Chapter 31
“What did you just call me? I didn’t quite catch it.”
Vylon pretended not to have heard her, hoping she would say it again. Unfortunately, Kalynia didn’t fall for his little trick.
“When Duke Hamilton was throwing a fit about reporting me, why did you take my side?”
Kalynia’s face turned red as she struggled to meet his gaze.
Vylon, lying on his side and enjoying his wife’s flustered expression, finally sat up.
“Is it really so difficult to understand that you had to ask?”
“It is hard to understand.”
“Why?”
“Because I…”
Kalynia hesitated, her lips pressing shut. Vylon reached out, gently stroking her cheek. Her skin was warm to the touch, flushed with color.
“…Because I’m a witch. Humans don’t trust witches. No one has ever believed what I say… except my father.”
Seemingly lost in thought, Kalynia turned her head, and for a moment, her eyes sparkled. Vylon thought her eyes were beautiful, but as he looked closer, she quickly looked away, her temperature rising even further.
He suddenly felt the urge to embrace her, to caress her softly, kiss her cheek, and nuzzle her playfully with his nose.
Holding back the impulse, he waited patiently for her to continue. Her lips moved slightly, as if she had more to say.
“…Anyway, are you sure you don’t have any health problems? If you do, I could at least make a potion.”
It seemed different from what she’d originally intended to say. Vylon, curious about what she was trying to express, responded with a question.
“Do you feel indebted to me and want to make something as repayment?”
“Not really. I’m just asking.”
“So, do you just want to hear me say thank you?”
“Whatever, that doesn’t matter! Just tell me if you have any issues or not!”
Irritated by his perceptive guess, Kalynia raised her voice. Vylon pinched her cheek lightly, carefully enough not to hurt her, and she didn’t resist.
The urge to kiss her cheek again surged, but he held back, fearing it might change her mind about helping him.
But… how long was he supposed to keep holding back?
“You’re asking if I’m unwell? No, I’m not.”
“Not even a little? Like an upset stomach, maybe. Or the chills?”
“I’ve never been sick, not even as a child. I’ve never caught so much as a cold.”
Unless death were imminent, he probably wouldn’t fall ill his entire life. It was a baseless thought, but he felt confident. His father, after all, had also been in perfect health all his life.
Learning this, Kalynia suddenly looked disappointed.
“Did you really want to hear my thanks so much that you’re disappointed?”
“Not that… are you even human? How can someone never get sick? Are you sure you’re not something else?”
She looked at him suspiciously, as if genuinely doubting his humanity. In response, Vylon tugged her cheek a bit harder, making her eyes narrow into little triangles as she slapped his hand away.
“It was strange. I definitely jabbed you with a sedative dart, but you didn’t even flinch!”
“Dart? Oh, you mean the one I found on me when we first met. That was a sedative?”
Pretending to realize this only now, Vylon watched as a look of panic crossed her face. Her wide, guilty eyes darted around, clearly regretting her slip-up.
What kind of excuse would she come up with? Vylon watched her, amused.
“No. That wasn’t from me.”
Kalynia’s voice turned stiff, her lie painfully obvious. Vylon couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“I wouldn’t know anything about a sedative dart! I wasn’t carrying any dangerous items.”
Kalynia stubbornly maintained her lie, and Vylon decided to let it slide, admiring her determination.
“Alright. Let’s just say you don’t know anything. But for the record, those things don’t work on me.”
“Just out of curiosity, why?”
“They just don’t. I’m a descendant of Snow White, who survived even a poisoned apple.”
The world believed Snow White awoke from the prince’s kiss, but that wasn’t quite true.
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