Not all wounds heal at once. Sometimes, those with diminished recovery strength can only suffer and languish from massive injuries. Applying harsh medicine to such people will only lead them to death.
They could have chosen to die, giving up on healing when the pain became unbearable.
First, the blood flowing from the wound needed to be wiped away, and food needed to be chewed for them to raise their nearly dying strength. Gradually the bleeding would stop, scabs would form in layers, and if one could resist the urge to scratch, the scabs would fall off naturally.
It took a very long time, loving care, and the will to live to reach that point. Someone had to stay by their side, gritting their teeth and sacrificing themselves to keep them alive.
But even then, complete healing might be impossible.
Peon still felt guilty about sleeping, even if only briefly.
Kaela would sometimes sit quietly by the window, staring outside with empty eyes.
Sleep didn’t matter. One doesn’t die from not sleeping.
But it made Peon anxious to see Kaela crouched on the chair, hugging her knees, blankly staring at the season as cold began to approach.
A specific anxiety washed over him – that someone with a broken soul might remain unresponsive to any stimulus before suddenly opening a window and throwing themselves out.
One cannot be completely free from a past that drove people to death. That past is also the foundation that makes them who they are; without it, their present selves wouldn’t exist.
“Honey?”
New habits had formed now that they were together. Kaela would sometimes call out to Peon even when dozing off. He could return immediately when his wife called, whether wandering in the cold winter or trapped in suffering in the Northern Tower.
“Hmm?”
The moment she confirmed he wasn’t asleep, Kaela randomly patted whatever part of him she could reach.
“Come on, go to sleep…”
When her palm, warmed to the same temperature as his, patted him, Peon didn’t resist the touch.
It was also the only command that the dragon, who had planted seeds of division in the Crania Empire that had torn apart his parents and was waiting for them to sprout, couldn’t resist. That’s how he fell asleep at least once.
“Kaela.”
Likewise for Peon, who was gradually increasing his sleep time ever so slightly. He would quietly watch his wife as she stared blankly outside, making sure not to miss the right moment to call her.
“Shall we go horseback riding? The weather is nice today.”
Peon never sent maids or knights to refresh Kaela’s surroundings. He always went himself. That was also the responsibility of the one who caused everything.
It would be fine if she rejected his suggestion and angrily asked “Why did you do that to me back then,” and it would also be fine if she nodded and followed him obediently.
Anything was fine, as long as she looked at him, breaking free from thoughts of the past. Just as she had pulled him up, he pulled her up before more painful memories could surface.
Blue eyes turned toward Peon. Each time, he tensed and steeled himself. He also prepared himself to handle the devastating wounds Kaela might reveal.
“You mean riding horses, right?”
Though she often couldn’t contain her rising anger, Kaela now knew how to joke with a bright smile. She could read the tension in her husband’s face, which others found difficult to read.
“If you prefer me over a horse, that’s also…”
“Let’s go out. I’ll change and come back.”
Before he could say anything more suggestive, Kaela jumped up and brushed past him. Left alone, Peon smiled slightly. The couple, who had never gone on a honeymoon, was somehow enjoying their daily life at their first resort quite well.
****
Days at Kerniola passed very lazily and comfortably. In the mornings, they would go horseback riding with a picnic basket and eat lunch while looking at Lake Foch.
Though people would glance their way wanting to come greet them, somehow Peon had worked some magic, and no one approached to say hello. That made Kaela comfortable too.
The sandwiches, which she could now eat without Peon having to cut them for her, were delicious. She enjoyed the cold food-focused menu, and ate heartily after working up an appetite from horseback riding.
After Peon packed away their meal items and loaded the basket back up, Kaela mounted her horse again and they slowly explored the surroundings more. Then the two galloped back across the wide plains of Saint Mernie Manor.
After riding to their heart’s content, they washed off their sweat-soaked bodies. Even then, Peon didn’t leave Kaela alone.
Here in Kerniola, at this secluded manor away from everyone’s eyes, he loved her freely. Nothing could interfere with them. Peon showered his wife with kisses and brushed her hair as she nodded off drowsily.
That’s what seemed to have happened.
‘I must have fallen asleep.’
Kaela stared dumbly at the setting sun through the window. Though she didn’t remember falling asleep, she was lying in the back garden.
The plush outdoor sunbathing bed even had white curtains drawn down. The very warm blanket had become one with her. So much so that she could barely feel her body sunk into the bed. If she had slept, she must have slept very deeply.
Kaela looked at the trees and autumn flowers visible between the billowing curtains. The leaves were starting to fall now.
A rolling leaf caught the wind and landed on the light beige blanket. Kaela reached out to grab the leaf. It made a dry, crackling sound. The fallen leaf, now bearing an even cooler chill, would quietly rot away on the ground.
She rubbed her face with her other hand.
“I slept well.”
She had slept well in the middle of autumn. Sleeping well was good. Though she was a bit worried about sleeping at night, sleep would probably come again once she lay down.
Kaela paused as she lowered her hand. Her hand moved too smoothly and sleekly. The usual slightly uncomfortable catching sensation on her hand was missing.
She looked down at her hand, then looked around. On the table placed beside the head of the sunbathing bed, what should have been there wasn’t.
There were only two neatly folded blankets identical to the one she was covered with, and a shawl, but not what she was looking for.
Kaela lifted the blanket covering her. The cool air invaded her. She carefully sat up. However, there was no metallic clink of anything falling.
Gone.
The ring was gone.
Though the cool autumn breeze was nothing compared to the harsh blade-like winds that struck Lusenford, it was enough to make Kaela recall that day.
Perhaps she had been too absorbed in the light and warm air that summer had bestowed. The pleasant traces of her nap completely vanished.
‘When did I last see it? I definitely only wore my wedding ring today.’
Kaela knew how to find lost items. It was a method she had learned by thoroughly searching through “The Mistress’s Household Management Guide,” which she had naturally brought as part of her dowry before the regression.
It kindly explained to search the last place you saw it and retrace your steps through your memories. Because no one helped her, the Grand Duchess had searched alone through the cold room, corridor, and stairs while crying.
‘I put it on in the morning, wore riding gloves over it when we went out. Then took them off at lunch, so, oh no.’
A bleak sigh escaped. Did she lose it by that lake? What about when they returned? She couldn’t remember. The ring that had become one with her was more often forgotten than felt uncomfortable.
Cold sweat broke out. Just like that cold winter. Just like when she cried while searching for the suddenly missing ring while everyone looked at her with contempt and pity.
“Ah…”
Back then, she never found the ring. She fell asleep crying, and when she opened her eyes again, the ring was placed on her dressing table as if mocking her.
That morning, Kaela realized that all of Lusenford had thoroughly played with her. There was no way to find out who the culprit was. Or rather, there was no need to find out. Everyone except her was the culprit.
‘…What should I do.’
Though Kaela scanned her surroundings with her eyes, she didn’t dare to actively search for the ring like back then. Somehow, she felt she wouldn’t find it anyway.
She already had experience failing. The wedding ring that was now missing was a symbol of a marriage that the person involved didn’t even want. Though the ring she lost back then had a different meaning at the time.
‘Should I just order one myself?’
Now she had enough money for that, and it was annoying to cause a commotion searching for it.
It took less than 30 seconds from realizing she had lost it to reaching that thought. Because she didn’t have the confidence to search everywhere while crying like back then, and now it wasn’t so desperate anymore.
She had become too detached to cling to any position. Or perhaps this marriage now only held that much meaning to her.
Of course she would always wear the wedding ring, and it would be a problem if it disappeared, but rather than searching with all her heart and soul, just ‘moderately less troublesome and easier’ methods of solving it – just that much.
“Did you sleep well?”
Kaela looked up at the voice close by. Peon was coming down the stairs that extended to the back garden.
“Aren’t you cold?”
He asked, seeing her sitting with the blanket completely pulled back. She shook her head.
‘Should I ask him to find it?’
Blue eyes watched her husband as he picked up the shawl. He would find it. Because he’s a dragon, he must have some way. Him finding out that she lost her wedding ring would be incidental.
Now Kaela didn’t really care how disappointed Peon might be in her. In Lusenford, she had been afraid he would be disappointed and dislike her for knowing she was an inadequate mistress, but not anymore.
Shame, emptiness, and wounds remained, but there was nowhere to resent. So Kaela wished for Peon to be tremendously strong and fine. Then wouldn’t it be okay if she sometimes hated him a little when she was unstable? Wouldn’t it be okay to make him work to find the ring?
‘He didn’t help find the ring back then anyway.’
But somehow, the words wouldn’t come out. The thoughts she had while crying and searching for the ring stupidly came back again.
He’ll be disappointed if he knows I lost it. What should I do? What should I do? He’ll hate me more.
Now Peon probably wouldn’t hate her, but he would likely be hurt by her indifferent attitude and lukewarm reaction to losing the ring. Probably.
It would be cleaner if she just quietly ordered and obtained a ring herself. No, that would be impossible in front of Peon who watched her every move.
“I have the ring.”
He said as he draped the shawl over Kaela’s shoulders. Kaela looked curiously at Peon as he sat beside her.
How did he know I was looking for the ring? Peon’s eyes pointed to her hands. Ah. It was obvious since she was clutching her left ring finger with her right hand.
“I took it to do something. Did I surprise you? I’m sorry.”
“No…”
Kaela slowly shook her head, but it was already too late. Peon, smiling slightly with apologetic eyes, took out the wedding ring. Like most wedding rings, Kaela’s was also a plain gold ring without any patterns.
“Give me your hand. No, flip it over, palm up. Yes.”
Instead of putting the ring back on, as she thought he would – no. When she spread her palm, Peon gently sprinkled something onto it.
“Hold these for a moment.”
The white curtains fluttered and leaves brushed past nearby. The intense autumn sun falling from the cloudless blue sky shone on Kaela’s palm. Countless sparkling lights reflected.
Diamonds of various sizes, from ones so small they’d be impossible to find if dropped to 1 carat, 2 carats, and various colors, rolled around on her palm. Most were very small.
“I thought the wedding ring was too plain.”
Most wealthy women’s wedding rings were all like that. Even the imperial family mostly had unadorned wedding rings.
But apparently not for Peon. He who frequently gave Kaela all sorts of things gently touched the round ring. Each time his hand touched it, the ring began to form new curves.
The tiny diamonds on Kaela’s palm floated and flew over. The softly crafted gems began to be densely set into the ring that had taken on a new shape.
“It took a while to choose the right ones. I’m sorry. You must have been very surprised.”
Peon, who had just left the ring floating in the air while it was being completed, turned to fully face Kaela.
“What day is it today?”
“The fourth day since we came on our honeymoon. That makes it special.”
“We’re on our honeymoon?”
“Let’s say we are. Starting with Kerniola.”
Kaela closed her mouth without responding. When Kaela made fearful breathing sounds and turned over the bed, Peon immediately got up and returned here. He was certain without even seeing. She must have been startled because of the ring. He had scared her again.
“I was going to put it on after it was finished, but I couldn’t time it right. I’m sorry.”
Only after apologizing for the third time did Kaela shake her head slightly. But her face was still expressionless.
“No. Thank you. The ring was already fine.”
The sight of colored diamonds sparkling as they naturally wrapped around the entire ring to complete the crafting was rare. The ring became slightly thicker with many tiny diamonds surrounding it, and much more brilliant.
“Wearing all three at once would be too big.”
“That makes it easier to find if you lose it.”
Peon had decided to carry this marriage to the grave. It was a decision made naturally, possessed by madness after abandoning his conscience, but it wasn’t a choice made thoughtlessly following instinct.
He knew well what weight he would have to bear for life when he chose it. The wounds he had created that would never heal completely. His occasional harsh words.
He had to atone for life for all the humiliation, insults, wounds, pain, and terrible death, not dismissing them as things of the past.
“I’m sorry I didn’t help look for it back then and left you alone.”
Your hands must have been red and cracked from the cold. Your eyes swollen from crying and your tear-stained cheeks must have been raw from the cold wind.
“I’m really sorry for letting you go through that alone.”
He had also left alone those ignorant people who whispered that the ring was an evil magic tool communicating with the emperor.
“Though this can’t make up for it…”
Even though it weighed so heavily on his mind that he tried somehow to make even a small effort… The words he couldn’t finish disappeared meaninglessly.
“I’m really sorry for making you remember unpleasant memories.”
Peon muttered bitterly. He would continue to stay by Kaela’s side, creaking and stumbling while trying to imitate being a perfect husband and failing miserably. Struggling to find the same passion and love as before in tired eyes.
“Back then, did you take the ring?”
Kaela asked without looking at him, turning away even from the sparkling wedding ring.
She was remembering her husband who had glanced at her searching for the ring and turned away. That husband had erased all the words he wanted to say. They would only be cowardly excuses in the face of painful wounds and humiliation.
“No.”
Only honesty and truth mattered. The stoic man who didn’t know how to please a woman’s heart planned to live his life faithfully practicing only the virtues he knew. Damn it all, that was all he knew how to do.
“I see. I didn’t think it was you.”
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