Chapter 68
Roel couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was unusual for Kyden to be considered such a dangerous figure.
Could people be confusing him with someone else who resembled him in the capital? Yet, she couldn’t accept that the Kyden she knew could genuinely be a renowned dangerous figure.
‘It just can’t be.’
Above all, he hadn’t been living in the capital. His large build might appear intimidating to others, but Roel firmly believed his nature was warm and kind-hearted.
Kyden might look stern, but she knew he had a gentle soul. He was always ready to help and care for those in need, especially vulnerable women.
‘He must be handling it well through conversation.’
She believed his character would avoid escalating the fight.
He must have been angered by the guest’s inappropriate behavior. It was not just on Roel’s behalf, but because he personally hated such acts.
That must have been why he took the guest outside. To resolve the matter without causing a scene in the restaurant.
He would be able to resolve it through conversation.
Roel comforted herself with these thoughts as she sat at the inn’s desk and stared at the door. Although she thought that nothing wouldn’t happen, she was anxiously waiting for Kyden to return.
‘It’s getting late…’
The streets of the capital dimmed as the night grew deeper. The yellow lights of the street lamps shone brighter. It was well over the end of her shift.
When Hawk went to lock the inn’s door, Roel stopped him. She said to wait until the guest came back and will lock the door later. She then resumed to wait for Kyden.
This waiting brought back memories of the times she had waited for him back at their cabin.
When Kyden went hunting or down to the village, just when he was a little late made her anxious and restless. Once he returned, her heart would lighten immediately, and a wide smile would spread across her face.
As he approached, Kyden would smile joyously and pull her into a warm hug. He brought with him the cool forest air, and inhaled deeply while nestled in his arms. It felt refreshingly cold down to her chest. She hugged him tightly until his own chill had dissipated.
‘Those days were truly happy…’
A bitter-sweet smile crossed her face as she remembered the happiness she hadn’t truly realized at that time. Her nose twitched and her heart pounded.
As Roel’s head slowly dropped from waiting for Kyden, her eyes began to flutter shut, and her head swayed as she dozed off.
A low voice woke her up.
“Why are you sleeping here?”
“Ah…!”
Roel quickly lifted her head.
Kyden had returned. She immediately checked him over.
“Did you resolve everything okay? You didn’t fight, did you?”
“Huh.”
It was a lie.
“Why did you get so angry all of a sudden? What would you have done if a fight had broken out?”
“…”
She was so worried that she blurted out more questions than she intended.
“You need to be careful in the capital. There are many dangerous people here.”
Roel noticed dust on Kyden’s sleeves and trousers. She began brushing it off and shared her insights as a senior in terms of city life.
“A lot of mercenaries stay at this inn. Fights break out here every three days; it’s really scary. So, you shouldn’t be so threatening to anyone. This isn’t a small mountain village.”
After dusting him off, she looked up to meet his piercing yellow eyes.
Suddenly, Roel realized her forwardness and quickly stepped back.
“Sorry… I was just worried.”
Kyden rubbed his flushed neck. He understood all too well the feeling of acting out to get a mother’s attention.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he asked in a choked voice.
“Have you been okay?”
It was a much-delayed question.
Roel’s eyes widened momentarily, and like sand succumbing to the tide, like leaves whisked away by the wind, like snow melting under the sun, she felt irresistibly drawn into his influence and weakly responded.
“Yes, I’ve been fine… How about you?”
Roel squinted up to look at his face. They faced each other in their unfamiliar surroundings of the inn that replaced the cozy cabin they once knew.
Under the flickering yellow lamp, with muffled voices of people talking echoing from upstairs. The air warmed as if to welcome spring, they faced each other.
Her fair and white face, slender neck, worn and simple dress, and those innocent eyes looking back at him—Kyden felt a wave of nausea from the overwhelming turmoil.
“Yes, I’ve been… really well…”
“That’s good to hear.”
Roel smiled bitterly at his barely convincing lie.
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