Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 115
Spring had fully arrived. As they traveled southwest, the weather grew warmer, and after three days of travel, they reached the outskirts of the Count’s territory.
Before arriving at the Count’s lands, they had camped in the meadows, but it wasn’t necessary once they reached the Count’s estate. After hearing that the Count was on his way, his subordinates hurried out to prepare a banquet.
While the knights enjoyed the feast after their long journey, Roel was shown to a room where she could take a bath. The tall, imposing mansion, built of stone, felt both unfamiliar and intimidating.
Furthermore, the idea of having a large room all to herself was even more daunting. Kyden wouldn’t be back until dawn.
Both the Count and the knights indulged in food and drink late into the night. After arriving at the Count’s estate, such banquets became a daily occurrence. The subordinates displayed their loyalty to the Count, and in turn, it was only proper for the Count to enjoy their hospitality.
As the boisterous laughter and chatter drifted into her room, Roel felt a flutter of anxiety.
‘There must be women around too.’
Images of women throwing glances at the knights flickered through her mind. After witnessing one subordinate eagerly offer his daughter to Count Serley, her unease deepened.
‘When Kyden drinks, he becomes so honest and adorable…’
She worried about whether the women would develop feelings for him and paced nervously.
The next day, she made it a point to keep a close eye on Kyden, scrutinizing his every move. She even buried her nose in his chest, inhaling his scent, all the while suspecting that someone with ulterior motives might approach him and act inappropriately.
Noticing Roel examining every nook and cranny of his body, Kyden raised an eyebrow.
“What’s wrong? Do you need something?”
“It’s nothing.”
Of course, she didn’t find anything particularly unusual about himself—except for the dark circles under his eyes from the frequent drinking.
As Roel subtly shifted away, Kyden licked his dry lips and gently stroked her shoulder.
“Just hold on a bit longer. Once we go back, we can enjoy ourselves.”
“What do you mean by that? It’s not like that!”
Seeing Roel cling to him, Kyden had misunderstood that she was feeling lonely. After a few nights of sleeping alone, he felt a sense of emptiness, and though it was troublesome, his lower body felt tense. He was grateful for the honest way Roel needed him.
Even as Roel repeatedly shook her head in denial, Kyden turned away, stubbornly dismissing her protests.
‘It seems Kyden misunderstood in a strange way.’
Roel let out a sigh, her face pale. How much longer would he continue this way…?
* * *
The vast meadows were covered with fresh green sprouts. Roel poked her head out of the carriage and inhaled the scent of the fresh grass.
‘The weather is nice.’
The endless expanse of grasslands met the horizon under a bright blue sky. The pleasant weather and her uplifted mood made the long journey feel less arduous. The sound of the horses’ hooves echoed like a cheerful rhythm.
Just then, the coachman spoke up.
“Miss! At this pace, it looks like we’ll arrive by tomorrow!”
“Really?”
Before she knew it, the coachman had started calling Roel ‘Miss.’ Even when she insisted that she wasn’t, he stubbornly maintained his claim, boasting that their wedding would happen soon since the two of them looked so sweet together.
It would be wonderful if that were the case… Roel, giving up on trying to persuade him otherwise, smiled bittersweetly.
In the distance, Kyden was riding towards them. Spotting him, Roel waved her arms excitedly.
“Kyden!”
Every time she saw him riding that black horse, her heart raced. The sight of the gallant knight and the well-built horse felt like a knight coming to rescue her. It evoked the fantasies she had dreamed of as a child.
Yet, it seemed she was the only one who felt that way. The coachman exclaimed that every time he saw Kyden, his heart would race with surprise.
With his black hair, fierce gaze, gleaming yellow eyes, and a towering physique clad in dark leather, Kyden looked nothing like a prince from a fairy tale. The coachman brushed off his racing heart, likening Kyden to a villain who would kidnap a princess.
‘He’s just handsome.’
The coachman didn’t realize how warm and gentle Kyden’s nature truly was. Roel mentally scolded him for having such poor judgment.
Kyden approached the carriage, pulling on the reins to slow down. Skillfully, he maneuvered his horse alongside the carriage.
[T/N: I know the setting seemed jumpy this chapter, but I checked the raws again and there had been no replacement notice, so please bear with it!]
