Chapter 24

“Did you finally leave the house?”

How could everyone he met ask the exact same question as if they had planned it?

He had just heard someone ask if he had finally gotten divorced at the bottom of the stairs. If all those belongings made them think of separation and divorce, one of them must be crazy. Either him or those guys.

Kalik was so tired of it that he didn’t even bother to answer.

“Come on, tell me! What’s going on!”

Vincent followed Kalik into his private room. Overwhelmed by Vincent’s momentum, Dawson gathered half of the papers piled up in one corner and silently left.

“Tell me!”

Kalik’s eyes filled with betrayal. He had planned to push this off onto Dawson if it came to it.

“Is it a divorce or a separation?”

“Instead of talking nonsense, go out and train.”

Vincent perched on the armrest of the sofa and showed off his left arm.

“Can’t you see this muscle?”

His bent forearm bulged like a round ball had been stuffed inside. Because of that, there was no empty space on the inside of the bend.

Kalik chuckled.

“Just because it’s big doesn’t mean it’s everything.”

“You don’t know. These days, triceps as big as a child’s head are in vogue.”

“Where is this popular?”

“Within the knight order.”

“Go out and see the world more.”

Even during the training season, it was a schedule that was excessively obsessed with the smell of sweat. Unexpectedly, those who commuted like Kalik were in the minority. Half of the unmarried knights volunteered for training, fearing they would fall behind their peers, and half of the married knights almost lived in the knight order’s quarters, claiming they were afraid of their homes.

That’s why there was a reason why his colleagues found it strange that Kalik, who used to leave promptly for home, was now staying at the knight order. Kalik himself had been staying at the knight order until the horse-riding accident.

“If your wife likes it, then it’s fine.”

“She doesn’t like it. She says she doesn’t need muscles like these water hyacinths.”

Vincent pulled down his rolled-up sleeve with a sulky face. Anyway, that woman didn’t appreciate the beauty of a man’s body.

But what he was curious about wasn’t his wife’s muscle preferences but the rumors about Kalik’s love life. Circumstantially, it was certain that Kalik and Marie were together, but the root of how that plausibility was generated wasn’t visible.

How did a couple who had been rumored to be on the verge of divorce for three years suddenly become a loving couple dripping with honey?

And what was all that luggage?

“Did Marie tell you to get lost?”

“She doesn’t use that kind of language.”

“Not use it? She seems like she would.”

The Marie Odillia Vincent knew was a woman who would use her hands rather than words. Her eyes were sharp like a cat’s, and her crimson eyebrows gave a strong and intense impression, making her seem like a woman who could conquer several men without using force. Of course, this was purely Vincent Almore’s speculation and judgment, so it lacked credibility.

Kalik, noticing this rudeness, burst out in anger.

“My wife isn’t like that.”

“Even if she were, you wouldn’t know. How many women who are like that let their husbands know?”

“Don’t insult her when you don’t know her.”

“Got it. I apologize. I think I crossed the line while probing because I was curious.”

But she looks like that. 

He held back these words. Vincent was unsure if Kalik was angry because he didn’t want to hear gossip or if he was genuinely upset, so he cautiously observed him.

After Kalik had made such a bombshell declaration and left that day, a lot of words had been exchanged.

The bet was void. The rumor was valid.

Vincent and the commanders put their heads together to discuss the answer to the current situation. That became a new bet.

Let’s give three gold coins to each person who guesses the correct answer. What on earth happened between that couple?

Marie Odillia seduced him with an aphrodisiac and conquered him with her bedroom skills.

Marie Odillia caught him by a weakness and is controlling him.

Marie Odillia bought Kalik’s love with money.

Kalik has some grand dream and is pretending to love Marie Odillia, etc…

Among the many opinions, there was a rare, normal one suggesting that after visiting the brink of death, he decided to cherish life, but this too couldn’t fully explain the love.

And this circulated among the young knights and young commanders before reaching the commanders in their forties and fifties. It was because they talked so much. Moreover, as Escael and Odillia were prominent families in many ways, the conditions were ripe for the matter to escalate.

For reference, Vincent Almore’s opinion was the sixth opinion. He thought Kalik’s frustrated anger, who almost died without having s*x, was directed at Marie. Even a principled virgin like Kalik Escael couldn’t resist the allure.

“I understand. They say love knows no borders, age, gender, or even need for a p*nis.”

“What nonsense.”

“I’m saying love and s*x don’t always go hand in hand. So what if they don’t do it?”

For once, he was speaking sense.

“Then let’s think the other way around. Do you have to love to have s*x? What about loving to have s*x?”

Most of the knights, including Vincent, thought Kalik and Marie were a clean couple. Considering the dignity and face of nobility, they didn’t mention it openly, but the situation and relationship were like that. A white couple who only held a ceremony.

If they had broken expectations and loved each other, wouldn’t the cold war between Escael and Odillia have ended long ago? There were neither good nor bad things between them, which was why it was like this until today.

Of course, this was a secret from Kalik. If it ever reached his ears through exchanges, there would be a series of funerals that day.

“Of course, I understand. If I was equipped with such a weapon, even I would have wielded it. But isn’t Marie too strong as a partner? Instead of making an effort to be with that woman, choose an easier partner. The hurdle is too high for a virgin.”

Kalik silently listened to Vincent, wondering how far he would go. It was clear that what this damned Almore was saying wasn’t just his own thoughts. His friend had muscles for brains, so he couldn’t talk like this. He must have picked it up somewhere and was showing off.

“There isn’t only Marie as a woman. After three years, you can give up on Marie and look at another woman. No one will blame you. In fact, they’ll praise you for not touching her for three years! You could even inscribe it in a temple without anyone saying anything. Kalik of Patience, Escael of Chastity. Wow! You’ll become the incarnation of patience. How about the Church of Patience, the Church of Patience!”

He could tolerate being seen as a guy desperate to have s*x. It’s fine to be mocked as a virgin. He thought it was understandable for a third party to perceive his love that way.

But he couldn’t tolerate degrading Marie with words that weren’t true. It would be infuriating even if it were true, but to dare belittle my wife with blatant prejudice!

“Are you done?”

“Huh?”

Kalik cracked his fingers a few times and drew his own sword, not a training sword.

“Wh-why are you doing this?!”

“If you’re done, it’s my turn now.”

“Huh? Oh? Wait a minute. Wait a minute!”

Vincent reflexively grabbed his sword. However, Kalik’s sword was already piercing Vincent’s neck.

“Ugh, you bastard, it’s going in!”

The sword tip was embedded about 5 millimeters, and blood was flowing profusely.

“That’s what I intend.”

“Why! Did I say something wrong? I’m sorry!”

He hurriedly begged for forgiveness. Kalik’s eyes, which had approached right in front of him, were burning with anger. It wasn’t a joke; he really seemed like he would cut him. If he even mentioned Marie’s name, what would fall to the floor wouldn’t be honor or prestige but his neck.

But such an opportunity wouldn’t come again.

“So you really love her purely?”

“Of course. I love her…”

Kalik stopped speaking. At the same time, the sword tip retreated weakly. Vincent, freed from the pressure, held his wound with a bewildered expression.

“Do you love her?”

“Wh-what do you mean asking me that? How would I know?”

She almost thought it was a question to guess and pondered with him.

“Love…”

“Yeah, love.”

“It seems like… love.”

“Are you crazy? It’s your heart. Don’t you know your own heart?”

“My heart…?”

Kalik repeated the same words like a parrot. While Vincent, who had managed to stop the bleeding, took a few steps back to avoid being stabbed again.

“Ha… I guess I am in love.”

A confession mixed with a sigh slipped out.