Chapter 14 ……………………………………
“Go on, Psyche.”
Psyche hesitated for a long moment before speaking softly.
“Karhi…s…”
At her stammering voice filled with embarrassment, Karhis let out a faint chuckle.
But Psyche, too flustered and tense, didn’t even hear it.
Karhis found even her flushed cheeks endearing.
For the first time, he realized that his voice—once as cold as frost—could sound this gentle.
He had never once imagined he could speak to someone like this, smiling.
“Say it like that, hmm?”
Psyche felt her head spin at his voice.
His quiet tone, murmuring close, sounded almost sweet.
She already knew Karhis was a kind man.
But this whispering voice felt… strangely seductive.
As if she had touched something forbidden.
The dizzying warmth in her chest wouldn’t settle, a tingling sensation spreading through her.
I never imagined saying a name could feel this embarrassing.
Her flushed cheeks had already given her away.
Still, she tried to act calm.
She had already shown enough of her discomposure in front of him today.
“P-please go back now. It’s late.”
She forced a trembling smile.
“Then I’ll look forward to next time, Lady Psyche.”
Psyche smiled brightly back at him, cheeks still red.
Whenever she met his cold silver eyes, her heart kept tickling strangely.
“Alright.”
At her answer, Karhis leaned down.
His shadow fell over her, and Psyche instinctively closed her eyes.
In that instant, he took her hand and pressed a kiss onto its back.
“…!”
Her body flinched in shock as she tried to pull her hand away—but it was useless.
His lips, which she had always thought would be cold, pressed firmly against her skin.
They were hot.
Burning hot.
Only she would know that the man who symbolized winter had lips like this.
That realization alone made her inexplicably shy.
Karhis lifted his head while still bent forward, meeting her eyes.
“Ka…rhis…”
His silver eyes gleamed with something dark and possessive.
The gaze she had always thought pure now felt dangerously depraved.
His refined features suddenly looked strangely alluring.
Was it really just her imagination?
A heavy silence lingered between them for a long moment.
Something still flickered in his gaze.
Finally, he pulled his lips away from her hand.
Only then could Psyche breathe again.
She had forgotten how to breathe at all.
The idea of being alone with him overwhelmed her mind.
A dizzy, intoxicating sensation spread through her body.
Her breath came out in a shaky exhale.
“P-please… go home safely.”
At her words, Karhis’s sharp eyes softened slightly.
“I’d prefer if tonight… you only thought of me, Psyche.”
With that, he turned away.
Psyche watched his retreating figure in a daze until he disappeared, then slowly entered her room.
She blinked, still unable to believe it.
“None of this… feels real…”
The sensation of his lips pressing against her hand still lingered vividly.
Her hand tingled.
She brushed it again with her other hand, trying to steady her breath.
But the sensation refused to fade, spreading through her entire body.
Psyche. It’s just a formal greeting. There’s nothing to be nervous about.
She spoke to herself and collapsed onto the bed.
A kiss on the hand was, in noble society, merely a formal greeting.
It was done when knights pledged vows to their lovers, or between engaged couples and newlyweds. It wasn’t something done casually.
As that thought settled in, her calming heart began to pound again.
Whether her eyes were open or closed, Karhis filled her mind.
“I must be crazy.”
Psyche covered her face with both hands, remembering Karhis’s warm smile from before her regression.
Her cheeks were burning red.
Why had he done that?
To her, someone he didn’t even remember?
Have I started to matter to him again? Could we return to how things were?
Could his memories be returning?
A faint, fragile hope bloomed in her chest. If he ever remembered everything, she would be overjoyed.
But at the same time, fear crept in.
But… could I ever tell him that someone from my family might have been involved in your death?
Even if it were more than a possibility, she had no right to speak it.
Happiness always came with anxiety.
Psyche decided to wash her face to cool her burning head.
She pulled the bell cord, and instead of Laura, another maid arrived.
A young, newly hired servant stood there.
Laura must have sent her.
“Bring me some warm water for washing.”
“Yes, my lady! Leave it to me!”
The girl’s bright, confident voice was full of energy.
She looked innocent and cute.
“What’s your name?”
“M-my name is Hilly.”
“That’s a pretty name. Go on and bring the water.”
Hilly bowed enthusiastically and left the room.
The noise of the lively girl helped pull Psyche out of her thoughts.
“Phew…”
She was exhausted. The day felt far too long.
She yawned and leaned against the bedhead.
Do I finally have a purpose to live?
She let out a small laugh.
She did have one clear goal now.
This regression was no longer just for revenge.
It was also for Karhis—her entire world.
Then she, too, would have to become ruthless.
Cold. Unfeeling.
Just as he had once tried to save her.
“…Haa.”
“My lady, I’ve brought the water.”
Hilly returned with a cheerful smile.
Psyche envied the girl’s simplicity.
If only she could be unaware of everything too.
But even that had been denied to her.
“Thank you, Hilly.”
“It’s nothing at all!”
After Hilly left again, Psyche washed her face and lay down.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on her body.
She drifted into sleep—
Until a loud commotion outside the bedroom woke her.
“…How could you do that?! My lady—!”
Frowning, Psyche slowly rose and opened the door.
“Ha.”
A dry laugh escaped her.
Laura stood there, furious, dragging Hilly by the wrist.
“How could you do this to me?!”
“Laura. What exactly are you doing, making a scene in front of your mistress?”
Psyche’s voice was cold.
“My lady! How can you do this to me? How can you make her your personal maid instead of me?!”
“So… what exactly are you trying to say?”
Psyche spoke calmly.
Laura, emboldened, continued.
“I don’t understand! Promoting a clumsy new maid to a personal attendant—!”
Psyche smiled faintly.
“Hilly, come here for now. Is that alright?”
“Yes… I’m okay…”
Hilly quickly moved beside Psyche.
Psyche stepped forward.
Laura instinctively stepped back under the pressure.
“Laura. How presumptuous. The master chooses her own servant—why are you causing a scene?”
“….”
“A mere servant trying to lecture me, acting as she pleases… and now this nonsense. How absurd. Should I punish you?”
“P-punish?! I haven’t done anything wrong! I was sent by Lady Letis herself! Do you think she’ll just ignore this?!”
“You’re foolish. Do you really think Lady Letis would involve herself in a maid’s quarrel?”
Laura trembled in rage, her face red with humiliation.
Psyche stepped closer, then gently stroked her cheek and whispered into her ear:
“I have never once considered you one of my people.”
