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Darling
“People who live, do not refuse travelers. Because I know it will come back to me later. Come on in.”
Hearing his words, Nathaniel thought it was a good thing he didn’t kill his man.
He thought he had to feed Kyrie, so he approved it, but he had other calculated intentions as well. She hated having a third party involved in her problems, so he calculated that she would never ignore him in front of others.
The dining room had a log table that could seat 10 people.  They were having dinner just in time, so food was on the table.  There was only one little girl sitting.
“Sit down comfortably. I will bring more dishes.”
“Thank you, no, thank you.”
“You can take it easy. You seem to be a valuable person just by looking at it.”
The man searched the kitchen and placed wooden utensils and cups in front of Kyrie and Nathaniel.
“My name is Bund Carp. You can address me comfortably.  This is my daughter, Eve.”
“Call me Rie.”
Of course he would have noticed it was a pseudonym, but Bund just smiled.
“Does the gentleman next to you also have the name Rie?”
Kyrie opened her mouth slightly.  Well, Nathaniel had no intention of introducing himself, so she was in a situation where she had to say something. Purple eyes that showed a good middle-aged man who welcomed a midnight guest into the house for no reason, and Eve, whose innocent eyes resemble her father.
Kyrie didn’t hesitate for long. With a slightly complicated face, she gently said his name, which she would never have called.
“……no. He is Nathaniel.”
His calculation was correct. Nathaniel lowered his eyes and hid his smile. The name he heard from her voice after a long time felt unusually sweet.
“I see.  Excuse me, but your name suits you very well.  It is as if an angel has come down.”
After expressing his admiration, Bund asked Kyrie again.
“Are you both related? Can I ask what your relationship is?  Of course, you don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable, but that’s not really a bad question.”
In Nathaniel’s eyes, Kyrie was seen hesitating.
Kyrie knows he values her form (identity).  Even if he wants to kill the people sitting on the table right now, he refrains himself, and if he receives a greeting, he greets them back anyway.  If you are a guest, act like a guest.  So she must be rolling her head now to somehow create that ‘form’ (identity).
Nathaniel rejoiced in Kyrie’s embarrassment and waited for her voice, holding his cup.  Then Kyrie opened her mouth with a serious face.
“He is my husband.”
The cup slipped from Nathaniel’s hand.
“Woah!  Are you okay?”
At the sound of the cup falling, Kyrie, Bund, and Eve looked at him in surprise.  Nathaniel, who had paused in the same position where he dropped the cup the whole time until Bund got up and fetched the towel, soon pulled his hand and smiled gracefully.
Kyrie, Bund, and Eve looked at the sound of the glass falling. Nathaniel, who had stopped in a position where he had dropped the glass all the time until Bund got up and brought the towel, soon pulled his hand up and smiled gracefully.
[Excuse me. It’s a name I’m not used to yet.]
“Is that so?  You will be called more often in the future, you have to do this! Haha.”
Bund was a really pure and good man. Seeing him believed those nonsensical words.
Although Kyrie felt guilty, she lowered her head in shame and embarrassment.
“Actually, we fervently long for each other, but we chose to escape in love because of the opposition of our family.”
“Oh my gosh! You are brave!”
Bund put his hand on his mouth and admired it.
“Oh my god!”
Eve threw the chuimsae.
[Yeah, the elopement for love.]
Nathaniel also responded, as if it was absurd, but very interesting. Kyrie skillfully portrayed her sadness, even though she found the word ‘love’ to come out of Nathaniel’s mouth terribly awkward.
“Originally, we were traveling in a wagon, but we got lost while running because the family’s pursuers were near.”
“I didn’t know there was a story behind…..”
Bund was in tears.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
I am grateful for you to listen to this story.
“I beg you, let us stay for just one day.  And even if someone comes to visit, please don’t tell them anything about us.  Is it possible?”
“That’s enough! People don’t go around this area very often, so it would be even weirder if someone came looking for you.”
Kyrie thanked him with a smile.
After finishing the meal, Kyrie hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Nathaniel’s hand under the table. She could feel his long, delicate hands startled.  Kyrie turned his head toward him and said.
“And, my husband…….he says he has something to give you.”
Nathaniel and Kyrie’s eyes met. A conversation passed between the two of them in an instant that could only be seen through their eyes.
Give me.
What?
Something worth the money.
Nathaniel chuckled and dropped some jewels between her fingers. Kyrie immediately took her hand off him and handed it to Bund.
“It’s small, but it’s our sincerity.”
“No! I can’t take this!”
“Anyway, we can’t afford to pay for this.  If you really feel uncomfortable, would you like to take care of other victims in the future?”
“I do it without asking for it. Helping others and expecting a reward! Oh my god”
After refusing for a while, Bund accepted the jewels with a very reluctant look. When Kyrie said that she was so tired that she was on the verge of collapse, he immediately put Eve to sleep in his room, he then led Kyrie and Nathaniel to Eve’s room.  Bund, who informed them of the structure of the room and house, did not leave immediately, but hesitated for a moment.
“Oh, and there is one thing I want to tell you aa an elder……”
“Tell me.”
“Well, this house is not so soundproof.”
“Huh?”
“I have a child…”
“So?”
“Therefore….”
Bund squeezed his eyes shut and whispered.
“The conversation at night……, I want you to pay attention to the sound a little……”
It was definitely something Kyrie didn’t expect.
Before she knew it, Nathaniel pulled back Kyrie’s shoulder which was trembling in embarrassment. He had the brightest and the most dazzling smile.
[That’s what I watch out for.]
Nathaniel closed the door.
By the time Kyrie returned to her senses, the sound of Bund’s footsteps had already faded away.  She closed her eyes timidly.
He must have misunderstood. Surely he misunderstood. But she didn’t have anything else to say.
We’ll be careful. Or will that never happen?
It was a strange situation no matter what she said. Kyrie sighed deeply, feeling a migraine.
“Huuu….”
On the other hand, Nathaniel didn’t seem to care. He glanced around the low-furnished room, then leaned over Eve’s desk and sat down.
[So when did we eloped in love?]
“…….”
Kyrie frowned.
‘How do I fix this?’
But to her surprise, before she could come up with any excuses, Nathaniel said as if he had just started.
[There’s nothing we can do, so let’s do that here.]
Kyrie looked at him with surprised eyes.  After visiting Bund’s house, Nathaniel, who has been strangely lively, bent his eyes and smiled in an attractive way.
[I won’t kill, but you have to take the lock from your mouth. It’s a truce. Only here.]
His shadow seemed to have gotten a little darker, and his blue eyes in the dark showed thirst.  Contrary to how he usually satisfies his thirst, his suggestion now was a clear ‘concession’.
Kyrie asked without losing her vigilance.
“What do you mean?”
[What do you mean? I’m sure you did it.]
“If I hadn’t done that, the people of this house would have been in danger.”
[Yeah, so I just adjusted it to your rhythm.]
“……..”
After she lowered her eyes for a moment, Kyrie let out a sigh.  In any case, his cooperation was required here.
“Okay. Let’s do what you suggest.”
Nathaniel smiled brightly as if waiting.
[That’s fine too, darling.]
“…….”
Kyrie touched her forehead.
I forgot. He had this kind of personality.
***
Kyrie fell asleep quickly. She must have been tired. Nathaniel looked down at Kyrie and kicked his tongue. This way she’d easily lose her stamina and she had to figure out the stubborn one.
Nathaniel washed himself in the wooden bath and tapped his fingers against her pale face.  It was pretty cute to see Kyrie gently frown each time.
Oh my, her husband. Elopement for love.
He let out a smirk. Kyrie Buchanan is really good at hitting him on the back of his head.
[I am speechless.]
Contrary to his words, Nathaniel mumbled with a smiling face.
There’s one more thing that’s odd.  Nathaniel, of course, thought Kyrie would kick him out of this room with landlord’s permission, it may not be compulsory in reality, but if Kyrie showed signs of dislike, it was a requirement to leave the room at night.
But she didn’t.
‘……I’m going to sleep, so please be quiet.’
After saying that, Kyrie really fell asleep on the bed.  She knows what the hell she’s gonna do.
It’s funny.
What’s even funnier for him is that she pretends that she’s funny, that she believes him, and that he’s listening to her.
No matter how much she hated him, Kyrie Buchanan would never tell him not to come in. If she tried to do it, she would’ve kicked him out and pretended not to know. Kyrie Buchanan, who wasn’t clever, locked the door on such a subject and requested, ‘Let’s have a good time’.
Looking down at Kyrie, Nathaniel stroked her forehead and hair all night long. He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since he wanted tomorrow to come soon. He just wanted Kyrie to open her eyes quickly and force a smile at him, whether it’s because of Bund Carp or whatever. And if she called him by the funny name “darling husband”, it would make him feel better, even if only a little.
[Hurry up and wake up Kyrie. Wake up……]
Call my name.
Nathaniel whispered.
***
Nathaniel
Kyrie Buchanan