‘No, what if someone comes in? Why didn’t you even lock the door…!’
Blaming him for his lack of caution, she closed the door and quickly turned her gaze away.
One would think I wouldn’t be embarrassed by this after several years of marriage.
However, throughout our marriage, he had always dressed neatly in front of me. So, I had never really seen his body during our entire marriage.
‘Even on the day I had Demian, I was so drunk that I barely remember it!’
Seeing his body so clearly in the bright light was incredibly provocative, making her forget her anger towards him and feel utterly lost.
“I-I’ll come back later!”
As I quickly turned the door handle to leave, Erich’s hand covered mine.
When I turned my head, he was standing right behind me.
“Cornelia.”
Up close, his appearance was even more striking.
His blonde hair was slightly wet, his broad chest was revealed through the open robe, and his abs were well-defined.
I unconsciously turned my head back toward the door, trying to push the knob to escape.
But his strong hand wouldn’t budge.
“Erich, let go of my hand right now.”
At that moment, I felt his warm breath against my ear.
“It seems you have something to say to me…”
When I turned my head, I saw his fierce blue eyes staring at me as if he were about to devour me.
“Let’s sit and talk for a bit. I happen to have something to say to you as well.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
A moment ago, when someone opened the door without knocking, Erich was simply annoyed.
But the fact that it was Cornelia who did it left him greatly flustered.
‘Why is Cornelia in my room…’
Eventually, he felt his heart racing and acknowledged his feelings.
Honestly, he felt good. Just the fact that she had come to find him.
‘I don’t know what she wants to talk about, but the fact that she came to me first… maybe that means I’m not as repulsive to her as I thought.’
However, she quickly averted her gaze as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
“I’ll come back later.”
The moment he saw her turn to leave again, a heavy thud echoed in his chest.
Thump!
Erich felt a rush of anxiety, and his heart dropped.
‘Don’t… show me your back.’
He had thought that he would never see her again, just like the day she left.
But now that he’d had a second chance, he didn’t want to lose her.
He was afraid. If he let her go now, there might never be another opportunity to see her again.
So, Erich instinctively grabbed the door.
But now that he was behind her, dark impulses surged within him. He felt a strong desire to embrace her tightly and confine her within the room.
‘But if I did that… she would really run away. It would be horrific.’
Erich tried to calm his base desires and chose his words carefully to keep her there.
“It seems you have something to say to me… Let’s sit and talk for a bit.”
Even after speaking, Erich was anxious that she might refuse.
Then it happened.
“Move.”
At the sight of her face contorted in annoyance, Erich felt a crushing sense of despair in his heart.
‘So she really doesn’t want to see me.’
Just as he was wallowing in self-pity, she said,
“What kind of conversation do you expect to have looking like that? Change your clothes first.”
Only after hearing that did Erich remember he was still in his robe.
‘To think I welcomed her looking so ridiculous…’
Although he had kept his distance from her, she was still his first love.
He didn’t want to appear unappealing, and he was always careful to dress neatly in front of her for fear that his humble upbringing in the slums would be revealed.
However, what about now? He was standing before her in nothing but a robe.
Overwhelmed by shame, Erich quickly turned and headed to the dressing room in the corner of the guest room.
‘I’m sure she already finds me revolting… and now I showed her such a ridiculous appearance.’
Moreover, how hideous must the scars visible through the robe look to someone who was raised so gracefully?
His expression darkened with those negative thoughts.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
I glanced at Erich, who had returned dressed appropriately.
‘He should have dressed like this from the start.’
Just a moment ago, I was unsure where to look, but now that he was all bundled up, I felt I could at least talk to him while looking at his face.
So I got to the point.
“It looks like we need to go to the capital.”
“To the capital? Why…”
“That’s none of your concern.”
A sharp reply escaped my lips without me realizing it.
Understandably, the emperor’s illness was a highly confidential matter.
If it became known that he was bedridden, it was all too clear how the hidden treacherous elements within the empire would react. Moreover…
‘Perhaps you’re also one of those treacherous elements.’
I then spoke to him coldly.
“Didn’t you say earlier that you would do whatever I asked? That’s why I’m here.”
At that, he raised the corners of his mouth and looked at me.
“Yes, very well. So what do you intend to have me do?”
Despite my clear intention to use him, he seemed quite pleased.
‘Yeah, I must look ridiculous to him. Damn it.’
But for now, I needed to go to the capital, and I had to take my child with me for safety. It was shameful, but I had no choice but to tell him my request.
“It’s simple. Accompany me without revealing my identity and protect my child in the capital.”
When I answered, he slightly furrowed his brow.
Seeing that, I clenched my fists tightly.
‘Of course it must be bothersome.’
I had resolved to lower my head, but without realizing it, I felt a surge of defiance and added,
“If you don’t want to, you can refuse. If you don’t go to the capital, that’s fine too.”
At that, he shook his head and opened his mouth.
“That’s not it. It’s just…”
After a moment, he spoke to me in a calm voice.
“You’re asking for something that’s only natural.”
“Natural…?”
“Yes, it is my duty to protect you and your child. You don’t need to ask for that.”
At his incomprehensible words, I unconsciously clenched my fists.
‘What on earth is he up to?’
And as if to answer my doubts, he gave his reason:
“After all, I am still… your husband. Protecting you and the child is my responsibility.”
I let out a hollow laugh at that cliché response, which would be pleasing to others.
‘If I had heard this before, I might have been pleased.’
Pleased? I would have been so moved that I would have cried.
But now, I was too exhausted and broken to allow such obvious words to influence me.
‘So he intends to hide his true intentions.’
Anticipating his intentions, I feigned a smile and replied,
“Oh, is that so? How reassuring. The empire’s greatest swordmaster is personally going to protect us.”
In response to my sarcasm he softened his gaze as he looked at me.
And seeing that, I repeated to myself coldly.
‘Yes, I still can’t trust him. So, once I find out who’s behind this, I’ll get rid of him.’
I hadn’t expected anything in the first place, so there was no disappointment, but I didn’t want to see his face any longer.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Just as I was about to exit the room, he grabbed my hand.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“What is it?”
Though he had unconsciously grabbed her, the coldness in her voice felt like a stab to my heart.
‘Right, I have no right to hold your hand.’
Erich released her hand and said to Cornelia,
“You need to tell me when we’ll be leaving for the capital.”
Cornelia replied coldly, her irritation evident.
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
Having said that, she quickly left the room, as if she didn’t want to talk any longer.
As Erich watched her retreating figure, he realized that he still hadn’t said anything to her.
Eventually, he let out a hollow laugh.
‘No, it’s not that I couldn’t say anything; it’s that I didn’t say anything.’
Just a moment ago, she had clearly been smiling.
<Oh, really? How reassuring.>
But her gaze still held the same disappointment she had shown him before.
‘And if you find out who’s behind this, you’ll push me away, saying you don’t need me.’
Although Reinhardt was beneath him in rank, he was not an easy opponent. He pretended to obey the emperor while dealing with the corrupt elements, but in the end, he was no different from the real power behind the regime.
‘Not only did he manage to bring the emperor’s nobles to his side, but he also swayed the neutral nobles. He turned them against Fritz.’
He was someone skilled in manipulation and deceit.
If he tried to harm her and that little one while Erich was away, there would be no way to stop him.
‘That’s why I can’t tell you.’
Eventually, Erich positioned himself where he could see her room through the window and took in Cornelia with his blue eyes.
Only then did a sense of relief wash over his anxiously fluttering heart.
‘I want to be by your side, even if it’s just like this.’
He knew it was his own selfishness. He was merely rationalizing his desire to be near her.
But he could no longer stop.
‘I will stay by your side and protect you. Even if you hate me for the rest of your life.’
As long as she could live and remain safe, that was enough for him.
