Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 36
Gazing at Roel’s face with a complex look, Kyden soon used the sound of her even breathing as a lullaby to fall asleep.
The light weight leaning against him, her petite frame fitting perfectly in his arms, her soft skin that wrapped around his body, her eyes reddened and marked by his touch, and her scent that thrilled his heart—all these things filled his senses as he drifted off to sleep.
Right before sleep took him, he suddenly realized late at night how deeply lonely he would feel without her.
* * *
The next day, Roel couldn’t get out of bed until evening. Her body ached, and a slight fever had set in, causing her to groan throughout the day.
Kyden took care of her diligently, feeling guilty for her condition, even though Roel insisted she was fine and seemed embarrassed by the fuss.
Only late in the evening did Roel manage to get up, and her eyes widened upon seeing the items Kyden had laid out for her.
“What’s this?”
“Try them on. I bought them yesterday.”
“They must have been expensive.”
“Not really.”
Roel’s heart tightened at Kyden’s gift. He had even bought her gifts yesterday….Roel felt sorry and she felt too guilty to fully enjoy them.
“Come on, try it on.”
She put on the clothes he had bought. A beige dress similar to her hair color. The fabric was thick and layered. It seemed very expensive.
Roel held the hem of her dress with an embarrassed look.
“It suits you.”
“…Thank you.”
Kyden watched Roel whose cheeks were flushed. He hesitated for a while before he finally spoke.
“You look beautiful.”
Roel thought he was lying. Beautiful, really? She couldn’t believe that someone as handsome and impressive as Kyden would see her that way.
Yet, his compliment made her feel good. Embarrassingly, her lips curled into a smile, and her eyes crinkled in joy.
Contrary to her belief, Roel looked very beautiful. When she put on the clean beige dress, her fair skin stood out, making her look like a modest yet fragrant spring flower.
Seeing Roel’s faint smile, Kyden felt his decision to buy the gift was well-made. The smile that blossomed on her usually gloomy face was so beautiful and precious.
Kyden couldn’t take his eyes away from her face. His smile seemed to infect him, and he found himself smiling too.
“I’ll wear it well.”
Roel quickly composed herself and turned her head away, her smile fading too soon for Kyden’s liking. In haste, he pulled out another gift. This time it was a hairpin.
“Did you buy this too?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Overwhelmed by guilt, Roel couldn’t smile, which only deepened Kyden’s sense of disappointment. He then handed her a fur scarf and a bracelet all at once, causing her expression to darken further.
“Why did you buy so much? It’s okay…”
Kyden’s face fell too as he had hoped for praise and smiles.
“Thank you, though. I really appreciate it.”
Roel sobbed softly. Since her father had passed away, she couldn’t recall receiving gifts from anyone. She wasn’t even cared for when she was sick.
One day she stumbled upon his cabin and ate his food. Kyden’s kindness and warmth were overwhelmingly grateful and also made her feel guilty.
Is it alright to be happy? Would her sins bring divine punishment? Might a cruel misfortune be lurking, just waiting to strike?
Roel was anxious because of her happiness. She knew too well the frustration and emptiness that followed the loss of happiness.
Kyden was restless as she cried.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
“No, it’s because I like it.”
“If you’re happy, you should smile, why cry?”
While it was satisfying to see her cry during their affair, it was unsettling during the day. Roel quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile.
“I’ll make dinner. Please, sit and rest.”
“No need. You can hardly walk.”
“I can walk slowly.”
“I don’t want to see that, just sit down.”
Kyden insisted, seating Roel in a chair and proceeded to prepare dinner. Roel fidgeted, looking uneasy, but stayed seated at his stern command.
* * *
Days passed, not bad at all, in fact, quite peaceful and joyful. Kyden now went down to the village about once every four days, and each time he strictly instructed Roel.
“Don’t wander around the cabin.”
“I understand. I won’t go out.”
“The weather is warming up, and there could be avalanches. It’s also dangerous around here.”
“I really won’t go out.”
Roel had to insist every time he left. She had no intention of going outside and hadn’t even tried.
Each time Kyden went down to the village, she used to be anxious, but now she felt somewhat relieved. Kyden had been to the village four times already and seemed oblivious to any rumors. Hope was budding in her heart.
‘Maybe my rumors haven’t spread. Perhaps there was a big fire that day…’
Could they all have died? Could the events of that day have been swallowed by eternal silence as a secret?
While imagining the chilling possibility of everyone perishing in a fire, Roel felt a guilty sense of relief.
