Chapter 95: Olivia’s Whereabouts

The matters surrounding Duke Blast and Leonard were resolved quickly and quietly. Of course, with a high-ranking family like the duchy involved, rumors circulated privately. Though the duchy would be maintained with an heir present, there was talk that they wouldn’t show themselves publicly for a while, but since the Emperor himself stepped in to handle it, nothing surfaced above water.

During this time, Bliss focused only on nursing Caelan.

“I wonder if I should call this fortunate…”

Leonard had kept stabbing his sword in, and she worried if holes might have been punctured in his body. But the doctor said there was nothing to worry about, and true to his words, the wounds were gradually healing.

Especially after hearing that there would hardly be any scars since it was treated immediately, Bliss hit the bandaged area gently.

“Are you satisfied now?”

After the Emperor’s knight came to verify personally and left, there was no need to leave wounds. She just wanted to hit him once because Caelan was being annoying.

Instead of pretending to groan in pain, Caelan grabbed Bliss’s hand. He gently caressed between her fingers before sliding his own fingers between them.

“I’m satisfied.”

“You know you need to be careful even though the wounds are healing, right? Don’t overexert yourself for a while.”

Bliss looked at her hand intertwined with Caelan’s. There were no soft spots due to calluses from the sword and pen. Yet strangely, she felt the desire to take care of this hand’s owner. Perhaps because she kept seeing him get hurt.

“Promise me you won’t get hurt anymore.”

Bliss squeezed Caelan’s hand tightly. While listening to Caelan’s confession, Bliss changed her mind. Rather than Caelan getting hurt protecting her, now she would protect him.

Bliss pressed her lips firmly against Caelan’s hand.

“And promise me you’ll rest well.”

While listening to Bliss’s words, Caelan pulled her hand and drew her into his embrace.

“Shall we rest together?”

At Caelan’s suggestion, Bliss contemplated what to do before relaxing her body and leaning against him.

“Okay.”

With Bliss’s permission, Caelan laid her body on the bed. When his arm was placed on her stomach next, Bliss’s eyes widened.

“You want me to be covered by something heavier than a blanket?”

“But it might be cozier instead.”

As if saying he would be her blanket, Caelan hugged Bliss tightly.

“What if your wounds reopen from using so much strength?”

“I told you they’re healing.”

As if there was nothing to worry about, Caelan applied even more pressure.

“While being careless…”

Thinking this shouldn’t be allowed, she started muttering with a sigh but her words stopped. What just brushed against her neck? It felt like something soft had passed by.

Bliss’s gaze slowly turned to Caelan. It didn’t seem like it was his calloused hand, so then…

Just as Bliss realized, Caelan smiled and pressed his lips to her neck again. After pressing firmly, he opened his mouth and lightly bit down with his teeth. Though it should hurt, a ticklish sensation rose up and Bliss twisted her body.

“Wait a moment.”

She couldn’t stay still from Caelan’s stimulation. However, one hand was still holding Caelan’s and though she pushed his shoulder with her other hand, he didn’t budge.

“Do you dislike it?”

“That’s not it…”

Of course she didn’t dislike it. She just wanted to be careful since Caelan was a patient right now.

“I’m fine but you’re not well.”

Bliss patted his shoulder gently so it wouldn’t hurt.

“I’m fine too.”

Caelan acted as if he didn’t care about his body at all. It seemed he couldn’t accept the reason why Bliss was stopping him. Bliss looked at him with bewildered eyes before releasing the strength from her hand. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her head to kiss him.

Caelan thought Bliss would no longer stop him. Caelan relaxed his strength and continued kissing Bliss. He nibbled on her lower lip before gently licking and swallowing it. As their tongues entwined, Bliss slowly lowered her raised head.

When they separated after exploring each other’s lips, Bliss looked up at Caelan while breathing heavily. And just before he could say anything, she quickly raised her body and instantly changed positions.

When Caelan looked with dazed eyes at Bliss who had climbed on top of him, she smiled with satisfaction.

“Because I’m not okay.”

So kissing Caelan wasn’t about accepting his words but to change positions.

Bliss lowered both hands as if caging Caelan’s face.

“I’ll do it.”

She thought that since they were kissing a patient, she should be the healthy one moving more actively.

And that evening, they ended up having to listen to the doctor’s scolding because blood was drawn from one spot.

***

“Acting all smart but ending up locked up like that.”

Hiding in a narrow alley, Olivia bit her nails while looking at the distant roof of the imperial palace.

She was originally supposed to be locked up in the tower until death. Even if she tried to escape, the window was narrow and there was only one door. Moreover, no one came in or out except the person who brought her meals.

Being able to get out of that perfectly isolated space was thanks to a man who suddenly appeared one day. He said he would help, seeming to know who she was and why she was locked up. It wasn’t help without purpose. He wanted her desire for revenge against Caelan.

So she joined hands with Viscount Jimilta, but he didn’t show up on the promised date and was said to be in prison.

Olivia stomped her foot irritably, having planned to commit the act trusting him. Right now she had nothing except knowing Caelan’s weakness. It meant she couldn’t even get a chance to approach his side to take revenge on Caelan right away.

That’s why she needed Viscount Jimilta’s help even more, but he ruined everything.

“Hah.”

Though anger welled up and she grabbed her coat as if to tear it, she soon let go. She couldn’t damage her only coat since Count Bonita’s soldiers were still looking for her.

And…

“Nothing’s working out.”

Olivia clutched her hungry stomach. Even pacing in place required energy. She leaned against the wall as her trembling body seemed about to collapse.

She hadn’t eaten properly since escaping. Not only that, but she couldn’t rest properly either, so her physical condition was getting worse.

“There’s no point in leaving that tower like this.”

She was on the verge of starving to death on the streets before getting revenge on Caelan.

“Bliss… if only I could kidnap her at least.”

As that was too uncertain, Olivia’s muttering gradually sank into a swamp.

“My my.”

Olivia turned around startled at someone’s voice. She stepped back in case of an attack but lost her balance and fell. There was no time to care about the pain in her bottom that hit the ground.

Olivia looked up to check who it was.

“You were saying something interesting.”

Her first thought was that she was pretty. She was so beautiful that even another woman couldn’t take her eyes off her. From her platinum blonde hair to her white face and rosy cheeks, there wasn’t a single part that wasn’t pretty.

Did that woman hear her muttering?

As the woman’s lips parted, a sweet voice flowed out.

“Who did you say you wanted to kidnap?”

Olivia scratched the ground. She planned to throw it in the woman’s face and run away if necessary. Though she might get caught without going far.

“Saying you’d kidnap Bliss isn’t about getting revenge on her. Then it must be someone else.”

Though she didn’t mention who it was, she was looking at Olivia as if she knew everything. The woman who smiled with her eyes curving in apparent delight bent her knees to meet Olivia’s eyes.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

It was a question as if she knew Olivia’s condition. Since she was truly hungry, Olivia gradually released the strength from her hand that had been scratching the ground.

“Shall we have a deep conversation over a meal?”

The woman held out her hand to Olivia. A white and soft hand. As Olivia was slowly reaching out to take it while looking at it, the woman withdrew her hand.

“Ah right, I didn’t say who I am. How silly of me.”

As she smiled while running her hand that had been extended to Olivia through her own hair, it was confusing whether she was trying to tease or not.

“Latte. My name is Latte.”

Latte held out her hand to Olivia again. If she took this hand, Olivia could gain immediate comfort. And… despite hearing her muttering, she might be able to get help from this woman who was acting as if it was interesting.

“Aren’t you going to ask who I am?”

“Hmm? We can talk about that slowly.”

If Olivia ran away from her now, it wouldn’t be good for Latte. Though she knew Latte, conversely, Latte didn’t know her. But whether she couldn’t think of this or not, Latte’s smile remained clear. As Olivia quietly stared at the expression that even seemed pure, Latte spoke as if troubled.

“I don’t think it’s good to stay like this.”

Olivia had come out of the alley when she fell. Thanks to that, passersby were watching the two of them. The soldiers could appear at any time. Having made up her mind, Olivia answered while taking Latte’s hand.

“Olivia.”

Latte blinked before soon giving a pretty smile.

“Nice to meet you, Olivia.”