CHAPTER 8: 4TH DAY, HER DEPARTURE

It's already 8 pm and he just arrived. He left early this morning. I thought he was just having dinner, but Lila told me he left the house.

I'm not even waiting for him or anything. It's actually good that he didn't come back earlier so I could get some peace. But now he's here. I can see the exhaustion on his face, his long hair is tied up, and I can see sweat on his forehead.

Did he have a rehearsal?

"Why are you still in the living room?" he asked, but he wasn't even looking at me. He grabbed a glass of water and drank it.

I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"I just wanted to be out here. I-I wasn't waiting for you or anything. Maybe you thought..." I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

"Now that you said that..."

I immediately looked at him, and he just smirked at me. It's one of those expressions I rarely see on him.

"I didn't say I was waiting for you—"

"You're so defensive. I'm not saying anything," he said, then placed the glass on the table. After that, he went into his room (which I'm staying in), probably to take a shower. I could hear the water running.

I just shrugged and waited for him to come out so I could finally sleep. I started thinking about the picture in his room.

Um...I can't remember where I saw that girl. But she looks so familiar. Maybe she's Zeid's ex from before we got married, or maybe they're still together, which is why he hasn't thrown away the picture. I don't know. She could also be someone he admires.

To be honest, I can't tell because... because it's none of my business! I-I don't care or anything.

40 minutes later.

I finally got up because Zeid was taking too long. Maybe he drowned in the bathtub.

Just kidding.

But why hasn't he come out yet? I'm so sleepy!

"I'll just check... I'll close my eyes if he's still in there..."

I slowly opened the door and peeked in. My eyes immediately landed on the bed, and there he was, sprawled on it. His hair was still damp, and he had already taken a shower and changed, but he seemed to have forgotten that I was assigned to his bed these days?

I closed the door and walked over to the bed. I looked at him and sighed. His hair was still wet.

I grabbed a fresh towel and started drying his hair. I adjusted his position on the bed and wiped his face, which had been dampened by his hair.

I couldn't help but smile.

Even if this guy has a heart of stone or a presence as cold as ice, I've never seen his weak side until now.

I stared at his face. "You can actually make an expression that's not intimidating," I whispered, finishing drying his hair. I covered him with a blanket and was about to leave when he grabbed my hand and pulled me down onto his chest.

My heart was pounding so fast. I think my face is turning red.

W-What is this guy doing!

"H-Hey Zeid, are you awake? I'm not a blanket," I said.

But he just wrapped his arms around me. This side of him... WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!

"H-Hey, hey, hey... Let go—"

"I can hear you, stupid woman," he said, opening his eyes.

My eyes widened, and I quickly sat up, distancing myself from him.

"W-What do you think you're doing?" I asked, blushing.

"What do you think YOU'RE doing?"

"I was just drying your hair! I adjusted your position and covered you with a blanket. Is that bad? Wait, why do I feel like I'm the one in the wrong here? W-Why did you suddenly pull me like that?"

"Tsk. Don't make a fuss over something so small. Besides, you're the one who touched me first," he said.

"WHAT? It was just your hair!"

"Still... You touched me."And then who told me not to make a fuss over something so small?

I crossed my arms and glared at him. He sat on the bed and looked at me with his serious expression.

"I'll sleep in the guest room. I don't want to go back to my room anyway," I said."I don't trust you at all."

"Then where am I supposed to sleep, huh? Seriously?" I grumbled, still annoyed by what he said.He pointed to the bed he was sitting on.

"Here. You'll sleep here."

My eyes widened again.

"I don't want to sleep next to you!"

"Do you think I want to sleep with you?"

Waaaahh! Don't make it sound so... so embarrassing!

AFTER 144,382 NEARLY KILLING EACH OTHER...

"Are you asleep?" I asked.

"I am."

BUT YOU'RE TALKING TO ME RIGHT NOW, ZEID!

"Whatever, good night." I turned away and closed my eyes. I have to wake up early tomorrow...

4:00 am

I opened my eyes and looked at Zeid beside me. He was sleeping peacefully.

He doesn't toss and turn much when he sleeps, huh. And he's still in the middle of the bed. It seems he really doesn't move around when I'm next to him!

N-no matter, I'm leaving anyway, so I don't need to be next to him. And wait! Didn't he sleep in the guest room the past few days? Why did he decide to sleep in his room now?

But... if he's really that sleepy...Ugh! I shouldn't even be thinking about all this! I need to leave. Like, right now! I'm going back to my room to clean up.

"But just to make sure..." I slowly got off the bed and walked to the other side, next to Zeid.

I first looked at his face, illuminated by the faint light from the energy stone.

"Sleep well..." I whispered, then gently placed my hand on his forehead.

Even though I don't have much experience with spells, I do know a few. One of them is the time spell. When I cast it on Zeid, it sets his body clock. So, whatever time I set for him to wake up, that's when he'll wake up—no earlier, no later.

"You'll wake up at 7:00. It's not too bad," I muttered, finishing the spell. Then I opened his closet, grabbed a coat, and put it on.I quickly left and hurried to my room. Thank goodness I always keep a spare key around. It seems they took the key I usually use. I opened the door and started doing what I needed to do.

I grabbed the things I would need, like the energy stone, potions I bought from the potion stores, and some other supplies.

When Kaito and I leave the city, the guards are likely to notice our movements. So, we need another way to slip out unnoticed.

After preparing everything, I quickly left Zeid's territory..

Of course, I didn't go through the gate because it's guarded. What else could I do? I went over the wall! Hahaha!

I didn't expect I'd actually need a rope to get over it. It felt like I was about to elope to meet my boyfriend—ayaaaa! Wrong thought. It's just Kaito. IT'S JUST KAITO!

"1... 2... 3!"

Success!

I was already out, so I quickly ran towards the spot where Kaito and I used to hang out, by the Merito River. I knew it was still early, but I managed to escape by five o'clock. Now, the surroundings were becoming a bit more visible as it was starting to get lighter. But there were still only a few people outside—those on duty in the squad. So, I made sure to avoid running into them and just took the back alleys.

And finally!I could see the Merito glistening in the early morning light.

I used the energy stone to light my way down, and then hurried towards the bridge where a small boat was occasionally docked.

"Kaito's not here yet. Hmm, as expected---"

"YO!"

"Ayy, you scared me! It's just you, Kaito! Don't sneak up on me like that!" I said, stopping in my tracks and looking at the bag he was carrying on his back.

"That's a pretty big one, huh."

He just shrugged and smiled at me.

"Just in case. Oh, come on, let's go already? Let's not wait until six o'clock," he said, and started walking ahead, which I quickly followed.

"Do you have a pass?" he asked, showing me the pass he had brought.

"A pass? Ah! I do. But... this is the pass I'll be using," I said, showing him another pass I had. I have another one but it has the Chen Clan symbol engraved on it. It was given to me by Zeid's grandfather when we got married. But there are so many reasons why I can't use it.

"Alright! All we need is a good reason for the guards to let us through," he said, walking with a spring in his step.

I felt a flutter in my chest and smiled.

Kaito...

---

"Waahhh I didn't expect that."

"It's a bit intimidating, actually. But our reason should be solid enough. I'm glad I brought my katana," he said, showing me the katana strapped to his waist.

"Where did you even get that?" I asked.

"It's my brother's katana. I just borrowed it. You know how it is," he replied, continuing on his way.

"So, where's our destination now?"

"Hmm… We can't go straight to that place, especially with all the monsters running rampant these days. Let's head to Hashi Village first. It's important to gather information, especially from the mercenaries," he said, and I nodded in agreement.

"Alright! Copy."

And so, we spent almost half the day traveling to Hashi Village. We only stopped to rest and eat, and then it was back to walking.I glanced at Kaito...

He's smiling...

But...

What's that aura I'm sensing?

It's... weird...