Chapter 15
A quiet night where the moonlight shimmered with enchanting beauty.
But, strangely, a frightening and unsettling darkness loomed over the Hydra Trading Guild.
And there was one place where the darkness was denser than anywhere else.
Specifically…
“Hmm.”
Where Adrian was. He was examining the room Didier had been in with a gaze full of interest. An empty room, devoid of its occupant, eerie. Adrian slowly closed his eyes, then opened them. His smile deepened.
“…I didn’t expect the barrier to be undone so easily.”
Truly astonishing. Even a skilled mage wouldn’t have been able to break Adrian’s barrier so quickly and effortlessly.
The only ones capable of that now were a ruler or a dragon.
But a great dragon wouldn’t disguise itself as a lamb.
So, was breaking the barrier a coincidence? Could it be considered a coincidence? Adrian pondered for a moment.
Then he stopped. Leaving interesting things as they were made his life more vibrant.
Adrian stood before the bookshelf whose barrier Didier had undone and tapped it lightly with his fingers. The barrier returned with a bright light, then the light vanished, but Adrian had no intention of leaving.
“It’ll be more exciting if I keep watching.”
He responded to every word and even broke the barrier. How could this be an ordinary lamb? Adrian tapped his thigh with his fingers.
“And yet, what is he?”
What made him capture my lady’s heart? Excitement was excitement, but curiosity was curiosity.
Adrian closed his eyes. A black aura, or rather, a very dark green one, swirled around him.
The green aura slithered through the bookshelf like a living entity. Adrian opened his eyes again, his red eyes gleaming. It was as if the warehouse Didier had exited was reflected in them.
Then, Adrian noticed something, and his lips curled into a smile. He grasped the pendant around his neck, tapped it twice, and the black stone adorning it flickered.
“Kob, come here.”
It seemed his lady had arrived. The bold raven who treated the guild as his playground would soon come to Adrian.
“Shall I walk slowly then?”
Adrian moved leisurely toward the place where Kob’s lady was. He could have opened the bookshelf directly, but he chose to exit and walk through the corridor.
Tap, tap. Adrian’s footsteps faded into the darkness. Only his intriguing laugh lingered in that empty gloom.
* * *
I was in a slightly awkward situation.
Though I warmly patted Didier after he felt the blade against his throat for the first time in his life, he couldn’t stop his tears.
His appearance, with tears welling in his eyes under the moonlight, was incredibly beautiful, but I didn’t know how to console a crying person.
Because I rarely cried myself.
So, I was a bit embarrassed.
‘How do I calm him?’
If this had happened before, I might have had some experience, but I had no memories to reference.
When I trained with Riel, something similar happened, but he just closed his eyes and resumed sparring.
Arin said he’d return with better skills and moved on. As for Mary, if a knife touched her throat, she’d bite the opponent’s hand instead of crying.
‘…I don’t know.’
Because I didn’t know, I considered letting him cry more, but I feared Didier might collapse from exhaustion. So, I held his face with my hands and gently wiped his cheeks.
“Didier, are the tears still falling?”
“…I was shocked.”
“You look beautiful crying, but let’s stop now.”
“…Alright, Erica.”
Didier wiped his tears with his hand and looked at me. His eyes were still red, but I smiled at him and asked about something I’d been wondering.
“How did you end up here? Adrian wouldn’t have allowed that.”
“Ah.”
“Didier?”
“…I was examining the room, found a door, went out to explore, and it disappeared.”
“Oh.”
I roughly understood. Adrian always said he had a room for me, and if the family exhausted me, I could sleep there. Perhaps that room was connected to this place.
After grasping the situation, I looked at Didier again, and he seemed listless. I took his hand.
“Didier, what’s wrong?”
“…Will I be punished?”
“What?”
“For moving on my own. I was going to stay quiet…”
Didier looked at me sadly, like an abandoned puppy, his brows drooping. As if ready for my reprimand, his lips trembled slightly.
‘Of course, this is very cute and beautiful.’
But there was something Didier needed to know.
“Didier.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re going to be my husband now.”
“…Yes.”
“That means, Didier, no one can speak harshly to you anymore.”
Didier didn’t understand my words and gently closed his eyes.
“You’re part of my family now.”
“Yes, Erica.”
“No one can treat you harshly. And you can trust me and cause trouble.”
“…Trouble?”
“Yes, I’ll handle everything. So, don’t be afraid wherever you go. No one will scold you for moving freely.”
As long as Didier stayed by my side, I would always protect him. I wouldn’t let anyone touch my family. Those who speak harshly will regret opening their mouths.
Didier pondered my words, then nodded slowly.
“Alright, it’s a promise.”
I extended my pinky finger. Didier smiled shyly and hooked his pinky with mine.
“No matter what happens, tell me everything. That’s the only way I can protect you. Don’t hide anything, understood?”
“…Yes, Erica.”
“You promised me, Didier.”
“…I’ll keep my promise.”
“That’s how it should be.”
I smiled at him brightly. I let go of his hand, ran my fingers through his hair, and took out the magic stone from my pocket. Didier’s eyes shifted to it.
“Did you come today to get Kob?”
“Yes, I felt today was the only chance.”
“…When will I be by your side?”
I paused for a moment. The regular meeting wouldn’t happen for at least two weeks. I felt sorry for Didier, who would be alone in a strange place, and slowly closed my eyes.
“…I can wait. So, don’t feel pressured, Erica.”
“I’m sorry, for not bringing good news.”
“It’s okay, Erica.”
“Sorry.”
“Oh, by the way, how’s your ankle?”
Because I was so sorry, Didier tried to change the subject. But it seemed his choice wasn’t the best.
I showed an embarrassed expression for a moment.
But I quickly raised the corner of my mouth and smiled to ease the situation. Fortunately, Didier didn’t notice my embarrassed look.
“Um, it’s fine.”
It wasn’t a lie. At least, I could still move. I got injured again, but it wasn’t a big deal.
I could hide it. With a light smile and a normal voice, I continued:
“Look, I’m walking fine now.”
“You were walking fine even when you weren’t healed.”
Ack! I was hit where it hurt. But I insisted I was fine and moved my ankle slightly.
It wasn’t a good choice in front of Didier, who never backed down when it came to my health. He looked at me suspiciously, then surveyed the area around him.
“Wait, I’ll overstep a little.”
He bent slightly, placed one hand under my shoulder and another under my knees, and lifted me. I had let my guard down completely with Didier, so I let him take control. It was the first time someone had carried me, and my hands naturally rested on his chest…
‘I expected it, but his body is so firm…’
By the time the thought crossed my mind, it was too late. Didier looked at me in surprise, and I quickly lowered my hands, gently placing them on my stomach. Then, that obedient lamb laughed.
“…My body is yours, Erica. You can touch it whenever you want.”
Didier’s slow voice carried both shyness and playfulness.
‘His face turns red just from me touching him.’
What kind of challenge was this?
On the other hand, I wasn’t used to touching anyone, so this situation felt very strange. I couldn’t respond.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“…Didier.”
“If we marry, I’ll be yours. Touch me whenever you want.”
Did that really come from Didier’s mouth?
I opened my eyes wide. Didier answered with an innocent smile.
Then I realized.
‘Maybe Didier isn’t as obedient as I thought.’
