Chapter 82
It was certainly comfortable having him read it for her. Maeve spoke while driving the horse according to Prince Declan’s instructions.
Soon, the two discovered the cave that Harold and his friends frequently sought out for rest. As if it were already well-known among those passing through here, traces of people staying behind remained from the entrance.
It was now afternoon, just past noon. However, because the Prince was shivering while wet from the forced river crossing, they had no choice but to spend the night here.
The cave was quite deep, but instead of going too far in, the group settled in a spot where sunlight reached appropriately. The brown horse prepared to fall asleep as if it had been waiting, and the donkey chewed on the sleeve of the soaking wet Prince Declan.
“At this rate, I’ll be naked someday.”
Prince Declan pulled the donkey away lightly with an expression of deep resignation. Maeve was already preparing to start a fire, bringing leaves over the traces where people had lit fires before.
“Your lips are blue.”
“……The water was colder than I thought.”
Prince Declan quickly avoided her gaze, sensing that Maeve’s eyes were about to say, Didn’t I tell you I should do it?
Maeve, instead of particularly prying into him, managed to light the fire after a few attempts. She fanned the small flame incessantly while slowly stacking slender branches starting from the edges.
Prince Declan pretended to be stoic, but instinctively, he sidled closer to that faint fire.
“Take off your wet clothes and hang them over here.”
“Okay.”
“Right now.”
Maeve spoke without even looking at him. Prince Declan still found this difficult to adjust to.
He often felt that she did not treat him like a person, let alone an attractive man. Right now was exactly such a moment.
Prince Declan eventually wriggled inside the blanket and took off the rest of his clothes, except for his underwear. Maeve squeezed the moisture out of the clothes he threw aside.
“Wait a minute, I’ll do it!”
“I’ve already done it.”
I mean, that kind of attitude of hers.
Prince Declan bit his lower lip as if trying to endure the humiliation, but he squirmed around trying to bury his large frame inside the blanket somehow.
After hanging his wet clothes nearby, Maeve came back inside. She took a fresh set of clothes out of her bag and handed them to him as if tossing them.
Prince Declan wriggled inside the blanket, then thought, Oh, whatever, and emerged from the blanket. His physique, with impressive broad shoulders and fairly firm chest muscles, was revealed. Prince Declan put on his pants first while glancing at Maeve.
Maeve was staring straight at him.
“W-what are you looking at?”
“Your complexion still doesn’t look good. Do you feel chilly?”
“A little. But I’m fine.”
Maeve completely ignored his words and took out the tripod and a small kettle to begin boiling water.
It was clear that woman had decided to interpret his words of being “fine” as absolutely not being fine.
Every time that woman looked after him in this way, Prince Declan felt gratitude and embarrassment simultaneously. The conclusion was always the same. He acted tough for the sake of his pride, and she always made him feel a sense of self-loathing in one way or another.
It was when Prince Declan, staring only at the flames with a gloomy face, raised his head toward her.
“……What are you doing?”
His mind froze for a moment. Prince Declan was so flustered that he kept stuttering. Regardless, Maeve lifted her baggy top and took it off. Then she walked toward him holding it.
Her slender neckline, white collarbones, and small upper body wearing only a thin top were visible. Prince Declan quickly looked away and stared into the air.
“At this rate, you’re really going to catch a cold. It would be better to share body heat.”
That woman said it. To share body heat.
Prince Declan was so flustered that not only his face but even his neck turned beet red.
“I-I’ve become warm enough.”
Maeve completely ignored his words.
“Wait a minute, Maeve. I don’t think this is right. Of course, I know it’s for survival, but in this way, uh……”
Prince Declan spat out words like a rapid-fire rapper, then raised his head at the sound of the donkey braying.
Maeve looked down at him with an expressionless face and tucked the donkey into his arms.
Then, she wrapped her discarded top around his neck like a scarf.
“Keep holding it.”
“What is this on my neck? What… what am I supposed to do?”
“It’s a quilted garment with sable fur inside. It’s warm.”
She explained calmly and personally took his arms to make him hug the donkey tightly.
The moderately coarse fur of the donkey was felt fully through his palms.
At this point, isn’t she doing this on purpose? She’s doing this to see me flustered. She’s teasing me.
Prince Declan grumbled inwardly and buried his face in the donkey’s fur.
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