Chap 21

"Roderick, are you hurt?"

From the large man, she could almost see a drooping tail and ears.

A wild beast pretending to be a puppy. This man full of sins. She almost felt her heart flutter.

If he were presented in the social circle, young ladies would be fainting and bleeding from their noses.

"Let me go. I need to wash up and sleep quickly."

His frown showed displeasure as he gripped her wrist tighter. Ease up on the strength, will you? My blood's going to stop flowing.

"Let's go together."

"Okay. I doubt anyone will come, but please keep a lookout."

She wasn't sure why he suddenly seemed to suffer from separation anxiety, but Diana said this, shaking her captured wrist.

Soon enough, following the valley, she saw a stream with abundant water, perfect for bathing.

"I'll wash up first."

Setting Roderick at a distance, she shed the robe and his shirt she hadn't been able to remove for days.

Ah, this feels like life again.

Sweaty and sticky in her clothes, she couldn't complain amidst knights clad in heavy armor.

She entered the cold water, stripping off her nightgown and underwear.

Lips clenched to withstand the chill that crept up from her toes to the top of her head.

Brr, it's cold. Let's wash up quickly and get out.

Diana waded into the water up to her waist, alertly wetting her long hair that curled and twisted.

She even picked some herbs with cleaning properties to create lather. No soap, so these would have to do.

Fortunately, there were sensible herbs around, not just bizarre plants, despite being in a monster-infested area.

Everything in this forest seemed oversized. The trees, the monsters, even the valley they found had a wide span and deep depth, as if monsters could emerge and drag them in without a trace.

Thankfully, the water was clear, and the moonlight provided enough visibility to prevent missteps.

"Huh?"

She stopped washing and focused on something floating towards her.

A body? She was only wary of monsters, not expecting to encounter people here.

The object floating face down, unmistakably human, drifted closer.

"Ro, Roderick!"

At her call, Roderick hurriedly parted the bushes and froze.

Uncharacteristically, he seemed panicked. Why is he like that?

Their eyes met — her straight pink gaze and his wavering blue.

Then, following his gaze, she shrieked in surprise.

"What, what are you looking at!"

Her figure, strikingly beautiful under the moonlight, was starkly visible.

Even though she turned away, her image remained etched in his retina.

Roderick exhaled a deep breath like a sigh, dragging his hand down his face.

"What did you call me for...."

"Look, there's a man there!"

At the mention of a man, his expression vanished, and the surrounding air turned icy.

Diana's focus had been on the water, missing the other presence.

Roderick stepped into the water.

Before the floating man got too close to Diana, Roderick grabbed the man by the scruff and pulled him out.

"Puha! Cough. Cough."

Surprisingly, the man was alive. He gasped for air, tears and snot running, stabilizing himself.

"Huha I don't know who you are, but thank you...."

The man looked up, locking eyes with Diana.

"A fairy...?"

"...Felice Schwarz?"

Why are you here? It was the entrance of the sub-male lead they had been searching for.

Hearing the familiar name, Roderick quickly turned Felice around.

"Whoa. Hey, brother?!"

"Felice Schwarz."

Roderick's demeanor was menacing, as if dragged up from the depths of hell. Piercing with deadly intent, Felice broke into a cold sweat.

"Why are you here?"

Roderick's hand, gripping the scruff, bulged with veins.

Why had the runaway ended up floating in the valley stream?

Roderick clenched his teeth, as if restraining curses from spilling out.

"Brother, did you come to save me?"

"Answer."

"That's… there's a deep reason… Huh."

He grimaced as Roderick tightened his grip on his scruff.

"No, I left home for you, not to cause trouble. Do you really need to be this angry? No, no, sorry!"

Faced with Roderick's increasingly stern expression, Felice fervently pleaded, rubbing his water-swollen hands together.

"I'm sorry… Brother. I'm scared."

Diana watched their brotherly squabble from a distance with a vacant expression.

"I understand the brotherly love, but I'm really cold here?"

"Excuse me, gentlemen?"

As if scripted, both men's gazes simultaneously shot towards her.

Was it male instinct? Their eyes drifted down her wet hair along her curvaceous figure.

"Stop staring!"

Startled, both men shuddered noticeably.

"You guys really! Can't you tell I feel it even when I'm turned around?"

"Brother, the fairy is talking? Uh."

Before Felice could utter more nonsense, Roderick, with his gloved hand, firmly grasped his brother's face.

"Let's get out. Get dressed!"

Covering her ample chest in an X-shape, Diana bit her trembling, cold lips.

She felt the water ripple and heard splashing as they left.

"I'm sorry."

Surprised by the apology from behind, Diana blinked her pink eyes widely. Roderick just apologized.

Search "seduced the doomed" at "redcatty . com" to read ahead chapters.