Chapter 9. A Strange Spell to Break

Earlier, she seemed so excited while eating, her shoulders even bouncing, but now she looked gloomy again as if it had never happened.

Could it be that she was displeased with a husband who didn’t even think to provide her favorite breakfast?

Did she find her thoughtless husband pathetic for not paying attention to anything after forcibly marrying her and bringing her here without any connections?

Or was she disgusted by his own gluttony, eating all this food alone without even saying he was full?

Could she be regretting the marriage terribly because of this?

As expected, they shouldn’t have eaten together.

The meals should have been sent up to the attic room without fail.

He should have assigned a trustworthy maid to watch her, cutting off all possibilities so she wouldn’t even have a chance to think about leaving.

Yuelina had to live in this principality for the rest of her life.

That was why she was taking revenge on Delkan and the empire.

For that, instead of reminding her that Theo himself was a fearsome and terrifying being, he should have thoroughly hidden his very existence.

The more she got to know him, the more Yuelina would regret the marriage, over and over again.

“If you’re done eating, let’s get up.”

Theo stood up with a rather cold voice.

Surprised by the suddenly dampened atmosphere, Yuelina hurriedly rose to follow him.

“Are we leaving already?”

Theo hesitated at Yuelina’s question.

The table was full of dishes that Theo had cleaned spotless.

All that remained were a few pieces of salad on the plate in front of Yuelina.

Could it be that he ate too much, and Yuelina wasn’t full? Is that why she’s asking if we’re leaving already?

“If the meal wasn’t enough, I can have them bring more…”

“No! I’m too full. I really ate a lot.”

Theo found it hard to believe Yuelina’s claim of being full, but he nodded in acknowledgment.

Then why did she ask if we’re leaving already?

We gathered to have a meal, and the meal is over, so…

Theo pondered seriously.

Could it be?

Is it that?

“Perhaps… are you curious about the dinner menu?”

No matter how much he racked his brain, that was the only answer he could come up with.

Since Yuelina seemed to value meals, maybe she was curious about what they would eat for dinner.

“What? No, that’s not it!”

But Yuelina waved her hands in denial.

Seeing Yuelina’s dumbfounded expression, it seemed the dinner menu wasn’t the answer.

Then what else should he do? Theo felt even more perplexed.

Charge into enemy territory.

Cut down the enemy.

Win the war.

Theo had learned most of life on the battlefield.

If not spoken directly, it was difficult for him to understand.

Just as Theo was reaching the limits of his patience,

Yuelina, who had been hesitating, stretched out her delicate arm and pointed outside the window.

“Tea.”

“Tea?”

“Yes. Tea, let’s drink it, together.”

Theo’s mind went blank.

I see.

After eating, one should drink tea.

When he said the uneducated nobleman who hadn’t received proper etiquette training, he was referring to himself.

After a meal, one should drink tea.

It was the easiest and most obvious dining etiquette.

But what kind of tea would this chick-like woman prefer?

Once again, his thoughts strayed in a different direction.

If this isn’t being under a spell, then what else could it be?

“But, won’t it be cold if we drink outside?”

Theo carefully examined Yuelina’s attire.

She was wearing a green velvet dress, which seemed too thin for going outside.

“My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable from being full. I think some cool air might help.”

Yuelina pointed outside the window, adding words as if making an excuse.

Over the ridge of the mountains, it was a clear day without a single cloud.

It was the north, where such clear days continued endlessly, with not a speck of dust due to the biting wind.

“Then wear this.”

Theo took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

As close as the distance had become, her sweet floral scent assaulted Theo’s nose defenseless.

Should I pretend to be crazy and bury my face in her nape?

Theo was once again seized by vulgar thoughts.

“I’m fine, really…”

Theo’s coat was far too big for Yuelina. She looked like she was carrying a thick blanket.

“Then, just a moment.”

Theo turned his back to Yuelina and walked towards the door.

It was to ask for tea to be prepared.

As Theo opened one side of the door and stepped into the corridor, he saw Ulysse waiting, passing time by reading a book.

Ulysse noticed Theo and bowed slightly.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes. So,”

“The tea is prepared. It will be served soon with dessert.”

“…I see.”

After a meal, one drinks tea.

It seemed Ulysse also knew this course as a matter of course.

Theo tried to hide his awkward expression as he went back inside.

Yuelina was standing in front of the terrace window, fiddling with the collar of his coat with her dainty hands.

The coat was so big on Yuelina that the rough collar that reached Theo’s collarbone was poking at her chin.

“Is it uncomfortable?”

Theo approached Yuelina and asked with concern. Yuelina smiled awkwardly.

“It’s fine.”

“I’ll cut it for you.”

“What? No, that’s not necessary!”

Theo unhesitatingly drew out the palm-sized dagger he always carried at his waist.

Yuelina was startled and looked back and forth between the dagger and Theo’s face.

Theo hesitated.

He had quickly judged that it would be better to cut the collar than to have Yuelina uncomfortable because of it.

The coat could be replaced, but Yuelina only had one neck, after all.

But it was a grave misjudgment.

With his large build and fierce appearance, now holding a dagger…

How frightened this little chick must be.

Her violently trembling eyes clearly showed she was scared.

“Instead of cutting it, I think we can fold it like this.”

It was then that Yuelina spoke, while Theo stood there unable to do anything with the dagger in hand.

Yuelina tucked the coat’s collar inward.

“There’s no need to cut a perfectly good coat because of me.”

She smiled sheepishly as she met Theo’s gaze.

So she wasn’t scared, but worried about the coat being cut?

Theo finally relaxed and put the dagger back at his waist.

But a problem soon arose again.

Because Yuelina had tucked the collar in, now the button attached to it was poking at her nape.

Who on earth bought this coat?

Theo’s brow furrowed.

“It would be better to remove this.”

“Ah, the button? But…”

“We can sew the button back on later.”

“Alright.”

Seeing Theo’s determined look, Yuelina grasped the button on the collar and tried to pull it off.

But it was a heavy gold button. This meant it was an expensive coat meticulously made by a craftsman.

No matter how much strength Yuelina applied, the firmly sewn button wouldn’t come off easily.

“I’ll do it for you.”

Unable to watch any longer, Theo grasped the button below Yuelina’s nape with one hand.

Tense from Theo’s suddenly close touch, Yuelina held her breath tightly.

“Just a moment.”

Theo leaned his waist towards Yuelina. Yuelina, seemingly flustered, brushed her hair back.

Soon, her white and soft ear was revealed.

Along with the red dot engraved on her earlobe.

Below that, her fair nape was like a snow field untrodden by anyone.

No, perhaps a field of unknown white wildflowers would be a more fitting description.

Every time he got close to her, that indescribable floral scent grew even stronger.

I want to touch it.

I want to bury my nose in it and sniff.

No, I want to taste every inch of that skin…

“Is it done?”

It was then that Yuelina spoke, as Theo was swallowing hard like a beast in heat.

Yuelina too could no longer hold her breath.

“It’s almost done.”

It was a lie.

In fact, the moment Theo grasped the button with force, it came off with a pop.

Theo straightened his back, trying to compose his tightened chest.

Then he put the removed button into Yuelina’s coat pocket.

“It’s much better now. Thank you.”

Yuelina smiled brightly and bowed slightly in gratitude.

Seeing Yuelina’s innocent expression, Theo felt a surge of guilt.

It was a simple task of removing a cumbersome button.

But what thoughts had he entertained during that short time?

Had he really become an animal?

Why did he want to sniff a person’s scent, why did he want to lick every corner with his tongue when he was neither a dog nor a wolf? He couldn’t understand.

Is it because he’s been starving for too long?

Yes. Too starved, starved indeed.

But…

To say he’s too starved, shouldn’t he have eaten before to know the feeling of starvation?

Why so suddenly?

When he’s lived his whole life knowing nothing about women?

“Shall we go out then?”

At that moment, Yuelina slightly opened the terrace window. A gentle breeze came in through the gap.

Yuelina’s hair fluttered for a moment. She neatly brushed her hair over her left shoulder.

Yes. That red dot on her earlobe.

The mark of a saintess.

It’s clear.

Yuelina must have cast a spell on him. Otherwise, this couldn’t be happening.

It’s a spell that makes one think only like a beast about a person.

He had to break this strange spell as soon as possible.