CH 79.2

Duke Kyar and the rest of the knights entered the dark forest late.

Maybe, they didn’t plan to return at night.

When Isabella got tired of reading in the barracks, she sighed and came out to breathe some fresh air.

Why aren’t they home yet?

“What are you doing here?” Evan asked, standing beside her.

“Oh, I just wanted to get some fresh air. The knights who went to the dark forest hadn’t returned yet, had they?”

“Maybe, they wouldn’t return until midnight. A lot of demonic beasts usually come out around that time. I also heard that the knights should rest during the day and visit the dark forest in the afternoon.”

Evan’s explanation relieved her somehow.

Duke Kyar and his Knights still had two hours before midnight.

“Aren’t you cold if you are dressed like that, Isabella?” He asked while regarding her thin cotton dress. “Can I get you a blanket?”

“I’m all right.”

Despite not drinking the red medicine, Isabella didn’t feel cold after being in Ifrit’s presence for so long.

“Are you cold? Would you like me to give you medicine?”

“Medicine? Oh, that’s right. I heard this red medicine you made that keeps the body temperature constant.”

“That’s right.”

“Thank you for the offer, Isabella. I’ve lived in a warm area, so I get cold easily.”

“Yes, I’ll give it to you today for free. If you need it again next time, just come to me.”

‘Now, I have a new customer.’ Isabella smiled at Evan and went straight to the barracks.

Isabella took a single red pill from the medicine boxes and returned it to Evan.

“Here is the medicine I brought.”

“Thank you, Isabella.”

Isabella watched Evan drink the red medicine.

“Wow, this is nice. As soon as I drink it, I don’t feel cold.”

“Right?”

Isabella looked pleased with Evan’s reaction.

“I have to tell the other knights how effective this is!”

“Please promote it a lot. I’ll give you a discount if you convince a lot of knights to buy the medicine I made.”

“I think we should start promoting it right now, Isabella.”

++

“I have other medicine that you might need. If you aren’t feeling well, please come and see us.” Isabella announced, hoping it would get her more customers.

Her goal was to slowly save money and create a research institute with her blood, sweat, and tears this time.

“I will. Oh, I’m getting warm. This makes me feel so alive.”

Evan stretched his shoulders and glanced up at the night sky.

“I can’t see any stars today. Sad. Was it because it’s cloudy?” Evan murmured.

Isabella looked heavenwards and realized it appeared like it was still daytime.

A smile spread across her lips.

She remembered when she and Duke Kyar watched the same sky that day, and he used the power of ice to imitate the Milky Way Galaxy.

“Are you thinking about the guy you are in love with?”

Evan asked, and Isabella was baffled for a moment.

“What? No!”

“I can tell from the look on your face. What kind of person is he? The man you like.”

Isabella lowered her head as she thought about the past Archduke in silence.

Evan noticed the quick shift in Isabella’s mood.

He quickly added, “I’m just curious, Isabella. Please don’t get me wrong.”

“He loved me more than anyone else in the world. He was ready to give me whatever I wanted. He would even tell me that he would pick the stars in the night sky if that would earn my love.”

Had this starry night taken her back to their past?

Isabella was spouting things she normally would have never said.

Just being nostalgic about her past with the Grand Duke had spread a smile on her face.

“Your Highness! You’re here.”

When Isabella glanced up the moment Evan uttered those words, she saw the Grand Duke standing in front of them.

“Oh. When did you get here, Your Highness?” She asked, surprised.

The Grand Duke gave a stiff reply,  “You didn’t even notice I was here. Both of you are too engrossed in the conversation.”

Isabella smiled awkwardly at his crooked tone.

She hadn’t even heard his footsteps so she had no idea he was back there.

Seeing that the surroundings were quiet, it appeared as if the Archduke had returned first.

“Are the other knights back, Your Highness?”

At Evan’s question, Archduke Kyar nodded slowly.

“I want to stay here and clean up. Now that I’m here, you should return to the barracks, Evan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Evan bowed to Grand Duke Kyar, waved Isabella goodbye, and left.

Left alone with Archduke Kyar, Isabella quietly followed him as he entered the barracks first.

Without a word, he unbuttoned his dusty black uniform.

Was he trying to change in front of her?

Embarrassed, Isabella hurried back.

The sound of the fabric sliding against his solid limbs turned her on.

Covering her blushing face with both hands, Isabella spoke, “I’ll be out for a while—”

“You said he’d give you whatever you wanted?” He cut her off. “Didn’t he say that he’ll get the stars from the night sky just to earn your love?”

Isabella’s steps faltered at his sudden question.