How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 6.4
“You’re late. But… I was late today too.”
He spoke gruffly as he stood up. Resena flinched for a moment as his shadow, at least two heads taller than her, covered her body. But what reached out was his neat finger.
“Even so, I wanted to see you even for a moment… I’m glad it worked out.”
“Vernas…”
“Thank you for coming to see me, even if it’s late. I was about to be unable to sleep at all because I was thinking about you so much.”
Resena’s cheeks flushed red. But the eyes of the man capturing such loveliness were indifferent. He reached out and caressed Resena’s cheek, then slowly withdrew his hand. However, that movement was stopped by Resena, who grabbed his hand.
“I… I thought about you too, Vernas.”
“Resena.”
“Even when I sleep, I think of the canal we walked together, your image at the restaurant where we dined…”
“…”
Resena unknowingly raised her voice.
“From time to time, I recalled your image, Vernas. Although I couldn’t come to you because of my personal matters, I was thinking that I should come here by nine o’clock. Vernas, it’s not just you. I’ve been missing you too.”
The corners of Vernas’s mouth slowly lifted slightly. He was looking down at Resena’s face with gently curved eyes.
“Then we are comrades who had the same thoughts.”
Resena unconsciously closed her eyes. Feeling like he might kiss her, she fell into his embrace as his hand guided her towards him.
“Resena.”
He whispered in a sweet voice like a seductive devil.
“May I kiss you?”
Resena nodded gently. Vernas looked down at her and slowly pressed his lips against hers.
Soft and smooth lips gently covered hers. Hot breath leaked out and intertwined. Resena shuddered as if burned and welcomed his lips as they parted hers and invaded.
“Resena…”
The dizzying moment passed, as if melting her mind. Her breath naturally became heavy. Her chest rose and fell, tickling his firm chest.
Slowly, he pulled his head away. But Resena was still breathless, panting urgently as she looked up at him with moist eyes.
“When you look at me with those eyes.”
He slowly gathered his words.
“I can’t let you go.”
“Vernas…”
“If I followed my heart, I’d want to take you somewhere right now and make you mine.”
“……”
“But I won’t do that. Because you’re a precious connection to me. You’re not someone to be seduced by just one night of passion.”
Vernas whispered as he wrapped his arm around Resena’s waist.
“Even though it’s late, shall we talk for a while at a nearby cafe? I’ll take you to where the square’s hired carriages are at eleven o’clock.”
Resena nodded as if enchanted. His warmth still lingered on her lips, making her skin tingle and burn. She unknowingly touched that spot as she slowly walked in Vernas’s embrace.
The cafe near the canal dock had a sign on the door saying it was open until midnight. Pushing open the old door, they saw a weathered woman and a middle-aged man standing at the counter, engaged in conversation.
“Welcome, Vernas.”
‘Is he a regular?’
“Will it be a latte again today? And what would the pretty young lady beside you like to order?”
Caught off guard by the friendly clerk, Resena answered hastily.
“I’ll have a lemonade.”
“Ah, I’ll make it nice and cool for you.”
“Yes…”
While Vernas was paying, Resena went up to the second floor overlooking the canal dock. The second floor had no roof, but it was cooled by the breeze, and a bright view spread out beyond the low railing.
Clusters of low lights glowed brightly among the hydrangeas blooming on both sides of the canal. The acacia trees standing intermittently among the hydrangeas were also tinged with a faint color from the tall streetlights. Resena rested her chin on her hand, admiring the harmony of lights and vegetation.
“Resena.”
“Vernas.”
Vernas sat across from Resena. Their legs touched under the small table, but he gazed at Resena as if it was nothing. Resena also stared at his fine-featured face.
His face was still difficult to fully grasp, but just looking at it was pleasant. As Resena started to smile broadly, Vernas also smiled and grasped her black falling hair.
“You’re especially beautiful today, Resena.”
“Vernas…”
“You’re so dazzlingly beautiful that I’m curious who you went out with, but I won’t ask. Just the fact that you came to see me is what’s important.”
Resena’s face flushed at the compliment. As she was fanning her heated cheeks with her palm to cool them, a strong wind blew, scattering her hair.
Her hair spread out like a curtain covering the stars against the dark night sky. When Resena covered her head due to the strong wind, her glossy black hair, as if woven from obsidian, covered the stars and then fluttered away.
“You’re beautiful, Resena.”
“…Vernas.”
“I can only express admiration. It’s hard to believe I even kissed someone as beautiful as you.”
Resena’s face burned hot at his words of praise. As she had felt when kissing him, he was so passionate that she felt she might get burned if she reached out to him carelessly.
‘But I can’t help but reach out.’
Watching emotions slowly fill his seemingly indifferent eyes, Resena took Vernas’s hand. Though shadows fell heavily under the light on the second floor, his figure was clearly visible.
As if he was bearing the darkness under the light.
“Vernas. Have you ever seen His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. I’ve seen him up close. When it’s time to follow orders, I fight under his command.”
“Ah…”
Resena felt somewhat relieved at Vernas’s calm words. She didn’t know how Vernas would react if he found out that Eldis was courting her, but at least he seemed loyal to him, so it didn’t seem like they would openly clash.
But she didn’t want Vernas to step back because of Eldis, so Resena decided not to tell Vernas about her affairs with Eldis.
Since Eldis resided in one part of her heart and Vernas in another, it was difficult to choose between them.
“So how did you feel when receiving his command?”
“His command isn’t particularly excellent, but it’s worth following. Seeing how well others obey, he seems to be at least a commander you can trust and rely on.”
At this, Resena gave a bitter smile.
Although she hadn’t been to the battlefield herself, in the novel, Eldis’s command was described as top-tier. It was written that the commanders who obeyed his words were happy to comply because his commands were sensible and sometimes showed foresight beyond comprehension. Because of this, when Vernas said it wasn’t particularly excellent, Resena worried that he might have an inferiority complex towards the Crown Prince.
“…”
But Vernas’s face showed no sign of any inferiority complex. He was just calmly describing his relationship with him. Resena became increasingly curious about Vernas’s true identity. Then, what would Vernas consider a top-tier command?
“Vernas. Then, whose command do you think is top-tier? Is there someone who sets the standard for you?”
At those words, Vernas raised his deep-set eyes to gaze at Resena and slowly answered.
“In my view, if we’re talking about top-tier command, it would be someone like the Holy Knight Irkenes, who helped seal the Demon King 800 years ago.”
“Ah…”
Vernas was more particular than she had thought.
