Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 93
Roel, feeling timid, looked up at Kyden with a pained expression. She wanted to ask, ‘Do I get to go with you too?’ but kept her mouth shut.
She had promised herself not to make him anxious. She decided to trust his sincerity and suppress her fear of being hurt, mustering the courage to speak.
“Kyden… will you take me with you? I know it’s an impertinent thing to ask. I’m lacking and insufficient, but… still, still…”
She felt she couldn’t live without him now. The joy she felt when they reunited was beyond words. Having experienced what true happiness was, she couldn’t imagine going back to her previous state.
She didn’t want to leave him now.
“I’ll do better… I want to be by your side.”
She hated feeling like a burden clinging to him. Part of her wished he was just an ordinary hunter instead.
Roel lowered her head, lacking confidence.
Kyden, silently listening to her confession, tilted his head up, his clenched jaw muscles twitching. He was on the verge of cursing out of affection.
Struggling to control his violent desire, he finally spoke with a trembling voice.
“Of course, I was planning to take you with me. Why would you worry about that?”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I was worried you might decide to stay in the capital.”
If she had chosen to stay in the capital, he had been prepared to persuade her or even abandon the Horman family if necessary.
“It doesn’t matter where we go! Being with you is what’s important!”
He smiled back, his eyes narrowing with pleasure.
“Me too. I feel the same way.”
Roel’s heart swelled with emotion as she clutched his sleeve. To think he had the same concerns as her made her heart ache with gratitude.
The notion that knights were arrogant and self-important must have been false. It was clear that the harsh and jealous mercenaries who spread such rumors were just envious.
Kyden, who was so kind, warm, and good-hearted, being a knight meant that knights must truly be noble and admirable.
“I’ll do better.”
“Right, work on your stamina.”
“Excuse me?”
“You keep fainting. It worries me, and I can’t do it properly.”
“Kyden…”
That wasn’t what she meant by ‘doing better.’ Roel looked at him with a troubled expression. He said he couldn’t do it properly—what more could he possibly do?
‘Kyden is really something.’
Roel mentally scolded him. Indeed, Kyden had a very lewd side.
His true nature, which only emerged at night, was something that people who didn’t know him well could easily overlook.
The subtle sensuality and lasciviousness that emanated from his face were unmistakable. His slightly flushed eyes and the gently curling corners of his mouth were especially provocative. When his usually cold and stoic face suddenly transformed into a beastly snarl, her heart raced painfully.
Roel swallowed hard, trying to cool her rising heat and fanning herself.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Kyden looked at her with a puzzled expression, but Roel turned her gaze away, pretending not to notice.
At that moment, the carriage stopped.
“We’ve arrived at the hotel, guests!”
The hotel was grand, with a garden and a fountain. As Roel stepped out of the carriage with a frightened expression, she clutched Kyden’s arm.
“W-we’re staying here?”
“Yes, let’s go inside.”
He escorted Roel into the hotel. Her eyes widened at the sight of the opulent chandelier, the red carpet, and the colorful porcelain—things she had never seen before.
Not wanting to embarrass Kyden by staring too much, she fixed her gaze on the floor.
‘Is it really okay to stay here? Is Kyden pushing himself too hard?’
Her worries were briefly set aside as he confidently approached the hotel desk. He chatted with the elegantly dressed staff, wrote an amount on a blank check, and signed it.
Roel stood beside him, her nerves on edge and her mind hazy, unable to follow the conversation.
“We’ll take you upstairs.”
The manager guided them to their room. Kyden, holding Roel by the waist and almost lifting her, led her to their suite.
He had always been well-off. His salary from his time as a knight had been substantial, and his earnings from mercenary work had added up significantly.
This time, having transferred a business to a manager, he had earned a considerable sum again, leaving him with more than enough money. Most of his earnings were deposited in the bank.
Kyden had hoped to pamper Roel with the money he had, but with so little time, he felt it was a shame he couldn’t do more.
As they walked down the ornate hallway guided by the manager, Roel covered her mouth and whispered to him.
“Kyden, Kyden.”
“Yes?”
He raised an eyebrow and bent his head toward her. Roel whispered softly.
“How much did it cost?”
“…5 silver per night?”
In reality, the cost for one night was around 50 silver. Since they planned to stay for about four nights, the lodging alone would amount to about 2 gold. Adding room service and various other fees, the total would be much higher.
However, he lied to her. He knew Roel’s modest nature might be distressed by the real cost.
“Wow, that’s expensive. Is it okay?”
“It’s fine. I have enough money for that.”
Seeing her surprised reaction, Kyden suppressed a smile.
