CH 76

I could see the faint energy of sacred power entering through Cas’s nose.

As it’s an alternative therapy, it won’t have a direct effect, but his mind and body still will be a little more comfortable.

Some of the times he had boiling fever. Whenever that happened, I wringed out a wet towel and wiped it on his forehead.

His fine brow furrowed, yet he didn’t open his eyes.

As the night deepened, it became dark outside the window.

There were only a couple of orange interior lights in the room, and I was starting to fall asleep, probably because I used a lot of energy.

As I wiped the towel on Cass’ forehead, I fell asleep. No, rather than falling asleep, would it be correct to say that I dozed off and woke up multiple times again?

How long has it been, I wondered.

When I opened my eyes and looked out the window, it was still dark.

‘Looks like I fell asleep for a while.’

I put my hand on Cass’ forehead.

Fortunately, it wasn’t as hot as before. His complexion also seemed better than before.

‘Even if this happens, I don’t know when his condition will deteriorate.’

I sighed lightly and got up from my seat, thinking that I should take a quick nap in the cot.

As soon as I lay down, darkness came.

I think I had a dream.

My funeral home, people’s hissing voices and lonely scenery. I even dreamed of my stepmother and stepsister tidying up my room.

There was no sign of joy on their faces, as they didn’t like that they couldn’t harass me anymore. It was bitter yet annoying.

And it was when I opened my eyes after a panoramic dream. I was buried under a white blanket. Something hard touched my forehead.

‘What… is it?’

I raised my head and pushed it away. Then a bright light entered my eyes.

The first person I met with a little frown… 

“Mar… quis?”

Cass Lloyd. It was him.

I was so surprised that my eyes widened.

Still shirtless, he was lying by the bed, looking at me.

I just woke up from a dream and couldn’t tell what the situation was.

I mean… Why are we in the same bed?

“You’re awake.”

The light wind gently moves his dark hair, probably because the window was left open.

Cass’ ultramarine blue eyes were calm, and there were no signs of sickness in his high nose and red lips.

I grabbed the blanket, jumped up from my seat.

“Why… Why…”

I was so bewildered that I couldn’t speak properly.

“When I woke up in the morning, I found that you were sleeping uncomfortably, that’s why I moved you to the bed.”

Cass’s low voice echoed in my ears.

“…Me?”

Then he nodded as if there could be no one else.

Only then did I have time to look at my clothes with the burning sensation in my cheeks subsiding a little.

It’s the same as when it was worn.

I began to come to my senses gradually.

“Perhaps you imagined a different situation?”

He asked, revealing his tough upper body, which I hadn’t been able to recall in his usual cold-headed image.

Given that state, isn’t it natural to imagine a different situation?

However, I’m a saintess. I decided to protect my dignity and looked away.

“That can’t be true. I was dozing off in the chair, but I was just surprised that I was in bed. By the way…”

“…”

“…You seem to be in good spirits.”

I tried to ask if he had recovered, yet somehow I decided not to ask because this situation was unfair.

I got out of bed, followed by him, also slowly raised his upper body.

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, evaluates Cass’ body very favorably.]

[The God of Art, Mond, gives a favorable review saying that if his upper body is at that level, ■■ can be expected.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, agrees with Mond and says his words are correct.]

Ah… I don’t want to see these naked-related conversations in the morning.

I turned around and spoke nonchalantly.

“Sometimes you told me not to overdo it, and that was what I was going to tell you. If you move without thinking about your body, the people around you will only worry.”

Cass didn’t answer.

Presuming that he was looking at me with expressionless eyes as always, I poured out my words.

“Anyway, I’m glad you seem to be getting better. You recover well. I’m leaving tomorrow after the restoration is over. Then I’ll get going.”

After roughly packing my things, I reached for the door when I suddenly felt a heavy feeling behind my back.

I was startled and tried to turn around, yet my back was blocked and I couldn’t turn.

It wasn’t long before breathing was heard over my shoulder.

Only then did I belatedly realize that Cass was coming up behind me and closely following me.

“…!”

It reminded me of Cass’ solid body and the fact that he was taking off his top.

Surprised, I caught my breath.

I thought he was sitting on the bed, since when did he come without a sign?

He was holding my right arm tightly.

“Did you take care of me yesterday… because you were worried?”

Cass asked a question that had nothing to do with what I said.

I barely managed to calm my beating heart and opened my mouth.

“It was just what I had to do. You accompanied me all the way here, yet the fallen Marquis got stuck in my heart, so I morally…”

I imitated a fairly calm voice, but my body stiffened with tension.

His breathing could be heard quite close.

“Moral… Is there any better word to describe our relationship?”

Cass laughed softly and continued.

I spoke to him calmly.

“You seem to be still distraught.”

“…..”

“I don’t want to make each other awkward because of a mistake, a pointless slip of tongue.”

His dark eyes twinkled.

I knew about the thoughts one could have impulsively when a man and a woman are in a room.

However, he’s one of the three male leads… Above all, it’s Cass Lloyd.

A man with cold blood, who acts with plans and intentions in everything. I can’t help but be wary of his behavior like this.

At my words, Cass’ hand gradually loosened.

“Yes, a mistake… It sounds like a mistake to your ears.”

A moment of silence passed between us.

Without saying a word, I slipped away from him, quietly opened the door, and left.

My heart was beating.

***

The moment Ariel left, Cass went over to the window instead of going back to bed.

A mountain range covered in clear skies and ice caps. The magnificent scenery in front of him was one of the reasons he liked this city.

He licked his lips.

“…Moral.”

The ultramarine blue eyes had an unusually bitter light.

“You’re lying.”

Cass spoke quietly, as if he was speaking to someone who couldn’t hear.

Soon, a pathetic smile passed across his lips.

“I’m just weak-minded.”

With his long career as a merchant, Cass understood people’s innate tendencies better than anyone else.

It was to the extent that he could deduce one’s upbringing background and personality to some extent just by looking at one drinking tea.

And among the women he had ever seen… she was a woman who pretended to be strong yet weak-minded.

‘A woman who can be leaned on, but doesn’t easily lean on.’

She calculated more fiercely than him, yet didn’t act according to the correct answer.

Though she obviously had the most reasonable answer, she refused and went straight without calculations.

That’s why she stayed up all night like that last night to take care of him. Because of her weak-mindedness, she did things that didn’t help her.

Even the moment she collapses after halfway repairing the gate.

“I don’t know who you are.”

Since she was such a holy saintess, he couldn’t forget the way she sold stolen properties.

When he offered to buy her garnet necklace for 10,000 franc, even her eyes, the moment she refused, were wary of him.

“Even my own behavior with you now.”

He himself didn’t know whether it was for observation or his eyes just naturally gazed upon her.

However, the obvious thing is that even though he acts cautiously with his thorns upright like a hedgehog in danger, sometimes he can’t take his eyes off the unstoppable figure.

Ariel was a very unusual existence that was beyond the scope of Cass’ calculations.

And last night, when she was lying on his bed, furrowing her beautiful eyebrows and digging into his arms, did she know that Cass almost lost his common sense?

Cass put his hand on his forehead, going back to bed.