Chapter 131
– ‘Isn’t that the reason why you are so sulky right now?’
Doyul flinched.
Millennium Ice Crystal continued with a clear articulation.
– ‘I just wish that the contractor could be a little more at ease. It’s pitiful to see her shouldering burdens unnecessarily.’
“…”
– ‘It’s also frustrating and sad that she doesn’t understand the feelings of those who care about her.’
As Doyul was at a loss for words, Millennium Ice Crystal gave him a teasing look.
– ‘So, you’re just going to get angry and run out like this, aren’t you?’
“…That’s…”
– ‘If it’s not that, then prove me wrong.’
“…”
Doyul couldn’t deny it without lying, yet admitting it would hurt his pride.
He shut his mouth tight.
Watching Doyul with a pitiful gaze, Millennium Ice Crystal sat down on the ground.
– ‘Young Palace Lord, open your ears wide and listen well.’
He flicked his tail against the ground in dissatisfaction as he continued.
– ‘It’s not often that I give advice directly.’
“Did you chase me out here just to spout nonsense?”
Doyul squinted as he looked down at Millennium Ice Crystal.
– ‘You dare to call this nonsense when this great spirit comes out to help you?’
Whack!
Somi hit Doyul’s leg with his front paw.
“Ugh, who told you to spout nonsense…!”
Just as Doyul was getting agitated,
– ‘If you want the contractor to be at ease, then…’
Millennium Ice Crystal concluded clearly.
– ‘You need to smile.’
Doyul hesitated.
“…Smile?”
– ‘Yes.’
Millennium Ice Crystal nodded his large head enthusiastically.
– ‘It seems the contractor likes your smiling face the most.’
“…”
Doyul blinked blankly.
‘My smiling face.’
Now that he thought about it, he had often been concerned about Yerin’s expressions, but he had never once considered what his own expression was like.
At that moment, Millennium Ice Crystal added mischievously.
– ‘Judging by that foolish expression on your face, you’ve never thought about it at all, have you?’
“…”
Why is he poking at my sore spots today?
Doyul shot a disgruntled glance at Millennium Ice Crystal.
Millennium Ice Crystal puffed out his chest.
– ‘From what I’ve observed, it seems humans gain strength by exchanging emotions with one another. And you, Young Palace Lord…’
At that moment, Millennium Ice Crystal fell into deep contemplation.
‘If I say this, the Young Palace Lord’s shoulders will surely lift with confidence.’
But how could he bear to see that?
Doyul urged Millennium Ice Crystal, looking confused.
“What? Why did you stop talking?”
– ‘…because you’re the one she relies on the most!’
Somi yelped loudly.
Doyul reflexively covered his ears and grumbled.
“Why are you shouting… huh?”
In an instant, it felt like he had been hit on the head.
Doyul went blank.
Millennium Ice Crystal scolded him again.
– ‘To have to say this much for you to understand, are you really that dense, Young Palace Lord?’
“…Is it really true?”
– ‘Would I lie about something like this?’
Though Millennium Ice Crystal had a nonchalant expression, he did not take back his words.
– ‘I understand that you’re upset, but regardless, you are the one my contractor relies on the most.’
“…”
– ‘If you’re sulking like that, how do you think my contractor feels?’
Doyul pondered over Millennium Ice Crystal’s words for a long while.
“…So, she relies on me?”
After a moment, Doyul glanced down at Millennium Ice Crystal with a softened expression.
“Is it really true?”
When Doyul asked with a hint of skepticism, Millennium Ice Crystal turned serious.
– ‘Do you need to hear it from me to believe it?’
“Not necessarily…”
– ‘It annoys me that a mere human like you is prioritized over this great spirit!’
Millennium Ice Crystal jumped up, anger flaring.
His shallow patience had run out completely.
– ‘Young Palace Lord, for heaven’s sake, wake up!’
“…”
– ‘You should know to be grateful. How far do I have to go to take care of you?!’
Doyul let out a hollow laugh.
‘Yeah, it’s always the same, Somi…’
And then, at that moment.
Millennium Ice Crystal, who had been fuming, suddenly stood up.
– ‘I think I’ve done enough for you, so I’ll be heading back.’
With that, a presence could be felt approaching from behind.
Doyul turned around absentmindedly.
At that moment…
“Ugh.”
Doyul froze in place.
He had just locked eyes with Yerin, who was stepping out of the room.
– ‘I’ve spoon-fed you enough, so you two figure the rest out for yourselves.’
As Millennium Ice Crystal glanced back and forth between Yerin and Doyul, he clicked his tongue and turned away.
– ‘Tsk, at my age, having to clean up after my contractor and the Young Palace Lord…’
Leaving only that grumbling behind, Somi slipped back into the room.
An awkward silence fell.
“…”
“…”
Well, I don’t know.
Yerin hesitantly approached Doyul.
“Um, Doyul?”
As she subtly gauged Doyul’s reaction, Yerin steeled her resolve and spoke.
“I’m sorry for earlier. It’s not that I didn’t understand your worries…”
“Hmm.”
At the same moment, Doyul let out a long sigh.
‘What should I do? It seems like he’s still angry.’
Yerin couldn’t hide her nervous expression and swallowed hard.
“Doyul…?”
“Your body isn’t fully healed yet; what are you doing out here already?”
At the same time, the thin fabric of Doyul’s long coat draped over Yerin’s shoulders.
Doyul had taken off his coat and covered her with it.
“What if you end up getting sick again?”
Although his voice sounded indifferent, Yerin wasn’t someone who would miss the affection hidden within it.
‘This is the usual Doyul.’
A wave of relief washed over her.
For some reason, she felt a tingling sensation deep within her chest, and she fidgeted with the edge of the coat, avoiding his gaze.
“It’s… fine. The weather is really warm.”
“Still, you haven’t completely recovered yet, have you?”
Only after carefully adjusting the collar around Yerin’s neck did Doyul finally remove his hands with a satisfied look.
Then, he suddenly spoke.
“Alright then.”
“Huh?”
Yerin blinked at his unexpected remark.
“They say the one who likes more loses, so I have no choice but to follow you.”
Doyul shook his head playfully and looked Yerin straight in the eye.
“The reason I’ve come to like you is because of the upright way you present yourself.”
Doyul’s gaze softened.
It was the bright smile Yerin had always adored.
“Your thoughts are correct. A person in a high position should show that much responsibility.”
“…Doyul.”
“I was just being petulant and angry for no reason.”
Doyul continued, his expression slightly awkward.
“Rather, I should apologize to you, so please don’t worry about it.”
“…”
At his kind words, Yerin pressed her lips together.
How could she not understand Doyul’s heart?
He cherished her so much, which is why he was even more upset.
‘But still…’
After a long pause, Yerin decided to express her feelings through action.
She stretched out her arms and pulled Doyul into a tight hug.
“…Thank you.”
Her voice, thick with emotion, resonated softly.
As she nestled into his embrace, Doyul felt a tightening sensation in his chest.
‘In truth, the one suffering the most must be Yerin.’
The collusion between the Dang Clan and the Blood Cult, and the deaths of the Dang’s master and young master…
Yerin had endured all of that, simply trying to fulfill her responsibilities.
Doyul gazed down at Yerin’s delicate shoulders, which trembled slightly.
‘I’ve been too harsh.’
He pulled her in tightly, gently patting her slender back.
For a long time, they shared their warmth with each other.
—
Time passed.
After a while, Yerin, feeling somewhat calmer, pulled away from Doyul’s embrace.
“I feel like I’ve shown you a shameful side of myself.”
Yerin murmured, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“You can show me anything, but please try not to let others see it.”
At Doyul’s playful response, Yerin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why not?”
“Well, if others see it, I’ll get jealous.”
Doyul added, half-joking and half-serious.
“Not even Somi.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yerin giggled shyly.
The two stood side by side, gazing at the scenery.
The winding walls stretched out before them, and beyond them, the pavilions’ tiled roofs were densely packed.
A massive estate brimming with history.
As they considered it, Doyul was struck anew by the realization that they were staying within the Sachendan’s territory.
He absentmindedly posed a question.
“What will you do about the Dang master and the young master?”
It was the Dang’s master, no less, who had committed atrocious acts in collusion with the Blood Cult.
Moreover, the corpse of the young master had been desecrated by the Blood Cult.
If this were to come to light…
‘The honor of the Sachendan would surely plummet.’
Worried, Doyul stole a glance at Yerin’s expression.
At the same time, he realized.
‘You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?’
The smile that had adorned Yerin’s face had vanished without a trace.
Her dark eyes were sharp like blades forged from ice.
Yerin opened her mouth in a chilling tone.
“That is…”
