Chapter 127
Everything was going smoothly—the wedding preparations, setting up their new home, and their relationship with Ares, all of it.
While everyone was shocked not only by the news of their marriage but also the pregnancy, some said it was very much like them.
So they had their wedding earlier than planned, lived together in their new home, and finally welcomed their long-awaited child. It was a beautiful daughter.
At first, both Kirine and Ares were puzzled by their daughter’s appearance, which didn’t seem to resemble either of them, but as time passed, they began to see traces of both parents in her.
Her hair was too dull to be called silver but too bright to be gray, and her violet eyes seemed to blend both of their eye colors. Her eyes resembled Ares’s, but her mouth was like Kirine’s—their beautiful daughter, Sasha.
Kirine often felt that Sasha’s existence was surreal, finding it hard to believe she was really her daughter. But whenever Sasha smiled and hugged her tightly, she felt something within her become complete.
Ares seemed to feel the same way, as he loved the moments when the three of them were together most of all.
Several years later, a moment came when they had to leave home briefly.
“I’m worried.”
Kirine didn’t like having to leave Sasha at home for what wasn’t quite a business trip. While leaving one parent might have been manageable, having both of them away from Sasha’s side didn’t sit well with her at all.
“Then let’s finish our work quickly and return.”
Although they had arranged for a nanny and notified Reilly just in case, they couldn’t help but worry.
But bad feelings never missed their mark.
Fortunately, after finishing their work and heading home, Kirine felt strangely anxious. Though they had to pass through this area to get home quickly by carriage, the problem was that it was a magic-restricted zone. Ares also seemed to sense something was wrong, his shoulders visibly tense.
Just as Kirine was about to ask if everything would be alright, seeing how clearly on edge he was too, suddenly she felt an ominous presence. Soon after, with shouts of “Attack!” the carriage came to a halt.
Despite being in a magic-restricted area, years of crossing swords with Ares meant she could handle opponents fairly well even without magic.
But as they began to get pushed back, their attackers used strange tactics.
‘This is definitely a magic-restricted area, but…’
Just as she was wondering how they could use magic so freely, she sensed a dark presence behind her. Before she could turn around, her body pitched forward.
“This is all because of you.”
She couldn’t resist at all. Just because she couldn’t use magic, while their opponents could—she collapsed helplessly to the ground.
Not only could she not move a finger, but her vision was also starting to blur.
‘Ares…’
Though she tried desperately to stay conscious, her eyes were already half-closed, making it impossible to see clearly. Even so, she could distinctly feel the gaze looking down at her.
“So it’s all your fault, Kirine.”
The voice was definitely familiar from somewhere.
“Take responsibility for your choice.”
She couldn’t do anything.
***
“Mama…”
She needed to know who had done this to her. But her eyes wouldn’t open, and her consciousness kept fading.
“Mama.”
Through the haze, she heard a familiar voice. Opening her eyes with difficulty at the tearful, tender voice, she saw a little girl looking at her while holding back sobs.
For a moment, Kirine wondered who it was before suddenly sitting up in surprise.
“Sasha!”
Though the sudden movement made her grunt involuntarily, hugging Sasha was her first priority.
“Mama!”
Thankfully, the child happily fell into her embrace. Feeling the small but distinct warmth, Kirine let out a sigh of relief.
“Mama, are you okay?”
She could hear her child asking worriedly even while staying tightly in her arms.
“Yes, yes, Mama’s okay.”
To reassure her, Kirine held Sasha close and stroked her hair.
It had been a long dream. As she escaped from it, she vaguely realized how long she had waited for this moment.
‘Come to think of it, what happened to me?’
Perhaps because she had just woken up, she couldn’t remember what had happened to her. Just as she was trying to assess the situation, the door burst open, and she saw Ares staring at her blankly.
‘Huh?’
His already pale face turned ashen upon seeing her, and then he strode over with frightening speed. Just as she was startled and about to pull back, thinking he looked angry, Ares tightly embraced both her and Sasha.
“You…!”
Though his face showed he had many things he wanted to say, his body moved first. While this behavior was unusual for Ares, Kirine quietly settled into his embrace.
“Always collapsing like this.”
Though he seemed to want to scold her severely, perhaps because she had just woken up, or maybe because Sasha was there too, Ares couldn’t even properly express his anger.
Normally, she would have retorted that she hadn’t collapsed on purpose, but seeing the worry in Ares’s eyes as he looked at her, Kirine remained silent.
“Oh right, Mama’s medicine!”
Sasha, who had been squirming in Kirine and Ares’s embrace, suddenly seemed to remember something, pushed them away, and ran out of the room.
Taking advantage of that moment, Ares spoke:
“I told you I’d take the medicine instead. Why can’t you take care of yourself?”
Faced with his terrifyingly serious expression, Kirine awkwardly avoided his gaze before running her hand over her face in apparent difficulty.
“I’m sorry. But I just woke up, so don’t scold me too much.”
The dream had been so long that she still couldn’t tell if this was reality.
Finally noticing Kirine’s state, Ares let out a deep sigh.
“Do you know how worried Sasha and I were?”
“You were worried too?”
“How can you even ask that!”
Seeing her look up at him as if truly surprised, Ares unknowingly raised his voice before clicking his tongue.
“Anyway, please take care of yourself…”
“It’s nice that you worry about me.”
She had spoken without thinking, having not felt this feeling for so long, but suddenly Ares began glaring at her coldly.
Quickly catching on to why, Kirine hastily explained:
“I mean it’s nice that you care, not that I’m planning to collapse again.”
Telling him to listen properly, Kirine patted the bedside.
“Don’t just stand there, sit down. My neck hurts.”
“You’ve got nothing but aches and pains.”
Though grumbling, Ares obediently sat down at the bedside as Kirine said. His eyes were still busy checking if she had any injuries.
While his words were scolding, his eyes were gentle, giving Kirine a strange feeling.
At the same time, she realized this was why she had married this man.
“How long was I unconscious?”
Nous_Defions
Vincent using dirty, underhanded tricks… Kirine is too good for you, and you don’t deserve her… Some friend you are!