Chapter 67

“Other monsters would be dead, but you’re lucky. If it were another day, I’d have hit you all.”

I don’t think we would get anything from him. I was an idiot to wish for something warm and kind from this heartless man.

“Grrrrr....”

“Why don’t you shut your mouth and be gentle?”

My shameless husband approached the wolf.

I held onto his elbow.

“Iz...”

“It’s fine, I’m not fighting them.”

Really?

As I watched nervously, Izek bent over and slowly put the injured female wolf down on the rock.

Meanwhile, the alpha wolf let out a heavy breath and sent a glare to Izek’s arm.

If there was any wrong signal, he was about to go for his throat.

The muzzle that was holding the female wolf’s snout came off with a thud.

As Izek took a step back with the muzzle taken off, the frost wolf, who had become still as stone, finally shifted.

“Sniff, sniff......”

Their long snouts nuzzled each other, sniffing.

I had been tense thinking that the alpha wolf might break out on seeing the paladin’s cape tied to his partner’s leg, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

After a while, the alpha couple, who had been sniffing, licking and nuzzling each other, separated.

While the female wolf stood on her three legs and howled, the male followed suit with his mate, wagging his tail slowly.

There was a spellbinding look in the monster’s eyes at that moment.

A combination of viciousness, alertness, pride, arrogance and relief.

“Let’s go.”

A steel hand grabbed mine and pulled me ahead.

I gave a last glance and walked along with my husband.

The heavy clouds were drifting and twilight was taking place.

A sense of reality rushed in as the setting sun’s light seeped into my eyelids.

Well, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do either.

We went back to where the horses stood in awkward silence.

Sir Ivan, who was standing beside them, smoking leaf cigarettes, welcomed us.

“Is it over already? Surprisingly, you look fine.”

“I let you off the hook this time, and if you have any shame left, you should just walk away now. Where did the rest of them go?”

“They arrested the merchants and took them. Do you want to smoke one?”.

“I’m fine.”

Andymion, who was pretending to fix the saddle, came near and took the muzzle and his gauntlets.

My eyes were fixed on Izek’s uncaring pose, as he silently untied his gauntlet, and then, I opened my mouth, “Do-Do you want me to squeeze your arms?”

“...What’s wrong with my arms?”

“Are they numb? You held a heavy wolf in your arms....”

“What kind of work do you think I do? My sword weighs more than that fat dog.”

Fat what?

My gaze unknowingly went to the sword hanging around his waist, an incredulous look creeping up.

It looked like a decoration, not that heavy.

And this was a fantasy world.

Maybe because of my doubtful gaze, Sir Ivan threw his leaf cigarette and approached me laughing. He pulled out his sword and pushed it forward.

“Would you like to try it?”

“Ivan.”

“Why? Your wife seems like she can’t trust you.”

The way he was teasing me was a bit of a pain, but I decided not to say anything.

You’re Ivan, a flower. How heavy would it be even if it was too heavy?

I was indignant that I reached out my hand, and soon asked, “Will you let go of the sword?”

“What?”

Was he not holding it?

No matter how hard I pulled, the decoration that looked unnecessarily holy, showed no sign of shifting as if it had been lodged in the palm of Sir Ivan’s hand.

At last, I let go of my hand quietly and turned my back.

“I’ll stop.”

I’m so sorry for being so arrogant. This is it. Haa, I definitely look like a chick now.

I couldn’t hear anything for a moment as I swallowed back the tears of shame with those bitter words.

I thought I was being too childish, so I was about to turn around, but somehow Ivan looked embarrassed.

“My lady, are you angry?”

“What? No.”

This didn’t make any sense.

What could I, a chick, even do if I’m mad at the great Paladins?

“Oh, you just looked angry....”

“I’m not angry. Why would I be angry?”

Silence held out.

What was this silence I didn’t even know the reason for?

Why was this happening?

“What should I do...?”

“For now, let’s pull off your fingernails.”

“You’re right. This is all Sir Ivan’s fault......”

“No, this jerk- I’m very......sorry, my lady. I’m sorry, I never meant to offend you. I was just saying that you.....”

“I am sorry too. I committed a mortal sin acting greedy for your chocolate, I was rude!”

“I didn’t mean that I didn’t want you to touch my arm, but that you didn’t have to worry about me. It was just that.”

I was clueless what these men were suddenly whispering and fighting about.

Three embarrassed faces that didn’t fit into my confused mind came into view.

Particularly, my monster-like husband looked the most apologetic.

It was as if he wasn’t the same person.

“As an apology, I’ll give you an exotic chocolate treat that only the family elite can get their hands on, or some kind of chocolate pudding.”

“I’ll get something too. This sword is nothing to be proud of, it’s just, your acts are so cute....”

“You’re right, it’s not a good sword, too heavy. Compared to what you did in sending the injured wolf back, it’s nothing.”

He was complaining about the fat dog before, and now this was nothing?

This was hilarious, and I felt a little refreshed, seeing these proud men wag their tails.

Hu, I am seeing stars today.

“What a relief. My husband is so sweet, no?”

“What? Ye, yes. I’m a bit sweet.”

“He’s known for being friendly here.”

“Of course, you’d never find a superior as sweet as Lord Izek.”

The three men struggling with their words soon began to cough, feeling embarrassed about their actions.

Tsk tsk.

“Well, I’ll go after Camu and Galar....because I don’t trust the way they handle things.”

“Hurry up and go.”

“My lady, I’ll see you next time. You helped out a lot today.”

“See you later.” I replied as warmly as I could to Sir Ivan, who greeted me awkwardly.

I didn’t do anything great today, but I hoped this would help me build up a new image.

“What are you thinking?”

That was what I was supposed to say.

As soon as my eyes opened, I saw my husband standing, one arm on the saddle, gaze fixed on me.

That ice-like face glowing under the sunset light seemed unfamiliar.

“I am just happy the frost wolf got back safely.”

“If it weren’t for the chocolate, I wouldn’t even be here.”

My speechless husband lifted and placed me on the saddle, pulling the straps.

I hesitated a bit before asking, “Did I help you?”

“Are you really asking that? They were about to go mad. If it weren’t for you, I’d be in trouble.”

Oh, such generous words. Maybe I should advance a bit more...

“So, next time...”

“Next? What next time?”

“If it wasn’t for me......”

“You’re doing this because you want to meet those friends of yours.”

I almost bit my tongue.

Ugh, he’s smart only when it comes to things like this.

“Not really......”

“What do you mean not really? Eitherway, I won’t give you time to even look away.”

He stood up straight and squeezed the water off my cape.

In contrast to his harsh tone, the light in his red eyes was soft.

Maybe it looked like that because of the sunset.

“I mean, you just follow them with a few interactions, without thinking again...”

“I-I was just wondering if they were there.”

“You’re lying.”

“It’s true! I’m always thinking about you. So, if you don’t do this......”

“Really? Was that why you ran away here?”

He got straight to the point.

Ah, what was this new torture, you son of a b*tch!

“I-I was out of it, and it had been a while since I rode a horse and saw the rain....”

“Is that so? Your hair is a mess, your clothes are wet, you’re sweating because you walked so much, so what? Do you really just want to be of help?”

Blood rushed to my face.

I stopped struggling and leaned over to Izek’s neck.

“So, you don’t like it?”

His head bowed and he wrapped a steel-like arm around my waist.

A warm breath tickled my neck.

“No... I just wanted you to wash up soon.”

“Like last time?”

“No.”

It was a stern answer.

His warm, dry lips pressed softly against mine, tongue snaking out.

Just as I was willing to part my lips, his scent trickling in, I finally came to my senses.

“W-Wait a minute.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Sir Andymion......”

I completely forgot about poor Andymion’s existence for a moment!

As soon as I looked up, I saw a black-haired boy standing frozen just a few steps away, his jaw wide open.

His bright amber eyes shook as if they had just witnessed the destruction of the world.

Glancing back slowly, Izek growled frustratedly, “Why are you here?”