Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 35
Ryan could feel a sensation in his ear, whispering that he didn’t have to be sorry. Elysia slowly bowed her head and buried her lips on the back of his neck as his hand squeezed the bed sheet to the sensation of a sharp thing breaking through his body.
Felt as though a groan might escape out of his mouth, Ryan stiffened his chin. A feeling that was incomparable to the day he first met Elysia hit him instantaneously.
“Ugh…”
At that time, it was less because he was suffering from poison.
Ryan, who wasn’t able to stand the peculiar sensations spreading all over his body, starting from the nape of his neck, let go of the sheet and grabbed Elysia’s waist. Touching her body, he was surprised and tried to release his hand, though his body did not listen.
It was difficult to get his act together at the soft-looking curve in front of him or the scent of Elysia.
Tears started to form in Ryan’s eyes.
‘I can’t do this anymore…’
Elysia, feeling Ryan’s condition, clicked her tongue inside. Although it wasn’t enough, if she tried to take more, it really seemed that she would make him cry.
His tears were already forming, but it was invisible to her gaze.
“La…Lady Elysia. Ugh…”
Eventually, the sobbing bursting through Ryan’s lips made Elysia decide to quit. As she took away her lips, she licked the blood on his neck with her tongue, like a habit.
“Oh my, sorry.”
“I’m…sorry.”
At that moment, she could see tears that were welling up in his dark green eyes. Still, Ryan couldn’t help but keep on saying that he was sorry and made her feel like she had done something terrible again.
He touched her body in this situation, and he could not tolerate himself. Thinking so, tears flowed down his face, ashamed.
“Shh. Don’t cry, Ryan. It’s inevitable.”
Elysia wiped his eyes with her fingers, and she hugged him tightly. As he buried his face on her shoulder, Ryan took a short breath.
Realizing that his breathing couldn’t be calmed down in her arms, Ryan carefully pushed her away.
“Then, the poison… are you okay now?”
“Thanks to you.”
“I’m glad it helped. I’m really sorry to touch you.”
Ryan, again, apologized for holding her waist. With all the words, Elysia hesitated on how she would explain to him.
“Well, it’s really unavoidable. It’s all right.”
“…I will be more careful in the future.”
‘Hmm… I’ll put it on the agenda to try my best as well, then.’ When she peered at Ryan’s face, she kept feeling guilty and thought only to herself.
At that, Ryan remembered the maid, who was locked up in the basement and dressed himself. He was cautious of people even to touch the tip of Elysia’s fingertips, let alone dare to do such a thing.
He had no intention of letting whoever was behind it go. In addition, he also vowed to wear a shirt-type uniform in the future.
“I’m going back. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay. Take a rest today and start tomorrow.”
She replied, telling him not to dig out behind her right away but to take a break first. Ryan simply nodded his head and left the room.
“Lady Elysia, too, should take a rest today.”
“Yes, I will.”
Ryan left the room. He was even more heartbroken by Elysia’s casual reaction. Though the poison doesn’t affect him, is it possible to have such a reaction?
At that time, he saw someone approaching without losing any energy.
Obviously, there is no way to know the situation, but by looking at his expression, he seemed to know what happened to Elysia. The face of the maid who followed him was pale. Ryan gave a greeting and told the maid.
“Please stay back. I got it from here.”
The maid hurriedly bowed her head and rushed away.
It was Cassian.
Ryan frowned his eyes, recalling everything that happened today. Elysia had to rest.
“Is it Sir Ryan? Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Yes.”
In the beginning, Cassian wanted to rush straight to Elysia, but seeing Ryan coming out of her room, smelling like blood, he changed his mind. It seemed that she had taken emergency measures on her own. Even if he felt a sense of relief, unknown emotions soared.
“Let’s move somewhere else first,” Ryan said, leading him away from Elysia’s room.
Cassian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, gazing at the man who wasn’t hesitant at all when facing his energy.
“Is it poison?”
“May I ask you how you know first?”
“The doctor asked my family for an antidote.”
Ryan recalled the situation with the doctor. Cassian was obviously watching him, at some point. It must have been the Duke of Esteban who said to ask his family, not the apothecary, for medicinal herbs if they have it.
“I want to take care of it with our side.”
It meant that he wanted to take care of it himself, implying Ryan to get his hands off.
“I’m sorry, but Lady Elysia ordered me. Though I can’t do anything about the Duke moving separately.”
‘He’s pretty good.’
Cassian fell into agony while looking at Ryan. It was obvious that he was the one she was going to bring in after the marriage because Elysia came forward to save him herself.
Including that he also knows Elysia’s secret.
“Then, let’s do it together. After we get married, we are all moving in together, anyway.”
There was a lot of overlap as Elysia continued to keep Ryan as an informant because moving separately would be inefficient. Regardless, he also needed him by her side when he couldn’t be there like today.
“Understood.”
Ryan hesitated for a moment but finally nodded his head.
Cassian was to be Elysia’s husband.
There weren’t any feelings, but the Duke of Esteban was well aware of the abilities of the informant. Obviously, there are more benefits. Ryan, who expected he would have a lot of work in the future, thought he should get additional permission from Elysia.
“What’s the situation so far?”
At that, Ryan briefly conveyed what happened at Cassian’s question.
Except for that part that Elysia drank his blood.
“Let’s start with the maid’s position. There’s a suitable place.”
“Okay. Will Your Grace go to Lady Elysia first, then?”
Cassian nodded his head. So, Ryan took his steps first. Eventually, they both arrived in front of Elysia’s room, and Ryan knocked on it.
“Lady Elysia, the Duke of Esteban has come.”
—Take him to the parlor. —
If he knew that they were going to the parlor, he wouldn’t have brought Cassian all the way here from the beginning.
After a while, Ryan said again. “Duke Esteban is already here… Should I still take him to the parlor?”
— What? —
Moments after, he heard an answer to let Cassian in, and bustling sounds in the room followed.
“Well, see you later.”
***
As Elysia came out from the dressing room, she could be seen wearing her chemise. She was thinking of lying in bed and relaxing.
“Why did you come so early? What happened?”
Elysia spoke as she offered Cassian a seat.
“What’s going on with you?”
When he briefly explained how he knew, a feeling of frustration ran over Elysia’s face.
“I guess you weren’t thinking of telling me about it?”
“Well, it’s not really like that.”
Cassian’s voice subsided. Elysia said, shrugging her shoulders. “Because even if more people know, there is still nothing good that comes out of it. Isn’t that right?”
And so, she asked if he could keep his mouth shut, and Cassian nodded his head.
Because it was a poison made for infertility, if any information leaked out, it was clear that the impact would be significant even if she found and drank the antidote.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, it’s okay because I took some measures…”
‘Should I have more?’ As Elysia touched her lips, she agonized. Drinking Ryan’s blood didn’t feel like it was enough. However, Cassian’s face didn’t look good enough for her to ask.
“You…”
“What?”
“You can’t take your eyes off me for a second.”
He had thought about this other time, but this time, it’s different. Who dares do such things? Cassian couldn’t understand why everyone had such a casual face right now. Even if the poison didn’t work, Elysia still drank the poison.
“Well, I have something to tell you…”
Elysia recalled the time when she was writing the contract with him. After what had happened today, even if it was a contractual relationship, it seemed that Cassian should at least know about this.
“Remember when I said I would give up cleanly if I had a child?”
“The poison… didn’t you recover?”
At Elysia’s words, he asked if something went wrong. To be honest, he was also quite upset that someone had dared to use such poison on someone who would be the Mistress of the Duchy of Esteban.
A sharp energy again came out. Elysia swiftly waved her palm.
“No, that’s not it. It’s… There’s something I didn’t tell you. That’s… I can’t have children.”
Although the way she talked was as if it was not a big deal, it wasn’t something light at all. Cassian bit his mouth as he couldn’t find anything to answer and asked, “Does today’s incident have nothing to do with it?”
“Yeah. It has nothing to do with that. I should have said it before signing the contract. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t mind it. It wasn’t the purpose of the contract anyway.”
Elysia was relieved to hear that. Suddenly, realized that she trusted him much more than she thought because actually, there was no reason to even tell him this.
He certainly had more questions, but she thanked Cassian for not pressing further.
‘Well, that’s true, it doesn’t matter, so why would he ask?’
She was barking up the wrong tree.
Nonetheless, Cassian was confused by the bomb that was thrown at him all of a sudden. Could her body not perceive children originally?
There was a subtle part of him that thought so. So, even if it feels like there was something more, it wasn’t a good time to ask. Besides, Elysia wasn’t someone who would just answer him when he asked something.
‘Is there going to be a day when she can speak her mind?’
Elysia didn’t seem to tell him everything because of the three-year contract period. Cassian doesn’t know why but the thought of it was frustrating him. He raised his hand and loosened the cravat roughly.
No, he may have already known. He just didn’t want to admit it.
“Are you tired?”
“No, why?”
Elysia got up and approached him. Her gaze was already fixed on his neck. Knowing that was going to happen, Cassian swept his head and pulled her in closer.
Glancing at Elysia, who was in his arms now, he wondered if she had downplayed it a little and questioned again if she was all right.
“You’re too quick to notice.”
She sat on his leg and murmured dissatisfied. Inside, Elysia was trying to manage her facial expressions. While on the other hand, Cassian didn’t seem to be in a good mood as a very dangerous atmosphere surrounded him.
‘Well… This atmosphere isn’t bad either. After all, I’m a rotten girl.’
“Did you not drink the blood of a knight named Ryan?”
“You know? Yes, but… I don’t think it’s enough.” Elysia replied, tilted her head, and glanced at Cassian. Then, she could see him raising his hand and rubbing his neck.
Elysia drew his hand and bit his finger softly.
‘Let’s have a little bite first… Where should I eat next?’
As she couldn’t consume any more blood, she continued her agony, staring at him. Cassian sighed and covered his face with the back of his hand.
‘Why is he suddenly covering up his face?’
Pulling his finger out of her mouth, Elysia made a sound of dissatisfaction.
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 35
Ryan could feel a sensation in his ear, whispering that he didn’t have to be sorry. Elysia slowly bowed her head and buried her lips on the back of his neck as his hand squeezed the bed sheet to the sensation of a sharp thing breaking through his body.
Felt as though a groan might escape out of his mouth, Ryan stiffened his chin. A feeling that was incomparable to the day he first met Elysia hit him instantaneously.
“Ugh…”
At that time, it was less because he was suffering from poison.
Ryan, who wasn’t able to stand the peculiar sensations spreading all over his body, starting from the nape of his neck, let go of the sheet and grabbed Elysia’s waist. Touching her body, he was surprised and tried to release his hand, though his body did not listen.
It was difficult to get his act together at the soft-looking curve in front of him or the scent of Elysia.
Tears started to form in Ryan’s eyes.
‘I can’t do this anymore…’
Elysia, feeling Ryan’s condition, clicked her tongue inside. Although it wasn’t enough, if she tried to take more, it really seemed that she would make him cry.
His tears were already forming, but it was invisible to her gaze.
“La…Lady Elysia. Ugh…”
Eventually, the sobbing bursting through Ryan’s lips made Elysia decide to quit. As she took away her lips, she licked the blood on his neck with her tongue, like a habit.
“Oh my, sorry.”
“I’m…sorry.”
At that moment, she could see tears that were welling up in his dark green eyes. Still, Ryan couldn’t help but keep on saying that he was sorry and made her feel like she had done something terrible again.
He touched her body in this situation, and he could not tolerate himself. Thinking so, tears flowed down his face, ashamed.
“Shh. Don’t cry, Ryan. It’s inevitable.”
Elysia wiped his eyes with her fingers, and she hugged him tightly. As he buried his face on her shoulder, Ryan took a short breath.
Realizing that his breathing couldn’t be calmed down in her arms, Ryan carefully pushed her away.
“Then, the poison… are you okay now?”
“Thanks to you.”
“I’m glad it helped. I’m really sorry to touch you.”
Ryan, again, apologized for holding her waist. With all the words, Elysia hesitated on how she would explain to him.
“Well, it’s really unavoidable. It’s all right.”
“…I will be more careful in the future.”
‘Hmm… I’ll put it on the agenda to try my best as well, then.’ When she peered at Ryan’s face, she kept feeling guilty and thought only to herself.
At that, Ryan remembered the maid, who was locked up in the basement and dressed himself. He was cautious of people even to touch the tip of Elysia’s fingertips, let alone dare to do such a thing.
He had no intention of letting whoever was behind it go. In addition, he also vowed to wear a shirt-type uniform in the future.
“I’m going back. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay. Take a rest today and start tomorrow.”
She replied, telling him not to dig out behind her right away but to take a break first. Ryan simply nodded his head and left the room.
“Lady Elysia, too, should take a rest today.”
“Yes, I will.”
Ryan left the room. He was even more heartbroken by Elysia’s casual reaction. Though the poison doesn’t affect him, is it possible to have such a reaction?
At that time, he saw someone approaching without losing any energy.
Obviously, there is no way to know the situation, but by looking at his expression, he seemed to know what happened to Elysia. The face of the maid who followed him was pale. Ryan gave a greeting and told the maid.
“Please stay back. I got it from here.”
The maid hurriedly bowed her head and rushed away.
It was Cassian.
Ryan frowned his eyes, recalling everything that happened today. Elysia had to rest.
“Is it Sir Ryan? Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Yes.”
In the beginning, Cassian wanted to rush straight to Elysia, but seeing Ryan coming out of her room, smelling like blood, he changed his mind. It seemed that she had taken emergency measures on her own. Even if he felt a sense of relief, unknown emotions soared.
“Let’s move somewhere else first,” Ryan said, leading him away from Elysia’s room.
Cassian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, gazing at the man who wasn’t hesitant at all when facing his energy.
“Is it poison?”
“May I ask you how you know first?”
“The doctor asked my family for an antidote.”
Ryan recalled the situation with the doctor. Cassian was obviously watching him, at some point. It must have been the Duke of Esteban who said to ask his family, not the apothecary, for medicinal herbs if they have it.
“I want to take care of it with our side.”
It meant that he wanted to take care of it himself, implying Ryan to get his hands off.
“I’m sorry, but Lady Elysia ordered me. Though I can’t do anything about the Duke moving separately.”
‘He’s pretty good.’
Cassian fell into agony while looking at Ryan. It was obvious that he was the one she was going to bring in after the marriage because Elysia came forward to save him herself.
Including that he also knows Elysia’s secret.
“Then, let’s do it together. After we get married, we are all moving in together, anyway.”
There was a lot of overlap as Elysia continued to keep Ryan as an informant because moving separately would be inefficient. Regardless, he also needed him by her side when he couldn’t be there like today.
“Understood.”
Ryan hesitated for a moment but finally nodded his head.
Cassian was to be Elysia’s husband.
There weren’t any feelings, but the Duke of Esteban was well aware of the abilities of the informant. Obviously, there are more benefits. Ryan, who expected he would have a lot of work in the future, thought he should get additional permission from Elysia.
“What’s the situation so far?”
At that, Ryan briefly conveyed what happened at Cassian’s question.
Except for that part that Elysia drank his blood.
“Let’s start with the maid’s position. There’s a suitable place.”
“Okay. Will Your Grace go to Lady Elysia first, then?”
Cassian nodded his head. So, Ryan took his steps first. Eventually, they both arrived in front of Elysia’s room, and Ryan knocked on it.
“Lady Elysia, the Duke of Esteban has come.”
—Take him to the parlor. —
If he knew that they were going to the parlor, he wouldn’t have brought Cassian all the way here from the beginning.
After a while, Ryan said again. “Duke Esteban is already here… Should I still take him to the parlor?”
— What? —
Moments after, he heard an answer to let Cassian in, and bustling sounds in the room followed.
“Well, see you later.”
***
As Elysia came out from the dressing room, she could be seen wearing her chemise. She was thinking of lying in bed and relaxing.
“Why did you come so early? What happened?”
Elysia spoke as she offered Cassian a seat.
“What’s going on with you?”
When he briefly explained how he knew, a feeling of frustration ran over Elysia’s face.
“I guess you weren’t thinking of telling me about it?”
“Well, it’s not really like that.”
Cassian’s voice subsided. Elysia said, shrugging her shoulders. “Because even if more people know, there is still nothing good that comes out of it. Isn’t that right?”
And so, she asked if he could keep his mouth shut, and Cassian nodded his head.
Because it was a poison made for infertility, if any information leaked out, it was clear that the impact would be significant even if she found and drank the antidote.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, it’s okay because I took some measures…”
‘Should I have more?’ As Elysia touched her lips, she agonized. Drinking Ryan’s blood didn’t feel like it was enough. However, Cassian’s face didn’t look good enough for her to ask.
“You…”
“What?”
“You can’t take your eyes off me for a second.”
He had thought about this other time, but this time, it’s different. Who dares do such things? Cassian couldn’t understand why everyone had such a casual face right now. Even if the poison didn’t work, Elysia still drank the poison.
“Well, I have something to tell you…”
Elysia recalled the time when she was writing the contract with him. After what had happened today, even if it was a contractual relationship, it seemed that Cassian should at least know about this.
“Remember when I said I would give up cleanly if I had a child?”
“The poison… didn’t you recover?”
At Elysia’s words, he asked if something went wrong. To be honest, he was also quite upset that someone had dared to use such poison on someone who would be the Mistress of the Duchy of Esteban.
A sharp energy again came out. Elysia swiftly waved her palm.
“No, that’s not it. It’s… There’s something I didn’t tell you. That’s… I can’t have children.”
Although the way she talked was as if it was not a big deal, it wasn’t something light at all. Cassian bit his mouth as he couldn’t find anything to answer and asked, “Does today’s incident have nothing to do with it?”
“Yeah. It has nothing to do with that. I should have said it before signing the contract. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t mind it. It wasn’t the purpose of the contract anyway.”
Elysia was relieved to hear that. Suddenly, realized that she trusted him much more than she thought because actually, there was no reason to even tell him this.
He certainly had more questions, but she thanked Cassian for not pressing further.
‘Well, that’s true, it doesn’t matter, so why would he ask?’
She was barking up the wrong tree.
Nonetheless, Cassian was confused by the bomb that was thrown at him all of a sudden. Could her body not perceive children originally?
There was a subtle part of him that thought so. So, even if it feels like there was something more, it wasn’t a good time to ask. Besides, Elysia wasn’t someone who would just answer him when he asked something.
‘Is there going to be a day when she can speak her mind?’
Elysia didn’t seem to tell him everything because of the three-year contract period. Cassian doesn’t know why but the thought of it was frustrating him. He raised his hand and loosened the cravat roughly.
No, he may have already known. He just didn’t want to admit it.
“Are you tired?”
“No, why?”
Elysia got up and approached him. Her gaze was already fixed on his neck. Knowing that was going to happen, Cassian swept his head and pulled her in closer.
Glancing at Elysia, who was in his arms now, he wondered if she had downplayed it a little and questioned again if she was all right.
“You’re too quick to notice.”
She sat on his leg and murmured dissatisfied. Inside, Elysia was trying to manage her facial expressions. While on the other hand, Cassian didn’t seem to be in a good mood as a very dangerous atmosphere surrounded him.
‘Well… This atmosphere isn’t bad either. After all, I’m a rotten girl.’
“Did you not drink the blood of a knight named Ryan?”
“You know? Yes, but… I don’t think it’s enough.” Elysia replied, tilted her head, and glanced at Cassian. Then, she could see him raising his hand and rubbing his neck.
Elysia drew his hand and bit his finger softly.
‘Let’s have a little bite first… Where should I eat next?’
As she couldn’t consume any more blood, she continued her agony, staring at him. Cassian sighed and covered his face with the back of his hand.
‘Why is he suddenly covering up his face?’
Pulling his finger out of her mouth, Elysia made a sound of dissatisfaction.
