Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 134
But Jared, while providing troops and funds, casually mentioned,
“Hey, make sure to come and greet with that girl. She’s quite sweet.”
“What…? Did you meet her?”
“Of course. Are you planning to have a wedding without showing her to your parents?”
When had he met her? Kyden felt a throb of irritation at those words.
He finished checking the personnel and climbed into the carriage. The knight sounded the signal to depart.
Roel watched the crowd following the carriage and the marching soldiers, her mouth fell open slightly.
“It feels like we’re going off to war.”
“They’ve been neglected for a few months. They might need military force to restore order.”
Those who rebelled against Serley had been executed. The owner of the land Kyden received had also been hanged at that time. Naturally, the land lost its owner, and now an agent was governing the peasants. They say when the tiger is absent, the rabbit plays king.
If the agent didn’t comply, there could be armed conflict, but Kyden wasn’t too worried about that. Conflict was something he felt confident handling.
“Is it really okay?”
“It’s perfectly fine.”
Kyden pulled Roel close. At his sudden move, she fell into his arms.
“But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you met my father.”
“Oh.”
Roel blinked in surprise, looking flustered.
“I thought you might worry.”
“Is there something I should worry?”
“There was nothing to worry about!”
Kyden’s gaze sharpened. Roel shyly averted her eyes, feeling a trickle of cold sweat down her back.
“He only said good things. That I should do well…”
There was no way he would have said that. Kyden felt suspicious. However, Roel remained steadfastly silent. She didn’t want to create unnecessary trouble, and she was simply grateful for his approval.
He decided to give up on pressing her. Initially, he had hesitated to introduce her to his family because he was worried she might get hurt by his father’s sharp words, or mistakenly think about leaving in the name of protecting him.
As long as she was okay, that was all that mattered.
Instead, he resolved to kiss her while holding her close. They had a half-day’s journey ahead of them, so there was plenty of time.
“What if someone sees us?”
“We just slept and didn’t do anything yesterday.”
“That’s because Kyden came home late after drinking.”
When he finally walked in, dressed in a suit, he collapsed right away. Roel struggled to take off his clothes, worried they might get wrinkled. Kyden was as heavy as a rock, making it no small feat to lift even one of his legs.
“Just a little.”
Roel, unable to push Kyden’s face away, reluctantly kissed him. She pressed her lips softly against his before pulling back, distracted by the sounds of people bustling outside the carriage.
As she turned her head away, Kyden licked his lips, looking disappointed. On some days, she would cling to him to the point of embarrassment, but at times like this, she played hard to get, leaving him longing.
He felt an ache in his lower body that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Was it his issue, or was it Roel’s influence?
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I kissed you, didn’t I?”
“It’s just ticklish.”
She slowly looked at him who was leaning closer, and she could see his half-closed eyelids and those shiny amber eyes underneath, glistening like jewels, along with the lightly flushed lips.
‘Is he trying to seduce me?’
It was hard to resist such a sight.
“Kyden.”
“Yes?”
“How about growing your beard back?”
“Why?”
Kyden rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
‘Because your bare face is just too handsome.’ When he was frowning and serious, he was less striking, but when he approached with that flushed face, he looked irresistibly alluring.
She was relieved that she was the only one seeing him like this.
“…Just because.”
She turned her gaze out the window, trying to pull herself away from him. Her face felt hot.
Just then, lost in thought and unable to meet his eyes, she suddenly exclaimed, “Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… I feel familiar here.”
Roel muttered with a blank expression. The landscape outside the carriage looked incredibly familiar to her.
It was the rich summer scenery she knew so well.
A flock of sheep grazed in the lush green fields, and fluffy clouds drifted lazily across the horizon. In the distance, she could see low mountains and a short wooden fence.
The tiny summer wildflowers seemed to wave at her as if welcoming her home.
Suddenly, tears began to spill from her eyes. She felt a lump in her throat, and her chin trembled.
“Kyden… here, this place…”
How could she not recognize it? How could she forget?
It was the land filled with happy memories, the green and peaceful ground she had longed for even in her dreams.
It was her hometown.
