Chapter 79

“You’re up, My Lady.”

I struggled my way down to the first floor.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Jane spotted me and beamed.

Since breakfast time had already passed, I didn’t call the servants but decided to come down myself.

In truth, I was too hungry to wait for them.

“Yes, did you sleep well?”

I walked toward Jane, taking the smallest steps possible.

I felt like I might scream with every step, but I figured that moving a bit would help me recover faster.

Though I probably looked a bit awkward to others, I smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Of course, My Lady. It’s still a little unfamiliar, but thanks to your kindness, I slept well.”

Jane answered sweetly, as always.

“That’s good to hear.”

“Yes, the servants’ quarters here are spacious and nice. But are you hungry? Shall I prepare breakfast for you right away?”

“Would you? Thank you.”

“Not at all, My Lady. Where would you like your meal served?”

“I’ll be in the sitting room.”

I didn’t have the energy to go back upstairs.

Just coming down seven flights of stairs was painful enough.

“Understood, My Lady.”

Jane responded with a kind smile.

Then, I noticed her eyes quickly scan my body.

There was a hint of concern and curiosity.

As expected, Jane didn’t let it pass and asked, “My Lady, are you feeling unwell?”

“Oh, no. I think it’s just from going up and down the stairs too much yesterday and today.”

“I see. Well, it makes sense. The castle is quite large. Shall I prepare a hot compress for you after your meal?”

“Ha, that would be wonderful. My whole body aches.”

“Understood.”

Jane bowed slightly and disappeared somewhere, while I let out a small sigh and headed for the sitting room.

A hot compress—just hearing the words made me feel better.

‘Living in a castle really isn’t easy.’

Even in perfect health, walking around could be exhausting. In my current stiff state, even coming down for a meal felt like a chore.

‘I should have dinner brought up to my room…’

Thinking about that, I sat on the comfortable sofa in the sitting room.

A short while later, Jane returned.

On the trolley, various dishes were covered with silver lids, and a delicious aroma filled the room.

Jane set the table and then stepped back respectfully.

“Enjoy your meal, My Lady.”

“Thank you. I will.”

I picked up my utensils, my mouth already watering. After eating a bit, I suddenly thought to ask,

“By the way, where is Alec?”

“Oh, the master doesn’t seem to be in the castle. He hasn’t called for anyone this morning. When James checked earlier, he wasn’t in his room, but he could be somewhere in the castle…”

Jane trailed off, looking unsure.

I briefly wondered about it but continued to eat the hot soup, answering casually.

“Then he must have gone out. Maybe he had some business?”

“Perhaps. It’s a shame he didn’t have breakfast before leaving…”

“…”

I wondered where he had gone without eating.

I was a bit concerned, but he wasn’t a child, so I figured he would return safely.

I was so hungry that I focused on my meal more than usual.

Everything was so delicious that it eased some of the pain in my body.

“My Lady, may I ask you something?”

“Hm?”

It was when I had almost finished eating.

Jane seemed to have something on her mind and asked me a little more seriously.

“Has anyone cleaned this place beforehand? No matter where I look, there’s nothing that needs cleaning. The furniture all seems well-maintained too.”

“Ah… is that so?”

It was something I had also noticed.

Despite being an abandoned castle for hundreds of years, everything was in perfect condition.

It was even clean.

Could Alec have prepared everything by himself while staying here alone?

He hadn’t said anything about it, but there was an odd feeling, a slight sense of unease.

It was an incomprehensible feeling, but I hadn’t asked him anything yet.

However, the reactions of the servants made it clear that something was definitely strange.

“…Right? I found it odd too.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Could the master have already hired someone to renovate the castle?”

“Maybe? I should ask him when he gets back. I’m sure there’s something he hasn’t told me yet.”

“Yes.”

I simply smiled gently at Jane, and she didn’t say anything further.

Before heading back to my room, I asked Jane for a favor.

“Could you let me know when Alec returns?”

“Yes, of course, My Lady.”

“Thank you.”

I then turned around, gritting my teeth as I stepped onto the stairs.

Just as I had suspected, the servants had noticed the same thing I did.

This castle felt like something out of a fairy tale.

Unless Alec had hired help to restore the interior while in the North, there was no way the castle could have been in such pristine condition.

But why hadn’t Alec mentioned anything about it?

‘Well, it’s still a good thing…’

I had considered hiring Northerners in Kanak to clean the castle, but now that urgent need had disappeared.

‘Speaking of which, I still haven’t explored the whole castle.’

Would I ever finish touring it before I died?

I clung to the banister, practically hanging on as I climbed the stairs again.

With every step, it felt like my thigh and calf muscles were screaming in pain.

The memory of the previous night flashed in my mind, causing me to blush as I bit my lip.

* * *

“Haa…”

Snow blanketed the peak of the rocky mountain near Wiltsbrook Castle.

Alec lay on top of it, covering his face with his hands as he let out a deep sigh.

The turmoil inside him was unbearable, and only the cold air could provide any relief.

Thankfully, the freezing weather of the North was cold enough to cool his racing mind.

To a normal person, lying alone in thin clothes in a place like this would seem like a death wish, but not to him.

Without this, he felt like he might actually die.

‘Aaaaah!’

‘Ugh, huff…’

Scenes from last night replayed in his mind, almost taunting him.

It was his first time experiencing something like that.

Not only that, but it had also been the first time he had ever held a woman or kissed someone.

He had never desired physical contact like that before.

There had never been a time when he looked at someone and felt the urge to be with them.

So why had he gone mad last night?

Was Louise so irresistible that he couldn’t help himself?

He couldn’t stop craving her, wanting to know and feel more of her.

It was as if he had discovered a new sense, and he had become completely absorbed in her body.

‘What an idiot…’

He couldn’t stop until she collapsed from exhaustion and fell asleep in his arms.

When he woke up in the morning, and saw Louise sleeping soundly in his embrace, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Quietly, he had gotten up, warmed her room, and dressed her.

The overwhelming reality of it all had hit him so hard that he couldn’t help but come here.

“…”

The hand that had been covering his face slipped down into the snow.

He hadn’t yet checked the system window.

He already knew that Louise’s affection had skyrocketed compared to before.

His level had increased, and new skills had unlocked, but none of that mattered to him right now.

[The final reward for successfully completing the 21st-century quest has finally arrived for the “Savior Who Killed the Gods”! Would you like to accept it?]

“…”

At first, he hadn’t understood why this was his final reward.

But now, he was starting to get it.

“Hah.”

The overwhelming confusion made Alec stand up.

He felt like he needed to train just to calm his heart.

After working out, he lay back down in the snowy mountain, and his thoughts turned back to Louise.

Maybe he should take a quick look at what she was up to…

He lightly checked Gideon’s eyes, and what he saw startled him.

‘What… why is Louise like that?’

She was struggling, gritting her teeth, as she slowly made her way up the stairs.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Louise let out a shout, her legs giving way beneath her.

Alec jumped to his feet, alarmed.

Thankfully, Louise grabbed the railing desperately and resumed her slow, heavy climb.

Watching her, Alec slowly realized the reason behind her struggle.

‘Ah…’

A fresh wave of guilt hit him like a storm.

His face flushed with embarrassment as he lowered his head and buried it in his hands.

As the intense realization washed over him, he let out a long sigh, biting down hard on his lip.

He had spent such a wild night with Louise that she could barely walk.

He had bitten and kissed her frail body until the early hours, so it was no wonder her muscles were sore.

‘How much did we even do?’

Cursing himself, Alec finally began making his way down the snowy mountain.

‘Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?’

Last night, although she struggled, she showed signs of wanting more.

But thinking about it now, Louise had trouble even climbing the tower for 30 minutes. Her body was nowhere near as strong as mine.

Soon, he arrived at the castle gates in an instant.

As he stepped inside, his eyes met Jane’s.

“Oh, My Lord. Were you out somewhere?”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories