Chapter 93

The journey was enjoyable. Even without doing anything special, I found myself laughing, and the food I always ate felt new. Meeting new places and new people made my heart soar. Every time I did, Terdeau would suddenly come to mind. Whenever I ate something delicious, whenever I went to a fun place, whenever I saw something beautiful, and whenever I read an interesting part of a book.

‘He said he caught a rebel lackey last time… I hope he’s not overworking himself.’

I hope he’s not surprised and worried after spending a hot night and suddenly disappearing. Of course, Cersia said she left a note for me, but… I wanted to talk to him a bit more.

‘I hope Dolea hasn’t done anything foolish.’

I was also worried that the witch, whose identity was revealed, hadn’t done anything strange to the other family members.

‘…I miss you.’

After regressing and getting a new life, I had never been apart from Terdeau. Even if we didn’t sleep together, we shared a bed, and even if not every meal, we definitely ate at least one meal together every day. Using a wide bed and taking care of my own portion during meals felt strange. I didn’t want to admit it, but my daily life without Terdeau was now unfamiliar and empty. Even my breath reminded me of Terdeau, and when I inhaled, I unconsciously searched for his scent.

‘I miss you.’

I took a deep breath. I wanted to see his face. The face that only I knew, the face that sometimes pouted, the face that got angry for me, the shy face when he confessed his love to me.

‘I miss you.’

I hugged myself tightly, trying to shake off the loneliness that clung to me everywhere. But all I could think of was how Terdeau had hugged me so tightly, as if he would break me.

‘So, take this opportunity to think about it. The feeling you have now might just be simple sympathy, not love.’

Cersia had said that to me.

‘I miss you.’

Yes, in the end, Cersia was right. After thinking about it while being apart, this really is…

‘I miss Theo.’

It was a love that needed no rebuttal.

‘Perechati, I love you.’

At that moment, I remembered Terdeau’s confession. What face did Theo have then? I should have answered that I love you too.

‘I want to meet you.’

My eyes sparkled as I gazed at the vast plain stretching out before me. My heart was restless.

‘I want to hold you.’

I wanted to jump into his arms and hug him even tighter than usual. I moved my body, which had been standing still, and the servant of Cersia’s caravan followed me.

“Are you going to tour the duchy? If you need a guide, I can…”

“I’m going back to the Laphireon ducal family.”

“Pardon?”

The servant, taken aback, blocked my path.

“Cersia will be here soon. It would be better to go back together…”

“I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll go back first. Please tell Cersia.”

“Just a moment. If you act rashly…”

I know. This isn’t my empire, and I don’t have a carriage, a horse, or any money. But I couldn’t just wait. If I don’t have a carriage, I can borrow one.

‘I’ll borrow a carriage and some money from Duke Alterwood and pay him back when I return.’

After finishing my thoughts, I ran forward past the servant. However, I soon stopped after only a few steps.

“…Huh?”

The horse galloping quickly down the straight road was very familiar.

‘Why is that horse here…?’

For a moment, I rubbed my eyes hard, thinking I might be seeing things.

‘This is the Artuny Empire, and the Alterwood duchy…’

Am I going crazy from missing him so much? When I opened my eyes again, the black horse with its magnificent mane was much closer. The expression on the rider’s face was more desperate than ever.

“Perechati!”

It was really Terdeau.

“How did you…?”

Unbelievable. As I murmured in disbelief, Terdeau slowed his horse. He jumped off the horse, which hadn’t even stopped, and rushed to me.

“Perechati!”

Terdeau hugged me tightly, enveloping me in warmth, his hot breath by my ear, and his embrace so tight I couldn’t push him away.

“T, Theo?”

It was really him. Really Terdeau.

“How, how are you here? Why…?”

With a trembling voice, I asked, and Terdeau, panting, replied.

“I couldn’t let you go, Perechati.”

“…What?”

“I don’t want to let you go yet. What I said about ending my ugly desires that day was a lie. I’ll try not to make it a hell. I’ll do everything to make you the happiest person, and I’ll protect you with everything I have.”

“T, Theo.”

“Don’t leave me. I can’t survive a single day without you. If you think I’m selfish, you can scold me and hit me. I’ll accept it all, just stay by my side.”

…What is he talking about? Did he take a truth serum again? No, it doesn’t seem like it.

“Just a moment, Theo. Let’s talk about this…”

“I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. I won’t hug you like this. I won’t even approach you if it makes you feel uneasy. Just, just stay by my side, Perechati.”

It seemed he had no intention of letting me go until he heard my answer. Many people were looking at us with fondness.

“Well, well! Alright! I’ll stay by your side. So, just for a moment, can you let go of this…?”

Clap, clap, clap. As soon as I gave my permission, enthusiastic applause erupted from both sides. The serfs who were working and the servant who had been smiling fondly were all clapping for us. Cersia, who had appeared out of nowhere, was also clapping hard.

‘What is happening!’

My face turned bright red. I lightly punched Terdeau’s back, but he didn’t budge.

“Hey, Theo.”

Cersia’s voice, filled with mockery, made Terdeau’s shoulders twitch.

“I didn’t know you were such a passionate man, brother.”

Terdeau finally lifted his head from my shoulder.

“…Cersia.”

Terdeau’s face, upon confirming it was Cersia, crumpled unpleasantly.

“Cersia, why are you here?”

“That’s what I should be asking. I came here for business, but why are you here, Theo?”

“I came to catch Perechati who left…”

“…Catch me? Where did I go?”

The flow of the conversation was strange. Terdeau, sensing something was off, frowned and looked at me.

“Didn’t you leave a note?”

“Cersia left the note for me….”

Huh? Our eyes simultaneously turned to Cersia. She was covering her mouth and grinning.

“Just… what did you write?”

“Well… I didn’t write much. Just….”

Cersia couldn’t hold back her laughter and chuckled.

“Just… what?”

“I wrote that I was leaving for the Alterwood duchy and not to look for me.”

“…!”

My mouth dropped open.

“You can’t mean that’s all….”

“That’s all, Shasha.”

Cersia shrugged.

“I didn’t have much time to write in detail, you know.”

No! We had plenty of time before we left! We ate very slowly and came here!

I hurriedly looked at Terdeau to explain.

“Did you hear that? I didn’t write it.”

“…You didn’t write the note?”

Terdeau, lost in thought, repeated.

“But why did you leave without me?”

“I didn’t leave without you… As soon as I woke up, Cersia said we had to go somewhere, and I was practically kidnapped into a carriage! I didn’t even know I was coming here. I thought we were just sightseeing in the capital, but suddenly we had to cross the border for business…”

Cersia, the mastermind behind this, laughed and waved her hand lightly.

“And Theo, I thought you left a note for me, so I didn’t think to contact you separately.”

Terdeau, hearing my hurried explanation, took a deep breath and rubbed his eye. His tense body finally relaxed.

“I didn’t expect you to come so quickly, Theo.”

Cersia said calmly. Terdeau’s sharp gaze turned to her.

“To be honest, I thought you might not come at all. You’re not the type to abandon everything and search for your wife.”

Cersia’s gaze on Terdeau was as affectionate as it was in the carriage that day.

“You must have thought Shasha was important enough to give up everything and come here because of that note.”

It was the look of a sister who deeply cared for her beloved brother.

“Of course. Perechati is my beloved wife.”

My face turned as red as a ripe tomato. No, more than that, having such a conversation… in someone else’s territory…

‘Duke Alterwood, I’m sorry.’

I silently sent an apology to Duke Alterwood, whom I had no connection with. Terdeau, who had clicked his tongue, gently lifted me into his arms. A small cheer erupted from the crowd.

“Don’t involve Perechati in such things again.”

“You must have come without resting or eating, Theo.”

“…I’m taking Perechati back. It’s the first time, so I’ll let it slide, Cersia.”

Terdeau, ignoring the surrounding gazes, turned around. Cersia, from behind, called out with a bright smile.

“You’re not going to put Shasha on your horse and ride off, are you?”

Terdeau’s body froze. It seemed he hadn’t thought that far in his haste. Cersia, who knew her brother very well, said kindly with a smile.

“Use my carriage, Theo.”

“…I don’t need it. I can borrow one.”

“But no carriage will be as comfortable as mine. Is it okay to just put Shasha in any carriage? Theo, if you keep being stubborn, Shasha will suffer.”

Terdeau’s body twitched violently. He looked down at me, still in his arms, and tilted his head back, biting his lip slightly.

“You walk back, Cersia.”

Then he opened the door of Cersia’s carriage. Cersia smiled contentedly at Terdeau, who had put aside his pride for me.

“Shasha.”

Cersia called me, and Terdeau, who was about to get into the carriage, stopped.

“I thought we would have at least a day’s leeway… It seems Theo likes Shasha more than I thought. Unfortunately, I have to postpone the delicious food. Thanks to you, the long journey wasn’t lonely or boring. I still have business to discuss, so I can’t go with you… but I’ll go back carefully first.”

“…Me too, Cersia. Thanks to you, I was able to sort out my thoughts. If there’s a chance, let’s go together next time.”

Cersia smiled brightly like a blooming flower.

“And don’t worry about what you told me. I’ll take care of it.”

Cersia winked at me. It must be about Lady Ackerman, right?

“Are you done with the greetings?”

Terdeau, who had been listening to our conversation, urged us.

“Theo, if you keep being so impatient, Shasha won’t like it.”

Terdeau, frowning, didn’t respond and carried me into the carriage. Then he shouted loudly, as if for Cersia to hear.

“What are you doing! Move the carriage quickly!”

The coachman hurriedly came and moved the carriage.

“…Take good care of her, Shasha.”

I thought I heard Cersia’s faint voice from behind, but… was it just my imagination?

“Theo, didn’t Cersia say something just now?”

“I didn’t hear anything.”

Really? Soon, the carriage carrying us quickly left the duchy. As soon as we left the duchy, Terdeau clung to me.

“…I thought you were leaving me, Perechati. I felt like I was going to die. Don’t leave me.”