<CHAPTER 14>
A Couple’s Display of Affection
“You cannot throw him away!”
“Why not?”
“Th-That, no, that person is not trash.”
Rek tilted his head with a completely puzzled expression.
“Then what is he? Is he Ehilie’s guest?”
“No. He is not.”
Ehilie briefly explained what had happened in the shed.
After listening quietly, Rek spoke.
“Then he is definitely trash.”
“No, why would you come to that conclusion?!”
“If someone trespasses into your home and threatens you, what else could he be?”
“Kyaaak!”
The crow on Rek’s shoulder cawed in agreement.
“Uh, well…”
“If he is not trash, then he must be an insect.”
“……”
“Either way, I will dispose of him.”
“Wait, Rek!”
Ehilie jumped up and grabbed his arm.
“Calm down first and put him down.”
“Yes.”
Even though he could have easily brushed off her thin arm, Rek obeyed.
Thud!
Gabriel fell flat on the floor.
‘At this point, I almost feel sorry for him.’
It was true that he had trespassed and frightened her, but he probably had not meant harm.
This seemed too harsh for his crime.
Ehilie carefully reached out to check his condition.
Just then—
“Ehilie.”
Rek suddenly leaned in close.
Lowering his long eyelashes, he extended his hand pitifully.
“I am hurt.”
“What? Where? Let me see.”
Startled, Ehilie examined his hand.
A splinter was lodged in his long white fingers.
“Oh no, are you okay? I will get the medicine box. Wait here.”
“Yes.”
Ehilie did not see it.
The victorious smile slowly spreading on Rek’s lips.
When she returned with the medicine box, she suddenly thought—
‘Shouldn’t I treat Gabriel first?’
But that reasonable thought quickly faded.
Rek’s pitiful face, biting his red lips with lowered eyes, clouded her judgment.
Come to think of it, treating Rek first made sense.
Gabriel was a sturdy hero with amazing recovery abilities, while Rek was frail.
Blood was thicker than water.
Naturally, she cared more about Rek than a stranger from the original story.
Ignoring the broken door, Ehilie justified herself and sat beside Rek on the sofa.
“I will pull it out. It might hurt, so endure it.”
When she brought the tweezers closer, Rek trembled slightly.
Lowering his eyelashes, he spoke softly.
“Ehilie, I have a request.”
“Yes?”
“May I borrow your shoulder?”
Seeing his distorted, pitiful face, Ehilie nodded.
“Alright. Lean on me.”
The moment she agreed, Rek wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
Ehilie ended up sitting on his lap, embraced.
“Rek?!”
His soft hair brushed her neck, and his warm breath tickled her skin.
Resting his head on her shoulder, he murmured softly.
“I feel calmer like this.”
“……”
“I am sorry for always showing you my weak side. I am such a frail man, trembling over a mere splinter.”
His lowered voice trembled faintly.
Was he trying to suppress his gloomy feelings?
Feeling sorry for him, Ehilie comforted him.
“No, Rek. You are not weak. You always step forward to protect me in dangerous situations.”
“But… do you not dislike such a troublesome, sickly man?”
“No. I do not.”
How could she dislike someone who expressed his affection so sincerely?
“Really?”
“Yes, Rek. You can show me your weak side as much as you want.”
“Thank you, Ehilie.”
Clear joy filled his gentle whisper.
She thought he was truly pure.
* * *
Watching Redemberg Lu Edeltein’s acting up close, Herond realized again.
How sly and shameless his master could be when pursuing his goals.
The man who had not blinked when pierced by a dragon’s claw was pretending to suffer over a splinter.
“It is almost done. Endure a little more.”
“Yes, Ehilie.”
Using pain as an excuse to cling closer, he was truly shameless.
Herond could not believe what he was seeing.
The cold-blooded Demon King fawning over a human woman.
Just as Herond’s wings trembled in disbelief—
“Ugh…”
Gabriel, who had been lying like a corpse, stirred and got up.
‘Where am I?’
His head throbbed.
He remembered nothing.
Only his name, Gabriel.
Blinking hazily, he looked around.
A woman bandaging a man’s hand while sitting in his arms.
And a man glaring at her neck with greedy red eyes.
‘A married couple?’
* * *
‘Phew, it is done.’
After finishing the treatment, Ehilie looked up.
Their blue eyes met.
“Um…”
When Gabriel spoke, Ehilie flinched and leaned back.
Their bodies pressed closer.
Rek wrapped his arm around her waist reassuringly.
“Where am I?”
“This is my house.”
Nodding, he asked again.
“Do you know who I am?”
“What? Why ask me that?”
“I am sorry. I remember nothing…”
“What? You lost your memory?!”
“Yes. I do not know who I am or why I am here.”
So amnesia really happened.
As Ehilie stood frozen, Rek whispered.
“Ehilie, I will handle this.”
“Handle it? You are not going to hit him again, are you?”
“Do you see me as such a violent person…?”
“Sorry. I misspoke.”
“It is my fault for showing violent sides so often.”
“No. You only did it to protect me.”
“Then… even if I get rid of the trash that bothers you, you will not hate me?”
Confused, she still nodded.
Receiving her permission, Rek smiled brightly.
“Then I will deal with him. Please stay still.”
He stood in front of her protectively.
His voice turned cold and threatening.
“You said you lost your memory. Then I will tell you. You are a thief who broke in and threatened a fragile woman.”
Ehilie panicked.
It was not entirely wrong…
After a short silence, Gabriel spoke shakily.
“W-Wait. There must be a misunderstanding. Even if I lost my memory, I cannot be such trash.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Rek replied icily.
“If someone enters another’s home with a sword, what else is he?”
“That is…”
Gabriel fell silent.
Unaware that the sword he carried was the sacred blade of the chosen hero.
