Chapter 69

***

“Yes! You’re good people, especially… no, no, I shouldn’t say it here.”

She suddenly blurted out embarrassing words. Vivian hurriedly waved her hand.

“…”

“…We will talk later.”

Obviously she was about to say ‘especially Roger’, but after she saw his face, she lost her nerve. Embarrassed, Vivian covered her face, which was growing hotter.

Tainy smiled and poured alcohol into her empty glass.

“That’s very reassuring.”

He said softly and left, claiming he was going to get another drink. Suddenly it was just the two of them left.

There was still no response from Roger. Vivian couldn’t even raise her head. 

Then she heard a small laugh. Vivian forgot her embarrassment and looked up.

Roger smiled as he looked at her, melting her heart, which had been hardening.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him laugh, but she could never get used to it. It was new every time she saw it, and today was unfamiliar enough to make her heart flutter. His eyes were looking at her as if she were cute…

It felt like intoxication had finally set in. Her mind was hazy and her vision was blurry. What was even more turbulent were the feelings inside of her chest.

“Then, if the Lady gets swept away by bad rumors…”

“…”

“…Will you turn away from us?”

Roger asked with a languid expression.

Countless memories flashed before his eyes.

‘I’ve been betrayed many times. There were countless people who approached the Knights to see if they had anything, but eventually we found out that they were vain with nothing. They were so-called ephemerals who lived by power and died by power.’

‘Then they would scheme. They would say, ‘If you let them fall, it would be appreciated’. After that, it was normal for criticism to follow.  Not because of lack of swordsmanship, not because of lack of character, but because of lack of power.’

The only quiet corner in the noisy room was where they sat. Roger leaned his forward, propping up his chin with his arm. The distant scenery was obscured by his large size. There was nothing else in sight. It felt like her whole world was filled with him.

When she was asked the question, her hazy mind suddenly became clear.

“I won’t turn away. I will continue to be with the Knights of Eckhart, no…”

Vivian paused for a moment.

“I want to be by your side.”

Her hazy eyes became clear and firm. Roger, who was quietly watching her, grinned.

“I know you won’t believe what a drunk person says.”

A self-deprecating laugh followed her words.

“I want to believe it because the Lady said it.”

Vivian flinched at the way he treated her as a drunkard.

“I am not drunk. I am simply in good spirits.”

“I can see that.”

“…”

For a moment, Vivian’s mouth hung open dumbly. Roger, who was looking better than her, knew her condition better.

He put her glass down and grabbed her hand, raising her up.

“I’ll take you to your bedroom, so let’s go.”

Vivian shook her head and got up. For a moment, her limbs were weak, causing her to stagger. Roger was startled and grabbed her tightly. But even with his support, her feet couldn’t move, so he shook his head and picked Vivian up in a bridal carry.

Suddenly, their noisy surroundings became quiet.

Roger threatened the knights with frosty eyes, then turned and left the hall. Vivian had no idea what had happened as her head was spinning.

He reached the second floor with ease even while carrying her, and he opened the door to the end of the hallway. As soon as he opened it, a load of her scent flowed out and tickled his nose. Flinching for a moment, he hugged Vivian tighter and walked over to her bed. 

Roger put her head straight on the pillow, and pulled a blanket over her body. At that moment, Vivian, who had closed her eyes as if she had fallen asleep, opened her eyelids.

“…Sir Knight.”

She had barely opened her eyes, but her vision was spinning. It was hard to tell if it was Roger or another knight in front of her. Vivian frowned.

“You’re Sir Knight, right?”

Roger thought it was an absurd question and chuckled.

“Who else would I be?”

Who else could hold her like this and take her directly to her room?

His omitted explanation was full of confidence. Vivian hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and pulled him close. His eyes fluttered at the unexpected touch.

“Sir…”

“Why are you calling me?”

“…Knight”

“Yes.”

Vivian smiled. He was kind enough to answer whenever she called. Roger, who looked down at her silently, also smiled briefly as he couldn’t stop her. The sound of laughter filled the air.

Vivian suddenly stopped laughing and put a stern expression on her face.

“Don’t be kind to other women.”

Roger’s laughter stopped. Her voice subtly seeped into his ear like the moonlight on his windowsill.

“Other women… I mean, don’t let them touch you.”

The breath that leaked out between her gaping lips was full of drunkenness.

Roger looked down at her with a stiff face. Her pale blue eyes, clearer than ice, set his heart beating.

“Are you still mad?”

It was Roger who repeatedly denied Enka’s reasoning that Vivian was mad because of a woman. But when he heard the words coming out of her mouth, he couldn’t deny it any longer. He unconsciously raised his hand and stroked her cheek. Her body was excruciatingly hot.

Vivian could not respond properly due to her fading mind and she closed her eyes again. But she answered with her actions alone. Only as she closed her eyes did Roger put a smile on his lips. It was such a pretty smile that Vivian’s heart would have burst if she had seen it.

* * *

Her throat was tight. She felt like a desert wanderer who hadn’t been able to properly quench their thirst for months. Vivian woke up from her deep sleep with that intense of a thirst.

She lifted her heavy eyelids to a familiar space. She was in her room. She couldn’t remember when she came up, but seeing the blackness outside her window, it must be deep dawn.

“Ah, my head.”

Upon waking up, a headache hit her head. As she stood, she felt a little better, but the pain didn’t completely disappear.

Vivian scrambled to the table in her room. Her water jug, which Hamel usually kept filled, was empty. The emptiness almost made her legs wobbly.

She just wanted to sleep, but she was so thirsty that she couldn’t help but open the bedroom door. It was late, so she didn’t want to call Hamel, who was likely sleeping by now.

When she headed to the dining room, it was quiet, as the drinking party was over. It was only after she drank straight from the water jug that had been placed on the table that she was able to quench her thirst. But the headache still persisted.

“Whoa.”

She took a deep breath and the smell of alcohol came from her mouth. After Vivian took another gulp of water, she went up to the second floor.

The quiet mansion seemed gloomy, like a reflection of the western land. As she walked down the hallway where the only light that illuminated her vision was moonlight, Vivian grabbed her head from the constant headache.

“Uggghhh.”

Gently holding her aching head, Vivian arrived in front of the room she had found only by muscle memory, and opened the door. Her exhausted body wanted to lie down quickly.

As she was about to lie on her bed, she stopped when she noticed her uncomfortable nightgown. Since no one could see her, she unbuttoned it and gently took the dress off. Her skin, which was revealed, was as white as her eyes and beautifully breathtaking.

Vivian carefully laid down on the spacious bed. She had no strength in her body, but her headache made her act cautiously. With her arms flung out to the side, she closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

It must have been because she quenched her thirst, but Vivian fell asleep without hesitation.

***

She opened her eyes to a warm breath that tickled her skin. Even today, his beautiful face lay right in front of her.

Realizing that she was dreaming, Vivian slowly blinked her eyes. When she saw him, who she hadn’t seen for a few days because of their argument, she was moved to tears. The man in front of her had no idea of ​​how she felt, and slept well. Vivian pinched his cheek lightly.

‘Huh?’

Vivian noticed straps running down her shoulder. She hastily lowered her eyes and saw a slip of the thin material barely covering her body.

‘This is the first time I’ve worn anything in a dream.’

TN/N: Girl, are you sure you are dreaming?

Vivian, who was dazed after discovering something different from usual, raised her eyes when something grabbed her hand.

“What are you doing as soon as you wake up?”

A murky voice tickled her ears. He gently bit the fingertips that had been pinching his cheeks. Her heart pounded a bit. Her anger melted away in no time. With just one action, she no longer cared about her heart. He was wielding that power indiscriminately.

Vivian looked at him with eyes still drenched in doubt. Roger was [email protected] as usual. His chest and abs, woven with strong muscles, were clearly visible.

He got on top of her without hesitation. Vivian’s mind was quickly disturbed by the pouring of kisses. In fact, she still couldn’t think deeply. She was a mess of hangovers and headaches. 

“Yes…”

His tongue, poking through her lips, ran across her mouth. Vivian felt her body slowly warming up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Roger responded, turning his head and pushing his tongue deeper.

TN/N: This cliffhanger is too much. T_T