Chapter 37

Translated by alyalia

Edited by popcorn

“Your Excellency…I’m sorry.”

They left Cersinia’s house for a while now. When they were far enough,  Archen knelt down on the muddy ground in front of Ben and apologized. Obviously, it was because of what happened earlier with Cersinia. Ben, who was standing under the eaves to avoid the heavy rain, said.

“Do you want to die?”

“I’m sorry.”

The image of Archen kissing Cersinia’s hand earlier came to Ben’s mind once again, and it made him furious. His blood pressure rose, and the vein on his forehead became prominent. At that moment he thought of many ways to cut his subordinate’s mouth for daring to touch Cersinia’s hand. He knew that it was narrow-minded of him to think this way, but what else could he do to try to calm his boiling heart? A few moments later his chest swelled down as if it had quenched its anger.

“I won’t let it slide twice.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He usually wasn’t bothered by how Archen greeted people, well that was until now. However, if that person is Cersinia, it is a different story. No one is allowed to touch her no matter who they are! A flash of emotions appeared in his dark purple eyes but disappeared as quickly as it came making it difficult to decipher them.

“Report.”

Per his master request, Archen reported everything he has been investigating so far. He has always been meticulous and fast to find information. He could obtain any information, from something insignificant to something that could end someone’s life. His report had revealed every undignified thing and every abuse of power the Shorevarce family committed.

“Wait until the next order is issued.”

Ben’s jaw twitched with great force. He looked like a beast trying to figure out how to ri[ off its prey’s throat. He was going to have fun hunting and eating this whole village since they dared do all of those things that Cersinia. He meant it so that no one could go nor stand against her. All the preparations were done, so it was time to move.

“Yes. I understand. And…”

Archen took a long time. Because he knew that his master wouldn’t like it.

“What is it?”

“The Crown Prince wants to meet you, sir.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I think he heard about what happened yesterday.”

“All right.”

As his bang swept roughly, you could see his eyebrows, which were hidden behind his bangs, twitching slightly. He was obviously annoyed. He has just started being with Cersinia, and the crown prince called him. He didn’t like it, but it was rather a good thing since it was time for him to play his card. He thought about it for some time and decided to leave while Cersinia was asleep in the early morning.

Obviously, the crown prince will ask why he did this, but Ben had no intention of telling him. He didn’t want the crown prince to take interest in Cersinia. So he planned to come back after briefly talking to the crown prince. He hated it when anyone paid attention to Cersinia. He kept telling himself that he just wanted to keep her safe in his arms. But in reality that was his selfish and twisted greed talking, either way he wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want or like.

“Archen, do you know the whereabouts of the letters I wrote?”

Ben’s face suddenly hardened when he asked. He had no intention of taking care of anyone who interfered between Cersinia and him, but it was different now.

“Letters?”

Sensing his master’s anger, Archen quickly searched in his memories. And remember the butler of Shorevarce, Verdik, saying that he would send the letters written by his master. At that time, Verdik was in charge of all the household affairs. And they couldn’t do anything about it since it was an order from the former Grand Duke, sir Kantrid.  So he had no choice but to hand over the letters to Verdik. And since it has been a long time, he forgot about it, but it looks like something went wrong.

“From today on, confiscate all powers relating to Shorevarce from Verdik and detain him.”

“If you say detain him…”

“In the underground.”

“I understand.”

Ben was furious at the name Verdik. He was the hand, foot, and mouth of the former Grand Duke and his father. If he took the letters, it was clear whose order it was. Kantrid’s behavior, which provoked him even after his death, made him feel disgusted and nauseous. With his face scrunched up, Ben quickly turned to Cersinia’s house. His strides were large because he couldn’t wait to see Cersinia. Seeing her would make him feel relieved before being sucked into the abyss again.

* * *

Ben wanted to make Cersinia a meal like he used to. Because he was worried about her, who was thinner.

“Can you really do it?”

May, who had always been in charge of the meals, did not trust the stranger. Meals require delicate hands rather than the rough ones that handle a sword like his. She really couldn’t picture him cooking.

“Don’t worry, I won’t break the plate.”

He said, with a wrinkled expression clearly bothered by May, who was blabbing in disbelief next to him.

“Then, do you know how to make potato bread?”

“Potato bread?”

“Yes. Cersinia loves it. She doesn’t really like other foods… somehow, she only eats that well.”

Potato bread. Ben’s heart fluttered at those words. May’s chatter no longer invaded his ears. Ben recalled one of his old memories that he pondered over multiple times. Cersinia’s smiling, while enjoying the potato bread he made in Mulain Village. That day she told him that it was the first time she had eaten potato bread.

‘She remembered.’

No wonder his heart was pounding so much. His eyes swelled up, and he choked on the rushing emotion he was feeling.

“…is…is that so?”

The fact that she remembers him made the corners of his heart overwhelmed.

“Yes, I told you so.”

“May.”

Cersinia grumbled. She lent Ben the kitchen for a while, but May ended up saying something useless.

“I was just talking about what Cersinia likes.”

May shrugged and answered sarcastically. Cersinia felt like she was caught hiding something.

‘Why did you say that?’ She stared at May with annoyance.

“Hehehe. I’ll let you talk.”

May walked out of the kitchen with a smile. She was quick to catch up.

“Cough.”

Embarrassed that only the two of them were left alone, Cersinia coughed a little. She couldn’t look straight at Ben and scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

“Did you remember?”

Ben lifted his watery eyes and stared at Cersinia. He was trying to contain his overwhelming emotions.

“…What did I forget?” she answered bluntly and turned her head.

Her fingers wiggled because of the awkward atmosphere. And somehow, she felt like something was tickling her heart.

“Cersinia.”

“So, you’re going to make potato bread?”

She hurriedly changed the subject, interrupting him. She didn’t know what he would talk about but she was sure it would make the atmosphere more awkward than the current one. And she couldn’t stand it anymore. Even the embarrassing things she had experienced this morning were still vivid in her mind.

“Yes. I’d like to make it for you if you don’t mind.”

He said. He gently smiled when he saw her shyly looking at the distant mountain and wiggling her fingers. He thought her current attitude was lovely.

“Yes. All the ingredients will be there.”

When she finished talking, Cersinia hurriedly left the kitchen. But before completely leaving she glanced over at Ben’s direction and her eye fell on his attractive smile cast gently on his relaxed expression. His kind eyes were full of affection. As she looked at them she felt a small breeze kindly blow inside her chest and also felt a strange feeling engulfed and gently hugged her.

“Are you sure he can cook lunch by himself?”

May, who was in front of the fireplace, hurriedly went to Cersinia when she left the kitchen and asked.

“Huh? Yes.”

Cersinia, who was walking with a blank expression, came back to reality by May’s voice. Somehow, she kept feeling weird today. Especially when she was with him. She didn’t know if it was a passing wind or a feeling that would linger in her heart then disappear after some years.

“Can he really do it? Should I go help him?”

May still didn’t trust him with kitchen work.

“No, he’ll be okay. Since it’s one of the things he’s the best at.”

Potato bread was the meal Ben was the most confident at. It was the food he always made for her. She thought she might feel strange at the thought of eating food made by him. But only felt weird when he was near her because she kept thinking about the old times.

“Pardon? He’s good at it?”

May tilted her head, wondering what Cersinia was talking about.

“So, take a break for lunch today.”

“Okay, I will.”

May looked strange as she saw the back of Cersinia, who had slipped into her room.

“What’s wrong with her today?””

May scratched her head as it was strange to see Cersinia give off a different energy other than her usual grumpy self in the morning.