Chapter 49. Apologize To My Husband

“When you said it didn’t hurt, it was truly a lie…”

Yuelina was certain as she watched the restless Theo.

But Theo’s inability to stay still wasn’t because of pain.

It was because all of Yuelina’s actions had him on edge.

Since Theo couldn’t say this, he decided to remain as someone in great pain.

“Should we apply this medicine?”

Yuelina asked, pointing to the blue bottle. Theo nodded.

Not content with just cleaning his hand, now she was going to apply medicine too.

If he could enjoy such luxury, Theo wouldn’t mind getting injured several more times.

She opened the lid and carefully dropped the medicine on the wound.

When the blue medicine touched Theo’s wound, it turned green.

The liquid that had been swishing like water stuck to the wound and turned solid.

Yuelina’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Theo watched her and smiled softly.

“Medicine mixed with holy power works well. When the flesh heals, the color will change again.”

“To what color?”

“Yellow.”

“It’s just like metamorphosis.”

“Metamorphosis?”

“Like how insects transform.”

She smiled brightly.

Theo imagined that if he took out his heart right now, it would already be yellow.

“Now, it’s Yuna’s turn.”

“Me?”

“Because of me, didn’t blood get on your hands?”

Theo grabbed the handkerchief Yuelina had put on the table and pulled her hand toward him.

“Ah!”

Theo had meant to only pull her hand.

But Yuelina’s whole body was drawn toward him.

Their knees touched and Yuelina’s skirt rode up.

Startled, she reached down to lower her skirt.

However, Theo caught her wrist.

“The blood might get on your clothes.”

Theo pulled down Yuelina’s skirt for her.

The back of his hand brushed against her knee before pulling away. She flinched.

“I-I’ll wipe it myself.”

Yuelina snatched the handkerchief Theo was holding, her cheeks red.

Theo nodded, suppressing his feelings of regret.

Perhaps helping her with her skirt had been too forward.

Theo leaned back on the sofa and unbuttoned his shirt.

Suddenly he thought the temple was wasting too many magic stones.

Otherwise, it couldn’t be this hot inside.

Yuelina wiped her hands, leaving behind Theo who felt like he was burning up.

The blood on her hands had dried and wouldn’t come off easily, requiring her to apply more force.

Just holding his hand briefly had left this much blood.

She could tell how hard Theo must have hit the wall.

“I’m sorry.”

She spoke in a low voice with her head bowed.

“Asarim was really rude.”

“……”

“I’m really sorry.”

Theo had no reason to receive apologies from Yuelina.

Above all, he didn’t like her apologizing to him because of Asarim.

But her trembling voice full of sincerity made him feel concerned.

Not being able to lift her head and fidgeting didn’t suit her.

Theo smiled lightly and spoke.

“The prayer room must not be very soundproof.”

Even at Theo’s joking words, Yuelina’s tense expression didn’t relax.

“When I went into the prayer room, they told me to read something… but there was no paper. So I came out to ask.”

“Was the priest not doing their job?”

“No, no. Anyone can make mistakes.”

“Right. I’ll think of it as a mistake too.”

“What?”

Yuelina quickly lifted her head at Theo’s words.

Theo gently pushed back her hair that had fallen forward.

“What happened today was a mistake.”

“But…”

“My mistake was hitting the wall instead of the person.”

Yuelina’s large, sparkling eyes trembled.

Theo shrugged.

“So don’t shrink away.”

“Theo.”

“You’re already so small, if you do that, it’s hard for me to see you.”

Yuelina’s eyes reddened again.

It was because she could feel his consideration for her in his words.

That’s why Yuelina felt even more sorry towards him.

“But, I’m sorry…”

“I’ll say it again, you can’t be sorry to me.”

“……”

“Because I’ll always be more sorry to you.”

Theo’s confident voice strongly shook Yuelina’s tender heart.

Before she knew it, tears had welled up in her eyes.

Now it was Theo who was shrinking back.

The tiny, delicate crow-tit was about to let her tears roll down.

But the handkerchief was stained with blood, and his hands were too rough.

He didn’t know how to wipe her tears or what to say to stop Yuelina’s sadness.

Theo was just confused.

“…Did you know? The temple has holy water.”

Yuelina nodded at Theo’s sudden topic.

“Ah, I’ve heard about it.”

“That holy water is called ‘Goddess Daphne’s tears.'”

“Tears?”

“Yes. They say it contains the goddess’s heart in tears. That’s why it never runs dry no matter how much is drawn.”

Theo continued speaking while watching Yuelina’s curious face.

“It means tears are very precious.”

“What?”

“So you shouldn’t shed them carelessly.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying don’t cry. Stop.”

Yuelina burst out laughing at his strange conclusion.

“What’s that? My tears aren’t the goddess’s tears.”

“To me, they’re worth just as much.”

A pink watercolor drop fell on Yuelina’s fair, delicate cheek.

She wiped her burning cheeks with the back of her hand.

Sometimes Theo had a talent for making her embarrassed or flustered.

Though he seemed unaware of it.

– Yuna!

Just then, the door burst open. It was Asarim.

Yuelina stood up.

– How could you leave like that! Without listening to me!

Asarim strode toward Yuelina.

His disheveled hair and untidy clothes showed how desperately he had been searching for her.

Theo also stood up and positioned himself behind Yuelina.

This time, he had no intention of backing down no matter what Asarim said.

Asarim gave a hollow laugh at Theo’s protective stance toward Yuelina.

– Yuna. Let’s quickly find the holy water and leave. I was wrong, okay?

“Asarim. Apologize.”

Unlike Asarim who spoke in the Island Village language, Yuelina spoke firmly in the common tongue.

Asarim clenched one fist.

– Yes, okay. I was wrong.

Theo looked at Asarim’s quite desperate face.

Though he couldn’t understand, it seemed he was pleading something to her.

But Yuelina firmly shook her head.

“No. Apologize to Theo.”

– …What?

“Apologize to my husband.”

Theo covered his mouth.

Otherwise, he felt his rising smile would be discovered.

Apologize to my husband.

To my husband.

So to me, her husband.

Yuelina had called him ‘husband.’

‘Husband.’

Theo’s chest tingled.

That ordinary and natural word ‘husband’ was thoroughly stirring up his heart.

In contrast, Asarim’s face turned ashen.

Yuelina had introduced Theo as her husband in a voice thick with warning.

It was as if he was the only outsider here, in this world.

“I apologize. I overstepped.”

Asarim turned to Theo and bowed in apology, his fist still clenched.

His body, full of tension, trembled as he swallowed his anger, and his face turned pale, seemingly from shame.

But Asarim had no choice.

Yuelina was angry with him. It was the result of his own words and actions.

Yuelina had always been good-natured and kind to people, so she could be angry at his immoral attitude.

She might be angry now and take Theo’s side, but…

When her anger subsides, she would come to her senses again.

Having come this far, he couldn’t just leave Yuelina behind.

“Once again, I apologize.”

Asarim bowed his head deeply.

Yuelina turned to look at Theo.

Theo was covering the lower part of his face with one large hand.

It seemed he still couldn’t control his expression as his anger hadn’t subsided yet.

“Theo.”

Yuelina looked at Theo with concern.

Theo took a deep breath, trying to suppress his bubbling emotions.

“I’m fine. These things happen.”

Theo meant it.

Whatever Asarim had said, it was no longer important.