Chapter 6

What kind of facade would work the best for someone with the personality of a scumbag? That was the problem.

He was still a man, so if I approached him with a cute and pitiful face, he wouldn’t hit me, would he?

The marble stairs under the summer sun glistened white. When it came to the northern temple, I had imagined a gloomy and dull labyrinth in a fantasy game, but the uniquely styled building showed off its magnificent and linear beauty.

Of course, my goal was not to explore the temple.

Now I was hiding behind a marble pillar, peeping into the noisy hall.

I didn’t mean to hide and snoop, but somehow this happened. I did not like the scene in front of him. Like medieval fantasies, tall paladins in black armour gathered in twos and threes to wield swords glowing a brilliant blue.

This was a region plagued by demons all the time, so they felt much rougher and more aggressive than the Knights of Romagna.

Their armour and equipment all looked heavy and massive. How could they move so lightly with that on?

“Who are you looking for?”

The politely resounding voice brought me to my senses rather than just looking around.

Without a sound, a Paladin had appeared behind me and was looking down at me.

A sweet face like a girl. A soft and elegant smile. The curly hair around his temple was a pretty shade; pale yellow.

The man blinked slowly as I pretended to hesitate. Once, twice. Light green eyes glistened with unknown light.

“Aren’t you Lady Rudbeckia?”

“Oh.”

“Don’t get me wrong. When you arrived at the port of Elmos, I was also part of the convoy.”

“I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t... “

“No wonder you didn’t recognize me. But what brings you here? Did you stop by to see the temple?”

“No. Well, I heard my husband’s here.”

I smiled shyly and answered, and the man was silent for a while.

He seemed surprised and embarrassed by the way he was blinking his eyes.

Soon, my gaze turned to the basket in my hands, not knowing what he was so surprised by.

“........Wait a minute,” he smiled nicely again and walked past the pillar.

I was about to peek my head out again.

“Izek! Your wife is here! Izek! Hey! You damn b*stard! Are you ignoring me?! Your wife’s here! Ah, f*ck, this guy isn’t listening!”

I couldn’t believe those words came out of that fine mouth.

What the hell was wrong with the people in this world?

I hid behind the pillar and stared intently at the statue on the opposite wall. St. Agnes, holding the lamb, suddenly made me feel like throwing up again. That was weird. I already threw up today.

“What are you doing?”

The low-pitched voice along with the cold tone penetrated my ears. I lifted my head up and my eyes widened. Izek stood with one arm leaning on a post and looked down at me with that fierce look.

Sweat dripped down his tangled silver hair to his forehead. It would be worth a watch if he had a staring contest with Cesare.

“I, uh, this morning–“

“What?”

“I thought you were offended by me. So I’m worried...”

I pursed the corners of his mouth as I pretended to look around, mumbling the last of my words. As if I didn’t know what to say. Then my shoulder drooped, powerlessly.

“That’s enough, I’m fine.”

“Wa-wait a minute!”

He immediately shook off my frail hand. I staggered back and dropped the picnic basket on the floor. The basket fell down with a thud.

Oh, this...

“Ah...”

Ellenia had said that it was a precious fruit in this area.

I squatted on the floor and began to pick up precious fruits that had fallen out. I expected him to leave, but Izek stopped and stared at what I was doing.

His red jewel-like eyes flashed with bewilderment.

“What are you doing?”

What, I’m picking up precious fruits.

You’re such a cranky person.

“I-I’m sorry. I brought it for you...”

“Who asked you to do that? Why are you picking up something that fell on the floor?”

“...I’m sorry.”

Open up, dam. Flow, river of tears.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I pulled myself up, shaking helplessly.

Sniff, sniff.

I was doing this for survival, but I think I could get the Best Leading Actress Award at this point. It was more of a learning instinct from my past life. Once I started crying, the situation would calm down a bit.

Of course, there were people like my big brother, on whom it didn’t work throughout my past life.

What kind of a man would he be?

“I’m sorry to offend you. I just, I think you’re mistaken about me, so I’m trying to explain...”

The best knight of the North was still standing there staring at me.

What a consistent fellow. Your eyeballs are going to pop out at this rate.

“What misunderstanding?”

“Well, the misunderstanding, that I’ve been trying to figure out a reason to break up the marriage...”

“.........”

“I-I know it’s natural for you to take it that way, and I know it’s okay for you to hate me. I’m sure anyone would. But I don’t... “

“Who said that I hated you?”

I sighed and opened my mouth.

With his head tilted, a smile made his lips arch as he approached me.

I got goosebumps at that moment.

Far from feeling pity for crying people, he must hate it a lot.

“I don’t remember telling anyone that I hate you.”

“You mean, you don’t hate me?”

“No, I don’t hate you.”

Look at him. You’re lying, right?

“A-Are you serious?”

“It’s true.”

“Really, really?”

I held his hand tightly and smiled excitedly with anticipation.

There was a moment of silence. The smile of the man looking down at me slowly faded away. Izek stared at my face for a long time, very silent.

For a second I thought he was going to hit me. But that did not happen.

As soon as he blinked, the blazing look in his eyes suddenly faded and the cold look returned.

“... damn it, what the hell am I doing?”

His voice was filled with absurdity. Or should I call it a sense of shame?

The way he turned his body and swept his hair in an annoyed manner, felt like he was frustrated.

Ah, ah.

This was it. I had done this with a risk, but I was lucky to get a reaction.

“Are you alright?”

The next thing he did was pick up the fruit that fell at his feet. Izek glanced at me after I questioned him. He threw the fruit into the basket and shoved it towards me.

Oh my, he’s so aggressive.

“I don’t need this, so don’t do anything useless.”

“But...”

“I’m telling you in advance because I don’t want to be mistaken, but I don’t care if this clown game ends right now. It’s just that I can’t wait to see who’s messing around with me. So why don’t you just write a letter and go home right away, Little Southern Princess?”

I hadn’t seen this side of him before.

I felt more convinced.

I knew I was not the naive innocent type, but for a man like him, pretending to be different and smart was rather dangerous.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he was the type to prefer the crying or pitiful ones, so the gap I saw a while ago was a precious clue.

Maybe it was because he thought I wasn’t worth getting angry at.

He would feel like he was being childish even if he argued or engaged in a psychological fight.

It was obvious what I was doing was not worth the vigilance or doubt.

Wait, did this guy who’s only four years older than me, call me ‘little’? What? Just because he grew up a bit fast?

“But I don’t want to.”

“Why? Do you feel that this gutter is your home already?”

Did you think I’d even consider this a gutter? Thank you for letting me know.

“I’m– I’m falling for you.”

For a moment, I could only hear the sound of the wind passing by.

I dropped my head to hide my red face. I praise my acting skills.

“What?”

“I know you hear that a lot. There’s no way you’d like me. But you were the first one to save me like that. I’ll try to fix my shortcomings as much as I can, so I don’t want anything. Could you please let me be of any help? You said you didn’t hate me.”

Aha, I’m the fangirl type. Most obvious and insignificant type for guys like him.

That was the way he would treat me from now on. There was hope for me too.

I thought I heard a booing sound somewhere.

It seemed that someone was watching us in this very exciting situation.

Using this sound like background music, I raised my face and smiled. Be as bright as you were before, no countermeasures. Apparently, Izek decided to pretend that he didn’t hear the lines I had just poured out.

Or did he think that he would feel more shame if he faced more people?

It was just heartless to turn around without a word.

I slammed another wedge into his unmoving back.

Only

“I’ll never be a nuisance. I swear.”

Of course, there was no reply back.

Silence.