Chapter 20
“Pardon? You mean give it?”
“The most important thing in a contract is that both sides have their desires fulfilled.”
Calix showed no sign of backing down. Whatever his intentions, he acted like a true noble. Clearly, he wouldn’t do anything that would make him suffer a loss.
Well, considering I had been swindled, he wouldn’t just hand over my possessions either. I thought about what might be of use to Calix.
Berok? That one I was already dealing with. Miscellaneous chores? Calix was already being considerate enough. The remaining option…
“Shall I even spit on my own bed for you?”
“What…?”
“Ah, sorry. That’s not what I meant. What I was trying to say was, perhaps I could touch my body in a way that prevents you from taking medicine…”
“That’s enough.”
Embarrassed, I turned my head away. I should think before speaking next time. Why do such awkward words always slip out in front of Calix? I suppose thinking that he wouldn’t kill me made me unconsciously bold.
I quickly examined Calix’s sword. A reddish aura spread throughout it. I immediately closed my mouth and stared at the fire. With that much energy, caution was indeed necessary.
As I stared at the fire, sleepiness slowly crept in. I leaned against the stone wall and closed my eyes. It was uncomfortable to lie down, but I couldn’t just stay fully reclined—the space was too narrow.
Gradually, as I dozed off, my body began to tilt to the side. My upper body touched something solid. Once I couldn’t tilt any further, a sense of comfort washed over me. Before I knew it, I had fallen into a deep sleep.
Calix looked down at Lerit resting on his shoulder. At first, it had bothered him that she dozed off nearby, but now she had made herself comfortable enough to sleep on his shoulder. He tried to shift her gently but was drawn to her exposed, pale neck.
It looked fragile, like it could break if held in one hand. Calix instinctively reached out but pulled back the instant his hand brushed her skin. His breath faltered slightly.
She was too soft. Suddenly, his ears warmed and his heart raced. The blood that had been quietly simmering surged wildly.
‘Damn it.’
Just a single touch triggered his instincts. Then he noticed her steady breathing. The warmth of her small body leaning against him was vivid and tangible.
Calix looked at Lerit, annoyed with himself.
This time, his gaze moved from her neck to her face. A beauty mark under her right eye caught his attention, and his eyes traced to her sharp nose and small, delicate lips. He couldn’t look away from her slightly parted lips.
Her breath brushed the tip of his nose, carrying the subtle scent of daisies. He inhaled sharply without meaning to.
Calix paused and turned his head, frowning and cursing silently. He could not let instinct take over.
This woman was royalty. An enemy. Someone he had wanted dead. He could kill her with the slightest movement of his hand.
Yet, Calix could not move.
Why? It had been the same before. He had tried to kill her, but his blood boiled uncontrollably, and he collapsed. And now, she was right in front of him. Her neck fully exposed. He stared at her pale neck for a long time before finally turning his head.
Her presence was peculiar.
He hated her with a burning intensity, yet he desired her just as strongly. He did not want to let her be near others.
Perhaps that was why he decided to watch a little longer. Pure curiosity. He had never met anyone like her before.
‘Time will tell.’
Curiosity never lasts long. Surely, this woman would betray him and live selfishly—royal blood made that inevitable.
Then, perhaps he could kill her. But for now, he would observe.
Calix continued to watch Lerit for a long time, unaware of the red glow in his sword and the boiling of his blood.
When I woke, I was lying on the ground. The unfamiliar ceiling and hard floor startled me, and I hurriedly got up. The surroundings were quiet, and Calix was nowhere to be seen. Beside me were only partially burned wood, leaves, and blackened ashes.
I slowly walked out of the cave. A chill crept over the back of my neck.
‘Why…?’
Outside, a horrifying scene unfolded—or at least from Berok’s perspective. Berok’s corpses were piled up like a mountain, and blood was scattered across them.
A red river ran through the white snow.
‘What happened…?’
I quickly scanned the area. Someone stood on the snowy ground. Familiar. Tall, with broad shoulders clearly visible even at a glance.
Calix was ending Berok’s final breaths with his long sword. His movements were calm yet effortless.
He pulled the sword out and gazed at Berok’s lifeless body. There was a calmness in his gaze that I had never seen before, as if it carried a deep, unspoken thought.
I remembered yesterday. Since I had Calix’s cloak, though awkwardly, I walked over to him.
‘Surely he won’t tell me to throw this away too.’
I thought to myself when a cold wind blew and the sword moved through the air. I froze, and Calix turned around.
Our eyes met briefly. The sword seemed to fall helplessly to the ground as the wind picked up. In that awkward silence, I quickly offered the cloak.
“Thanks to you, I slept well.”
Feeling slightly awkward, I avoided his eyes. My hands felt embarrassingly exposed, and just as I thought he might take it, he did.
‘So he’s not telling me to throw it away this time.’
But he didn’t wear the cloak either. He spoke in his usual rigid tone.
“Berok was dealt with since dawn. There’s no need to kill any more Berok here.”
“You handled it alone from dawn?”
“Yes.”
“Then you could have woken me up.”
There was no reason to hold back repayment.
“No. It’s easier to kill them alone at that hour.”
Calix sheathed his sword and turned to leave. When I didn’t follow immediately, he looked back.
“Will you stay here?”
“No!”
I hurriedly followed Calix. Walking step by step beside him felt strange, as if I were moving in sync with his pace. It wasn’t anything special, just slightly uncomfortable and awkward.
His large presence and the scent of his cologne distracted me the entire way.
‘We were just in a small cave yesterday…’
Strange. And Calix had even taken the cloak without saying to throw it away—unlike usual.
I glanced sideways at him. Calix stared straight ahead with his usual stern expression. Nothing seemed unusual.
I sighed inwardly, feeling like I was overthinking. Then I heard running in the distance.
“Lady Lerit!”
A familiar voice. I looked around and saw Herkel and several soldiers approaching. They bowed upon reaching Calix and me.
“We were worried since you didn’t return for a while. But it seems both of you are safe.”
Herkel smiled faintly.
I silently blamed him with a stern look. Then Calix glanced back at me.
“You don’t need to work this morning.”
It was unexpected. I didn’t reply, just stared at him. Calix said nothing further and walked ahead. Herkel quickly came beside me.
“I think I managed things pretty well, didn’t I?”
I felt it was time to speak properly.
“Herkel, I’ve noticed… blindly doing things like that…”
I intended to say it made me uncomfortable. But Herkel spoke first.
“Thanks to that, our soldiers rested well yesterday. Since the Duke wasn’t there, they were much more at ease.”
“…”
“Above all, the Duke didn’t seem uncomfortable either. He didn’t get angry, so it must not have been bothersome for him.”
Herkel subtly gestured toward Calix walking ahead. I couldn’t understand it. Calix must have been just as uncomfortable, if not more, than me.
“Are you sure? The Duke looked really uneasy to me.”
“Well… if he truly disliked it, he would have shouted at me as if to kill me. But he didn’t say a word and just walked ahead. That must mean he was satisfied with the situation.”
I had no words.
“Herkel, how long have you been here?”
“Five years.”
“Five years is a long time. Are you really saying you can read the Duke like that?”
“I’m not reading him. It’s what I learned by being beside him.”
Then a strong wind blew, making it impossible to stay still. We hurried onward, Herkel beside me.
I clutched my cloak, lost in thought. Calix hadn’t been unusually harsh with me. I trailed behind, observing his back.
‘Has something changed in his feelings?’
And when he killed Berok, he looked calm. But clearly, it wasn’t satisfaction from liking something. Perhaps he simply completed the task of killing many Berok and felt no need to speak.
He said he killed countless Berok since dawn. Thinking of that, a question arose.
‘Wait… I was leaning against the cave wall asleep, right?’
I woke to find myself lying alone. Had Calix made space for me? Because it was uncomfortable? I pondered this when suddenly—
“Lady Lerit?”
A bright voice. I turned to see a pale-faced person smiling at me. I nodded instinctively.
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you. I think we’ve met before. I’m Lotas.”
Lotas extended a friendly hand. I had expected trouble, but it seemed he was adjusting better than I thought.
