Chapter – 91
Dii arrived at the ranch in no time.
“Yangyang!”
When she called the sheep she especially adored, Yangyang ran toward her excitedly like a puppy. Dii had recently learned how to milk sheep, and in a moment she filled the bucket completely.
“I should make cheese.”
She chatted to herself while milking, then went back into the cabin. She lay down on the soft sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace, covering herself with a blanket.
Things that were hard work for other people felt like play to Dii. Ever since she had grown old enough to think, the things she had dreamed of were all coming true.
Especially raising sheep.
She never imagined that dream would actually come true…
After lazing around for a while, Dii grew bored and wondered if she should do some exercise. She started rolling around on the rug when she suddenly heard someone clear their throat behind her.
When she turned toward the door, Kyle was standing there.
He turned around immediately and said,
“I’ll knock and come in again—”
Before he could finish, Dii ran over with quick footsteps and suddenly hugged him tightly.
Kyle couldn’t hide the smile that appeared on his face.
“I was worried you might say you wouldn’t come back.”
“I don’t want to go… You should really become a son-in-law later. Come live at our house, okay?”
“I said I would.”
Kyle answered calmly.
Soon the two of them boarded a carriage back to Enperga.
After being separated for several days, Kyle looked like he had nearly died. Throwing away his pride completely, he carefully looked Dii over.
She looked extremely healthy, thanks to resting well and eating well during the past few days.
Dii seemed especially bright and sparkling today, and Kyle couldn’t take his eyes off her. Embarrassed, she spoke first.
“Ah, Kyle. The day you gave me that hairpin, we had a girls’ night.”
“What do you even talk about during those girls’ nights?”
“I don’t usually tell people what we talk about, but I’ll tell you this.”
“What is it?”
Kyle asked, suddenly feeling nervous.
Dii grinned.
“Helena was there. According to Helena, legally, the priestesses of the god Roxand are allowed to search for the Red Winged Bird.”
“……”
“Because it’s our symbol.”
“……”
“Helena thinks His Highness is an elite. So she said there’s no way you wouldn’t know that.”
“……”
“And if you knew but didn’t tell me, that counts as fraud. You didn’t know and hide it from me, right?”
Kyle pressed a hand against his throbbing forehead.
He wanted to say no.
There were far too many reasons why he should refuse.
First of all, he would never allow her to go alone. That was something he absolutely could not compromise on.
If he didn’t truly know what kind of person she was, he probably would have refused without hesitation.
Even now, he wanted to say no.
But whether it was good luck or bad luck, Kyle knew exactly what kind of person she was.
She was timid, yet strangely brave.
She disliked serious atmospheres.
She cried easily and laughed easily.
She was so lovable that lately he almost believed her claim that she was actually a fairy.
She wasn’t as weak as she looked, and she wasn’t as fragile as her fearfulness suggested.
She was stubborn, lovable, and dazzling.
When Kyle didn’t answer, Dii confidently continued.
“I’ll go with Amila. She’s also a priestess of Roxand.”
That suddenly sounds a lot more reliable…
“And first, I’ll bring Roxand along.”
…Taking a god along to hunt monsters? Isn’t that cheating a little?
“Oh right. If I don’t take Jin, he might sulk. That guy’s sense of adventure is—”
“He’ll definitely sulk.”
“Ugh. But bringing the young master might just get in the way… Actually, the person I want to take most is you. But you’re probably busy, right?”
“Probably.”
“You hate leaving the royal palace. And it’s illegal for you to go. If you break the law, will it be dangerous?”
“Very dangerous. But if it’s for you, I don’t mind.”
“Then let’s leave the palace to Jin.”
“Guess I’ll have to sneak out.”
“Poor Kyle. Jin will scold you so much when you come back.”
“Then I should become Emperor to get scolded less.”
“Wow, ambitious. I like ambitious men.”
The two of them laughed together as they chatted.
“So your daughter will now go on an adventure.”
Dii’s bag looked heavy, so Kyle tried to carry it for her. But she held onto it and said,
“Let me leave coolly first, then help me.”
“That line wasn’t cool at all. What do you mean ‘your daughter’?”
“…Then what should I say?”
“You still…”
Kyle pushed her lightly with his eyes.
Dii sighed deeply and squeezed her eyes shut. Then she shouted to Sylvia and Christopher, who were wiping their tears with handkerchiefs.
“M-Mother! F-Father! I’m going on an advent—ah!”
Before she could finish, both of them burst into tears and hugged her tightly.
“Christopher! When did our daughter grow up enough to go on adventures?!”
“Indeed! Even though we didn’t raise her…”
“Let’s just say we did!”
“That’s right! Who would know!”
Kyle thought to himself:
I can clearly tell whose parents these are.
While thinking that, he picked up the bag that had been abandoned and loaded it into the carriage.
Dii struggled out of their embrace.
Sylvia fixed Dii’s messy hair and said,
“Come back safely, our daughter.”
“Yes. I’ll return even healthier than I am now.”
Christopher also wanted to say “our daughter,” but he felt too embarrassed to say it directly to Dii. So he awkwardly said to Kyle instead,
“Your Highness, please take good care of our daughter’s safety.”
“I will value Diana’s safety more than my own life.”
Kyle replied without even a hint of joking.
Soon the two boarded the carriage.
Dii leaned out the window and waved until her parents were completely out of sight.
When she finally sat down, Kyle said,
“There are many people waiting to consult with you.”
“I should hurry and see them. Did Amila do well while I was gone?”
“I’ll tell you honestly, but keep it a secret from Amila.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I saw her counseling a library staff member earlier. That person will probably never go to the Eastern Temple again. Actually, not just that person—others too.”
“That sounds like Amila.”
Even though they hadn’t been apart for that long, they had many things to talk about.
By the time their conversation ended, the carriage had arrived at the royal palace.
Late at night, Kyle escorted her to the Western Temple.
Then he asked,
“Are you worried?”
“Hm?”
“The future. If a god went as far as sacrificing himself to rewind time, that means the future was terrible. That makes me uneasy.”
Dii thought for a moment, then shrugged.
“I was worried at first too. But if you think about it, Roxand rewound time and became that tiny just so we wouldn’t end up like that. So I won’t worry already. I’ll change it somehow.”
Her light-green eyes sparkled brightly.
Kyle chuckled softly and nodded.
Dii hugged the precious pumpkin pie box she had brought again and said goodbye.
“Alright then, go home. Starting tomorrow, we begin the operation.”
Kyle hesitated awkwardly, then gestured toward the pie.
“Aren’t you going to ask if I want a slice? We just reunited.”
“In your dreams. My parents said not to let strange men into the house after midnight.”
“I’m not a strange man.”
“But I think they meant you exactly.”
“You don’t usually listen to people.”
“They said listening to your parents isn’t a bad thing.”
Dii defended herself firmly.
Unable to endure it any longer, Kyle revealed his true intention.
“I’ll just kiss you. Just a kiss.”
“…It’s embarrassing, so promise you’ll leave right after.”
“I will. You can confirm it with your foresight.”
When he opened the door, Dii looked around nervously in case someone saw them.
Feeling like she was doing something bad, she quietly placed the pie box on the table.
Just as she took a nervous breath—
Kyle suddenly pulled her into his arms.
He cupped her cheek and kissed her.
His gentle hand slowly stroked the back of her neck as their lips parted.
Dii closed her eyes tightly.
A tingling sensation spread to her fingertips and toes.
After a deep kiss, their lips slowly separated, though neither wanted to let go.
Kyle murmured,
“It’s so sweet my tongue might go numb, Diana.”
Embarrassed by both his words and the kiss, Dii looked away and muttered,
“Well, my foresight did say kissing you would be nice…”
But she hadn’t expected to do it again.
Kyle slowly released her.
When Dii blinked and tried to see his expression, he suddenly hugged her tightly again.
“Kyle. You said just a kiss. Now go.”
“I will.”
Dii felt her whole body burning with embarrassment.
But Kyle’s body felt even hotter, and his heart was pounding desperately.
His grip on her felt almost possessive.
Can I even push him away easily…?
“I said go.”
“I said I will.”
She looked at his face.
She had never thought Kyle was a particularly greedy person.
But right now, his face was filled with a kind of desire she couldn’t quite identify.
Dii pushed his lips away with both hands.
“Go already. See you tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
Thankfully he listened.
Kyle finally let her go and turned away with a painful sigh.
“Good night.”
“Yeah, you too.”
He left and closed the door.
But a moment later, he knocked again.
As soon as she opened the door, he said,
“I like you, Diana.”
Then he immediately turned and ran away.
Dii’s face turned bright red.
Closing the door, she murmured,
“I know. I like you too.”
***
Early dawn.
Dii suddenly opened her eyes.
She quickly pressed down her messy hair with both hands and left the temple.
Walking quickly—almost running—she headed to the training ground where Kyle practiced swordsmanship every morning.
Kyle, deeply focused on training, suddenly saw a woman in white pajamas walking toward him.
Startled at first, he soon realized it was Dii and sighed in relief.
“Diana. Why are you here so ear—”
Before he could finish, Dii buried her face in his chest.
“I came to refill.”
“…Refill what?”
Kyle asked in confusion.
Dii lifted her face and said mischievously,
“Love?”
“……”
“Alright. I’ll sleep three more hours.”
She waved and turned to leave.
Kyle grabbed her wrist, pulled her back, lifted her chin, and kissed her again.
After their lips parted, Kyle smacked his lips and said,
“Stop interrupting my training and go.”
“What? You do everything you want and then chase me away.”
Dii pouted as she walked back toward the temple.
“I don’t want to be apart…”
Kyle looked between the sword in his hand and Dii.
After hesitating several times, he finally put the sword back into its sheath.
Then he ran after her.
When he caught up, Dii grinned.
“Where are you going?”
“To escort you.”
“Because you like me too much to train?”
“…You said you didn’t want to be apart.”
Kyle said defensively as he grabbed her hand and headed toward the temple with her.
