Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 116
“Is it lunchtime? Kyden, you’re joining us, right?”
“Yeah… Are you okay? Not feeling sick or anything?”
“I’m fine! The coachman has been taking good care of me. How about you, Kyden?”
“Well, I…”
Kyden hesitated, looking like he didn’t want to discuss it. Roel watched him with curiosity.
“Our commander wants to meet you. If it’s uncomfortable, you can decline.”
“That’s the person we saw last time, right? Yes! I should greet him. Should I go over?”
“You can say no.”
“It’s fine!”
Roel shook her head vigorously. It was the first time Kyden was introducing someone to her.
She felt excited about getting to know his acquaintances. She wanted to greet them and introduce herself.
Although she felt a bit small and inadequate, her desire to enter his world more deeply was stronger. She wanted to be recognized by those around him and become an important person to him.
‘It might be difficult to meet his family, but I definitely want to meet his colleagues.’
Kyden’s brows narrowed at Roel’s eager expression. Why was she so happy to meet the commander? A sudden feeling of discomfort washed over him.
For a moment, he recalled the commander’s voice, warning him about sounding like a jealous husband. It wasn’t that bad… Kyden swallowed dryly, feeling uneasy.
“It’s just a quick greeting.”
“Yes, sure. When do we go? Should we go now?”
So why did he feel uneasy about it? Kyden bit back the question that rose in his throat.
“Whenever you’re comfortable.”
“Oh, I don’t think I can go like this. Can you wait just a bit while I change?”
“…What for?”
It was just a greeting; why did it matter if she looked messy?
“I just want to change my clothes!”
“No.”
“What?”
“Why change clothes? Just go as you are.”
“Just a moment! I’ll change quickly.”
Kyden pulled the carriage to a stop and opened the door. Then he abruptly entered the carriage, wrestling with Roel.
Roel tried to resist, but Kyden effortlessly pulled her into his arms. She felt like a child being helplessly dragged out.
“Kyden! What are you doing?!”
She wanted to greet the commander looking her best. It was disappointing that he didn’t understand that she wanted to make a good impression on his acquaintances.
Kyden’s lips twitched as if he had something to say, but he hesitated to express his true feelings. Roel tilted her head, glaring at his tightly shut lips.
Eventually, Kyden surrendered to her persistent gaze and responded in a shaky voice.
“…Don’t look pretty.”
“What?”
“Don’t look pretty for anyone but me.”
He averted his eyes shyly, but then turned serious, almost as if she had committed some grave offense.
“Why are you angry? What have I done wrong?”
“…I’m just jealous. Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that extreme.”
Roel narrowed her eyes, confused, while Kyden shifted his gaze away, as if the term ‘jealousy’ bothered him.
‘So he feels the same way.’
Roel recalled how she had acted strangely by clinging to him every morning. Realizing his feelings weren’t different from hers made her earlier feelings of hurt and confusion vanish.
‘Kyden is such a fool.’
Roel squinted and managed a small smile.
It was natural for her to worry about Kyden, but it seemed silly for him to worry about her. He was a handsome, strong knight, while she was just an ordinary woman with nothing to her name. Therefore, his jealousy felt unnecessary.
But…
‘It’s nice that Kyden is being silly like this…’
She hoped his misconception would last forever, and instead of correcting him that there was no need to feel that way, she playfully rolled her eyes and nodded.
“I just wanted to make a good impression on your commander.”
Saying this cheekily, Roel felt a sense of change within herself.
Her desires had grown larger than her fears. Instead of chasing after misfortune, she was facing happiness head-on. For the sake of keeping his love and her own desires, she could act shamelessly like this.
Having felt the meaning of life and happiness, Roel became a little wiser, a little greedier, and learned how to live better.
