You Are Dead –
CHAPTER 33……………………………………………
My stiff body was trapped in his hold.
After just having seen that kind of monster, my heart was now pounding wildly for a completely different reason.
I was afraid the sound might be too loud and reach him.
“Relax your strength.”
At his words, I unconsciously swallowed hard. Even that sound seemed unbearably loud in my ears.
“I-I’m fine.”
“The distance is quite far.”
When he tightened his hold on my arm, my body, which had been rigid, pressed closely against the contours of his.
As Cardin pulled the reins, the horse quickly passed the burning carriage.
Though the ride was bumpier than the carriage, being in his arms made it feel stable.
Of course, my heart was still racing.
Whenever I tensed at the height, he looked down at me.
I forced a casual expression and looked ahead.
“Saint.”
At the low tone that came from above, my body stiffened again.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
He exhaled deeply.
What was wrong? Just as I was thinking that, his large hand touched my cheek.
He turned my face toward his chest.
“You don’t have to look if you don’t want to.”
I buried my face in his chest, then slowly raised my head to look at him.
It was considerate.
Ever since I had gotten on the horse, he had been taking care of me again, just as before.
“The first time is naturally frightening.”
“Is that so?”
For Amy, hearing those words from him after he had said them to someone else felt strangely comforting.
“When you get used to it, you’ll be able to see the scenery. You can look then.”
For me, who always reminded myself to hide any weakness and drove myself harshly, it was a truly warm consolation.
Of course, regarding the temple, there were things I didn’t want to see that I still had to, and I had to hide my weakness—but at this moment, in his arms, I felt I didn’t have to.
I whispered softly while burying my face in his long-missed embrace:
“You really are a warm person.”
A warm person, unlike me.
“You are the only one who says such things, Saint.”
Only now did fatigue wash over me. I had relieved others’ fatigue, but I was exhausted myself. Perhaps that was why I answered unconsciously.
“The people of the Duke’s house, and the knights who follow you, would feel the same.”
My eyes closed.
Soft breathing.
I heard the small sound of breaths.
It was a sound that made me forget we were at the boundary line.
A sound that didn’t quite belong.
Normally, the dirt ground would be harsh soil stirred by sandstorms, and the dense forests on both sides would be eerie markers guiding the way to monsters.
Perhaps the gentle wind made it feel otherwise, but the rustling leaves sounded rather peaceful.
Cardin recalled the earlier events.
The reason he had come here was simple: the Holy Knights probably had no experience with monsters.
If she got hurt on the pilgrimage, things would surely get noisy.
Though they had hurried, the monsters had already attacked them.
When she was surrounded by knights for escort, he had somehow felt reassured.
Fortunately, it seemed they had managed to get off the carriage. He was startled when she tried to put on a fearful expression.
He felt reassured again—believing that the god she trusted would protect her.
After defeating the monsters, the Saint walked toward him, her gaze unfocused.
She looked almost as if worried.
As expected, seeing me covered in monster blood, she asked if I was hurt.
She seemed relieved when I said it wasn’t my blood.
The Saint, who had always kept a wall up around him, was concerned about me today.
In her drowsy state, she burrowed further into his chest, as if my heartbeat were a lullaby.
The quiet, unobtrusive breathing sounded nice enough that he let it be.
He let her burrow as deep as she wished.
When I faintly came to, the first thing I noticed was the sound of a heartbeat.
At first, I thought it was mine, but when I felt the motion against my face, I realized it was his, and I tensed again.
Being completely enveloped by him, pressed so close that I could feel his muscles, left me flustered.
It hadn’t been this way before sleep… or had it?
I woke quickly, my mind still foggy.
I wondered whether to continue pretending to sleep.
“Awake?”
Hearing Cardin’s voice above me, I tried to act nonchalant and shift slightly away from him.
“Ah, yes.”
As I moved, he blocked me with his arm.
“It’s dangerous.”
I realized the words were moving only after a moment.
Perhaps because the pace had slowed, the bumps weren’t as intense as before.
“We’ll arrive soon. Just hold on a little longer.”
I nodded and pressed my body closer to his again.
I even worried, absurdly, whether my heart would burst.
“Still afraid?”
Cardin quietly asked, noticing my rapid heartbeat.
It wasn’t fear, exactly, but I didn’t mind using it as an excuse.
“Yes. A little.”
At my answer, he pulled me even closer into his chest—even though there was nowhere further to go.
After a short while, the horse slowed, and he relaxed his hold.
“We’ve arrived.”
Only then did I lift my face from his chest and look ahead.
Seeing the barracks scattered here and there, it seemed they stayed here.
Had he always stayed here in the past? Occasionally, when his deployments dragged on, I had felt slightly resentful thinking back.
Cardin dismounted lightly.
I looked down and swallowed hard.
“Catch me.”
He spread his arms wide, looking up at me.
I glanced at the Holy Knights. Fortunately, they were busy tying the horses and not paying attention to us.
Without lowering my arms, he nodded slightly. I looped my arms around his neck, and Cardin immediately wrapped his arms around my waist.
The floating sensation lasted only a moment; my shoes touched the ground carefully, and my dress skirt brushed my ankles belatedly.
Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek and said:
“…Thank you.”
“Were you uncomfortable?”
“No, thanks to you it was very comfortable.”
Cardin’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“Yes, it seemed so.”
His words made my face flush instantly.
I brought the back of my hand to my cheek to cool the heat.
“Just kidding.”
“Huh?”
He chuckled softly and shrugged. For a moment, I stared at him in surprise.
I hadn’t realized he had this side.
Cardin and jokes.
A combination that didn’t seem like it would fit somehow matched perfectly with his smile, breaking the mold.
“I didn’t know you had this side.”
My lips lifted unconsciously.
At that moment, Cardin’s eyes widened slightly. He turned his head sharply.
“Ahem. This is where the knights stay. Some are stationed in the village, but it’s better for the Saint to stay here.”
“Does it make sense to have the Saint stay here?”
Alex answered Cardin, frowning after glancing around.
Raymond, who had walked over quietly, said:
“You’ll understand when you go to the village. Ah, greetings, Saint.”
“Greetings, third prince of the Kingdom of Nicholas. Is there any trouble in the village?”
During the monster expedition, I had naturally assumed I would stay in the village, so this was somewhat surprising.
Cardin looked down at me and explained slowly:
“The monsters attacked the village, causing severe damage to private homes. Of course, there are knights there as well…but this place is safer.”
He said it was safe even though it was closest to where monsters appeared.
He probably meant that it was safe because he was here—just like when I got on the horse earlier.
