Chapter 304 - TAKE YOUR TIME

"…I'm not sure if they know that you are the blessed child. Let's be careful."

Arthur didn't want to hide anything from her anymore. He didn't want to cause another misunderstanding. He wasn't sure if he was prepared for the blow.

He didn't know that this action of his pleased Veronica. Unlike before, she didn't disagree with his words. "You are right. We need to be careful. I'll ask Sebastian to escort me whenever I go out."

Arthur suggested, "You should take Ironin. Sebastian isn't good enough."

"Then he just has to be good enough. I can't always rely on Ironin every time I go out. He isn't your henchman. Before Sebastian couldn't guard me properly because I was the one who tricked him. I won't do that anymore." 

"I believe you. You have grown wiser." Arthur forced a smile. "I missed the old you though."

Veronica looked at his eyes, trying to read his thoughts. "I haven't lost myself, Arthur. I'm still the old me. I just grew a bit."

Arthur nodded. He didn't speak further. After going to the office, he first contacted Catherine. 

"What is it?" Catherine sounded annoyed on the magic stone. 

"I want you to bring Nica's belongings. I left them in her cottage," Arthur ordered.

Catherine was pissed by his commanding attitude. "I know what you did, you thief. I already have them. Vincent gave them to me after you suddenly disappeared with Ver. Do you know how worried I was? If you do this kind of thing again…"

Arthur cut off the communication. He had enough threat hanging near his neck. He didn't need more of it. 

On the other side, Catherine was threatening him. When the magic stone dimmed, she realized that the connection was gone. Her face turned red in anger.

"How… How dare he disconnect me while I was talking? I won't let this slide. I'm going to complain to Ver. First, he took her away without notifying me and scared me to death. Second, he left her stuff. Third, he dared to order me around. Fourth, he dared to disobey me. Arthur, just you wait. I'm coming back in three days." 

"Who are you talking to?" Vincent entered her room with a basket of fruits.

Catherine closed the lid of the wooden box that kept the communication stone hidden. She put the box in her bag and replied, "I was talking to myself. I'm practicing how to scold my friend's husband."

"You don't have to be that hard on him." Vincent smiled. After Veronica was abducted by her husband, he had more time with Catherine. He felt gratitude toward Arthur.

"You don't know him. This guy is so annoying," Catherine complained. "Ever since my friend met him, she changed. To her, her husband is more important than me. I'm sure she had forgiven him even though he took her away. I'm so upset."

Vincent chuckled. He sat beside her and peeled apples for her. "That's because she is in love. When you love someone, you become devoted to that person. You can only think of your partner and no one else. You forgive them no matter what they do."

"You sound like you are saying this from your experience," Catherine commented.

"That's true. I'm telling this from my experience." Vincent fed her a piece of apple.

"Did you fall in love before?" Catherine became curious.

"The moment I laid my eyes on you, I fell in love. I've waited months to see your face. I've forgiven you even though you have come to meet me after so long."

Catherine's face blushed furiously. She bashfully lowered her gaze. It was the first time she had ever experienced a man's love confession. Her heart beat crazily. "Vincent, I…"

"It's okay. You don't have to answer me right away. I did promise you that I'll be your friend before anything. So, take your time. I can wait another few months for your answer."

His generosity eased her heart. "Thank you."

Later, when she was alone, someone came to meet her. The first thing that person said was, "Are you sure you want to be his lover? You have bad eyes for men."

Catherine glared at him. "Are you here to criticize my personal life, Sebastian?"

Sebastian shrugged. He entered her cottage through the window. "Who wants to criticize your boring life? That person must be crazy."

'Wow! Both the master and his disciple are good at messing up people's mood.' Catherine's eyebrows twisted. "Are you talking about yourself?"

"Oh no. I wasn't criticizing. I was just wondering. Of all people, why did you choose a guy like that?"

"What do you mean I chose him? We are just friends."

"You could have made friends with the guys in the tower."

"How can I do that? When I'm in the tower, I'm always working. Did I have time to relax?"

"It's you who didn't take a break in the first place."

"That's because I was too depressed at that time." Catherine let out a deep breath. "All right, let's not argue about it anymore. Why are you here?"

"I'm here because I'm keeping an eye on you."

"Are you tailing me for some reason?" Catherine covered her mouth in surprise. "Sebastian, even if you are a guard, it's creepy when you stalk someone."

"What do you mean tailing you?" Sebastian casually replied. "You suddenly wanted to leave the tower after working continuously for so long. Everyone got worried and sent me here to keep an eye on you. They thought you would do something stupid because your friend died. And then you met the Mistress. I'm just protecting you from the shadows, that's all. Don't think too much."

Catherine crossed her arms. "I didn't hear about it before. When did you start protecting me from the shadows?"

"…After I was released from being Mistress's shadow guard. Since incidents always occurred whenever you two were together, I thought guarding you would help me with my training."

"So, you were trying to use me as your bait?" Catherine's right eyebrow raised. She wasn't sure if she should get mad at him or not.

Sebastian scratched the back of his neck. "Give me some slack. Isn't it great that you got a free bodyguard? No one would dare to harm you. You can be free from worry. I can also practice being a guard."

Catherine thought about it and then finally agreed. "Fine, since it's partially my fault that you lost your position as a guard, I'll let you use me as bait. But make sure you protect me well. And… stay away from me when I'm with Vincent. Don't you dare to poke your nose into our relationship."

Sebastian raised his hands to surrender. "Yes, Miss Catherine!"

-------

Three days later, it was time to leave the resort. Catherine was waiting for her carriage.

"You could have stayed another week." Vincent looked gloomy.

"I'll try to come here often," Catherine promised.

"You said that before too," Vincent mumbled. "I don't like it when I'm waiting for your return, and you enjoy your time with your friend."

"I won't be just enjoying my time with my friend. I have my job."

"See? You didn't even deny it."

Catherine's lips stretched voluntarily. She reached out and held his hand. "If you miss me too much, try coming to the capital. I'll spend the whole day with you."

"You promise?"

"I swear."

"All right, next time you are late meeting me, I'll just go there and meet you."

"I'll be waiting."

Just then, Catherine's carriage came. She went inside and waved at Vincent. "See you soon!" She gave him a bright smile.

The corner of Vincent's lips rose. He stared at her until she disappeared with the carriage.

Catherine closed the window and leaned against the couch. She recalled her precious time with Vincent. 'It was a wonderful week.'

While she was thinking about that, someone knocked on the window. She opened her eyes and looked at the window. She gasped when she saw Sebastian. She quickly opened the door for him.

When he entered inside, she shouted at him, "Are you crazy? What if you fell from there and broke your arms and legs?"

"Am I dumb in your eyes? Of course I won't fall. I'm trained to be a ninja."

"It doesn't matter if you are a ninja or not. Accidents happen when we at least expect them. We always need to be cautious."

"I was being cautious. What? Were you worried?" Sebastian smirked.

Catherine frowned. "Why would I be worried about you? You are so annoying."

Sebastian's lips stretched. He didn't say anything. However, his eyes were poking Catherine's conscience. She stared at him.

"What are you smiling for?" she asked.

"Nothing," Sebastian replied. However, his lips were still smiling.

Catherine frowned. "What do you want to say? Spill it."

Sebastian shrugged. "There is nothing to say. You are too worked up."

"But you are smiling. It's making me annoyed. It's like you know something but I don't.. You are not scheming anything, are you?" Catherine looked at him suspiciously.