Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 76
However, Hawk, understanding Roel’s situation, offered her the option to continue working at the inn comfortably until she found another job.
After Hawk left, Roel tried to calm her troubled mind.
‘What should I say to Kyden?’
Although all these events started with Kyden’s arrival, she didn’t blame him. He had come looking for her, putting himself in danger in the process.
Reflecting on it more, she realized she was the root cause of everything. It was her leaving that led Kyden into dangerous situations.
When Roel came out of her room again, Kyden was nowhere to be seen.
She busied herself cleaning the restaurant and the empty rooms, waiting for him. She resolved to calm him down and tell him not to engage in dangerous activities again.
She wanted to apologize, saying she didn’t mean the words of disappointment. She drifted through the passing hours, waiting for him.
* * *
Roel’s words of disappointment came out as a great shock. Kyden froze in place, his breathing stopped.
‘Disappointed… disappointed…’
Her voice echoed in his mind. He wanted to tell her it was because he missed her, worried about her safety. He wanted to explain that the people he fought were scum deserving punishment.
He wanted to plead with her not to be disappointed in him.
His insides felt like they were burning. Fearful of losing her affection, he felt like a child, scared and helpless.
‘It’s all because of those bastards…’
Kyden’s rage focused on the Mad Dog mercenary band. Unable to contain his fury, he stormed out of the inn. Only after he left did Hawk, who had been hiding in the kitchen, peek out.
He couldn’t even breathe due to Kyden’s aura, looking like he was ready to kill someone.
“I’m going to die…”
Realizing how dangerous it was to keep such a volatile person in the inn, Hawk decided to talk to Roel.
* * *
Kyden, meanwhile, stormed over to the Mad Dog mercenary band’s base. Seeing him approaching like a fierce storm, a mercenary relieving himself nearby quickly fled.
“Get the leader out here!”
Kyden’s thunderous voice echoed as he barged in.
The mercenaries who were laughing about what had happened at the Double Axe Inn quickly scattered, and the commander, hearing the commotion, hurriedly locked the door to his office.
He felt a bit reassured, thinking Kyden wouldn’t actually break down the door, but then the doorknob jiggled and bent with a creaking sound.
That savage bastard! The commander panicked as he saw Kyden forcefully break through the door.
“Why are you breaking down the door?!”
“Leader…”
Kyden’s fierce, yellow eyes flashed as he ground his teeth, looking incredibly menacing. The commander swallowed hard.
“You stabbed me in the back?”
“What are you talking about? I did it all for you! I said only good things about you!”
“Roel… Roel told me…!”
Kyden almost blurted out that Roel was disappointed in him, but the words got stuck in his throat. A wave of self-loathing, shame, and pain washed over him, making him shake with rage.
Seeing Kyden trembling with suppressed fury, the commander wiped the sweat from his brow. Kyden’s face turned various shades, from furious red to pale white.
The commander realized Kyden was on the brink of losing control and needed to be calmed down.
“Sister-in-law didn’t seem like the type to get really angry…”
“…”
“What exactly did she say to you? Hm?”
The leader, feeling like he was comforting a wounded lamb, patted Kyden’s shoulder gently, all while keeping one hand ready to shield his face, just in case.
He knew he needed to mend things with Kyden, not just to recruit him into the Mad Dog Mercenary Band, but also because Kyden’s involvement in the recent annihilation of the Bloodwind Organization had significantly increased the leader’s holdings.
If Kyden decided to claim his share, the leader’s profits would be halved.
Kyden had said he wasn’t interested in the businesses, so the leader had given him a generous amount of cash instead. But the real value lay in the lucrative, ongoing businesses. If Kyden’s mood soured and he changed his mind, it would spell trouble.
“I really am sorry if I misspoke. Just tell me how I can help!”
“Roel… she doesn’t…”
“Yes, what about Sister-in-law?”
“She doesn’t love me.”
Seeing Roel avoid his gaze felt like a knife to Kyden’s heart. He vividly remembered her looking into his eyes, blushing, smiling happily, and leaning on him. Her awkward and distant demeanor now made his chest ache, and a surge of sadness would overwhelm him.
“I see. Don’t get too discouraged! You can try again.”
“….I want her to love me.”
He wanted to be loved by Roel. It was a pure and desperate desire. Realizing this truth so intensely made a part of him crumble inside.
The leader, at a loss for words, closed his eyes tightly.
‘Oh, why must I face such trials?’
