Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Reaching out to his shoulder, he then bent over to match their height. Holly lifted her toes and patted him on the shoulder.

A pleasant smile appeared on Cahill’s lips.

With a smile that made her feel good, Holly felt completely relieved.

“The festival starts tomorrow. The Prince asked me to go with him, so I said yes.”

However, as soon as she mentioned Ahmed, the smile on Cahill’s lips disappeared. He gazed at her with a dissatisfied face.

“We got food and a comfortable bed, so I can afford to do that. It’s okay right?”

To be honest, she didn’t know why she was even asking his permission. Still, seeing him nod his head, albeit with a sullen face, made her feel at ease and thought that it was a good thing that she told him first.

“How long will we be here?”

Cahill knew her parents, the purpose of the trip, did not come here. So, he would think that she had no reason to stay here long. Holly hesitated, not knowing what to say to him, who knew nothing of her circumstances.

“Actually, I think I might be from this country.”

“You are from Centria.”

As Cahill replied, puzzled by her difficult words, Holly slowly shook her head.

“It’s not where you live, it’s where you were born.”

She had no intention of explaining to him all her pitiful circumstances. When this trip was over, they would go back to their respective places anyway. Cahill didn’t even bother to ask. Instead, he silently nodded his head and looked at Holly’s chest with a thoughtful look.

“What, what’s wrong?”

He suddenly stroked the nape of her neck. His gentle touch tickled the soles of her feet, and Holly glanced at the side where Mona was standing.

“Hey! There are people here…”

Then, the hand that slid down from her neck suddenly came inside. Her eyes widened as a hand swept through her soft breasts.

“I’ll take this just in case.”

Her body leaned forward at the pulling force. Cahill grabbed her by the shoulder as she was about to fall in front of her and stood her upright.

Holly, her eyes wide open at the sudden happenings, put her hand on the neck he had held.

‘No…!’

She didn’t have the necklace that she had worn on her body since childhood. Lifting her eyes, she saw the string of the necklace dangling from Cahill’s hand and dangling through the air. Holly reached out to get it back. However, it was quicker for him to take a step back.

“I’ll give it to you when we get out of here.”

The conditions he offered were strange.

‘…Is it because he was afraid I’m leaving him alone?’

Holly tilted her head at the thought. It was true that she was thinking of separating with Cahill someday, but not here, at least not surrounded by strangers.

‘I’m sure he’ll give it to me.’

In the end, giving up on the lingering regrets, Holly struggled to suppress the emptiness from being deprived of what she had always had.

Even her parents, who were struggling with debt, turned away from the necklace like unnecessary stones. Nevertheless, there was a baseless belief that Cahill would return it even if it were of value that her parents and she did not know.

“But, I don’t think you’re from here.”

Cahill spoke confidently and turned. As he walked back to where he had come from, the servant quickly followed him.

“I’m sorry. You can go now.”

Holly turned to look at his back as he moved away. Meanwhile, Mona opened and closed her lips, trying to say something to her. But, without opening her mouth, she turned around and walked ahead instead.

“This is the room. It is a place that is given only to very precious people.”

Mona stopped in front of the room that had a grandeur handle. Seeing it, Holly couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

“…Can you even give me a place like that?”

“His Highness Ahmed wants you to.”

Her mouth widened as she peered in through the open door. It was bigger than her house, where she lived, plus a yard.

In the middle of the room was a large bed, it was considerable enough for several people to roll around. In addition, the red cloth that adorned the walls were also dazzlingly decorated on the bed posts.

‘Somehow, the atmosphere…’

Holly couldn’t find a place to lay her eyes, so she stared at the white bed sheets.

“If you need anything more, please feel free to tell me. His Highness has told us to take good care of you.”

Mona opened the door to Holly and covered her lips with her palm before smiling shyly. A mirror appeared in Holly’s eyes as she was about to say she didn’t need her. There were reflections of her own greasy hair.

‘Well, like this…’

Her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Ah, I…I want to wash, is that okay?”

“Yes. I will bring the children to attend.”

When she asked with an apologetic look, Mona responded as if she had been waiting for it and turned around.

“Servants…?”

The next moment, a shrill sound came out of Holly’s startled mouth. When she thought that someone would be watching over her while she was washing, she felt unwilling.

“They’re all girls, so you don’t have to worry.”

Nonetheless, Mona replied with a smile as if she knew exactly what she was thinking.

“If I bring in a man, won’t His Highness be upset?”

‘Prince Ahmed doesn’t like that kind of thing then.’

Holly, who had not expected the lewd kind of servant, shut her open mouth belatedly.

“Just tell me the location, and I will wash by myself.”

Mona could not easily answer Holly’s words. She seemed confused as to whether she should comply with the guest’s request or if she should insist on the best service.

“I will tell the Prince separately later.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll do it today.”

Finally, after mentioning Ahmed, Mona walked away, nodding her head.

She opened the door in the room and filled a large bath with water so that Holly could wash up before leaving the room. As Holly leaned her back in the bathtub and tilted her head back, a fragrant smell rose from the water that reached her chest.

Soaking her body like this would surely leave a reverberation on her body.

“Because I live, I get to enjoy all these luxuries.”

It was thanks to Cahill, who said he was curious about a country that wasn’t even on the map. If she had been alone without him, she would never have followed a stranger to a place like this.

“…What about Cahill?”

Holly naturally thought about him.

Cahill probably would be more uncomfortable with homelessness than her. Unlike her, he may be enjoying all these luxuries for granted. A smile crept across her lips as she recalled him, who would give orders with a nonchalant look on his face.

“I will sleep comfortably after a long time.”

After so many minutes had passed, Holly got up from the bathtub. The water ran through her body and returned to the bathtub. While she didn’t know if it was an illusion, it felt like her skin had become softer.

In front of the door was a thin dress with a design similar to that worn by Mona. Her cheeks heated up at the touch of the soft cloth.

“Is this okay…?”

The fabric was so thin that it looked like the flesh could be seen through. Holly brushed the nape of her neck as she saw her body reflected in the mirror.

“Let’s change into my clothes in the morning.”

Holly remembered the clothes that she had washed before showering and that she had hung by the bathtub.

There was no one in the room she returned to after that. As she glanced around and immediately threw herself into the bed, her body, which was wrapped in the soft sheets, felt like it was melting. Holly stretched out her arms and stirred them.

“Too wide…”

Even though it was warm inside, the air touching her skin felt chilly.

Holly curled up her body. It was the first time she had spent the night alone after she started traveling. Before she knew it, she found herself accustomed to waking up in Cahill’s arms.

“…Isn’t this a bit dangerous?”

She flinched at the thought that just came to her.

It was then that she felt a presence at her bedside. Holly jumped up and turned to the side where the haunting sound was coming from. At that moment, the intruder opened the window and made eye contact with the intruder. He shamelessly rolled his eyes as he stared straight at the owner of the room.

“Did you finish?”

She found Cahill stepping down from the window sill, asking the frozen Holly.

“What are you doing there?”

Seeing him tilting his head at the absurd question, she wondered if this was actually his room because of his very natural attitude.

“I couldn’t get out by the door, so I came through the window.”

‘…He can’t get out?’

Did they stop Cahill, the guest, from wandering around the castle arbitrarily…? Although it was strange, that wasn’t the point right now.

“So, what’s going on?”

“We’re not outside today, so we can do it.”

When he finished his words, Cahill raised his body up and pushed her body onto the bed. Holly’s eyes widened as she suddenly stared at the ceiling. The vision was soon occupied by the beautiful face enough to make her stop breathing.