Chapter 101
“Your only flaw is that you keep trying to hide things, Asil.”
“A slight imperfection makes a person more charming, you know.”
“You don’t need to be more charming. Is the second son of the Romenel family still pursuing you?”
Eek. How did he know about that?
I turned my gaze, sitting in a flimsy negligee, getting treatment for the bruise on my ankle, having tried to set the mood for a passionate night.
But I can feel Cassion’s intense gaze following me. This wasn’t quite the kind of scrutiny I was hoping for.
“Anywhere else? Really nothing? You got hurt while riding, there’s no way this is the only injury….”
“No, I’m telling you I’m good at riding now. I didn’t fall off or anything; I just bumped into the stirrup when I was getting on.”
“If you bumped into the stirrup, you wouldn’t have been able to mount properly. What about your bottom?”
“What? Do you want to check my bottom too?”
“…….”
“……No, really. My bottom is fine.”
Even for a married couple, isn’t it too much to lift up nightclothes just to check for bruises on the bottom? But Cassion’s gleaming eyes had a look that said he’d do it if he wanted to, so I backed down.
“We’re canceling the village tour tomorrow.”
“Alright. Instead, I heard the hill view in this village is nice. Shall we pack some food and go there?”
As I took a step back, Cassion glared at the bruise on my ankle one more time before climbing into bed. So much for a passionate night and a fun daytime market tour.
I lifted the thick blanket of the room, which the innkeeper had prepared as luxuriously as possible while sweating profusely, and guided him to my side.
No matter how well-prepared, it was still a village inn, and I could feel the bed creaking as his large body entered. Following the deeply sinking mattress, I rolled into his arms. As I nestled against him, his chin rested firmly on the top of my head.
“I really don’t want to let you out of my arms. I’m worried because you’re too beautiful.”
“Why don’t you just carry me in your pocket then?”
“If I could, I would.”
His actions of gently stroking my back through the thin clothes were simple. His voice was also gradually lowering, suggesting that both of us were getting a bit sleepy.
“I don’t want you to suffer anymore, Asil.”
“What suffering are you talking about? You’re the one who suffered.”
“I should have made sure you could live safely and comfortably since meeting me…….”
What is he talking about now? Apart from the oppressed childhood, which was now fading from memory due to recent happiness, everything had been really fine since meeting him.
Of course, there were various incidents, but that wasn’t Cassion’s fault, was it? I don’t know when his feelings for me changed from simple curiosity and fondness to romantic ones, but I know his actions have always been the best for me.
However, Cassion’s honest grumbling, as he was falling asleep, didn’t stop.
“I should have stepped up before you dangerously brought information about the Emperor’s poisoning incident or about Lorang.”
“No…… uh……”
“How much you must have suffered……. I’m really ashamed of my past self.”
No, that was just thanks to the information that popped up from my past life. He still thinks it was information I gathered through hard work and has been keeping that in his heart?
“Um……. Cassion. Open your eyes for a moment.”
“Hmm?”
“I need to correct this. We’re no longer a contract couple, but a real couple now.”
His eyes, which had been showing cute sleepy complaints invisible to others, suddenly opened wide. Oh geez, what a surprise.
“What do you mean by that, Asilia?”
As I started to speak about the past when we were a contract couple, showing signs of confessing something, Cassion raised his body, his red eyes gleaming. The bed creaked again, and I felt the warmth that had been seamlessly connected slightly move away.
I feel a bit… nervous, and it seems like I might be saying unnecessary things, but.
“……Um…….”
“Asil. What are you worried about? Is there anything I can help with?”
No. It’s not unnecessary. I want to be honest with him, and I know he’s not the kind of man who would get angry or think I’m crazy if I tell him the truth.
I want to live comfortably with him, without hiding anything.
“I’m just worried that your love for me might decrease a tiny bit after hearing what I have to say.”
“Don’t joke around. Tell me, Asil. I’ll help you with anything.”
“Ah, if you weren’t this cute, I would have never said anything for the rest of my life.”
It’s something that could have been buried without any problem. But with that face and expression, showing such devoted love, what can I do! I feel guilty.
“Actually, the information I had when we got into the contract marriage. I didn’t obtain it through hard work.”
“What are you hiding again…….”
“No interruptions until I finish speaking.”
“……”
How obedient. Cassion, who had reflexively objected earlier, nods with a disgruntled face after one kiss.
“Honestly, it’s a lie to say I didn’t suffer before meeting you. Since my family wasn’t well off. But… I could have escaped, somehow, if I wanted to escape. However, that night. The night I married the Marquis.”
That night, my fate completely changed. The memory that came flooding back like a slap of water is still vivid.
“My personality changed a lot before and after that day. Before that, I was much more timid, didn’t know I was pretty, and just thought I had to live submissively. But thanks to the memories of my past life that suddenly came back on my wedding night, my personality changed.”
“……”
“Not this life, but memories from a past life came back.”
“……”
“……You can at least respond, Cassion.”
Did you really need to take my kiss seal that seriously? You might look unbothered, but I’m getting a bit anxious.
I thought Cassion wouldn’t outright ask if I was crazy, but at least he might ask if I was tired…
“……!”
“Don’t tremble, Asil. I’m always on your side, and I believe in you.”
Cassion’s words were far more touching than I expected. I worried I might be thinking too positively, but Cassion wrapped his hands around my cold fingertips, returned my kiss, and bent down to meet my eyes while nodding.
Thanks to that, I could continue my confession.
“…After that, too. I never worked hard to get information myself. You’re a war hero, right? In my past life, you were a hero in a book. A handsome, wonderful male protagonist.”
“Like the novels from the marketplace?”
“Something like that. Hey, what’s with that face?”
It was so cute how he scratched his nose, seemingly embarrassed about being a book protagonist. Unable to resist, I playfully bit his nose and showered him with kisses, and Cassion cupped my face with his large hands, responding in kind as we fell back onto the creaking bed.
“In my past life, I read that book, so I roughly knew about the hardships you would face. That’s the truth behind my information. I didn’t work hard at all.”
“You tend to underestimate your own experiences too much. How is being poisoned and kidnapped not suffering? Weren’t those dangers you faced written in the book?”
Gradually, the hand caressing my back feels different from before. Both of us were now wide awake, our eyes sparkling. We might not make it to the hill tomorrow. The strap of my negligee slipped down.
“Pfft. Actually… there was a different female protagonist in that book! You weren’t meant to be with me, I stole you! I only meant to make a contract, but you were just so much my type.”
“Must have been a terrible book then. Not warning about the dangers to you and saying my match was someone else. It must have failed miserably.”
Cassion seemed completely uninterested in who the real female lead was. Now his attention was solely on the warmth radiating from me.
“That’s all I wanted to say. Now I truly have nothing hidden from you.”
“…Asil.”
“So? Has your love for me decreased?”
And in my vision, now accustomed to the darkness, I see his face approaching tenderly. I naturally closed my eyes and accepted his gentle affection. I’m so happy I could cry from this heart-warming feeling.
“It grew bigger. Thank you… for telling me, Asil. Thank you for trusting me.”
“Cassion.”
“I’ll do better. I’ll always give you all my heart… Stay with me forever.”
Ridiculously, all I’m wearing is a ring with a large jewel. But wrapped in his warmth, I couldn’t feel any cold.
“That’s my line. You’re the protagonist I fought for. You have to stay with me until the end.”
“Gladly.”
The hill? Well. We can stay one more day and go the day after tomorrow.
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