CH 101

Love at First Sight

The next day, Bund informed that he had encountered wizards. As he spoke, he looked at Kyrie and Nathaniel with a very serious and worried face.

“It looks like they are looking around. Why don’t you stay here longer?”

Kyrie gratefully accepted the offer.

MarryAnne was instructed to prioritize sending the corpse of the Marquis of Vermont and those who guarded him to the capital if anything happens. Once they arrived safely in the capital, Kyrie thought that she would be able to get back there somehow.

Even so, it was strange that MarryAnne was not searching at all.  Kyrie thought that the situation was obviously not right.  It was a thought, not knowing that Nathaniel was sending back the leaf butterflies that kept appearing.

So, sitting in the living room without hesitation, Kyrie waited for the magic corps to leave.  Nathaniel also sat next to her, like a character in the portrait, but he didn’t do anything special.

“Eve, there are five firewoods here, minus two of them, how many left?”

“Uung……?”

Kyrie blankly watched as Bund and Eve, who had returned from cutting wood, sat next to each other and had a friendly conversation.  Eve, who had her brown hair in two ponytails, tilted her head over and over as if the calculations were difficult.  Bund, watching her fight the numbers, noticed Kyrie’s gaze and raised his head.

“Can I get you some more tea? Dandelion tea is good.”

She couldn’t see his mouth well because of his beard, but his half-moon-like folded eyes were relentlessly bearish.

“No, it’s okay. It’s lovely to watch you both.”

“Having children changes the world.”

Bund looked down at Eve with warm eyes.  Then he shifted his gaze back to her.

“Do you two have plans to have children?”

Kyrie was perplexed, and Nathaniel, who always acted as if he was minding his own business, cleverly interrupted as if he was joking anyway.

[Two sons and two daughters.]

“Haha, a large family like that would be really happy!”

Kyrie looked at Nathaniel with eyes that said he was crazy.  Nathaniel looked at her with a dazzling face that blinded her.

[Why?]

As soon as he asked that question, he skillfully opened his eyes.

[Ah. Our girl…….]

“Please!”

[…It’s only possible if our story ends well.]

Kyrie opened her eyes fiercely. That’s intentional. He wants to make fun of her somehow.

Although she sent a warning from her eyes to keep his mouth shut, Nathaniel smiled brightly with a face like, ‘I can’t believe there is so much fun in this world’

[This is really fun. Is it not?]

Since Bund looked very excited, Kyrie cried and nodded while eating mustard seeds, looking at Bund’s countenance.

(TL/N: Used when someone is forced to do something he/she would rather not do, but pretends to enjoy it, anyway. (Mustard seed is hot and spicy and is used for seasoning.))

“That’s right. You must be really happy seeing that you’re this overjoyed.

[Of course. My lady personally eloped in love with me. How can someone not be joyful?]

“I don’t think the word ‘eloped’ is good for children’s education. Shall we not use it?”

[I can’t believe you are already worried about the future of your child’s education, you have good eyes.]

“Oh my gosh, like that……!”

She swallowed what she was about to say as she looked at the startled faces of Bund and Eve.

“……I am so ashamed that you praise me so much. Now, why don’t you give it a rest?”

Nathaniel smiled with his blue eyes bent beautifully.  It was such a dazzling smile that it was like an angel had descended.

[I think I can laugh for the next 200 years from this situation alone.]

“Don’t break other people’s time units with a smile.”

[I also have a wedding plan that I didn’t have, but it’s about an hourly unit.]

“If you are dissatisfied, there is a good way.  We get out of here, and we each go our separate ways.”

[Is marriage funny?]

Crazy.  

Kyrie covered her face. On the other hand, Nathaniel smiled broadly like a flower in full bloom, and he spoke as if reciting poems with a more aristocratic accent than necessary.

[I don’t think I can tell how happy I am right now, so I have to work harder to express it.  Shall I sprinkle the rain with jewels, float the emerald boat in the river of gold, and hold a ceremony on it? Do you think you will feel a little like this?]

“So cool!”

Bund exclaimed. It seems that he thought it was a figurative expression, but Kyrie, who knew Nathaniel’s nature, trembled from anxiety.  She grinned as she gritted her teeth.

“no…….I mean that even now, it’s, very, very, much enough.”

“It’s so touching…….You two are a match made in heaven!’

“Where are you going?”

[You have high standards. Now, I should give a present to the good child.]

Nathaniel embarrasses Bund by piling up jewels like a mountain right on the table.

Kyrie wondered if it was a good thing she had made a truce with him.  But when Eve made eye contact with her, who had her mouth wide open, looking at the jewel like a beautiful stone, and when Eve hid behind Bund from shyness, she smiled involuntarily.

A few more days passed. Bund’s house felt like the world and time that flows differently.  It was like being in a different world, not in a human world. Meanwhile, Nathaniel acted like someone who attended a masquerade called ‘Escape of Love’.  

In short, it was a lot of fun for him.

“But how did you two meet?”

At Bund’s question, Nathaniel smiled sweetly as he bowed his head in shyness with flowers.

[I fell for it at first sight.]

“Romantic!”

‘He came. Into the window’ 

(TL/N: they first saw each other from the window, in village Hercula)

Nathaniel was as docile as ever.  He looked at Kyrie from time to time as if observing something, but for the most part he had a soft smile on his face and when Kyrie turned her head while looking elsewhere, his and her eyes always met.

Kyrie found it awkward and kept avoiding his gaze. She was nervous because she didn’t know when and what he was going to do, but when she thought about it, this person was actually Nathaniel. There were too many incidents, but Nathaniel was originally a decent person as long as others didn’t touch him first.

Kyrie had a chance to observe Nathaniel again after a long time.

He is a man who always sits next to Kyrie and drinks tea. He has delicate features, neat clothes, a dignified posture and demeanor.  At Bund’s house, his eyes shone as clear blue as the summer sea.

“He really has beautiful eyes.”

Bund muttered that too.

Two more days passed. Nathaniel spent most of his time with Kyrie, but sometimes he would go out of the house to send MarryAnne’s leaf butterflies back when they flew in.

Bund’s voice was heard in Nathaniel’s ears as he returned the butterfly and opened the door as he had done other days. It was a tense voice.

“If you want to escape, I will help you.”

Nathaniel paused. Bund was speaking in a tone of great concern.

“I tried to pretend I didn’t know, but no matter how hard you look at the bruises on your wrists, aren’t they the bruises that occur when you hold them tight…”

Nathaniel put down the doorknob and looked up at the sky for a moment.  It was definitely his fault. It was when Nathaniel was about to turn around, deciding that it would be better to give them some room to criticize him.

“But he knew it was a mistake.”

From beyond the door, Kyrie spoke quietly.

“It was not intentional. It was just because he is too strong, and he will never do it again.”

Nathaniel paused. To his surprise, his cotton candy pinpointed him very accurately.

“However……”

“Bund. Thanks for the concern, but it’s okay.  There will be nothing to worry about.  Even if he really tries to overpower me, I’m not the one to stay still.

Nathaniel could tell without looking what kind of face she was making now.  When she tries to convince someone, her face becomes supremely beautiful and firm at the same time.

Kyrie, who paused for a moment, gave out a refreshing laugh.

“Besides, I’m the only one in the world who can hit him on his face.”

Nathaniel smiled unconsciously with his arms folded. Even if Kyrie suddenly attacked him, he would just watch.

Bund realized that Kyrie’s will was firm, and soon changed the subject.

“Then what would you like to do if the family freed you two?”

The owner of this house was rather sensible in choosing questions. Nathaniel tapped his finger and waited for Kyrie’s reply. The answers, which had been heard well before, did not come out for quite some time. The voice that came out was more confused than he had expected.

“Well. I never imagined….”

“Yes?  Why?  Don’t give up!  I’ll help too, so I hope you’re happy.”

“Yes…… thanks.”

It was a disappointing reaction. Bund was a little more fired up.

“How important it is to dream of the future!  Surprisingly, it makes people strong. Isn’t that right?”

“Is that so?”

“Do you really want anything? Think carefully.  It’s okay, it doesn’t have to be big. There must be at least one very small thing.”

After those words, Bund was silent for a long time. The sight of a man with a shaggy beard looking at Kyrie with warm eyes was pictured in his mind. Nathaniel recognised that Bund was a good-natured person, and he didn’t rush Kyrie to answer.

And Kyrie Buchanan, strong against the strong and weak against the weak, did not ignore the trivial question.  Soon she slowly pulled out her answer.  It was an awkward tone, as if it was her first time having a conversation like this with someone..

“A flower….”

Nathaniel attentively listened to her voice.

“…….I want flowers to bloom.”

Kyrie’s voice became smaller.

“A flower?”

“Hydrangea or jacaranda…….”

It was clear that she was talking about the future, but her voice sounded empty and lonely.  Nathaniel’s doubts were solved by Bund.

“Great! Elsus is said to be famous for those two flowers!”

Elsus.

Nathaniel attained enlightenment. Her childhood, spent in Elsus, was probably the only time of her life that Kyrie was loved without worries.

“It would be nice to live in that area or in a village on the outskirts of Elsus……”

Bund’s voice was full of vigor to cheer up Kyrie, but backfired. It wasn’t his fault. Nathaniel opened the door and entered the house, using a small force.

(TL/N: the reason why it back fired….. these flowers were mentioned in the last part of Volume 3, so you must have understood)

[Are you talking about something funny?]

“You are here? But now…….”

Quarreung!

Bund’s words were cut off by a lightning strike in the dry sky.  And as usual, people quickly forgot the previous topic and started talking about how loud the thunderbolt had just been.  Kyrie had a slightly relieved face, and Nathaniel smiled, thinking it was fortunate.

That night, Nathaniel left Kyrie and Bund’s house for a while. He had something to find.

***

Kyrie was ready to leave early in the morning the next day. The magic corps seemed to have left nearby, and they could no longer waste time.

“Do you need anything else?”

Bund, who helped in packing clothes and luggage for Kyrie, who didn’t have anything, was still anxious because he couldn’t do anything. His brown eyes were as sweet as when she first met.

“Thanks. I owe you a lot.”

“What do you mean thank you? I ended up getting paid…… haha.”

Bund scratched his head out of embarrassment, but considering his courage to accept a potentially dangerous person into a house especially when he had a child, it was something never to be taken lightly.

“But where did your husband go? I haven’t seen him since yesterday. There are bears in this area, so it must be dangerous.”

“It would be dangerous…… for the bear.”

“Yes?”

“He will be fine. He wouldn’t have gone too far.”

He is such a person  Kyrie muttered.

“Yes…… Ah! He is here.”

At that moment, Bund looked behind Kyrie and waved his thick hand.  Kyrie reflexively turned her back.  The facade is now over, but she was planning to finish it perfectly.

But when she turned around, she forgot her words for a moment.

Nathaniel was holding a jacaranda branch with purple flowers. And he smiled with a more beautiful face than ever.

[Hydrangea is still in season.]

Looking down at Kyrie, who had hardened beyond surprise, Nathaniel held out the branch that he was holding. Kyrie stared blankly at the purple flowers that were just the size of her forearm. She mumbled as she managed to regain her consciousness.

“It’s not time to bloom yet, where……”

[Nearby.]

I don’t think there are any jacarandas nearby.  Bund muttered from behind, but Nathaniel ignored it.

Kyrie didn’t say anything for a long time.  She didn’t even have a special expression on her face.  She blinked her eyes intermittently like a person lost her soul, stroking the purple petals with her fingers. Nathaniel followed her fingertips with his gaze.

When the word ‘flower’ came out of Kyrie’s mouth, Nathaniel knew at once that it was her primal desire. Kyrie’s own desires, not the Kyrie Buchanan’s, the noble Kyrie’s, and Nathaniel’s Kyrie.  Evil always digs into such a gap in the heart. If your heart is so empty, wouldn’t it be filled with even a single flower?

So, if she is looking for it, that’s it. When the flowers he gave him filled Kyrie’s heart and it lowered her guard against him.

Let’s lock her up again.

Nathaniel just smiled softly, hiding his thoughts.

[Do you like it?]

She is too pretty and too fragile to be left outside.  So let’s lock her up this time where no one can see her, where no one can come.  Let’s make a castle out of ice and turn everything around it into a snowy field, and serve her like the Snow Queen. The only person she would ever need is him. 

In the world, me and Kyrie, just the two of us is enough.

Tie her hands and feet with purple ribbons so she can’t walk without him.  Put a veil over her head and an eye patch over her eyes so she can’t see anything. Cover her ears with wax and lock her in a world where the only thing she can feel is his touch.

Nathaniel imagined Kyrie on his white bed, where she couldn’t do anything without him, and he felt a surge of relief. It wasn’t his favorite expression, but it was lovely just imagining it. He was right. His Kyrie will be by his side forever, and she will be safe.

‘Besides, I’m the only person in the world who can hit him on his face.’

Sometimes she gets bruises, faints, and he gets obsessed with her.

He had to admit that controlling Kyrie’s mind, spirit, and even the unconscious mind was a very daunting task. When things got to this point, even Nathaniel was forced to accept her greatness.

He, too, for a brief moment thought of treating her, as Kyrie does to others, and wondered if it would be possible for him to flutter her heart, but he could not.  So now it didn’t matter. He thought it would be more comfortable to put aside this situation, and to have complete control over her body.

Of course, that would completely change Kyrie Buchanan.  No matter what he does, never will she call his name. A series of events led Nathaniel to somehow somehow feel that it is better for her to laugh than to cry, but she will never smile at him either.

But his arrogance said,

Someone else’s smile, kindness, affection, isn’t that a big deal?  Haven’t you suffered too much to put mercy in her hands just because of that?  

That was indeed true.

That’s why he.

[Kyrie.]

Never.

[Come on.]

Towards her.

Nathaniel slowly reached out his hand.

At that moment, Kyrie raised her head.

“Ah……”

Reflexively, their eyes met. And the moment Kyrie looked at him and blinked her eyes, the flowers that reflected in her eyes appeared in like a flood. The madness in his stomach, which had been running wild with excitement, was startled and stopped moving.

“Ugh.”

Kyrie frowned, coloring her white cheeks red. She seemed to want to hide his joy, but her dimples were already wide on her cheeks. She looked shy and defenseless as if she had no doubt about what he was thinking.

“What….. should I do?”

Kyrie, who had covered her mouth with her hand and made a sound as if she was holding back something, said in a small weeping voice.  She narrowed her brow, and bit her little lips for a while.

Then, she bursts out laughing as if she can’t stand it. As dizzying as a flower bud is blooming.

“So much….. Thank you so much, Nathaniel……”

And Nathaniel heard all his plans melt like a snowman in the spring sun.

It was force majeure.

(TL/N: Force majeure- irresistible compulsion or superior strength.)

That’s why, now he, never towards her……..

***

Jacaranda

Hydrangea