Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 127
Kyden feeling unnecessarily upset, quickly countered.
“It’s not that she rejected me.”
Ron, oblivious to the tension, tilted his head in confusion.
“I didn’t think she’d hate it this much. She said she wouldn’t meet anyone unless they were as big as her dad…”
“…”
Kyden silently glared at Ron, looking filled with disbelief and annoyance. It seemed Serley found Kyden’s reaction amusing and chuckled to himself.
Choosing to ignore him, Kyden took a seat and applied herbs to his wound, wrapping it neatly with a clean bandage.
“Is there a place in the village where we can rent horses? I plan to leave as soon as we’re ready.”
“Ah, um, yes. I’ll go get them.”
“Thank you.”
Although they felt safe for now, Kyden knew that the enemies could show up at any moment. He resolved to leave the village as soon as his wound healed.
Ron’s daughter didn’t show her face until late evening. She must have been very upset. After filling his stomach with bread and stew from the house and taking a moment to rest, Ron approached Kyden.
“I wasn’t trying to tease you; I genuinely think you and my daughter would make a good match. If something were to happen to me, she would be left all alone, and that worries me…”
Kyden nodded in understanding.
“It’s okay.”
“…She may be shy, but I don’t think she truly dislikes you. Where else can you find a tall, handsome young man like you?”
“…”
Considering how she had stormed out earlier, it was hard to believe she felt that way. Kyden studied Ron’s face, which bore the worry of a concerned parent.
Suddenly, he recalled his own parents.
His father’s palm that struck him when he didn’t listen, and his mother’s glare when he was just trying to be playful, as if he was a nuisance. His father, always shouting at him to serve Serley well.
Ron’s assertion that he had a good eye for people was misguided. Kyden didn’t understand love; he had never experienced it adequately.
He surely wouldn’t be able to cherish and love Ron’s daughter as much as he did.
‘She would be happier living with her father.’
She would definitely find more happiness with a loving father. Eventually, she would meet a warm man who could love her just as much.
“If it doesn’t bother you, why not think positively about it?”
“Enough.”
“Tch.”
In any case, he wasn’t the one for her.
In the early dawn, the two of them left Ron’s house.
“Take care! Travel safely!”
A bright voice rang out from behind Kyden. Turning around, he saw the little girl waving cheerfully in the distance. It seemed she had been hiding in the house until Serley and Kyden left, and now she felt safe enough to come out.
Her cheerful appearance struck Kyden as both cute and lovely.
As he turned back, a faint smile formed on his lips.
‘She’s adorable.’
Out of nowhere, he realized that he liked small, cute girls.
Once he safely arrived at the castle, Kyden made sure to send a servant with a generous sum as thanks to Ron. Now back to his daily routine, he kept the memory of the silly mercenary who wanted him to marry his daughter, along with the charming little girl, tucked away in his mind.
There were moments when he considered visiting them, but with the myriad of events that had unfolded, he never got around to it.
So, he gradually forgot about them, until he accidentally encountered that girl again in the valley village where he had briefly stayed.
* * *
She had a wonderful, nostalgic dream after a long time.
She saw a small front yard and a cozy house. As soon as she spotted the house, Roel realized—her father had returned from work! With a heart full of joy and excitement, she ran straight home.
In the familiar living room, her father welcomed her. Why did it feel so delightful and bittersweet, as if they hadn’t met in ages? Roel pondered this as she hugged him.
Her father, radiating happiness, pulled her into a dance, his face lit up with joy. Confused but happy, Roel took his hand and danced along, eventually breaking into laughter herself.
She laughed until her stomach hurt, not even sure what was so funny, just swept up in the joy of being with her father.
After a while, her father released her hand. With a relieved expression, he began to distance himself.
He must be going out again. Roel hoped he would return soon. Just like always, she didn’t whine and instead waved him off like a grown-up.
As she watched her father’s back at the door, she tried to say goodbye, but no words came out. It felt strange to only be able to mouth the words, causing her to tilt her head in confusion.
Without even saying farewell, her father turned the doorknob. At that moment, Roel’s heart shattered, and tears began to pour from her eyes.
Please don’t go! Don’t leave me alone!
Overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of dread, she stumbled forward, trying to catch him.
But oddly, the distance between them never closed. Roel remained in place.
No, no! You can’t leave! You can’t!
She reached out desperately. Just before her father crossed the threshold, he glanced back over his shoulder.
