Breeding Season - Chapter 8
They had gotten pretty far from the castle by now. Tonight, they would rest in a forest, and the air was nice.
‘So this is the outside world. The further south we go, the hotter it gets.’
Clutching the wooden bowl that Ratakun, one of Yasamin’s subordinates and the cook, had given her, Siren took a few sips.
Since there was no spoon, she had to drink straight from the bowl, but she didn’t mind. At least there was no trash, foreign objects, or insects floating inside. The worst food had been when worms and stag beetles had been boiled together.
Of course, that had been her younger brother’s prank, and she had to eat it all. Even if she gagged, she had to finish. Compared to that, this was a very ‘human’ treatment.
‘When I’m by his side, no one trips me up. Thanks to that, I haven’t fallen even once these past few days. No more maids suddenly dragging me and dunking my face in cold water… and no more Angelique watching.’
She no longer had to fear being locked in a storeroom. If she were locked up, she no longer feared wondering when she would get out or how long she’d have to starve.
Yasamin never referred to her as ‘wife’ or ‘lady.’ She also, wisely, didn’t refer to him as ‘husband.’ But it seemed the marriage contract was still valid.
Throughout their journey south, Siren had shared a tent with him, eaten the same meals, and moved together. Yet, no one said anything.
“If you’re done eating, come here.”
At Yasamin’s call, Siren immediately put the bowl down. She felt a slight sense of doubt at her dog-like obedience, but she quickly brushed it off.
There were countless terrible things that a princess of a fallen dynasty could endure. The only reason these vicious southern people hadn’t laid a finger on her yet was all thanks to Yasamin, who served as a shield.
‘Of course, if he hadn’t conquered Wilkeron, I wouldn’t be here either…’
Then, she would still be in that hell. Between the two hells, this side was undoubtedly better.
“Where are we going?”
“To wash.”
Under the crescent moon, Yasamin’s platinum hair shimmered as it caught the light. Siren, who had been following him closely, paused at the mention of washing.
“Are we… going into the water?”
“Isn’t that how you wash? Unless you know another way.”
“I… I will wash separately.”
Please.
Her peaceful heart suddenly started pounding wildly. Of course, after not being able to wash for a week, she was in a filthy state. She was dirty, and she smelled. If there was a spring nearby, she would want to immerse herself in it, but there was one condition.
‘No one can be around.’
Overcome with rising fear, Siren hesitated and stepped back, then started gasping for breath. Her breathing became quick. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She was experiencing hyperventilation.
“Why? Do you think I’m going to do something to you?”
“No, huff, that’s, huff, not it…”
“Or is it that, being of noble birth, you don’t know how to wash in a spring?”
She shouldn’t upset him. But… but she couldn’t go into the water.
What should she do? What should she really do?
If he was asking her to bathe him, then she would have to do it. She would have to, but… Her frozen lips wouldn’t move.
“You’re thinking something weird, aren’t you?”
Siren, unable to get a grip, was only rolling her eyes in confusion when Yasamin casually tossed out those words. She wondered if he had the ability to read her thoughts.
“Forget it. I was just trying to get you to wash because you’re so filthy.”
“Ah…”
“Wash by yourself. I won’t look.”
Can that really be the case? Immersing herself in fresh spring water was an irresistible temptation.
But would this man really not look back? If he saw… it would be bad.
Perhaps those thoughts were clearly written on her face, because Yasamin squinted his eyes sharply.
“I said I won’t look.”
“Then… Can I wash first?”
“If you don’t want to, don’t.”
“No, I don’t mind!”
It would be nice if there was even soap, but she couldn’t expect that much. Fortunately, she was used to washing on her own without a maid’s touch.
All the ointments and perfumes, things like that, had always been Angelique’s responsibility—she had never had them in her hands.
“Use this.”
So, when Siren saw the ceramic bowl Yasamin held out, she didn’t immediately recognize what it was.
“This is…?”
“Perfume and soap. You’ll need them.”
His tone, as if asking why she was questioning something so obvious, made her bite her lower lip. For a moment, something strange welled up in her chest, an unexpected surge of emotion.
‘He thinks I’m someone who deserves to use something like this.’
Or maybe he just wanted to make his pet smell nice. Either way, she was grateful, so she accepted the bowl of perfume with both hands.
For some reason, tears welled up in her eyes. It was because she thought—those she shared blood with were much less kind than this complete stranger.
It was a sentiment from someone slowly going mad, piece by piece, in a living hell.
Listening to the soft splashing of water, Yasamin leaned against a tree.
When he said he wouldn’t look, he meant it. He really didn’t want to see.
To him, Siren Wilkeron was… like a dog. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
A dog abused by its previous owner. A dog that didn’t know how to show affection or play around, like a piece of wood. A small, timid animal with tears in its eyes, yet unable to shed them, with a crushed spirit.
Her sulky expression and the way she rolled her eyes, it made her look exactly like that. What could he do about it? Because of that, she didn’t feel like a woman, or a person, or anything else.
It was a bit of a hassle, but since he had ended up taking her in, she was just something to look after. Or maybe, something like a broken piece of junk.
‘It doesn’t really matter. Anyway, since [this] definitely wants her, I have to keep her around.’
