Special Side Story 10

“Kail.”

Alice smiled as she looked at Kylus in his black robe, which matched well with the night sky.

But only briefly, as she quickly asked:

“Is there a ship leaving for the Lux Empire tomorrow?”

Kylus hadn’t merely stepped out to give Alice and Helios space.

He had gone to find out if there was a ship that could take them away from the Eastern Kingdom as soon as possible.

Though it was regrettable that they hadn’t properly explored the capital yet, Alice had decided to leave the Eastern Kingdom with Kylus.

There was no guarantee that incidents like the one with the Donghwa County magistrate wouldn’t happen again.

That was why they had hurriedly left Ilgwang Village as well.

Moreover, she had a feeling that the Donghwa County magistrate wouldn’t give up easily.

Though they had warned the escort guard, the Donghwa County magistrate was still a noble of the Eastern Kingdom.

Especially if he was a noble known for his corrupt character, he would likely be enraged thinking, “How dare mere mercenaries!” rather than making a rational judgment.

So they had decided to leave the Eastern Kingdom before the magistrate started looking for them.

Of course, not out of fear, but to avoid the trouble.

If the conflict with the magistrate escalated, they would have to reveal their identities.

Then it would no longer be a quiet journey.

They would be called to the Eastern Kingdom’s royal court, treated as honored guests.

I wonder if the Eastern Kingdom’s palace is also in an Oriental style?

Just as curiosity crossed Alice’s mind, Kylus approached and handed her a ticket.

“Fortunately, there’s a ship departing tomorrow evening. The cabin is mid-class, which is a bit unfortunate, but the next ship doesn’t leave for three days… So I think we should take this one.”

Kylus’s face became slightly downcast as he couldn’t provide the best for Alice, but she said:

“What does the cabin class matter? As long as I’m with Kail, anywhere is fine.”

For me, wherever Kail is becomes the most luxurious hotel.

Kylus’s face softened at Alice’s affectionate addition.

“Lien.”

How can she be so cute and lovely?

Kylus wanted to kiss Alice immediately as she looked up at him with a smile.

He wanted to fully taste those soft lips that always spoke sweet words, to consume even her breath.

So that no one could see her beautiful and lovely appearance.

To hide her tightly in his embrace for days and nights…

He felt a burning impulse.

But he had to restrain himself.

Instead of acting, Kylus let out a low “hmm.”

If they were to leave tomorrow evening, he couldn’t let Alice’s body be strained.

Kylus diverted his hand that was heading toward her lips to her pink hair instead.

Lien, you couldn’t possibly imagine the dark thoughts I have every time I look at you.

I don’t want you to discover these beast-like inner feelings.

She was a light that shone more brilliantly than any other.

She must not be tainted by his darkness in the slightest.

Kylus suppressed his possessiveness and wore the face of the perfect husband.

At that moment, his fingers touched her hair. It still felt damp, as if it had been hastily dried. Kylus naturally picked up a towel from the dressing table and wrapped it around her hair.

Accustomed to his hands drying her hair, Alice turned her body and openly entrusted her hair to him.

As a smile settled on Alice’s lips under Kylus’s gentle touch, he asked:

“Is Lord Helios alright? He must have been very angry after hearing about today’s events.”

Kylus knew that Alice told Helios everything, from their secret journey to all the events that had occurred during their travels.

So it strangely felt like a journey not just for the two of them but for three, including Helios, but that didn’t bother him.

Because he knew well that Alice and Helios had a better relationship than most real father-daughter pairs.

Well, and anyway, Alice had said she liked me more than Lord Helios.

He could understand her conversations through the mirror as much as needed.

As Kylus casually thought thoughts that would likely narrow Helios’s handsome eyes, Alice answered with a slight shudder of her shoulders:

“It was no joke. I was worried that Donghwa County might disappear from the Eastern Kingdom’s map by tomorrow morning.”

“That’s entirely possible for Lord Helios. So is he going to eliminate Donghwa County? I wasn’t happy about ending this matter so peacefully anyway…”

“Kail?”

“Ahem. It must have been difficult to calm Lord Helios down, Lien.”

Kylus smiled brightly as if he hadn’t said anything wrong.

It seems his slickness is increasing by the day.

But what could she do?

Alice even liked his smooth-talking ways.

She chuckled and pretended not to have heard.

“It wasn’t that difficult. When I changed the subject, Lord Helios naturally went along with it… Talking about dark mana and Ilgwang Village…”

Alice paused as something important came to mind.

An important issue she had momentarily forgotten with Kylus’s arrival.

The declaration of sainthood.

Though it was sudden, from Alice’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad proposal at all.

No, honestly, it was a good proposal.

She had been happy healing people, and hadn’t noticed the time passing.

To the extent that she wanted to do more.

It was a sense of accomplishment and confidence she had never felt as the Duchess Dearrut.

Being a duchess was a happy life, but it was affluence not from her own abilities.

She couldn’t feel accomplishment and confidence from prosperity given by others.

But if she became a saint, all these issues would disappear.

The Duchess Dearrut would become a saint.

Alice could have both the life of a duchess and a sense of achievement.

So logically, she should say yes without hesitation, but…

She was concerned about Kylus.

Unlike her, it might not be an entirely joyous matter for Kylus.

Of course, Kylus would not oppose if she said she wanted to become a saint.

As always, he would congratulate her, saying that her happiness was his happiness.

But would that truly be good?

Think about it.

If she became a saint, she would have more work and would likely leave the duchy more frequently.

Separate from the joy of seeing a loved one succeed, the time they spent together would decrease.

Kylus would always say it was fine while silently swallowing his loneliness.

For her happiness.

That’s right.

Alice wasn’t worried about something like “distance in body leads to distance in heart.”

She was concerned about and disliked the foolish Kylus who would endure and endure for her happiness.

It would be better if he just got angry, saying “Do you really have to become a saint? Why are you deciding on your own?”

But Kylus would never do that.

I wish you would lean on me freely and act spoiled, just as I lean on you.

She wanted to make him happy as much as she loved him.

Just like Kylus, Alice didn’t want to cause him even the slightest hurt.

How could she have an open, heart-to-heart conversation with Kylus about the declaration of sainthood?

While hearing his true feelings.

“Lien?”

As her words trailed off and the silence lengthened, Kylus called to her.

As if asking what was wrong.

Those black eyes filled only with concern for her.

Alice thought.

Not now, she decided.

She would think more slowly about how to talk to him about the declaration of sainthood.

Alice momentarily set aside her serious thoughts and turned to him.

“Ah, I just briefly remembered the people of Ilgwang Village… My conversation with Lord Helios ended like that. Nothing special.”

“I see. And don’t worry about the villagers, they’ll be fine. Lien, even the Donghwa County magistrate can’t arbitrarily interfere with a village that isn’t his own.”

“You’re right.”

Alice answered softly and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Kail… I love you.”

As if acting spoiled because of her troubled mind, she rubbed her face against his firm abdomen, and his chuckle resonated above her head.

Soon, Kylus slipped his hands under her armpits and lifted her up with a swift motion.

Lifted like a child, Alice widened her eyes and looked at Kylus. Her appearance was exactly like that of a startled rabbit.

“You’re driving me crazy with your cuteness.”

“Kail.”

Her eyes narrowed as if she felt he was teasing her.

Kylus burst into delighted laughter and changed his hold to carry her like a princess. Then he went to the bed, carefully placed her down, and lay beside her.

Kylus offered his arm as a pillow and embraced her.

“I love you too, Lien.”

Kylus’s low voice tickled her ear.

Alice nestled into his embrace.

Eventually, their bodies met without any gap between them.

“This feels so good.”

Alice inhaled his scent deeply and exhaled a languid breath, which was met with a low, amused voice from above her head:

“For me, even more.”

“No, I love you more.”

Truly.

No less than you do.

Unaware of Alice’s thoughts, Kylus’s smile deepened, but instead of saying anything else, Alice buried her face in his warmth.

She didn’t want to disrupt this happiness yet.

In his warmth, Alice grew drowsy.

As she fell deeply into sleep, Alice didn’t realize.

That the moment to choose sainthood would come sooner than she expected.

At the same time, in the large tiled-roof house of the Donghwa County magistrate in the capital.

“…The two mercenaries have already left Ilgwang Village.”

Upon hearing the escort guard’s report, the magistrate flew into a great rage.