Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Translator: Latte Editor: Sasha

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

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

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

“Are you going to wash me?”

“Huh?”

Her heart pounded at his unexpected words.

Elody looked like someone who had received a  slap on their face.

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

“Uh….” Elody flushed red.

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

Yes, it was true back then…

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

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

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

Elody glanced at Caville.

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

“I-is the room still the same?”

“……”

Elody turned her head away.

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

“The mansion has changed a lot. Good work.”

At Caville’s words, Elody smiled proudly.

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

“Wife.”

Caville stepped closer and held her in his arms again.

“Oh, uh…”

Elody panicked and stepped back.

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

“I missed you.”

“…Uh, me too.”

Elody reached out and patted Caville’s back.

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

‘It feels weird.’

But this atmosphere was a bit…

‘Am I the only one feeling strange…?’

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…

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

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

Thump thump thump. Her heart was pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer in her chest.

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

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

“……”

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

‘Strange…’

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

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

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

Ifrit chuckled at his grim words.

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

Then, he slowly scanned his surroundings.

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

The old-fashioned wallpaper was still the same, and the fireplace was also there.

Elody used to do shadow plays in front of that fireplace.

Caville’s chest felt tight.

He was happy and sad at the same time.

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

“Hey, are you crying?”

Caville was staring at the fireplace in tears, and Ifrit, who had come out of the artifact in the form of a dog, made fun of him.

“I’m warning you. Don’t ever show up without my permission for a while.”

“Meh.”

Despite the harsh warnings, ifrit did not care.

He walked to the window, pushed the glass with his head, and jumped out.

Then, after a while, someone knocked on the door.

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

Caville nodded in response.

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.

It felt strange.

* * *

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

His wife didn’t greet him with a warm welcome.

It was what Caville was afraid of throughout the war.

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

But Elody was waiting for him as she had promised.

Nevertheless, he was still anxious.

‘Is she not happy about my return?’

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

He was very upset.

* * *

Dinner was awkward.

Elody and Caville were stealing glances at each other.

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

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

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

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

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

‘What is with this atmosphere… ‘

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

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

There was a dangerous vibe around him now.

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

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

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

“…Yes.”

“I-I am proud of you, Caville.”

“……”

Caville looked straight into her eyes.

Elody was surprised at how earnest his gaze felt.

She was scared for some reason…

“Oh, let’s go up and rest.”

Caville nodded and followed Elody to their bedroom.

But once they arrived, Elody stopped.

Confused, Caville turned to look at her.

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

“Why?”

“Huh?” Elody faltered.

“Married couples are supposed to sleep together.”

Caville stared at Elody. His blatant gaze seemed to pierce right through her words.

“……”

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

* * *

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

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

It was very likely.

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.

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

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

Caville’s mood sank faster than the titanic.

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

They were a real married couple.

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

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

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

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

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Married couples are supposed to sleep together.”

“……”

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

‘You taught me that way.’

Caville stared at Elody with unjust eyes.

“Yes… but. Actually, I…”

“Wife…”

Caville desperately tried to stop his tears from coming out.

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

“Huh?”

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

Elody was slack-jawed in shock. She was puzzled by his murky voice.

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

“Well, you don’t look happy at all.”

“No! I am happy…!”

Elody trembled, flustered by his remarks.

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.

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

“Caville…”

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

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

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

“I think I know why.”

“Huh?”

Caville sat on a soft sofa in front of the fireplace. Elody sat next to Caville, fidgeting her fingers anxiously.

“Caville…”

She was about to put her hand on his forearm to comfort him but retreated in an instant.

His shoulder… was too hard.

She was unfamiliar with his new figure.

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

‘No, it’s not like that…’

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

“What?”

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

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

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