Chapter 32


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


    <span>Elody realized that she would be leaving the mansion soon. There was no time for her to rejoice.


    <span>She climbed the stairs and headed to the bedroom where she and Caville had been staying since their childhood.


    <span>“I’ll prepare warm water right away. You can take a bath and rest afterward.”


    <span>“Are you going to wash me?”


    <span>“Huh?”


    <span>Her heart pounded at his unexpected words.


    <span>Elody looked like someone who had received a p on their face.


    <span>Caville boldly continued, “Wife said that married couples could take baths together. When I was a kid.”


    <span>“Uh….” Elody flushed red.


    <span>‘Uh, he’s right. I did say that…’ she thought helplessly.


    <span>Yes, it was true back then…


    <span>However, the current Caville wasn’t a child anymore. Moreover, Elody felt unfamiliar with him because of his drastic change in appearance.


    <span>Of course, he was still the same Caville she used to wash when he was a child…


    <span>“I’m just joking. I’m embarrassed now after seeing your reaction.” Caville muttered, his ears turning red.


    <span>Elody nced at Caville.


    <span>He had traces of his face as a child, but his features were far sharper now.


    <span>“I-is the room still the same?”


    <span>“……”


    <span>Elody turned her head away.


    <span>“I didn’t renovate it on purpose. I wanted to keep it the way you remembered it.”


    <span>“The mansion has changed a lot. Good work.”


    <span>At Caville’s words, Elody smiled proudly.


    <span>She used all her efforts to protect Caville’s territory.


    <span>“Wife.”


    <span>Caville stepped closer and held her in his arms again.


    <span>“Oh, uh…”


    <span>Elody panicked and stepped back.


    <span>Caville pulled her closer and buried his head on her little shoulder.


    <span>“I missed you.”


    <span>“…Uh, me too.”


    <span>Elody reached out and patted Caville’s back.


    <span>She couldn’t hug his broad shoulders with one arm anymore, and his back was now full of scars.


    <span>‘It feels weird.’


    <span>But this atmosphere was a bit…


    <span>‘Am I the only one feeling strange…?’


    <span>Elody’s hand clenched as her fingertips trembled. Caville hugged her often when he was young. That was probably why he could hug her without hesitation…


    <span>But now she was hugging the huge Caville in their bedroom.


    <span>Elody’s blush seared through her cheeks, and for a minute, she thought her face was on fire. She suddenly felt awkward and demure.


    <i><span>Thump thump thump</i><span>. Her heart was pounding like a cksmith’s hammer in her chest.


    <span>Eventually, Elody couldn’t stand it and pushed Caville away.


    <span>“I-I-I’ll tell the maids to prepare the water!” Elody stuttered as she left the room.


    <span>“……”


    <span>Caville, who was left alone in the room, covered his face with both hands.


    <span>‘Strange…’


    <span>‘What’s strange?’ Ifrit, unable to grasp the situation, spoke.


    <span>‘…I guess my wife isn’t happy with my return.’


    <span>Usually, Caville wouldn’t answer Ifrit’s questions, but now he actually responded that too gently.


    <span>Ifrit chuckled at his grim words.


    <span>Annoyed, Caville took off his brooch and put it on the desk.


    <span>Then, he slowly scanned his surroundings.


    <span>The bed that used to be so spacious and big, now looked very small.


    <span>The old-fashioned wallpaper was still the same, and the firece was also there.


    <span>Elody used to do shadow ys in front of that firece.


    <span>Caville’s chest felt tight.


    <span>He was happy and sad at the same time.


    <span>It was hard to believe that the ce where he was standing was not in the middle of the battlefield, but the home he had missed.


    <span>“Hey, are you crying?”


    <span>Caville was staring at the firece in tears, and Ifrit, who hade out of the artifact in the form of a dog, made fun of him.


    <span>“I’m warning you. Don’t <i><span>ever</i><span> show up without my permission for a while.”


    <span>“Meh.”


    <span>Despite the harsh warnings, ifrit did not care.


    <span>He walked to the window, pushed the ss with his head, and jumped out.


    <span>Then, after a while, someone knocked on the door.


    <span>“Caville, the water is ready. You can take a bath now,” Elody said with an awkward smile.


    <span>Caville nodded in response.


    <span>Even though Elody, who he had dreamed of every day, was in front of his eyes. He still felt empty as if there was a hole in his heart.


    <span>It felt strange.


    <span>* * *


    <span>Caville sifted himself in the bathtub full of warm water and pondered about his recent events.


    <span>His wife didn’t greet him with a warm wee.


    <span>It was what Caville was afraid of throughout the war.


    <span>After hearing the knights’ gossip. He wondered if Elody had died, or maybe she had another lover and ran away.


    <span>But Elody was waiting for him as she had promised.


    <span>Nevertheless, he was still anxious.


    <span>‘Is she not happy about my return?’


    <span>Caville even dipped his face into the water with a sullen look.


    <span>He was very upset.


    <span>* * *


    <span>Dinner was awkward.


    <span>Elody and Caville were stealing nces at each other.


    <span>Elody ordered the servants of the mansion and took measures so that the knights who returned could rest and eat well.


    <span>She also told the knights to prepare plenty of liquor so that they could alleviate their negative feelings.


    <span>When she was managing the duchy, she had prepared lots of things to say to Caville…


    <span>But she didn’t know how to treat him now.


    <span>She wanted to take care of him like she did when she was young, but…


    <span>‘What is with this atmosphere… ‘


    <span>Things were very awkward. Perhaps it’s because of his expressionless face, straight nose, and stern eyes.


    <span>It wasn’t as cute and adorable as when he was young.


    <span>There was a dangerous vibe around him now.


    <span>It was difficult to talk to him with the way he looked currently.


    <span>After the awkward meal was over, Elody modestly drank her tea.


    <span>“We-were you tired? I hope there weren’t any troubles… I heard you contributed a lot to the war.”


    <span>“…Yes.”


    <span>“I-I am proud of you, Caville.”


    <span>“……”


    <span>Caville looked straight into her eyes.


    <span>Elody was surprised at how earnest his gaze felt.


    <span>She was scared for some reason…


    <span>“Oh, let’s go up and rest.”


    <span>Caville nodded and followed Elody to their bedroom.


    <span>But once they arrived, Elody stopped.


    <span>Confused, Caville turned to look at her.


    <span>“Uh, take a good rest. I… uh, I’ll sleep in the next room…”


    <span>“Why?”


    <span>“Huh?” Elody faltered.


    <span>“Married couples are supposed to sleep together.”


    <span>Caville stared at Elody. His tant gaze seemed to pierce right through her words.


    <span>“……”


    <span>“My wife was the one who taught me that.”


    <span>* * *


    <span>Ever since they had dinner a little while ago, Caville was in a bad mood.


    <span>‘Did she get another lover while I was away?’


    <span>It was very likely.


    <span>When he left, Elody was 19 years old. His wife was gorgeous back then, and even now, she was beautiful enough to make everyone’s eyes pop out.


    <span>At that time, he could not feel the emotions he did right now because he was too young.


    <span>If one were a man, or at least a human with keen eyes, one could not help but fall in love with her beauty.


    <span>Caville’s mood sank faster than the titanic.


    <span>‘Does she really have another lover? But we’re already a married couple…’


    <span>They <i><span>were</i><span> a real married couple.


    <span>After dinner, the two also drank tea together. However, unlike what he had hoped, they did not have a friendly conversation.


    <span>Caville had already predicted it when they climbed the stairs to their bedroom together. Maybe even before that.


    <span>“Oh, take a good rest. I’ll… uh, sleep in the next room….”


    <span>He knew this would happen. She didn’t want to be with him.


    <span>“Why?”


    <span>“Huh?”


    <span>“Married couples are supposed to sleep together.”


    <span>“……”


    <span>“My wife was the one who taught me that.”


    <span>‘You taught me that way.’


    <span>Caville stared at Elody with unjust eyes.


    <span>“Yes… but. Actually, I…”


    <span>“Wife…”


    <span>Caville desperately tried to stop his tears froming out.


    <span>He hoped that it wasn’t true, but his prediction seemed to be right.


    <span>“Huh?”


    <span>“I don’t think you’re happy to see me at all.”


    <span>Elody was ck-jawed in shock. She was puzzled by his murky voice.


    <span>“Ca-Caville. What are you saying… Of course not! You know much I’ve longed for you.”


    <span>“Well, you don’t look happy at all.”


    <span>“No! I <i><span>am</i><span> happy…!”


    <span>Elody trembled, flustered by his remarks.


    <span>Caville gazed at their bedroom as if he wanted them to go in together. Elody unwittingly followed Caville into the room, not knowing what was inside his head.


    <span>As soon as they entered the room, Caville replied bluntly, “My wife hates me.”


    <span>“Caville…”


    <span>Elody had never imagined that he would think that way. It felt like her heart would sink to the floor.


    <span>She felt horrible for hurting him, who had suffered for seven years in the war.


    <span>She wanted to think of an excuse, but Caville didn’t give her any time.


    <span>“I think I know why.”


    <span>“Huh?”


    <span>Caville sat on a soft sofa in front of the firece. Elody sat next to Caville, fidgeting her fingers anxiously.


    <span>“Caville…”


    <span>She was about to put her hand on his forearm tofort him but retreated in an instant.


    <span>His shoulder… was too hard.


    <span>She was unfamiliar with his new figure.


    <span>Seeing Elody’s actions, Caville stared at her with a hurt expression.


    <span>‘No, it’s not like that…’


    <span>“It’s because I’m not as cute as before.”


    <span>“What?”


    <span>“Because I look like an adult… so my wife hates me now. And I’m not happy with it.”


    <span>Elody was confused by his unexpected words. She blinked her eyes in shock.


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