Chapter 20

After a heavy atmosphere, Sen smiled, saying that it was good to be with him for quite a long time these days.

[Current miracle value 20.0%]

As it was quite a big case, the reward was good. Of course, the price of making the pitch this way is a bit unforgiving. Still, thanks to that, the 'load' lasted for two hours. That means you can eat a pecan pie for two hours. I excitedly picked up another slice of the pie.

The moment I opened my mouth wide and took a bite with a happy expression....

Knock.

Sen's face lit up with a heavy knock.

"I think you're here."

What are you coming from? Nougat?

I closed my mouth without taking a bite. The chill goes down my spine... Hey, no way....

"Earlier, I was bringing pie and met His Highness Kyle. I told him you were here."

"What...."

"How come you didn't even say hello to His Highness when you saved him? Do you know how worried His Highness was when he disappeared without a word?"

"...."

... Oh, it's ruined.

Regardless of my embarrassment, Sen shouted cheerfully.

"Your Highness!"

The door opened, and Kyle came in.

A handsome man with a cheerful expression... There is no such thing. There is only a terrifying man who conquered the rugged and desolate North by force. Of course, he was handsome at the same time....

His eyes are so spooky!

He shrugged his shoulders and tried to step back slightly, but he swerved. The situation is much better than yesterday, but that doesn't mean everything is better.

I had no place to retreat, so I sat down awkwardly and looked up at him. To make matters worse, Sen said, "Well, please feel free to talk!" and walked away.

Hey man! Where are you going? Don't leave us alone! How can you fix this?!

"...."

Kyle came into the break room with his eyes fixed on me. The heavy sound of footsteps sounded terrifying.

Just by looking at his eyes, he was ready to chew me out from head to toe. I staggered and pushed a little further toward the sofa.

He dropped down right next to me, not across from me. I reflexively stepped aside a little more. ... Why are you doing this? What kind of relationship are we?

"You're alive."

He moved a little closer to my side.

What, do you have any complaints? Are you sorry that you didn't die? I was so stiff that I loaded my disrespectful eyes instead of bullets.

"I thought you were dead...."

His deep, low voice showed his sincerity. I kept silent without saying anything. I felt sorry for him.

'... He must have been worried.'

He was injured and bleeding and collapsed without any time to help, but as soon as he was moved, he disappeared. He did it because he had no excuse to give him, but it was a bit one-sided and too much for Kyle.

After thinking about it for a moment, I pulled myself slightly toward him and sat down. Kyle's face was dark and gloomy. Straighten your face, man. I'm sorry for nothing.

"Were you worried?"

Kyle replied with a slight smile.

"Do you think I'm cold-blooded without blood or tears?"

"...."

"According to the people, the bloody duke... Or something."

His smile soon became bitter.

Why doesn't Kyle have any recognition? There is no way that there is no recognition for those who do not ignore what they have promised to protect and take responsibility for.

Kyle Blake is a kinder, more meticulous, and more caring person than I saw in the novel. He became strong because he didn't want to lose anything anymore, he became poisonous to protect his people, and he became smart to give the North a better future.

However, the more he did so, the more the world misunderstood him. They called him a terrible man for conquering a barren land, and ridiculed him for ruthlessly killing his enemies. They believed that if they locked him up in the North with a few sharp words, they would be safe.

"It doesn't suit me. What is the Grand Duke of Blood?"

Kyle's eyes curled softly at my words.

"He's not dead, so don't worry. Are your limbs fine like this... It's not that far, but it's still much better than yesterday, so it's enough to eat pie."

"The doctors said that there were no patients coming in. It would have been difficult to treat it alone."

"What.... I'm a little more resilient than others."

Until I rewrote 'load', this body was resting all the time, and the system was exerting all its strength, so it was natural that the wounds healed faster than others.

"It won't disappear this time, so if you have any questions, you can ask me."

With that said, I poured a slice of pie onto a plate.

"Do you want to eat it?"

Kyle squeezed my wrist instead of the plate.

"If you tie it up, it won't disappear."

"... Confinement is a crime, right?"

"...."

"Is there a grand sabotage above the law?"

"...."

"Hey?"

Don't put on a serious face. If you look at me like that, I think I'll be able to do that. And it is useless to tie them up. Anyway, when I have time, I'll quietly go into his hamster house that you have prepared for me.

"I said you could ask me if you had any questions."

"Yes, well."

"Why did you leave your clothes behind?"

"... It's damp. I lost a lot of blood, so I just changed my clothes."

"Did you have the spirit to do that? I also took off the bandages."

"There were some shards of glass on my back."

I looked around casually.

"So."

"So?"

"Is your back okay?"

It's okay. No, what? So are you eating pie here... Well, what is it! For what! What is it?

He spun around and stretched out his arms from behind. Hands reached out from her sides, unbuttoned them, and pulled her shirt down under her shoulders.

It happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to panic. The cold wind blew through the skin of my neck and back, and I got goosebumps.

"Is it okay to strip people off so quickly!?"

I couldn't even struggle with it. It was because my clothes were held in his hands. I had to move around with tears and hassles.

Yes, let's be quiet. I don't mean it in a bad way. Still, I hope you will get away with it as soon as possible. If someone sees it, they will misunderstand.

"The outside is healed."

Kyle's fingertips carefully ran around my back. It was a gentle touch, as if it was dealing with something that could break with the slightest misstep.

"But it will leave scars."

"Well, what do you think?"

"It will take time for the bruises to come off."

"It's okay. I can't even see it with my eyes anyway."

Anyway, one or two scars are no problem for me to live. This is not what a real painful scar is. What is left in your heart is really painful. I thought it was all healed, but when I looked at it, it was the human heart that was throbbing.

"... Thank goodness."

Kyle's voice was low. It tickled my ears like the wind and swirled away. It was strange to hear that voice that seemed to be whispering. He was relieved, but I don't know why my anxious heart sank with me.

How many minutes passed like that?

"...."

['Load' will be lifted after 20 minutes.]

It's time to go.

I glanced back, and Kyle wrinkled his brows. Why?

"...."

He knows that doesn't make sense. But you can't tell me not to go. But I don't want to let it go, so I look at it with that kind of impression.

'... Looking at it like this, it looks like a dog with dark fur.'

It sounds like a swearing, but it's literally like a dog. It's so cute and ridiculous that it doesn't look like it.

"You can see it tomorrow."

Eventually, words promising the future came out of my mouth. We can't be together all day, but we can be human for two hours a day.

"If you don't mind by this time tomorrow, I'll be in the break room."

For the first time since I came here, I promised something.

Why, you ask... Well, it just seemed like it should be. At least when I said I would come here, I thought he would be less anxious.

It's amazing to have a promise. It felt like they were tying me to each other with an invisible string.

"I'm not going anywhere."

I have to save you, but where am I going to leave you?

"Yes."

Kyle replied with a sigh.

"I'll wait."

In fact, I wanted to ask him why he cared so much about me. Belial was also injured, and I heard that some of the other nobles in the vicinity were also injured. Among so many people, I dare to choose myself.

Why the hell?

But the moment I made eye contact with him, I couldn't say anything. The words he was about to say melted on the tip of his tongue and there was no trace left.

To be honest, I was happy.

How long had someone been waiting for me? I only remember that I always chased my legs to the point of tearing my legs to live like others and not be inferior to others. He said he would wait for me, who was always running along the heels of the world.

Kyle.

Do you understand this loneliness? Is that why I said I would wait so seriously?

"Yes."

A burning sensation seemed to warm my chest and neck. Where does the throbbing pain in my chest come from?

"...."

The face is close. It was as close as it was when we danced yesterday. His forehead seemed to touch at any moment, and his shallow, cold breathing tickled the bridge of his nose. I was so close that I could see myself reflected in Kyle's red eyes.

"... Why do you see it that way?"

"Because they look alike."

They don't look like each other, but what the hell do they look like? But it wasn't bad for him to recognize me like that, so I just laughed.

"You don't have sincerity when it comes to work comments."

Kyle laughed.

Like spring in the north that comes after a long winter.