Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 88
Stepping out from under the blanket, Roel saw her body covered in bruises and bite marks. Her shoulders, waist, arms, and thighs were all dotted with red and purple.
With a heavy sigh, Roel braced herself against the wall and struggled to get up. Her legs felt weak. It took her quite some time to bend down, get dressed, and open the door.
Even though Kyden had told her not to go out, she felt she needed to wash up. Her whole body felt sticky and uncomfortable.
‘Ugh… I’m dying.’
She had to go down the stairs to get to the bathroom, and her vision was blurry. But asking for help was out of the question.
Roel gingerly placed one foot in front of the other, gripping the wall for support. She clung to the railing as she made her way down the stairs.
When she reached the first floor, Hawk came running toward her.
“Roel, what do you mean you’re quitting today? What’s going on?”
“What? I’m sorry. Boss… if it’s really difficult, I’ll work more.”
“No, it’s fine since that person said they would bring a replacement, but… I’m just surprised. Why is your condition like this?”
From behind the desk, Hawk’s wife peeked out and remarked,
“Oh my, how intense it must have been. A reunion can be quite hot, huh?”
Roel’s face turned bright red.
“Th-that’s not it.”
“If it’s not that, then why can’t you walk?”
Understanding the situation, Hawk cleared his throat and silently signaled his wife to be quiet.
“Well, if that’s the case… I can’t ask someone who can’t even walk to work.”
“…I’m really sorry.”
Roel felt utterly ashamed. It was hard to even look up because she was so embarrassed. She kept bowing her head toward Hawk, who waved it off, and finally made it to the bathroom.
Fortunately, there was still warm water available, and she managed to take a shower. Each glance at her bruised body reminded her of the previous night, adding to her embarrassment.
After a refreshing shower, Roel returned to her room and changed into a new outfit.
Today, she chose the clothes Kyden had bought for her. She remembered how he had been disappointed the day before because she hadn’t worn the clothes he’d purchased.
Wearing the new dress, Roel’s face lit up. The beige silk wrapped smoothly around her body, and the translucent lace and beads decorating the skirt added an elegant touch.
“Wow.”
Was it because the dress was a gift from Kyden? Roel felt that even she looked beautiful in it. She pinched her cheeks and checked the reflection in the mirror to make sure it was really her.
She felt a surge of happiness that made her heart race. It was her first time wearing such a beautiful dress. But she was also concerned that it might have been expensive.
‘I’ll need to buy Kyden a gift with my next paycheck.’
Even if it’s only a fraction of the dress’s cost. She wanted to show her appreciation.
The idea of being able to give him a gift with money she earned herself made her unexpectedly excited. This was why she worked, she realized.
As Roel smiled contentedly at her reflection in the dress, she came to her senses and started packing her things.
‘Well, I was supposed to leave anyway…’
Although she felt a bit sad to leave the Double Axe Inn, she didn’t regret it. The plan was always to quit after the Founding Day, so the departure had only been hastened.
‘Will Kyden stay here? Should I go to another inn by myself for now?’
She shook her head at the thought. She could vividly picture Kyden getting upset if she said she was leaving alone.
‘If I say I’m leaving by myself, he’ll definitely get furious. I need to ask him to come with me.’
Roel had learned a bit about how to handle him.
He seemed to enjoy her clinging to him. He was like that even when they were staying in the cabin. Although he acted annoyed on the surface, he would end up smiling and indulging her if she persisted.
During nights troubled by nightmares, she clung to him even more. Then Kyden would light up with a lazy smile and twinkling eyes.
Though it was an action that didn’t suit her personality of being cautious and reserved, the isolated cabin and reliance on him made Roel cling to him.
When she depended on him, Kyden seemed reassured and pleased.
‘I still need to be extra careful… He doesn’t seem to trust me yet.’
Given her track record of disappointing Kyden several times, she vowed to avoid any behavior that might increase his anxiety.
With her things packed, Roel left her room. She thought it would be best to wait for Kyden in his room.
She neatly folded the dresses given by Hawk’s wife and placed them on the bed. Although she was grateful for the dresses, she found them uncomfortable to wear and thought she might not wear them again.
As she gathered her belongings and headed up to the second floor, someone pointed at her.
“Huh?”
“…Oh, hello.”
It was the young knight who had asked her about bathing services the previous day. Not wanting to do it with someone she found uncomfortable, Roel lowered her head and tried to pass by, but he grabbed her shoulder.
“Seems like you made some money with that gig.”
“What?”
“That dress must be hard to afford on an inn’s salary.”
Roel looked at him in surprise. He stared at her with a face full of unspoken resentment.
“How much for a day? I’ll double it. Come to my room today.”
