How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 7.8
Resena glanced at the Duchess’s horse. While galloping quickly, there was no sign of a hornet attaching itself. But Resena already knew that no matter which route they took, a hornet carrying honey would land on Fight Doom’s behind.
“Ah. Mother. We’ve arrived at the canal dock. Please wait a moment. I’ll go talk to Vernas and come back.”
“Alright. Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”
Mother dismounted and held the reins, allowing Fight Doom to eat the grass that had sprouted near the roadside trees. Seeing this, Resena also dismounted and walked toward the entrance of the canal dock.
There was a ticket booth with a bench placed in front of it, shaded by trees. A man covered in a blue robe sat on the bench surrounded by children, carving wood with a chisel.
“Vernas.”
Resena approached him, calling his name affectionately. Her heart began to beat rapidly, and when Vernas lifted his hooded face to meet her gaze, it felt as if only the two of them existed in this world. Even the noise of the children around them couldn’t intrude at this moment.
“Resena.”
He spoke in a low, beautiful voice, straightening his back as he stood up. Although it had only been a week since they last met, it felt like they hadn’t seen each other for a very long time, and Resena just stared at him for a while. Longing rose like soap bubbles blown through a sieve.
As Resena’s steps slowly came to a halt, Vernas walked over and stood in front of her. With the children’s round eyes all directed at the two of them, Vernas bent his head toward Resena’s ear with a faint smile.
“I missed you, Resena.”
“I… missed you too, Vernas.”
Resena quietly watched him until the moment his arms wrapped around her body. As he embraced her tightly, she could feel his warm body temperature rushing in instantly, along with a cozy sensation.
“Brother! Are you dating this sister?”
“Wow… but she’s an extremely beautiful sister.”
“Really. Brother has high standards.”
Vernas held her for a while, then slowly released Resena from his strong arms. Resena smiled gently and caressed his cheek.
Even though this was the third time seeing him, Vernas’s face was strangely difficult to remember. She could tell he had a fine-featured handsome face, but… apart from his large build and delicately shaped fingers, there was almost nothing that came to mind whenever she longed for him at night.
No, there was one thing.
His refreshing, beautiful voice was something she had heard frequently somewhere. But even that, she couldn’t properly recall who it resembled. However, that wasn’t important right now. Resena whispered quietly to Vernas.
“I’m going to Amarast as an envoy. So I won’t be able to come here for three weeks. It takes about a week round trip to Amarast.”
“I see. …Although it’s an unavoidable choice to prevent Amarast’s war… still, don’t overexert yourself, Resena.”
His statement, which seemed to understand her situation, suddenly made Resena curious. How much was he trusted by Eldis? Resena recalled his words that he wasn’t an ordinary knight, but there was little she could deduce from that.
‘Should I ask Renard how many knights with a build similar to Vernas there are? …No, no.’
As a knight who also works as a sculptor, if this became known outside, the captain of the knights would put pressure on him, so he must be sculpting in secret…
Resena had no intention of asking him to reveal his identity only to her.
After all, a secret known by more than two people can easily leak out at some point. She might reveal Vernas’s secret while drunk, so Resena decided to be content with meeting him like this on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
‘If I were to take him as my husband, things would be different… but at least that’s a matter for the future.’
After preventing the world from being destroyed, she could observe where her heart was directed.
Resena wore a gentle smile and caressed Vernas’s arm. Then she whispered quietly.
“I won’t overdo it. With two Sword Masters already following me, and more than ten Sword Experts secured, I’ll be safe. I’ll be careful so that Vernas won’t worry.”
Vernas gave a slightly bitter smile but soon put his chisel in his pocket and took Resena’s hand, raising it to kiss the back of her hand.
As his smooth lips gently touched her skin, the part he touched felt so hot it seemed to burn. As her heartbeat began to quicken again, Resena felt slightly dazed. But before she could respond, he also kissed her palm.
“Alright. Then this is my own expression of sincerity, wishing you a safe journey, Resena.”
“Vernas…”
Although the children started to chatter noisily beside them, Vernas and Resena only looked at each other. Feeling as if his kiss had penetrated deep into her heart, Resena slightly covered her moist eyes with half-lowered eyelids.
Vernas’s blue eyes, looking at he,r were like the sea waves on a quiet night. Like the sea god’s will lingering on the scattered water surface, he whispered in a firm but gentle, beautiful voice.
“Then, I’ll be waiting at this dock four weeks from now. How about meeting around 3 PM, taking a walk, and then having dinner together?”
“That sounds good. See you then.”
Vernas smiled faintly.
“I’ll look forward to it, Resena. Have a safe journey. Someone like you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to, wherever you are.”
Vernas’s words gave Resena courage. Although she wasn’t nervous, such kind words at an unexpected moment further strengthened her resolve. Feeling the corners of her mouth naturally lifting, Resena hugged Vernas tightly once more.
“…Thank you, Vernas.”
Vernas remained still in her embrace, then slowly bent his head to kiss her forehead. Like a divine mark, the touched area burned while making Resena’s heart flutter. Her small heart was beating so violently that she was afraid the sound might be heard outside.
“Words like these from Vernas give me even more strength. I’ll do my best. Then, see you in four weeks.”
“Yes, Resena. See you in four weeks.”
Although it was a bit regretful to let go of Vernas’s firm body, looking at the round eyes of the children surrounding them made her smile. The children were shouting “Wow! Wow!” while clapping their hands.
“Kiss! Kiss!”
At the children’s cheers, Resena couldn’t hold back her laughter and laughed cheerfully. At her clear voice, a gentle curve also formed on Vernas’s lips. He pretended to give in and kissed Resena’s cheek as well. At that sudden kiss, Resena’s heart fluttered as she smiled kindly.
“Wooooow!”
Vernas’s blue eyes thoroughly scanned Resena as she waved her hand and turned to leave. Her determined steps showed her resolve to crush the black magicians’ schemes through her own will, even at the risk of putting herself in danger.
“……”
Meanwhile, a faint smile also appeared on the Duchess’s lips as she watched the two of them. Despite having the name Vernas, that large build was uncommon even among knights. Because of this, the Duchess suspected that he was not only a sculptor but also a knight who had reached a considerable level.
“Did you deliver the message?”
“Yes. We agreed to meet here in four weeks. He suggested we have a date starting around 3 PM.”
As Resena said this with a broad smile, the Duchess nodded with a smile of her own.
“Having regular dates is good for relationship development. It’s nice to see you liking Vernas. Besides, if he’s to your liking, I believe he must have quite a good character.”
“Yes. He’s honest, kind but not servile. He doesn’t constantly bow to me and always seems to look at me as an equal.”
“He’s an unusual person. When most commoners learn you’re a ducal lady, they typically bow deeply or adopt a fawning demeanor.”
The Duchess mounted her saddle again. Kind words cut through the air.
“Well then, now that you’ve set up a date, let’s quickly go around the course near the dock.”
“Yes!”
Resena knew that her mother’s fall from the horse would happen soon. Because of this, her expression slightly hardened, but she deliberately smiled to avoid showing that she knew.
