CH 119

Is a housewarming party… like this? (11) – unedited

“Uwaack!”

The door went wide open. I hate to admit it, but the one who opened the door was, of course, Merson. Ahh. I rolled my eyes and looked at Merson.

“I’m a little… late, am I?”

“A little?”

The pile of hair dye slipped out of my arms and landed on an empty table. Merson’s hand, which carried it, went up to my waist.

“Well… there is… that.”

“…….”

“The sun has already gone down, hasn’t it?”

“…….”

I thought that questions close to accusations would pour out from him. Asking where I had been and what I had been doing, but Merson didn’t say a word. He just kept his mouth shut and looked down at me. This is more scary. Just curse me!

“Merson, have you eaten?”

“…….”

“You must’ve waited a long time, I said I would come back soon.”

“…….”

“I couldn’t keep my words again…….”

My body was pulled up and my cheek touched his chest. Merson rested his chin on the top of his head, sending his warm warmth from head to toe.

“… Were you worried?”

“I know Erina wasn’t in danger. Because I couldn’t see it.”

“What?”

“Erina’s danger.”

What kind of foretelling is that? I haven’t seen a setting in the novel where the demon king can see the future.

“How?”

“Safety device.”

“What nonsense…….”

“So where are you from?”

Merson’s voice rose slightly. My body flinched for no reason at that trivial question, like a thief that gets cold feet. What is it, why am I nervous? I’m not a cheating wife.

“I met someone I knew, but he suddenly said he would invite me to his house.”

“Someone you know?”

This meant that it was someone I know, who Merson didn’t know. Because we were more closely attached to each other than a real couple, there is no such thing as someone that we know that the other doesn’t know.

It’s not unnatural for Merson to ask, and even though it’s not unnatural, I’m hesitant to say it. It was all the more so because the person I knew was the Emperor. He was one of the people in the love triangle with the saint. Before Merson lost his memory, he unintentionally built up a friendship with his rival.

“Ugh- it’s heavy.”

The chin resting on the top of my head squeezed me hard. He was urging me. Haa- alright. What is there to be afraid of? Anyway, Merson can’t remember, and I’m not having a fling with the Emperor.

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

“… What?”

“The person we saw at the parade the other day. There was something I helped him with during the banquet, so to repay me, he gave me a tour of the imperial castle. When would someone like me get to visit such a place? So I went.”

The truth is, I was almost forcibly dragged along, but this went through a filter slightly because it could have sparked Merson’s anger.

“Erina, don’t meet that bastard.”

My shoulder felt like it was being shoved away, but I was gripped firmly under Merson’s hand. His red eyes burned, sharp fangs sparsely revealing between his lips.

“Why, it’s just a housewarming party.”

“If I had known that Erina was seeing the Emperor, I would have brought you back right away.”

I felt the hand on my shoulder tighten with rage. Merson seemed to be restraining himself, fearing that I would be hurt, but my body knew very well that there was an unusual fire burning in the area where he touched.

Why was he so angry?

It was strange. I don’t think he has any memories of the Emperor, but could it be possible that he had this bad feeling just by seeing the Emperor once during the parade? It could not be explained or understood with common sense.

If so, no way. His memories of the Emperor…….

“… Is it back?”

I couldn’t contain my curiosity, and the thoughts came out of my mouth.

“Did your memory come back? Really?”

Grabbing Merson’s clothes, I approached him and asked.

Thump-thump-thump-

My heart raced. Emotions such as fear, joy, worry, and relief began to run wild. But Merson shook his head very firmly.

“I heard that the Emperor was your first love and that he was handsome.”

… what is he talking about now?

I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to him. Merson’s voice was very serious and desperate.

“Don’t meet him. I should be the only cool guy for Erina. I am your first love, and I am the handsome one. Don’t even look at him. please.”

Right after the parade, when I saw the Emperor, I said to Merson: ‘he’s handsome’, ‘he has everything’ and ‘my first love image’.  I never thought he would have kept it in his heart.

Merson’s arm, which is holding onto my shoulder, was pulled apart by force.

“Let’s go to sleep.”

The tension was relieved, and the tiredness seemed to come all at once.

“Erina, never meet that bastard. Huh? Answer me.”

I roughly nodded. Yes yes. Well, I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.

“Really…….”

“What about Evan?”

Unsatisfied with my answer, when Merson was about to start craving a more insistent answer, I quickly cut him off.

“Now you are looking for me?”

I heard a very lazy voice hanging behind Merson’s back. Evan waved his hand as I turned my  back to look at the bed.

“Are you still lying down?”

“I had a good time watching the couple fight. The husband who dares to be jealous of His Majesty. The wife even went to the imperial palace. This couple is amazing.”

A mocking applause and whistles followed, and the pillow lying quietly beside me flew into Evan’s face.

Wham–

“Ouch!”

“Why did it suddenly fly away?”

“Say that after you put down the other pillow it?!”

“My hand slipped. I’m sorry, Evan.”

Evan wiped the bridge of his nose.

“You’re not going to sleep comfortably in fear of getting hit?”

“I’ve been sleeping until now.”

Evan got up from the bed, tapped me on the shoulder, and walked towards the door with a heavy motion.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to ask the innkeeper for an empty room.”

Evan, who was looking at me and Merson, immediately shook his head.

“Sharing a room with a couple is insanely uncomfortable.”

“What about the money?”

Evan reached out his hand without hesitation. Towards Merson.

“I’ll put it in yours.”

“Did you leave it to Merson?”

“Good night!”

Bang–

Evan shot out and the door closed. I stood there for a moment, blinking my eyes, then instinctively lowered my butt down to the bed.

I looked at Merson, who was still standing, and asked with a meaningless smile.

“Hey, why isn’t he going home?”