Chapter 112

“I…”

 

As Rahar trailed off awkwardly, Belona lightly smacked his arm with her hand and went, “Ah.”

 

“Come to think of it, you said you’ve never dated even once, right? You too?”

 

She didn’t know where she’d heard it, but Belona nodded knowingly and smiled.

 

“You’re still a child.”

 

“What? Are you calling me a child just because I’ve never dated?”

 

“Anyone who’s never experienced love is obviously a child.”

 

At the tone she used, as though speaking to someone younger than herself, Rahar bristled.

 

“What does it even matter whether you’ve dated or not—!”

 

“Enria, let’s get up now.”

 

Caldeon said this as he wrapped an arm around Enria’s waist and stood, continuing in a whisper by her ear.

 

“It looks like they’re going to keep fighting, so it’s probably better to leave them alone.”

 

That was what he said, but it was painfully obvious he just wanted her to himself, and Enria’s lips twitched upward.

 

Seeing him clasp her hand and start walking quickly, Enria asked, “You look like you’re in a hurry, Lord Caldeon?”

 

At that, Caldeon turned his head to look at her.

 

The moment his desire-glossed eyes took her in, they sharpened with a dangerous gleam.

 

“I am. I feel like I’ll die if I don’t hold you.”

 

 

***

 

 

After a night where everyone gained their own little stories thanks to the sudden wine party, morning came.

 

Waking from sleep, Enria slowly blinked her still-heavy eyelids as she gazed at the snow drifting lazily outside the window.

 

She’d heard that Hayden had fallen asleep after playing with Windel, Graum, and Silri when they came by the night before.

 

Chavel had said she’d bring him over right away if Hayden woke up and looked for Enria, so seeing that she was alone when she woke meant he hadn’t searched for her yet.

 

Slowly sitting up, Enria glanced at the empty space beside her and wondered where Caldeon had gone.

 

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Caldeon last night had been overwhelmingly persistent.

 

She knew, of course, that he loved her—but she hadn’t expected it to be this much.

 

‘I really thought I was going to be eaten alive…’

 

The first night they’d spent together since Hayden was born had been intense and sweet, partly because of the wine, but mostly because they’d both been so terribly thirsty for one another.

 

It felt like she’d been devoured from head to toe.

 

That was how relentless, impatient, and unrestrained Caldeon had been.

 

‘Still… I wonder what happened between Rose and Sir Tearen?’

 

Leaning back against the headboard, Enria recalled Roseanne leaving with Tearen in the middle of drinking the night before, and grew curious about how their relationship might have changed.

 

She slowly got out of bed, only to panic briefly when she found no strength in her legs, then sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to will strength back into them.

 

How long had she been like that?

 

The door opened without a knock, and Caldeon entered—neat and immaculate, not a hint of disarray.

 

He must have thought she was still asleep, because when he saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes widened in surprise.

 

“You’re already up?”

 

“When did you wake up?”

 

Instead of answering, Enria asked him as he strode straight toward her.

 

“About two hours ago. How’s your body?”

 

“I can’t put any strength into my legs.”

 

Caldeon immediately leaned down in front of her and brushed a light kiss against her cheek.

 

“I figured. I was pretty rough on you last night.”

 

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he scooped her up into his arms.

 

Startled, Enria reflexively wrapped both arms around his neck, and Caldeon let out a low, rumbling laugh.

 

“I washed you while you were sleeping, so you don’t need to wash again.”

 

“You washed me?”

 

Enria’s eyes went wide.

 

Now that she thought about it, she was dressed neatly in fresh day clothes, and her body felt completely clean and dry—no trace of stickiness at all.

 

“Yeah. You passed out in the middle, remember? After that, I carried you to the bath and soaked with you in the tub, but you didn’t wake up.”

 

He went on to say that since he was already at it, he’d washed her, dried her, and even dressed her in new sleepwear.

 

At that, Enria’s face flushed bright red, and she thumped his chest lightly with her fist.

 

“I didn’t pass out—I fainted. It was too much to handle……”

 

“So it was that good, then?”

 

Caldeon teased, smiling as he planted a light kiss on her cheek. Enria buried her face against his chest and muttered,

 

“You didn’t know the meaning of ‘moderation,’ honestly.”

 

Still, the fact that she hadn’t known she’d been washed in the bath at all made her wonder just how completely she’d lost consciousness.

 

“But where are we going now?”

 

“To Hayden. He started looking for you as soon as he woke up.”

 

“Oh, really? You should’ve woken me then. What’s he doing now? You could’ve just brought him……”

 

“He’s playing excitedly with Windel right now. Even if I told him to come, he probably wouldn’t.”

 

Caldeon added that Hayden had only whined briefly in the morning about Enria not being there, then said he should eat breakfast and showed his face for a moment before leaving.

 

When Enria said she didn’t have much of an appetite right now and didn’t want breakfast, he insisted she eat anyway, brushing his lips against her hair.

 

“Isn’t it almost lunchtime? Let’s eat together then.”

 

“Then should I have them bring some simple coffee and cake?””

 

“No, just coffee.”

 

When Enria shook her head and leaned her forehead against his chest, Caldeon kissed the top of her head again and whispered that he would.

 

As if last night’s relentless torment hadn’t been enough, Caldeon kept kissing her face here and there the entire time they walked, making Enria feel an odd ticklish sensation low in her belly.

 

That sensation turned into flustered embarrassment the moment they arrived at the crawling-floor where Hayden was.

 

There were far more people there than she’d expected.

 

“P-put me down.”

 

Windel, Graum, Silri, Rahar’s spirits, and Caldeon’s spirits were all gathered there.

 

On top of that, Roseanne, Tearen, Belona, and Rahar were there too.

 

If she’d known everyone would be gathered like this, she never would’ve come while being carried by Caldeon.

 

“Enria, are you sick?”

 

“Are you hurt?”

 

“Are you not feeling well?”

 

Silri, Lonn, and Undy asked her with worried expressions.

 

As Caldeon carefully set her down, Enria steadied herself and quickly shook her head.

 

“I’m fine. I’m healthy.”

 

“Mama, mama.”

 

Hayden toddled toward Enria with his arms spread wide.

 

Enria mirrored him, opening her arms and bending her knees to meet his eye level.

 

Hayden burst into giggles and flung himself into her embrace.

 

“Did you sleep well, Hayden?”

 

Since it was the first time they hadn’t slept together, she’d been a little worried about his mood.

 

Thankfully, Hayden smiled brightly, saying it had been fun sleeping with Windel, Graum, and Silri.

 

“Of course it was. Windel carried him on his back and wandered around until he fell asleep.”

 

Silri said this, having come to stand beside Enria and linking arms with her.

 

Enria sent Windel a grateful look.

 

Windel flicked his tail a couple of times as if it were nothing and looked away.

 

“What were you doing? Practicing walking, Hayden?”

 

“Mm, mm.”

 

“It’s definitely the phase where he’s full of energy. He ran around this whole place for nearly two hours without resting at all.”

 

“That phase for sure.”

 

Enria nodded once and smiled.

 

In truth, he didn’t even need practice walking—but she couldn’t tell them that, so she just smiled softly.

 

Then her eyes met Roseanne’s, who was standing beside Tearen and looking at her.

 

Enria tried to read Roseanne’s expression to see if there’d been any progress between her and Tearen, but couldn’t tell, which only made her more curious.

 

Just then, a servant came up to say that the coffee Caldeon had ordered on the way up was ready.

 

Thinking this was perfect timing, Enria handed Hayden to Caldeon and said to Roseanne,

 

“Rose, I’m going to have some coffee. Want to come with me?”

 

“Yeah, sure.”

 

Roseanne nodded readily, seeming to want to talk with Enria as well.

 

“I haven’t had any yet either. May I join you?”

 

Belona said she felt a little groggy since she hadn’t had coffee yet and wanted to come along too.

 

Enria glanced at Roseanne, and Roseanne smiled as if she didn’t mind and invited Belona to come with them.

 

And just like that, it turned into a small tea time with only the three women.

 

It might’ve been nice to have Silri and Eva along too, but right now Enria wanted to check on the progress between Roseanne and Tearen, so it seemed better not to have Rahar’s or Caldeon’s spirits present.

 

Of course, with Belona there, it would still be a bit difficult to ask Roseanne directly about what had happened last night.

 

“Is your stomach okay?”

 

At Enria’s question, Belona nodded once.

 

“I’m not particularly bad with alcohol, so this much is nothing.”

 

“Ah, I see. That’s a relief.”

 

Enria smiled lightly and lifted her coffee cup to her lips.

 

“But, Miss Roseanne.”

 

Belona also raised her cup and called out to Roseanne.

 

“Yes?”

 

“About your brother.”

 

“My brother?”

 

“Is he usually that interested in other people’s business?”

 

Perhaps because they’d gotten a bit closer over drinks last night, Belona began asking Roseanne about Rahar.

 

“Ah, well. He kind of is, to some extent. He’s always been the type to step into other people’s affairs.”

 

“Mm, I see.”

 

As Belona nodded and murmured to herself, Roseanne tilted her head slightly and asked,

 

“Why? Did he make you uncomfortable yesterday?”

 

“No, not uncomfortable, exactly……”

 

Belona trailed off, then laughed awkwardly and looked out the window.

 

She couldn’t bring herself to say that his excessive meddling had been bothersome to his very sister.