Chapter 35

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Chapter 35

If one of us moved even a little, we would be touching each other.

He smelled like a gentle forest. Refreshing and calming. It was true that it was my first time smelling his scent, but it felt like I had known this fragrance for a long time.

“Olivia.”

When I was called again, I swallowed my breath before I managed to open my lips. I was only calling him by his name, but strangely enough, my face heated up. Not to mention, my ears felt like they were burning.

“…Lennox.”

I ushered the name out of my lips.

“Well done.” I heard him chuckle. The satisfying laughter of a predator rang deep in his throat.

“I look forward to seeing you again.” His smile grew deeper at his desired result.

“Oh dear.”

Something white and plump appeared from somewhere and burst in between us.

[You punk! Get away from Olivia!]

“Ash?”

I didn’t see when the bird woke up from his deep slumber.

[Threatening someone weaker than him to get what he wants! A mean and savage human being!], cried Ash, flapping his white wings. He even began to peck Lennox’s hand with his beak.

“Ash, stop!”

[Are you going to ruin the last hope we have? If that is how it’s going to be…]

He was absorbed in the attack, muttering incoherently.His fast movements made his sense of battle seem like no joke. Not Lennox, but Ash.

Meanwhile, Lennox watched the bird leisurely with one eyebrow raised slightly. This made Ash even angrier.

[Scoundrel! You are useless!]

It was only when Lennox had managed to dry out the excited fellow that he spoke.

“D*mn bird…” He glanced sternly at Ash, who had finally calmed down, but turned his head and looked away. I sighed as I leaned my back against the sofa, feeling my back pain.

Lennox was so calm that I thought he was okay, but no matter how small the bird was, an attack was an attack. The back of his hand was now swelling red. Of course, I was ashamed of myself for claiming Ash as my ‘most precious friend’ a while ago.

“Your bird doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

“I apologize.”

I couldn’t say anything else.

“The wound on your hand may get worse, so it’s better to get it treated right away.”

“This kind of wound heals quickly.”

“Still…”

“There seems to be something more important than that.”

“Pardon?”

His smile looked sinister and uneasy as he reached out.

[D-Don’t…!] Noticing something strange, Ash crept towards me, but it didn’t work. [Eek!]

Lennox, who caught the bird in the blink of an eye, smiled with one corner of his mouth raised.

“It’s too much to accuse someone of being a scoundrel without knowing them properly.”

[Gasp…!]

“Of course I admit to being savage.” He glanced at me as he spoke. I flinched like I had been found guilty.

“That’s disappointing, Olivia.”

‘Oh my God…’

It was only then that I realized…

“But I am your husband, and I think you should tell him this important fact in advance.”

Ash, who had lost his reason, did not use our private communication method when he was making a fuss the whole time.

[How could you cage such a cute and adorable bird, you cruel and heartless human?!]

“Cute and adorable, you say? No matter how bright you are, do you have no shame?”

I didn’t know why that shame belonged to me. I poked my head quietly. The first thing Lennox did after Ash was discovered was to lock him in a large cage.

[I would not do that anymore, so let me out!]

“You’d be punished if you did something wrong.”

[The wound is healed anyway!]

The back of Lennox’s hand was already clean. Not because he was treated, but because of his great resilience. It took just a few minutes for the wound to heal, regain new skin, and its swelling to subside. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut watching the amazing process.

“But it doesn’t mean that it would wash away what you’ve done, would it?”

[It’s every bird’s instinct to peck the danger with its beak! I couldn’t help it!]

“A bird that speaks the language of man speaks of its instinct. That’s the most interesting story I’ve got to hear recently.”

Lennox turned away, not casting another glance at the bird.

[Olivia, help me!] He called me anxiously instead, realizing he couldn’t feed grain to Lennox.

“Sorry, Ash. You’ll just have to rest there for a few hours.”

[Sob sob…]

He had a tearful look on his face. I felt sorry for him crouching down on the floor of the cage, but I couldn’t help it. For my position to explain to Lennox was no different than Ash’s.

Lennox’s office was very simple. There were no unnecessary decorations in the room. Every piece of furniture was polished without a speck of dust. It was so neat that I felt desolate.

“Have a seat.” He led me to a leather sofa and sat across from me before opening his mouth. “Now that no bird is overhearing our conversation, let us talk about our marriage.”

I felt struck by a thousand bones.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to deceive Your–”

“Lennox.”

“Yes, Lennox. So, I didn’t mean to deceive you. Um… Honestly, I don’t think creatures like Ash are common.”

It was true that ‘humans easily reject and dislike things that they don’t understand.’

“I thought I might be misunderstood.”

“To be using a forbidden trick, for instance?”

“…Similar to that.”

It was also true that I was frightened of being cornered as a sorcerer. I shivered a little, recalling the fates they had suffered in the past.

“You didn’t trust me, did you?”

His question stabbed me in the heart. It was just as he said. I trusted Lennox more than anyone else, but I didn’t have complete trust in him.

“I’m sorry.” After all, all I could do was apologize. Lennox stared at me with a puzzled look on his face and spoke slowly.

“No known bird can speak the human language so easily.”

Nervously clasping my hands on my knees, I waited for his next words.

“If he can’t be a sorcerer, then perhaps…”

His voice trailed off as he laughed.

“Is he a messenger of God?”

“What?” A messenger of God?

Surprised, I put my hand on the table as I half-shouted, “C-Could that be t-true?”

“Or it’s just the result of a spontaneous mutation.”

What was he talking about…?

“It’s just a rough fit.”

“What?”

“I was only joking.”

For a moment I lost my mind. I must have looked so foolish. Lennox burst into laughter. It was only then that I realized that he had made fun of me.

“Do you know that you are unexpectedly naive?”

“What was that?” I gave him a sharp glare, but he chuckled as if that were more interesting.

I hated him. I wondered if I could trust him in the future.

It was when I was complaining with such a discontented face that he said,

“Olivia.”

“What is it?” I spat, already occupied with my own thoughts. But Lennox seemed unaffected.

“From tomorrow, we shall earnestly begin preparations for the wedding ceremony. I don’t have much time on my schedule.”

I nodded. I was the one who ushered him into marriage from the beginning.

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Not really. You just have to decide.”

“What do you mean, decide?”

“Everything from the dress to the wedding venue. I don’t care about anything, so do as you please.”

It seemed like a suggestion that I had no reason to refuse.

“Could I really do whatever I want?”

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have something else to say later.”

“You worry about nothing. I won’t say anything, so don’t worry.”

Even though I liked the idea, I suddenly hesitated.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…” I smiled, stroking my nose bridge awkwardly. “How shall I put it… it hurts my conscience to be someone who didn’t pay a single gold coin in this marriage?”

Lennox looked confused at my words.

“Who was the one who wanted to skip the dowry because they didn’t have any money?”

“That’s–”

“Where’s the one who bargained for a lot of money?”

“When did I say I was rich? You said you didn’t want to take my money!”

It was not until I, embarrassed, protested that Lennox stopped joking.

“I have instructed those needed to come to the mansion. Your first schedule is to choose your dress and my outfit.”

“Okay.”

In the midst of my satisfaction, I remembered something I had forgotten.

“But Your Grace-”

“Lennox.”

“Oh, yes. Lennox.”

Correcting my address quickly, I went on.

“I must contact the house of Brienne.”

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