to say not even think about going back. Then, he wrapped his arms around Erna's waist. Her small body, compared to his, was lifted so lightly into his embrace. Without realizing it, Callion buried his face in the hair that tickled him. The scent of flowers he had smelled on the first day tickled his heart. His heart pounded again. He quickly set Erna down on the bed, climbed on top of her, and trapped her between his legs.
Erna, who had climbed onto the bed before she could even regain her senses, widened her eyes and asked him.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Why? We have to produce a successor as promised, don't we?"
"No, I know that, but why are you in such a hurry...?”
Erna spoke to him as if he didn't understand.
"Didn't you say the priest already came and went?"
He was caught. At that moment, Callion ended up thinking that. His mind went completely blank. Erna's words sound like a question: "You don't have any poison, so why are you clinging to me?" His mouth went parched. It was a question he had been asking himself for the past three days. Why, when you don't have any poison? Why did I want Erna?
Callion slammed the door shut as if to say not even think about going back. Then, he wrapped his arms around Erna's waist. Her small body, compared to his, was lifted so lightly into his embrace. Without realizing it, Callion buried his face in the hair that tickled him. The scent of flowers he had smelled on the first day tickled his heart. His heart pounded again. He quickly set Erna down on the bed, climbed on top of her, and trapped her between his legs.
Erna, who had climbed onto the bed before she could even regain her senses, widened her eyes and asked him.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Why? We have to produce a successor as promised, don't we?"
"No, I know that, but why are you in such a hurry...?”
Erna spoke to him as if he didn't understand.
"Didn't you say the priest already came and went?"
He was caught. At that moment, Callion ended up thinking that. His mind went completely blank. Erna's words sound like a question: "You don't have any poison, so why are you clinging to me?" His mouth went parched. It was a question he had been asking himself for the past three days. Why, when you don't have any poison? Why did I want Erna?
The more he touched her, the better it felt. Whether it was the golden hair wrapping around his hand, or the breasts sagging into dizzying shapes every time his hand moved. He loved the soft, squishy sensation so much that he thought he was going crazy, yet he couldn't let go of his hand. Since when on earth did I like soft things?
While he was still confused, something caught his eye. The wound from the wolf he had seen while washing. As Callion remained still, Erna also looked in the direction her gaze was directed. Then, upon seeing the wound, Erna sprang to her feet. As a result, her forehead hit Callion's chin.
While he was still confused, something caught his eye. The wound from the wolf he had seen while washing. As Callion remained still, Erna also looked in the direction her gaze was directed. Then, upon seeing the wound, Erna sprang to her feet. As a result, her forehead hit Callion's chin.
"Ugh!"
“Ugh!”
The two of them let out a sound at the same time and clutched their foreheads and chins. As Callion held his throbbing jaw, slender fingers touched his arm.
“...!”
As he lowered his head in surprise, Erna was holding his arm with her other hand while frowning and rubbing her forehead.
"You didn't get hit by a monster again, did you?"
It was a tone that seemed to say he was pathetic about death. It was also a tone that no one in this Grand Duke's castle could ever use against him.
“How terrible must your skills be for you to go around getting injured all the time?”
That is what she said, yet Erna's fingers did not leave her wound. Thanks to that, Callion was able to ruminate on her words once more. It was a mocking remark. It was a mark of contempt. Yet, her eyes and hands still lingered on his wound.
He remembered Erna caring for the wizards in Haldis. When the wizards sat wounded, his gaze upon them was filled with worry and pity. And now, he realized that the way he looked at his wounds held a fragment of that gaze from back then.
So... even while finding him pathetic, he was worrying about him just a tiny bit—really, just a tiny bit. The moment he realized this, Callion trembled. A strange sensation made his fingertips tingle.
In the meantime, Erna spoke as if she had realized something.
"Surely you haven't been poisoned again?"
At those words, Callion stood there blankly for a moment, then nodded like crazy. It felt as though he had found the answer in an unexpected place.
In truth, Callion still could not accept the priest's words. Unless it was due to poison, he wouldn't treat her like this. It was clear that either the priest was a quack or he possessed a poison that even the priest could not detect. It had to be.
Of course, this wound was not inflicted by a monster. However, until he can get a definite answer as to why he is acting this way, he can make excuses for his confusion on his behalf.
Callion swallowed hard. All sorts of hypotheses he had thought of flashed through his mind. Among them was something he briefly considered while pondering why he continued to lust after Erna. He wondered if this confusion might disappear if he held it until he was satisfied.
While Callion was thinking that, Erna sighed and turned her head.
'You were defeated by a monster again?'
She began to wonder if the claim that this guy was the greatest knight of Hessengard was actually a lie. Otherwise, how could he have been so pathetically poisoned by a monster twice? However, the moment she heard that he had been poisoned again, she understood why Callion was still acting exactly the same as before.
And yet, strangely enough, she felt relieved. At least, it was because Callion hadn't been defeated enough to collapse, and he would continue to act just as he had for the past two weeks.
'...Why?!'
Just as she was confused, not knowing why she felt relieved, Callion's hand grabbed her face and turned her to look at him.
“Erna.”
“…”
She got goosebumps when a low voice, echoing like it was in a cave, called her name. It was not out of fear. It was a different kind of sensation—a tingling in the lower abdomen that made one curl up.
Erna's eyes met his. Blue passion flickered in his pupils.
Callion lowered his head and whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to be a little sick today."
So... even while finding him pathetic, he was worrying about him just a tiny bit—really, just a tiny bit. The moment he realized this, Callion trembled. A strange sensation made his fingertips tingle.
In the meantime, Erna spoke as if she had realized something.
"Surely you haven't been poisoned again?"
At those words, Callion stood there blankly for a moment, then nodded like crazy. It felt as though he had found the answer in an unexpected place.
In truth, Callion still could not accept the priest's words. Unless it was due to poison, he wouldn't treat her like this. It was clear that either the priest was a quack or he possessed a poison that even the priest could not detect. It had to be.
Of course, this wound was not inflicted by a monster. However, until he can get a definite answer as to why he is acting this way, he can make excuses for his confusion on his behalf.
Callion swallowed hard. All sorts of hypotheses he had thought of flashed through his mind. Among them was something he briefly considered while pondering why he continued to lust after Erna. He wondered if this confusion might disappear if he held it until he was satisfied.
While Callion was thinking that, Erna sighed and turned her head.
'You were defeated by a monster again?'
She began to wonder if the claim that this guy was the greatest knight of Hessengard was actually a lie. Otherwise, how could he have been so pathetically poisoned by a monster twice? However, the moment she heard that he had been poisoned again, she understood why Callion was still acting exactly the same as before.
And yet, strangely enough, she felt relieved. At least, it was because Callion hadn't been defeated enough to collapse, and he would continue to act just as he had for the past two weeks.
'...Why?!'
Just as she was confused, not knowing why she felt relieved, Callion's hand grabbed her face and turned her to look at him.
“Erna.”
“…”
She got goosebumps when a low voice, echoing like it was in a cave, called her name. It was not out of fear. It was a different kind of sensation—a tingling in the lower abdomen that made one curl up.
Erna's eyes met his. Blue passion flickered in his pupils.
Callion lowered his head and whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to be a little sick today."
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