Chapter 4 (Part 7)

Brienne looked at Cardin in surprise. He kissed her cheek and then looked at Kelle.

“It seems a bit sad to leave immediately when we won’t be coming here for a while.”

“That’s true, but…”

Kelle couldn’t continue her sentence. She seemed to understand that Cardin was a busy person. In fact, Brienne wasn’t keen on leaving right away either.

She was grateful to Kelle and wanted to finish the conversations and tasks she had been doing.

Brienne looked at Cardin in disbelief.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I have time to spend a day here with you.”

She looked at the aide standing behind him. The aide seemed anxious, watching Cardin’s reactions, and when their eyes met, he awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth.

Brienne whispered to Cardin.

“You seem very busy.”

At that moment, Cardin turned around and spoke to the aide.

“Go back first.”

“Pardon?”

Cardin smiled broadly.

“Do I have to say it twice?”

“N-no, sir.”

“I’ll head to Devok tomorrow afternoon, so postpone any important schedules until after that.”

Only then did the aide bow and step back. Brienne, still worried, asked.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

Cardin cupped her cheek with one hand and smiled.

“It’s okay.”

His voice was even softer than when he spoke to the aide. With that one word, Brienne nodded. When he said it was okay, everything seemed okay.

At that moment, there was a bustling sound. Kelle was taking out a large piece of meat from the kitchen. Brienne quickly got up and approached Kelle.

“I’ll help.”

Kelle shook her head, holding Brienne’s hand.

“Brienne, I’ve been cooking for a while, so it won’t take long. Show the Duke around the place.”

She insisted, pushing Brienne toward the dining table. With no choice, Brienne stood in front of Cardin. He looked around and met her eyes.

Meeting his gaze felt awkward, and the air seemed heavy. Brienne hesitated and asked.

“Do you want to look around the room?”

There wasn’t much to see in this small house, but there wasn’t much else to say either. Cardin smiled and stood up. For a moment, it felt like his presence filled the entire house.

Moreover, he was wearing neat clothes, making him seem like a different person. Cardin stood close in front of her and asked.

“Where is it?”

His voice was quite curious. His eyes shone brightly as they focused on her. She walked to a nearby room, opened the door, and stepped aside.

“It’s nothing special. Just a small room.”

But where should I have Cardin sleep? 

The place only had her room, Kelle’s room, a bathroom, and a kitchen combined with the living room.

Considering his status, she thought it was inappropriate to have him sleep in the living room, so she planned to let him use her room and sleep in the living room herself.

Cardin was already looking around the room in detail. He picked up one of the herbs from her room and deeply inhaled its scent. He suddenly turned to her.

“It smells similar to the herbs you used to pick often.”

She was surprised and approached him.

“How did you know? I quite like this herb. It’s rather expensive, and the flowers are pretty.”

Cardin was silent for a moment. His gaze was quite persistent, making her hesitate. She awkwardly rolled her eyes and asked.

“Why?”

He chuckled and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen that look.”

“What look?”

“When you liked something, you talked about it at length.”

He even remembered things like that. It was a side of herself she hadn’t known. Then Cardin hugged her. His breath calmly touched her neck. For a moment, a warm warmth enveloped her completely.

“Being with you like this makes me feel alive.”

“……”

“When you weren’t there, it didn’t feel like living. I always felt lost. No matter what I did, it felt empty.”

She felt sorry. It seemed she had run away in guilt without considering his feelings. As she struggled to find words, Cardin spoke gently.

“Now, live by my side without feeling guilty. Got it?”

“Yes.”

It felt excessive, but she simply accepted it. She had a debt to repay to Cardin.

Cardin held her for a long time. His scent enveloped her, and his firm body pressed closely, reminding her of the nights they spent together before.

The thigh touching between her legs felt strangely firm, unlike before. When she slightly moved her leg, Cardin exhaled hotly into her ear.

“Marriage.”

“……”

“Why do you want to think about it slowly?”

His voice was gentle, but the question was subtly probing. She couldn’t find an answer easily, and he spoke.

“Am I not enough for you?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because I’m not enough for you. I can’t even have children…”

“I told you it’s okay.”

Cardin stepped back and looked at her. When she remained silent, he let out a hollow laugh.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve told you. I’m really okay.”

She was about to say that she wouldn’t be okay, but there was a knock. A cheerful knocking sound echoed.

Startled, she stepped back and opened the door immediately. Kelle greeted her with a smile.

“The food is ready. Come quickly.”

Brienne quickly turned around.

“Cardin, the food is ready.”

Brienne left the room immediately and sat at the dining table. She thought about the conversation with Cardin that hadn’t concluded but didn’t want to dwell on it in the current situation.

The table was filled with abundant dishes, considering they were prepared at the last minute.

Starting with the lamb roast Kelle had bought earlier, there was even premium wine. Brienne was surprised and just watched, and before she knew it, Cardin was beside her. He sat calmly in the chair and looked around the table.

Kelle smiled as she looked at Cardin.

“I must have bought these ingredients thinking this would happen.”

Cardin smiled politely and said.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, I don’t know if it suits your taste, Your Grace, but let me know if anything is lacking.”

Cardin smiled broadly and picked up a fork. He didn’t refuse the food Kelle personally served. He even ate the beans without picking them out, thanking her.

It was unexpected. She thought Cardin wouldn’t bother with such formalities in a place like this. After all, it was a one-time encounter for him, and Kelle wasn’t an important person considering his status.

Yet, the fact that Cardin postponed all his schedules to be here…

At that moment, Cardin looked at her. When their eyes met, the corners of his mouth lifted pleasantly.

“Brienne, aren’t you eating? It’s delicious.”

Unable to answer, Brienne just watched as he playfully said.

“It’s tastier than what you made.”

For a moment, she remembered that hot summer. The times they spent together in the heat, occasionally joking and laughing. Her expression fell.

Even though the current situation was better, why did her heart feel so bitter?

“Brienne?”

When she finally looked up, Cardin placed a skewer of lamb in front of her.

“The food you made was delicious too.”

He smiled slightly and met her eyes. Brienne forced a smile and picked up a skewer. Cardin strangely didn’t take his eyes off her. It was as if he was paying attention to every reaction.

She deliberately bit into a large piece of meat.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

Kelle asked Cardin warmly. Cardin smiled and replied.

“It’s delicious.”

He glanced at Brienne once and continued.

“Just like the food Brienne made.”

Kelle laughed pleasantly and spoke.

“Well, Brienne is good at cooking too. She makes delicious food with surprisingly few ingredients.”

Brienne interjected softly.

“I like delicious food. If it’s not tasty, I don’t want to eat it.”

“Well, I agree. Living here, I feel like I have to eat delicious food to live.”

When Kelle picked up a wine bottle to pour, Cardin took the bottle himself and poured it for her. Kelle seemed flattered and pleased as she held up her glass.

“It might be the last time today…”

Cardin clinked glasses with her. When Brienne belatedly clinked her glass, the atmosphere gradually warmed. Kelle, feeling more comfortable with Cardin, started talking about various things.

“Did you really improve the roads around here and call the herb shop employees or owners for Brienne?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impressive. I mean, but there were a lot of….”

Kelle stopped speaking abruptly and quickly closed her mouth. Cardin smiled and asked.

“Is there a lot of bad gossip?”

“Oh, no, that’s not it! I mean….”

“Some people might complain because they worked hard under me.”

Kelle couldn’t bring herself to speak. Cardin smiled faintly and said.

“It doesn’t bother me, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Oh my, still…”

“I heard similar things from my father when I was young.”

Cardin lifted his wine glass. He drank leisurely and continued.

“Such rumors are cute to me.”

Kelle awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth. Brienne munched on chickpea fritters absentmindedly. The taste was savory as she kept eating without thinking.