Chapter 83
Perhaps because the monster had already awakened, the sudden appearance of the saintess didn’t come as a great shock.
Instead, it was a relief.
‘The saintess will surely be of help.’
As Philome grew accustomed to the darkness, she tried to close her eyes again and fall asleep. However, the curtain right beside her bed began to flutter.
She recalled how Sophia had checked several times to ensure that no wind could seep in before leaving.
Philome naturally steadied her breathing and paid attention to the presence nearby.
‘The dagger Kaien gave me…’
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, she had placed the dagger under her pillow, so Philome pretended to toss and turn her hand to grasp the dagger.
Just then, while remembering the weakness Kaien had told her, a hot body temperature touched her cold cheek.
One, two, three, four.
As the round warmth connected, a larger warmth soon enveloped Philome’s cheek.
When a firm yet warm palm wrapped around her cheek, Philome opened her eyes as if enchanted.
It was Kaien, sitting on the windowsill, leaning forward with the moonlight behind him. Moonlight shone through his white hair in fragments.
If it weren’t for the hand resting on her cheek, she might have thought it was an illusion, as he looked incredibly beautiful.
“Philome.”
Kaien’s hand moved down, leaving a warm trace as it gently wrapped around her neck.
“What good is just holding the dagger? You need to attack.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Philome realize that she was gripping the hilt of the dagger.
Kaien gently applied pressure with the hand around her neck, tilting her chin slightly.
Though it was a weak force, Philome dazedly relinquished control and slightly turned her face as he wished. At the same time, Kaien lowered his head.
With a small sound, “chook,” Kaien pressed his lips against the side of Philome’s mouth.
“Consider this payment for saving your life.”
Seeing his reflection in Philome’s eyes, Kaien smiled with satisfaction.
“Ugh.”
Then he let out a small groan as a pillow struck his head.
Kaien rubbed his cheek.
“Why? Isn’t this a pretty cheap price for your life?”
“I just paid you back with a pillow, you know?”
Philome flicked the hidden dagger and returned the pillow she had hit Kaien with to its place.
“You surprised me! What are you doing coming in like this all of a sudden?”
Philome deliberately didn’t turn on the light to hide her flushed face.
“I have something to show you. I really wanted to show you this, but I forgot.”
Even in the dark, Kaien stood up as if he could see clearly and brought over the cloak hanging in a corner of Philome’s room.
He draped the cloak over Philome and said, “It’s colder at night, so you need to dress warmly, especially since we’re going to a place where the wind blows a lot.”
“Should I change my clothes then?”
“No need for that. I’ll carry you anyway.”
“What?”
Kaien lifted Philome without hesitation.
As she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, Kaien tightened the cloak he was wearing around her and jumped out the window.
“The wind is cold, so don’t turn your head.”
As Kaien’s voice carried on the sharp wind, Philome curled up as much as possible and burrowed into his embrace.
As he said, the northern night was even colder despite being inside the castle.
“Just a little longer.”
Though they weren’t on horseback, it felt strangely like they were moving quickly through the wind.
Philome kept her eyes tightly shut, waiting to arrive at their destination.
After some time had passed, she heard Kaien’s voice.
“You can open your eyes now.”
At his words, Philome cautiously opened her eyes.
She gasped in awe.
The beautiful scene before her was so captivating that she momentarily forgot the cold wind brushing against her face.
In the dark northern sky, colorful auroras danced.
The flowing auroras shimmered with mysterious colors, as if mimicking the gentle movements of fish.
The twinkling stars seemed to appear just to enhance the beauty of the auroras.
Faced with the vast wonders of nature, a shiver ran through her body. As Philome couldn’t take her eyes off the auroras, Kaien smiled.
He wanted to show Philome this sight. To put it more bluntly, he wanted to see her joy at witnessing it.
However, seeing the auroras reflected in Philome’s clear eyes made Kaien feel as if he had received a gift instead. The auroras in her eyes were more beautiful than any he had seen in countless nights before.
Kaien held his breath, wanting to admire the most beautiful auroras of his life for as long as possible.
He hoped Philome would forget his presence and become lost in the auroras. And he wished to linger in Philome’s auroras for a little longer.
“Really…”
After a long while, Philome finally parted her lips.
“It’s beautiful.”
As she spoke those words, Philome turned her head.
Kaien felt a sense of loss as his own aura faded away. However, before that feeling could fully settle in, he locked eyes with Philome.
Her eyes sparkled even though the aurora had disappeared.
“Really. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“…Me too.”
Kaien murmured in a daze.
“Of everything I’ve seen… this is the most beautiful.”
At his words, Philome smiled brightly, filled with joy.
“Even though you’ve seen them often, you think today’s aurora is the most beautiful? I guess I’m lucky!”
“I’m not talking about the aurora. I’m talking about you, Philome.”
Kaien approached Philome, who had stepped away to see the aurora more closely. He intertwined his fingers with hers.
“Beautiful.”
Kaien whispered as he slowly traced Philome’s face with his gaze.
Philome froze at his words. Even as he slowly leaned closer, she could only watch him approach.
And just before Kaien’s lips touched hers,
The heat of his body brushed against her lips.
Philome’s eyes flew open.
Between them were their clasped hands. Kaien’s knuckles touched her lips, while her knuckles brushed against his lips.
Kaien’s warm lips pressed against the cold back of Philome’s hand, leaving a mark as warmth began to spread across her entire hand.
Kaien, who had been slowly closing his eyes as if to kiss, opened them gently.
Through his tightly closed eyelids, his violet eyes revealed themselves.
As their eyes met, her mouth felt dry.
Until that moment, it had only been astonishing, but locking eyes with Kaien made her feel as if their lips were touching.
It felt as if something would happen if she continued to lock eyes with him. Philome leaned back, nervously blurting out any words that came to mind.
“What are you doing right now?”
“What do you think? I’m trying to hold back as much as I can.”
Even after Philome pulled her lips away from his knuckles, Kaien still pressed his lips against her hand. As he moved his lips, a faint vibration traveled through her skin.
The soft movement of his lips brought a ticklish and tingling sensation up her arm.
Philome flinched at the feeling.
Misunderstanding that she was trying to pull her hand away, Kaien tightened his grip on their intertwined hands. He then pressed his lips down deeper, keeping his eyes lowered.
As if he wanted to leave a mark on the back of Philome’s hand.
“Um, Duke, just a moment.”
Philome called out to him urgently as her heartbeat quickened.
“Duke Kaien!”
Only after calling his name did Kaien finally lift his lips from the back of her hand.
“Why?”
He then asked nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.
If they hadn’t still been holding hands, she would have thought she was hallucinating at how composed he looked.
Philome blinked in disbelief.
“…How can a person be this bold?”
“I really held back a lot, Philome. Aren’t you going to compliment me?”
Kaien furrowed his brows, looking like a child seeking praise.
“I gathered all my patience just to hold back from kissing you.”
“…You’re the most brazen person I’ve ever met.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”
“If it’s something you said, then even insults and curses are compliments to me.”
