Chapter 4 (Part 6)

Cardin paused and looked at her. Although she had anticipated his reaction, seeing it made her heart sink miserably. She looked at the floor and spoke.

“Even if I stay by your side, I won’t be of any help to you. I can’t have children, and my family isn’t that good…”

“When did you know about that?”

His voice was calmly subdued. Surprised, she lifted her head and their eyes met.

“Did you find out when you went to the hospital alone?”

Cardin’s expression was dark. As if he had learned something he didn’t want to know. Her heart didn’t feel good, but she spoke honestly.

“Yes.”

As she tried to step back, Cardin hugged her tightly.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Is that why you cried back then?”

For a moment, something hot surged from within. Cardin already knew she had cried. She could feel that he had intentionally not shown it.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak. She suppressed the rising sad emotions. Meanwhile, Cardin hugged her waist even tighter and spoke.

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t have children. I’ll somehow…”

“This can’t be cured.”

“……”

“Even when I took medicine said to be effective for infertility, my body didn’t react at all.”

The medicine made by Kelle was quite effective. People who had suffered from infertility improved after taking her medicine.

But no matter how much medicine she took, she didn’t get better. It felt like she could never be cured in her lifetime.

Cardin slowly stepped back and looked at her. She couldn’t face him, so she lowered her head. At that moment, warmth spread to her cheek. Unconsciously, she lifted her head, and Cardin met her gaze gently.

“It doesn’t matter to me that you can’t have children.”

“……”

“You don’t have to have children. Just stay by my side.”

Did Cardin know what that meant when he said it? 

She couldn’t believe it and asked.

“Is it really okay?”

The end of her voice trembled slightly. Cardin smiled and kissed her cheek. The lips that parted softly felt unusually warm.

“It’s okay.”

Warmth spread gently in her ears. Strangely, hearing that made her feel like everything would be alright. It was as if the vague fear rising in her heart was being diluted.

“Cardin.”

Her heart trembled at the words she barely managed to speak. He waited patiently. She hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“I just want to go with you. Without thinking about anything else.”

She was still afraid of marriage. Especially in noble society, where it was important to have descendants and continue the lineage. She was scared. How her family, entangled with her father, would be perceived by the social circles.

Cardin said it was okay, but she couldn’t fully accept his words. Strangely, being with him made her feel like a sinner.

In any case, for now, Cardin had paid off her debt, and it seemed like repaying it by staying by his side, as he said, was the priority.

Cardin looked at her for a moment and then embraced her.

“Let’s do that.”

Cardin’s voice was very calm. It soothed her confused heart to the point of peace. As she felt his warmth for a while, she felt strange. His breath on her neck gradually became quieter.

When she moved slightly, Cardin slowly stepped back. He immediately took her hand.

“Let’s go.”

Feeling the need to say a proper goodbye due to the sudden situation, she spoke.

“I want to stop by Peroy for a moment.”

“Peroy?”

“Kelle helped me a lot while living there.”

Cardin’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Who’s Kelle?”

“She makes good medicine with herbs…”

“Is it a woman?”

When she nodded, Cardin’s expression softened a bit. He naturally kissed her cheek. When she looked up, he spoke kindly.

“Then let’s stop by there.”

Holding hands with him, she left the house. It felt strange. Inside, questions about whether this was right continued to surge, but she ignored them.

Cardin had even paid off her debt, so it seemed like the best option. She hadn’t thought about marriage anyway. It seemed right to stay by Cardin’s side and step back when it was time for him to marry.

‘Even if Cardin tries to marry Foyne, will such feelings easily arise?’

For a moment, her heart sank miserably, but she didn’t think further. After all, it wasn’t something that would change based on what she did.

Considering the Messerode family, marriage with Foyne might have been natural. Foyne’s family wasn’t one to be easily ignored.

At that moment, Cardin gently pulled her hand. When she looked at him in surprise, he lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

When she turned her head, Cardin blocked her path.

“What is it?”

He persistently examined her face. When she didn’t answer easily, Cardin cupped her cheek with one hand. As she slowly lifted her gaze, Cardin spoke softly.

“I won’t make things hard for you anymore.”

“……”

“Stay comfortably by my side.”

His smile was exceptionally dazzling.

*   *   *

Kelle’s face was filled with surprise. It was even more so because Cardin suddenly appeared, holding her hand.

“Brienne, I was worried…”

She couldn’t continue speaking. She awkwardly smiled and spoke.

“Kelle, this is Cardin.”

First, she introduced Cardin and planned to explain everything to her. Cardin smiled and greeted her.

“I’m Cardin. I plan to marry Brienne.”

She flinched and looked at Cardin.

‘Marriage?’

Quickly turning to Kelle, her eyes widened even more. Kelle was speechless, as if she had seen a ghost. She quickly withdrew her hand from Cardin’s and grabbed Kelle’s shoulder.

“Let’s go inside first, and I’ll explain.”

As she gently pushed Kelle inside, Kelle nodded and entered. Cardin followed leisurely behind.

As soon as he entered, his eyes sparkled with interest.

Brienne sat Kelle in front of the table. Cardin, with quick wit, sat in front as well, but Kelle still couldn’t shake off her surprised expression.

At that moment, Cardin’s aide whispered to him. From what Brienne overheard, it seemed like the schedule was urgent. Worried that she might be delaying him, she spoke.

“Kelle, I lived with Cardin for a short time during the summer.”

Kelle blinked and looked at Brienne. She fidgeted with her hands, unsure of how to continue the conversation. At that moment, Cardin wrapped one hand around hers and spoke softly.

“I fell for Brienne at first sight back then, and I’ve been looking for her ever since. Now, we’re going to get married.”

The mention of marriage had been bothering her for a while. Brienne was about to say something when Kelle awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Then, Brienne, you…”

“I saved Cardin from the swamp near the cabin, and since then, we’ve grown closer… We’ll think about marriage slowly.”

Cardin looked back at Brienne. Unlike before, his gaze was as cold as ice.

“Brienne.”

His voice, spreading low, was extremely chilly. She tried to ignore it and looked at Kelle.

“Kelle, Cardin even paid off all my debts. So now I…”

“Paid it all off?”

Only then did Cardin turn his head to look at Kelle.

“You can verify it at a nearby bank.”

Kelle, with her mouth open, couldn’t continue speaking. She looked at Cardin for a while, then finally regained her senses and looked back at Brienne.

“Brienne, is it true? This is…”

“Yes. It’s all true.”

Even as she said it, Brienne felt embarrassed. It felt like she had unnecessarily burdened Cardin. She couldn’t even fathom how to repay him, and he simply told her to stay by his side.

Kelle blinked and tilted her head, then looked at Cardin.

“Did you really pay off all the debts of Baron Hurrick? It must have been quite a lot.”

Cardin just smiled without saying anything. That alone seemed to be an answer, as Kelle murmured in understanding.

“Well, it’s the Messerode family, so they would have enough money.”

Then she looked at Brienne. Her eyes were still wide with disbelief. Brienne hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“You must have been surprised by my sudden visit, but actually, when I came here before, I had separated from Cardin. Back then, there was a misunderstanding with Cardin, so I came here in a rush…”

“Brienne, it’s okay.”

Kelle smiled at some point.

“Now that I think about it, it makes sense why a young person would come through a rough mountain path, and most importantly, it’s all good now.”

For a moment, Brienne’s heart surged with emotion. When she was at the hotel in Devok, she felt like she was stuck in a mire, unable to escape.

Cardin still hadn’t let go of her hand. He held it warmly and spoke.

“I will generously compensate you for taking care of Brienne.”

Kelle hurriedly waved her hand.

“It’s okay! Thanks to Brienne, my work has been easier, and I’ve received more help from her.”

When Brienne looked at her silently, Kelle continued.

“In fact, even today, Brienne sorted all the herbs for me, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

Kelle leaned forward and spoke to Brienne.

“Thank you, Brienne.”

Brienne smiled faintly. As the conversation wrapped up, Kelle stood up hastily.

“Since such an esteemed guest has arrived, I should at least offer a meal…”

“There’s no need. We’ll leave soon.”

She remembered what Cardin’s aide had said earlier. His schedule seemed quite urgent. At that moment, Cardin gently squeezed her hand. When Brienne turned to look, he gave a peculiar smile and spoke to Kelle.

“We’ll stay here for the night.”