Chapter 31


    <strong>Trantor:</strong> Latte <strong>Editor:</strong> Sasha


    <span>‘I feel bad for the duchess, but…’


    <span>They were more like siblings than a real couple.


    <span>Whoever his partner was, Brien hoped that Caville would actually fall in love with them, for love was magical.


    <span>He would tend to think about them and worry about them, get excited for them, or sad for them, and feel like he had someone important in his life.


    <span>Brien wanted him to experience that kind of love. One that could enable him to feel nurtured and secure.


    <span>However, the current Caville was precarious.


    <span>He could only retain hisposure when he was sword fighting.


    <span>After being on the battlefield for too long, some people started portraying an unusual behaviour. They could only rx when they saw blood.


    <span>Furthermore, some of them eventually ran wild and murdered everyone around them.


    <span>Brien was afraid that the same thing could happen to Caville.


    <span>However, unlike what people thought of him, Caville was downright happy.


    <span>‘Does my wife miss me?’


    <span>He was nning to leave for the territory at dawn.


    <span>Caville was already dressed up and ready to go. He was so excited that he couldn’t sleep.


    <span>‘Should I just leave alone?’


    <span>Caville was conflicted.


    <span>He missed Elody, but he wanted to go back with the knights so that he could show them his good side.


    <span>Caville stared at himself in the small mirror.


    <span>There wasn’t a single scar on his face since he tried so hard to protect it.


    <span>‘My wife must’ve changed a lot too, right?’


    <span>Suddenly, a sound could be heard from the artifact.


    <span>‘Don’t be so noisy. You’re disturbing my sleep.’


    <span>Annoyed, Caville removed the brooch from his chest.


    <span>Ifrit was able to read his thoughts when Caville wore it.


    <span>“Why do you keep looking at the mirror?”


    <span>A haze of red smoke appeared as Ifrit emerged from the brooch.


    <span>“Why not?” Caville asked ring daggers.


    <span>“Well, that’s just so unlike you. But as opposed to you, I can control my appearance since I am now an adult,” Ifrit grinned.


    <span>“Go back. I hate seeing you.”


    <span>Ifrit snorted at Caville’s criticism.


    <span>“How could you say that after seeing a cute animal such as I? You heartless human.” Ifrit sulked and went back into the artifact.


    <span>Caville didn’t have a care for anything else in the world. He just wanted to get to the mansion as soon as possible.


    <span>He also refused to have an audience with the emperor.


    <span>He had already fulfilled his duty, so he had no need to visit the capital.


    <span>Plus, nobody would me him.


    <span>Though, his actions <i><span>did</i><span> cause the emperor to be in a bad mood.


    <span>‘Is he looking down on me because he contributed a lot in the war?’ the emperor thought.


    <span>Caville disobeyed his orders, and this was <i><span>not</i><span> a good look for the emperor.


    <span>However, he couldn’t rebuke him since Caville had saved his niece.


    <span>Thanks to Princess Larissa, the conflict between the Imperial Army and the Temple was slowly dispersed.


    <span>At first, he was satisfied with Larissa being the mediator, but he still needed to keep the Temple in check.


    <span>Caville was supposed to fill in that role.


    <span>However, the emperor made a grave miscalction.


    <span>He certainly did not expect Caville to return to his duchy so soon.


    <span>* * *


    <span>Upon hearing about Caville’s arrival, Elody got very busy.


    <span>She made up her mind. If Caville had a hard time divorcing her, she should be the one to tell him first.


    <span>‘Don’t worry, Caville! I’m ready to divorce you!’


    <span>“Madame, the lord and his knights have passed through the south gate!”


    <span>“Is that so?”


    <span>Elody lifted herself with a tense look. She was nervous because her dress was more colorful than usual.


    <span>She met with the servants and went to the entrance of the mansion.


    <span>From a distance, she saw Caville approaching while riding his ck horse.


    <span>‘Is that… Caville?’


    <span>…How did he grow so big?


    <span>Seconds passed with her brain struggling to just take him in, struggling toprehend that he wasn’t the boy she used to remember, that he was a man and he was <i><span>real</i><span>.


    <span>The ck horse came to a stop, stealing Elody’s breath and heat from her skin.


    <span>Caville jumped off the horse and walked straight towards Elody.


    <span>Elody doubted her eyes.


    <span>However, he had the same pink eyes and pale skin. He was still slender despite his years, yet, his body was toned and well-built.


    <span>It was him.


    <span>‘Caville will turn 20 this year…’


    <span>Elody thought that Caville would grow into a beautiful boy.


    <span>However, Caville was far different from her imagination.


    <span>His prominent jaw curved gracefully around his neck, and he had twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body; strong arms, bold thighs and calves, a firm chest, and abdomen.


    <span>He was undoubtedly attractive and captivating.


    <span>‘Wh-what kinds of food did he eat… I expected him to grow a lot, but….’


    <span>He could barely reach her chest seven years ago. But now…


    <span>Elody greeted him awkwardly, “C-Caville…? Is that really you? G-good to see-“


    <span>“My wife.”


    <span>Not giving time for her to say hello, he immediately scooped her up into a tight hug, and before she could draw in the air her body needed, she had melted into his form.


    <span>Elody could feel his firm torso and the heart that beat within. His hands were folded around her back, drawing her closer.


    <span>Unlike Elody, Caville was able to recognize her at first nce.


    <span>As soon as he saw her pink hair, he could feel his body shake as he instantly pulled her into an embrace.


    <span>Caville buried his head in the cuff of her shoulder. He had missed her scent for the longest time.


    <span>Her sweet, warm, and gentle scent.


    <span>“Hey… Caville?”


    <span>Elody was embarrassed. She didn’t know what to do.


    <span>The servants stared at the two’s intense reunion. They were so touched that some of the maids started crying.


    <span>‘Oh, our poor madame. What should we do… They finally met… They’ve just met but she…’


    <span>Of course, they weren’t just crying because of the touching reunion. There was also a profound misunderstanding held within those tears.


    <span>“Is that the duchess? I guess she has a good rtionship with the duke?” Heinz asked, surprised by their intimacy.


    <span>“Yup. They grew up together you see. The duchess raised the duke since he was very young.”


    <span>“But why didn’t she write even a single letter?”


    <span>“Heinz, I will warn you ahead of time. You should <i><span>never </i><span>do anything disrespectful to the duchess. You’re an elite knight.”


    <span>“Pfft, what do you mean duchess. It might change soon,” Heinz scoffed.


    <span>“Why you….”


    <span>“Alright, alright,” Heinz replied in a stern tone.


    <span>Heinz would not change his mind.


    <span>He was told that the emperor wanted Caville to marry his niece, Princess Larissa.


    <span>Heinz was d about the news. The duke could finally marry a princess who was loyal and loved by all.


    <span>Caville truly deserved it.


    <span>He was already married, but he could easily divorce her. Everything was possible as long as one had the intention to do it.


    <span>Heinz red at the duchess in disapproval.


    <span>“Sir Vedos!”


    <span>“Marie…!”


    <span>The two lovers who had been separated for a long time had a joyful reunion. Marie shed tears of sadness in Brien’s arms.


    <span>“Caville… I’m sorry, can you let go of me now?”


    <span>At Elody’s earnest voice, Caville released her from his hold.


    <span>Elody smiled awkwardly and spoke, “It’s been a long time. You must’ve gone through a lot.”


    <span>“Wife…”


    <span>Caville bit his lips.


    <span>He had longed for this moment each and every day.


    <span>Just like how he had changed a lot, did she change too? Or was she still the same as back then?


    <span>Caville finally saw the person he had missed, but he couldn’t think of anything.


    <span>He just wanted to cry in her arms, crying for the missed time they could never take back, crying to release the tension of these seven long years.


    <span>However, Elody didn’t seem as thrilled as he did.


    <span>When Caville released her from his arms, Elody took a step back.


    <span>“My Lord Duke, wee back.”


    <span>“Thank you foring back safely!”


    <span>The servants greeted Caville and Norman bawled his tears out.


    <span>“Your Grace… I can die peacefully now.”


    <span>At the end of their emotional reunion, Elody smiled and told Norman.


    <span>“Norman, please guide the knights to their new lodgings.”


    <span>“Understood, Madame!”


    <span>Elody skillfully instructed the servants, looking at those who shared the joy of the reunion.


    <span>“Let’s bring everyone back to their homes and give them what we’ve prepared. Tell them about the banquet that will be held in a few days.”


    <span>“Alright, Madame.”


    <span>Then, Elody nced at Caville, who had a frown in his face.


    <span>“Come on, Caville. Let’s go back. You must be very tired. Go to your room and rest.”


    <span>“……”


    <span>As Elody reached out to him, Caville grabbed her hand.


    <span>“…How did your hands get so small?”


    <span>“…Huh?”


    <span>‘My hand didn’t get smaller. It was your hand that got bigger.’


    <span>“It’s too small.”


    <span>“……”


    <span>Caville was dumbfounded with the size of Elody’s palm.


    <span>He remembered her looking so strong with her big hands. Like he wouldn’t be afraid of anything in the world as long as he had her hand alone.


    <span>But, when he came back, Elody’s hands were smaller than he remembered.


    <span>‘Were those hands that held me tightly always this small? Or was it even smaller than this? How can this be?’


    <span>Caville stared at Elody’s pale and pretty hands.


    <span>And Elody…


    <span>‘He must’ve had a hard time…’


    <span>As she looked at Caville’s scarred hands and calloused fingers, she held back her tears.


    <span>It was painful to remember how hard he had worked during that miserable time.


    <span>“Come on. Let’s go in, Caville.”


    <span>Truthfully, Elody longed for this reunion as much as he did.


    <span>She was desperately holding back her tears, and she could break down at any moment.


    <span>Elody had lots to say too…


    <span>‘Wee back, my baby! Wee back! I’ve missed you so much…’


    <span>She wanted to hug him just as much as he wanted.


    <span>But she can’t.


    <span>Her baby had grown into a man.


    <span>When Elody saw Caville, she could feel her heart pounded. It beat so strongly that she thought her chest would burst.


    <span>Elody was afraid that she would misunderstand the meaning of her throbbing heart.


    <span>‘I mustn’t forget.’


    <span>She shouldn’t forget her role in the storyline.


    <hr>