Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 17
Regaining his consciousness, the hot temperature that had surged inside him quickly cooled down. Roel had long since passed out. Kyden, unaware of this, continued to move his hips.
What remained of his rationality criticized him as nothing but a beast panting while clutching the body of an unconscious woman.
After wiping the fluids from between Roel’s legs with a towel, he hugged her limp body tightly and lay down, carefully covering them with a blanket to keep the cold air out.
Fortunately, the woman was no longer shivering. She seemed to have warmed up and fallen into a deep sleep, possibly from exhaustion.
Holding her slender, soft body felt nice. But it didn’t entirely please him. It was quite troublesome, given that he had come inside, and there was a possibility of pregnancy.
Having received knighthood at a young age, he had been on the run for four years after refusing his lord’s command. Accustomed to wandering without a proper home, involving someone else in his precarious life seemed bothersome.
He wasn’t a randy dog, yet he couldn’t understand why he had got excited and made the mistake of climaxing inside. However, he had no intention of cowardly escaping the consequences of his actions.
Of course, the woman, Roel’s thoughts on the matter were also important.
Eventually, the fireplace went out, and deep darkness settled inside the cabin. Still, the warmth of the two people added together kept the blanket cozy until dawn broke.
* * *
Waking up to an uncomfortable warmth that made her forget it was winter, Roel found the cool air refreshing as she slightly lifted the blanket.
“Ugh.”
Her lower back and particularly between her legs throbbed painfully, so much so that it was difficult to sit up.
The pain vividly reminded her of the previous day’s events, so painful she thought she was dying. The memory of the heavy, large body pressing down on her before she passed out made her face pale.
“Are you awake?”
A deep voice from above her head snapped her out of her daze. Startled, Roel hunched her shoulders and looked up.
Her eyes met his yellow ones, and she realized she had been resting on Kyden’s arm.
“Ah.”
“Time to get up.”
He sat up. The startled Roel quickly moved away from him. Attempting to get up too hastily, she let out a small scream due to a sudden surge of pain in her back. She bent her body forward.
“Ah!”
“If it’s too hard, you should rest.”
Kyden covered her again with the blanket and left the bed. Roel couldn’t lift her bowed head, unsure of how to interact with him. Should she scold him, labeling him as the beast that had pounced on her? Or should they consider it a mutual enjoyment, given she hadn’t refused him?
What was clear was that they weren’t lovers. What then was the proper way to treat someone she had only physically connected with?
Roel sneakily lifted her head to steal a glance at his back. She saw his large frame reigniting the now cold fireplace. He appeared strong and steadfast.
‘Kyden.’
She whispered his name from the night before to herself.
He was someone she found unsettling yet couldn’t stop thinking about. Frightening, yet she found herself wanting to cling to him. However, she couldn’t recklessly let down her guard and open her heart.
She had to be wary of his reckless and promiscuous desires that had freely roamed the night before. Likely, he was devoid of any serious intentions, satisfying his urges and likely not the least bit interested in her precarious and uneasy feelings.
Therefore, she had to be cautious. Falling deeper into a more dreadful pit was something she couldn’t endure. Keeping her guard up and being wary of him, was akin to a survival instinct.
Roel was already standing on the edge of a cliff, scared that even a small breeze might cause her to lose her footing.
* * *
After gathering herself, Roel prepared breakfast. Her body was painfully sore, but her mind was surprisingly clear. Compared to her usual early mornings, this was almost like oversleeping for her.
Kyden had kindly suggested she rest if she felt unwell. Was he satisfied with the previous night? His consideration wasn’t entirely welcome.
What if he wanted to do it again? Lazing around under the guise of pain might get her thrown out. Roel had already experienced enough to know how cold and cruel people could be towards those weaker than themselves.
While she prepared the meal, he went outside to clear the snow piled up at the front door, which had accumulated up to knee height overnight. The snow continued to fall as if intending to engulf the world. Roel cautiously asked him as he came back in, shaking off the snow.
“Why clear it when it’s just going to pile up again?”
“It’s easier later on if you make a path now.”
If the snow piled up to the waist and was left untouched, they would be completely trapped. It might be light now, but as it continues to accumulate, it becomes heavier, and the bottom layers would harden like ice. He had to move to avoid being unable to leave or enter until spring.
“Is everything ready?”
“Oh, yes, yes. Please sit down.”
Roel lifted the pot filled with soup to move it to the table. As she turned around with the pot in her hands, she was startled to find him standing right behind her and nearly dropped it.
“Ah!”
“Be careful.”
