Chapter 16 - Scent of Roses

Chapter 16 – Scent of Roses

The place where Nabel took Ronée was a small mansion near the Count’s house, which used to be someone else’s villa. Ronée didn’t know it, but the mansion had changed its owner just a week ago. She, who had been drenched in salt water, could bath there. There were already people waiting to serve her inside the mansion.

“Miss!” Ryne, who had been safely saved by the men sent by Nabel, also arrived shortly afterwards. Much to her surprise, the maids prepared by Nabel helped Ronée take a bath.

I can hear the sound of water. There is my sister beyond this wall.

Nabel endured for ten years. Her figure, which he had not looked at for a long time and had only recalled, was far more beautiful than he thought. Nabel stood by and waited for her until she came out of the room. He seemed to want to see her as soon as possible.

Click. The door opened, and Ronée stepped into the room, inhaling a deep breath.

“Nabel.”

Her damp, dark pink hair was covered in a white towel. The few strands of hair that fell smelled like the scent of the bathroom’s fragrance.

More than that, it was the scent of roses that stirred Nabel. The scent was thicker than how it was a decade ago. Nabel was looking at her, who had been in his dream for a long time.

Ronée was unharmed. Even though he was so late, she was unharmed. Nabel closed his eyes. The wall that had grown thicker for ten years had disappeared.

“Thank you for waiting.” Thank you so much. He whispered in a low voice. It was time for him to return her favor, which he had received ten years ago, to a larger one.

It’s been ten years since I’ve lived just for that. He hid his wounded body and pulled Ronée to his chest. A strong scent filled his nose. His heart was beating so hard. With trembling hands, he gently embraced Ronée.

The tough hands that had slaughtered enemies were as soft as before. He calmed his desire to rave like a tyrant and kissed Ronée’s forehead.

Like the day I left.

Now the two were not alone.

Thump. Someone knocked on the door. “My Lord, it’s Nesha.”

Nabel’s eyes squinted upon hearing the voice that interrupted their sweet reunion.

***

Knight Nesha was a faithful knight. He was the one who would serve the Lord to go on a long way, and he was so talented that he was promoted before anyone else. He was quick-witted and was a man who understood the orders given by Nabel. There were two orders that Nabel gave when he came here.

‘Don’t interrupt their time at the mansion.’

‘And if you feel strange about the heresy interrogators, report it separately.’

What about the heresy interrogators? No one had the courage to ask him back. The knights who followed him only carved the orders deep in their heads.

Nabel clearly gave the orders to not disturb him when he came here, but this was a matter of urgency. Nesha had no choice but to tap into his visit, even if he had to disobey the command of his Lord.

“Lord, it’s Nesha.”

“…I have already told you to not disturb us.” A deep voice resounded behind the door.

Nesha was nervous. As the main soldier who first made his mark on the battlefield, Nabel had no mercy in making mistakes. And the Nabel he knew did not kill for no reason, but once he was certain, he would push forward without hesitation.

The traitors from before had become a cruel example that made those with disrespectful hearts tremble. This meant that Nesha, who had violated his orders to not disturb him, could become an example too.

Nesha bowed his head nervously. “I’m sorry, but…”

Click. The door was opened. Nabel, who opened the door himself, narrowed his eyes. His dark blue orbs stared at Nesha. “Speak. Is it urgent?”

“I came to report that the bodies of the heretic interrogators were scattered in black powder. It was a strange event, so I had to report it.”

The truer the followers of the gods, the more their bodies are preserved until their funeral.  It was also called divine consideration for the wizards who followed their gods for the rest of their lives. Despite that fact, the bodies of the heresy interrogators had disappeared without a trace.

“Not if they’re fake.”

“That…” Nesha couldn’t even speak. The Lord’s face looked displeased to everyone. Nesha knew that he had the least mercy in his hands at times like this.

It was the Lord who had spent a long time on the battlefield. There was no way he didn’t know.

“Nabel.”

Then, a small voice was heard inside. Of course, it was Nesha’s first time to hear the voice.

Is she crazy? Nesha was astonished at the voice who mentioned the most precious name in the West. He wasn’t aware, but it was the wisest moment of his life that he didn’t take the idea out of his mouth.

“If you’re busy, you can go for a while.”

Nesha had a hunch. I might see her face for the first time on the walls tomorrow morning. No, this is still the East Coast, so I think she wouldn’t get caught to be on the wall. 

“No, I don’t want to leave you alone.”

But Nesha’s prediction was visibly wrong. He opened his mouth unknowingly. It was not the cold voice of the Lord he knew. That soft voice was directed at the woman.

“You’re not going too far. I’ll wait.”

At last, with a soft sigh, Nabel nodded. And when Nesha saw it, he couldn’t believe what was happening right in front of him.

Who the hell was she?

Nabel was not a person who talked much to his inferiors. Because of this, the opinions of the knights interpreting Nabel’s words became different.

‘It should be a woman of high status in the East.’

‘She must be someone who was needed to maintain the relationship for the exchange between the East and West empires.’

Their ideas seemed to be all wrong. The knights had etched in their heads that they needed to treat her as important as the guests of their Imperial City.

No, absolutely not. Nesha realized an important fact. He should never go against that woman.