Collector’s Cage - Chapter 74

When she spoke playfully, the carriage door opened. Inside, sitting with a gloomy expression that didn’t match his splendidly handsome appearance, was a man.

“You said you’d come right back.”
“It hasn’t even been a full day yet?”

Hermie let out a disbelieving laugh.

“……You were planning to be gone for a whole day?”

Instead, he reacted with misplaced irritation, getting annoyed as if he were the wronged party. The man who had always been accommodating and affectionate was failing to contain his anxiety, letting his temper show through in sudden bursts.

Hermie found this honest side of him both novel and endearing. Each time his true self surfaced, it felt like unwrapping another layer of the packaging he was wrapped in. How could a person be nothing but sweet? He had to get angry, to be irritable. They had to fight and make up.

That’s how ground hardens—by being wounded, broken, and then healing back together.

“You couldn’t even wait a day? I was the one locked up for two months, you know.”

Hermie chided him for his short patience as she climbed into the carriage. The moment she was inside, the carriage started moving as if afraid she might run away.

“Ah! I need to pack my things.”
“Throw it all away. I’ll buy you new ones.”
Listen to him, flaunting his wealth. Hermie shot Froy a sidelong glance.
“You think I’d fall for talk like that?”
“Then, what kind of talk would you fall for?”

Froy moved to the seat next to Hermie and wrapped an arm around her waist. At the natural gesture, Hermie’s eyes widened slightly.

“You must have a lot of experience, huh?”
“I’ve never done this before.”
“Don’t lie. You’re too good at this.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yes, I’m jealous.”

At Hermie’s sulky retort, Froy laughed brightly and swallowed her lips. As he greedily explored her mouth, she hit his chest.

“I… I can’t breathe.”
“You can be as jealous as you want.”

He had intended to bind her, but the thought of her binding him instead seemed just as appealing.

Hermie looked at him with a half-resigned expression and then mumbled quietly.
“Froy, don’t get jealous.”
“Why?”
“It might be a little scary.”

He was already restless because he couldn’t keep her confined; if he got jealous on top of that? Just imagining it brought an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

“……That’s impossible, Hermie.”
“…….”
“I’m jealous even now.”
“What on earth are you jealous of?”
“Why did you have to go home if you were coming back anyway? Whether you have some nobody hidden there. Why you went to the Pumpkin Flower Guild you’re quitting. Who you said goodbye to. What if there’s someone there……”
“Stop.”

Hermie raised her hand to cover Froy’s mouth. It was already scary. It seemed she had gotten herself into something serious, and quite solidly at that.

“That’s a sickness.”
“But you’ll understand, won’t you? Right?”
Froy shamelessly spoke while planting light kisses on Hermie’s palm.
“That I understand you is what love is, isn’t it?”
“………Yeah.”

He couldn’t fully believe in Hermie’s love. Yet, he had let her go. Even if he couldn’t last half a day and came to her doorstep.

He was trying to restrain the greed and obsession that would ruin Hermie. That sight made him admirable, pitiable, and lovable all at once.

Someday, the day would come when he could believe. The day would come when he wouldn’t feel anxious even if Hermie wasn’t in his sight. Hermie was certain that day would come.

“Still, isn’t it nice to come out like this?”
“I’d rather be inside the room……”
“No, it’s better that we’re out. Look. The space has changed.”
“What’s so great about the space changing…”

Hermie climbed onto his lap. Her skirt rode up, revealing her pale thighs.