The Only Way to Break the Curse is Through Contact with You - Chapter 28
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I’ve been neglecting the first aid kits all this time. Since it was impossible for me to be accompanied by my husband’s coworker while I was having an affair.
Since I had given them a pair of gloves as a gift, I decided to visit the training ground for the first time in a while, just to feel a sense of accomplishment.
“Madam!”
As soon as I entered the training ground, the knights who were practicing scattered and rushed towards me.
“It’s been a while!”
“We were worried if something had happened!”
They seemed to wag their tails behind them like dogs welcoming their owner who was returning home after a long time. Their eyes were sparkling eyes as though they hadn’t seen me in days. I thought we had built up quite a level of intimacy, but their hospitality exceeded my expectations.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
To divert the numerous gazes that were fixed on me, I gestured to Lily. Understanding my gesture, Lily swiftly raised the basket.
“Today, we have crepes filled with oranges, strawberries, and plenty of whipped cream. We also have sweet black tea with milk and honey!”
Hearing Lily’s words, the knights’ heads turned eagerly toward the basket. The retrievers waiting for snacks looked at me with pleading eyes.
Surrounded by the knights like a guard, I casually walked around the training ground, glancing around.
Diart, who always seemed to live in the training ground, was nowhere to be seen. It was rather fortunate, considering the guilt that haunted me for providing him with the weapon to kill my beloved with my own hands.
‘But why did he ask such strange questions the day before yesterday when that’s not like him. He doesn’t even answer when asked.’
It would be a relief if he would pretend to answer, let alone give an answer.
‘I wonder if he knew that I attended the masquerade ball?’
No. He’s not someone who would take an interest in me. I tilted my head and sat on the cloak spread out by the knights instead of a cushion.
When Lily brought out the crepes and milk tea, the knights exclaimed in excitement.
“Let’s eat.”
As soon as permission was granted, the knights who were eagerly waiting hesitated and withdrew their hands in surprise.
“Why?”
As I looked at them with a puzzled expression, the knights blushed and cleared their throats awkwardly.
“We will enjoy it, madam.”
“Thank you.”
The polite knights reached out their hands and delicately took a bite of the crepes. Unlike usual, their manner of gently savoring each bite resembled that of noble aristocrats.
The Wheaton Knight Order selected members based on their skills, regardless of their social status, so there were many commoners among them. However, due to the strict etiquette taught, it was composed of knights no less noble than the aristocrats.
It was also written in a book that the Wheaton Knight Order had a characteristic of showing a rigid attitude depending on the occasion and place.
‘But why all of a sudden?’
Until just now, they were like lively puppies wagging their tails, so why are they suddenly being so reserved?
I shared a puzzled look with Lily. She also seemed to find the change in the knights’ attitude strange.
“Why is everyone acting like that?”
“Yes? What are you talking about?”
“Why are you suddenly acting so stiff? Did something happen?”
When I asked if they had received group training or something today, the knights who were exchanging glances with each other hesitated to answer.
“We’ve been too comfortable in front of you, madam.”
“Huh?”
“We thought maybe that’s why you’re not feeling well and haven’t come around, so we all promised to be more careful.”
I had forgotten for a moment because I was so happy earlier. The knights scratched their heads with awkward faces.
“That’s not it. I’ve just been busy lately, so I couldn’t come. It’s actually more uncomfortable for me.”
“Really?”
The knights hesitated for a moment before nodding. They seemed to be awkward themselves. I could faintly hear murmurs like “As expected, our…lord…was…the one…”, “Well, if…that’s what…it takes…”, “Well, even…so…” but I couldn’t understand them properly. I looked around the training ground and asked.
“Sir Milto isn’t here?”
Usually, he would be the first one to come running excitedly.
In response to my question, the knights, who were happily munching on crepes, quickly chewed and swallowed before answering.
“He went to pick up the new training uniform.”
“Oh, really?”
The current training uniform looks good on him, so why bother changing it? I like how his muscular physique is clearly displayed. No, it would be even better if he wore short sleeves, especially in this hot weather.
I imagined myself stroking the arms of the knights wearing short sleeves, pretending it was a mistake. It may seem a bit perverted, but it was just for survival, nothing more. Nodding my head, I was rationalizing it when I heard a loud shout from afar.
“The new training uniforms have arrived!”
The knights’ gaze quickly turned towards the source of the voice. From a distance, Milto, with a cheerful expression, was waving his hand above his head.
“Pfft!”
The knights covered their mouths with their hands to prevent themselves from spitting out the crepes they were chewing on. Lily blushed and bowed her head deeply.
And I thought to myself,
‘Oh, he’s more solid than I thought?’
I had only seen him as a puppy-like figure, so I didn’t know his body was this good. The well-defined muscles clung to his upper body, and especially the perfectly sculpted abs below the sternum were like something you would see on TV.
“That, that crazy bastard!”
“Hey! Why aren’t you dressed right now?!”
The knights stood up abruptly and shouted. Milto, who was happily running towards them, stopped in confusion when he saw the knights rushing towards him.
“W-Why are you all like this?”
Judging by his bewildered voice, it seemed that Milto hadn’t noticed me yet. The knights grabbed the back of his neck and covered him with their clumsy hands, wrapping him in his cape.
“Why are you showing such an ugly sight?!”
No, why hide it? It looks good. As I was admiring his gradually disappearing bronze skin, Lily, who had been peeking through her fingers covering her face, saw me and screamed in shock.
“Eek, madam!”
Startled by Lily’s scream, the knights turned to look at me and held their breath. Milto, who had just noticed me, also opened his mouth wide in astonishment.
Why? What’s wrong?
I watched in disbelief as the knights, who had been beating Milto to a pulp with their cloaks to disguise his naked upper body, and wondered why they were rushing towards me in a panic.
“Madam, your nose is bleeding!”
In a moment of contemplation, Lily, in her haste, covered my nose with her apron.
‘A nosebleed?’
Shit. If I have a nosebleed here, it’ll look weird!
“Madam, are you alright?”
“Are you still feeling unwell?”
“Or were you just surprised to suddenly see such an atrocity?”
“I will not let that guy go until I die. No, I’ll kill him!”
“Yes! Absolutely!”
The knights didn’t know what to do and each threw out a word. Milto, who was being threatened with his life, was now kneeling in front of me. His hair was disheveled and his cape was wrapped tightly around him, making him look pitiful.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t know you were here and I was being rude.”
Milto apologized with a red face and bowed his head deeply.
“No, honestly, it looked good.”
As someone who has been trained by various idol and actor photobooks in my past life, I don’t get nosebleeds just from seeing a naked upper body. This is not a manhwa.
Due to my lack of contact with the opposite sex while searching for someone to have an affair with, the curse’s energy had built up in me to the point where I felt like I was about to explode. That’s why my legs suddenly gave out at the masquerade ball.
Dancing with the crown prince and holding his hands helped me temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but it wasn’t enough to delay the curse’s manifestation for long.
Since experiencing the curse’s manifestation, I could feel my HP gauge like a game status window. I was on the verge of being KO’d, and that’s why I went to the dressing room to drink a potion before that happened.
“It’s okay. I’m still feeling a little unwell.”
I pushed Lily aside and used a handkerchief to cover my nose as I spoke. The knights looked at me with worried eyes.
“Shall I bring you a glass of water?”
The knights looked as if they would immediately carry out any orders given to them.
“No. I just want to go back to my room. Sir Milto, will you escort me?”
I only have eyes for one!
It takes about thirty minutes to get from the training ground to my room. During that time, I was going to neutralize the curse by using Milto as my escort, using my feeling unwell as an excuse.
“Madam, I will escort you instead of this unsightly man.”
“No, I will.”
“I will do it!”
You all have lovers anyway. Those who have lovers will make me feel guilty. When I was about to raise my head,
“What’s going on?”
A voice that wasn’t very welcoming interrupted us.