Collector’s Cage - Chapter 30

He took care of himself meticulously, as if maintaining a work of art, possessing a cleanliness and fragrance rarely found in ordinary men. His scent would probably stay in her memory for a very long time.

‘Now, most men probably won’t measure up anymore.’

Seeing a face like this all day, it was certain that other men outside would just look like smelly squid.

‘So what? He’s not mine anyway.’

This feeling is just a dream that passes through a sound sleep.

It will become a dream you don’t remember when you wake up. For just a moment, you might feel a sense of loss, thinking, ‘Ah, I think I had a good dream… what was it about?’

But soon, you’ll have to shake it off and get out of bed. And then you won’t think about it anymore. No matter how happy it was, it was just a dream.

“That’s enough.”

“You can touch more.”

“My arms hurt.”

Hermie pulled her hands away, feeling a sense of melancholy. Seeing this, Froy drew back with a disappointed look.

Feeling in a bad mood, she acted sullen for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and added in a pitiful tone.

“You’re so handsome it hurts my heart, Froy. If I keep touching you, I think I’ll get heart disease.”

“You mustn’t get heart disease. I guess you shouldn’t touch me anymore.”

“It’s a metaphor. It doesn’t mean I’ll actually get heart disease.”

“I don’t like even the thought of Hermie being in any pain.”

“It’s not real pain! It’s because my heart is racing so much it hurts!”

Froy tilted his head as if to say, ‘Isn’t that the same thing?’

He’s terrible at understanding nuances. I’m saying I like it. Can’t he understand this? Froy had zero perception. It seemed like he’d only get it if she said outright that she liked him.

When Hermie glared at him with a pout, Froy burst out laughing as if even that was cute. His reaction was that everything was wonderful. Feeling deflated, Hermie changed the subject.

“I want to look out the window.”

“Okay.”

She was moved to the window and looked up at the blue sky. She saw the well-kept gardens of the Ozette family, and she turned to look at Froy’s profile as he worked.

It was peaceful. Except for Hermie being trapped in a cage.

'I have to escape soon.'

Every time her body and mind were about to get too comfortable, Hermie would dwell on the thought of escape. She was afraid that if she let her guard down, she might fall completely for him.

Hermie was human. She was trapped in a cage, but she was definitely human. She had absolutely no intention of living like this forever.

That’s why she mustn’t succumb to his affection, mustn’t let her heart race for his love, and mustn’t worry about him being left alone when she leaves. If she did, she’d be bound by the shackles of lingering attachment and never be able to leave.

***

Day 58 of Hermie being trapped in the cage.

A mage with a gloomy face knocked on the main gate of the Ozette family mansion.

“I’ve come to see the Marquis…”

“What is your business?”

“Uh, I’ve come to get the fairy back.”

“Ah.”

“I also intend to return the money.”

“I will relay the message.”

The butler left, and the mage Dormi let out heavy, successive sighs. The thought of coughing up 2,000 gold again was already making his stomach ache slightly.

But he was a fairly conscientious mage. He might delay a debt payment, but he wasn’t the type of unscrupulous person to take the money and run.

Of course, he also possessed a mage’s inherent cunning in thoroughly protecting his own safety. Since he didn’t know how the situation might unfold, he hadn’t given her contract to Dawson. He had also skipped the Mage Tower’s official notarization. This was because he intended to pretend ignorance if the research failed and things went wrong.