You Had a Fiancée?! (2)
It was a shocked expression. And I felt the same way!
Ruman, you had a fiancée?!
“Really? Then, what about Ren?”
Coco asked with a face that said she didn’t understand.
“Why are you dragging me into this?”
Ruman glanced at me.
Why that expression…….
It was cold and stern. It was the face he had when he first came to the cabin and solemnly read the King’s letter.
Did I do something wrong?
“Got it. You heard? Relay it just like that.”
“Yes, Princess!”
The maid nodded and ran off with quick steps.
“Ruman, then…, are you leaving?”
If he leaves, will it be hard to see him again? It would be, right?
Coco made an uncomfortable face.
“I’ll bring the medicine.”
Then she left the room.
Ruman didn’t answer and just stared at me blankly.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face??”
“You wouldn’t care anyway.”
“About what?”
Ruman smirked. The smile elegantly drawn on his smooth face was cool. But why does it look so sad?
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Well, congratulations. I didn’t know you were engaged.”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm. What should I do since I don’t have a gift?”
Is there money left over from buying hyung’s leather shoes? I busily calculated in my head. Oh! If things go well, um, a bracelet… I might be able to give something like that as a gift.
But, would he like it?
He’ll receive plenty of gold coins as reward money……. It would probably seem trivial, right? He might refuse the gift. Just because you offer doesn’t mean they have to accept it. I might just be a nuisance.
Well, when I couldn’t even give a gift to hyung, what am I…….
“I don’t know what you’re thinking again. I don’t need something like that.”
“Well. I thought you’d say that.”
I grumbled, but I was inwardly disappointed.
So my gift isn’t needed, is that it?
I feel hurt.
No, I didn’t even have money to give it anyway!
“Really, Ren only needs his hyung.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Why is hyung suddenly being brought up here? I tilted my head.
Ruman’s words were obvious to me. I only need hyung. Even if hyung doesn’t acknowledge me! Because we’re family! That’s what family is. Coco said family isn’t like that, but to me, family is like that. I hope Coco gets a good family later too. Of course, Ruman too! I hope his fiancée is a good person. She must be, right? I just hope she’s not like that woman with orc arms from our village! Ruman will definitely meet a good person. Because he’s also a wonderful Hero like our hyung! Ahem.
“I mean it when I say congratulations.”
“I know. Whew.”
Ruman let out a long breath and pulled up the corners of his mouth.
It was the mischievous smile most familiar to me.
“What am I trying to say to a child? Tsk.”
He muttered to himself as he said that. I didn’t hear what he said, but it wasn’t meant for me to hear anyway, so I don’t need to ask, right?
“When are you going? To that fiancée? Are you leaving right away?”
That’s why he asked them to prepare a horse already.
Ah…! That’s why he was looking for the Crystal Orb too, to say goodbye.
Thinking that made me feel a bit regretful.
‘No! What’s there to be regretful about!?’
I suddenly remembered how Ruman had asked me this and that in front of the bonfire. Back then, I pushed him away saying there was no need to be so friendly with someone I’d part with soon.
It was funny that I was feeling regretful now after doing that. If Ruman knew this feeling, he’d laugh at me!
Anyway, all people are meant to part! And I’ll be parting with everyone including hyung forever. How can I be heartbroken over such a small parting like this?
Ugh. Let’s not think about it more. I pressed down on my scalp while pretending to stroke my hair.
“Ren. Contact me if you have any difficulties.”
“Contact you, Ruman?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
I asked pointedly.
I just decided to think everyone’s dead once we part! You don’t think about dead people. You bury them in your heart once and forget!
“Ha. This is a bit disappointing, Ren. I’ve taken care of you so much!”
“Who, who asked you to take care of me?!”
Well, that’s true though!
He gave me delicious snacks! Macarons and marshmallows! He brought hyung’s cloak too……! Most of all, didn’t he save my life?
Ah, I felt embarrassed at the fact that came to mind belatedly.
My face burned. When I should be saying thank you over and over, I talked back and got annoyed again. Maybe I really am ill-mannered like the old men in the village said. Maybe I’ve brought shame to hyung’s face.
“Are you running a fever again? You really…… I should call the physician.”
“No! That’s not it!”
“Ren. Don’t be stubborn.”
Ruman spoke sternly just like hyung. No, I said that’s not it!! I grabbed Ruman’s arm firmly.
If I miss what I need to say, that’s the end of it! I quickly opened my mouth, afraid to miss the opportunity.
“That, that’s not it…… for saving me, for rescuing me, thank you, I didn’t say thank you, did I? I’m so embarrassed about that!! It’s so shameless!”
“…….”
“That…….”
Gasp! Ruman’s face also turned bright red.
As expected, Ruman was inwardly upset too! I would have been too……. In my vague memory, I recalled Ruman bleeding.
The hot, trembling hands that held me tight so I wouldn’t fall. The solid chest that supported my body.
No.
I bit my lip. I let go of the hand that had been holding him.
This won’t do. I need to properly say thank you!
Look. Even the veins on his neck are standing out. Ruman had a face like he was holding something back.
Why am I really like this? I hate myself. I hate it!
But I don’t want to recall dark memories for long.
I took a deep breath and bowed from where I sat, practically folding at the waist.
“Thank you! Ruman! Thank you for saving me.”
“Kuk…….”
Huh?
What, could it be…….
“Kuk……keuheuk….”
Is he laughing?
“……I’m being serious but why are you laughing?!”
I shouted in embarrassment!
What’s embarrassing?! Everything was embarrassing! Damn it!
Wait, so the red face was also from holding back laughter?! Am I that funny!?
“Is my face that funny?!”
“Heuhaha!”
When I shouted while fuming, Ruman clutched his stomach and laughed. He laughed so hard that Ruman’s body and hair bounced up and down. He laughed for a while, then wiped away tears and shook his head. Then he suddenly made a serious face.
“No, Ren. You’re…….”
“I’m what? Are you done laughing?”
I touched my face for no reason. Ruman grabbed my hand that was touching my cheek and shook his head. In the narrowed golden eyes, my dazed expression was reflected.
“You’re pretty. Very much so.”
“Don’t tease me!”
“Huh. Rante said so too, don’t you remember? Are you saying Rante lied just now? Hmm?”
Ruman tilted his head annoyingly. His scorched, diluted blonde hair that looked white swayed. Hair that looked almost silver or platinum blonde fell into disarray.
Perhaps feeling my gaze, Ruman fiddled with his own hair.
“Is, is Ruman pretty too?”
“What?”
Kuk… Keuheukheuk!
Ruman made a strange sound as he laughed.
No, there’s no need to laugh that much…….
Didn’t you push your face forward like that asking to be complimented!
“Ahem.”
I coughed awkwardly out of embarrassment.
“Are the wounds okay?”
There were still bloodstains on his chest wrapped tightly in bandages. Ruman glanced down at his chest and poked it with his finger.
“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Ugh. I’m the one who hurts watching, so could you not poke it like that?”
“It’s my body, so why does it hurt Ren? You like me too much, don’t you?”
“What, what kind of nonsense is that!!”
I shook my head vigorously. In the end, Ruman couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter again! Ruman is really strange. Today especially, it seemed like he laughed just looking at my face.
But that face laughing so refreshingly was, honestly, so good to look at.
Right! Laugh to your heart’s content! Once we part, seeing each other again will be unlikely.
Ugh. I have a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Haa. Ren.”
Ruman, who had been laughing for a while, called me. Then without saying anything, he stared at me blankly. Eyes brighter than his golden eyelashes looked at me carefully. No, why are you looking like that? To ask curtly, his expression was too serious, so I just twitched my lips.
“I’ll teach you how to use the Crystal Orb.”
What, he built up suspense like he was going to say something important. Is this also important? Ruman’s face was still serious. He took out the Crystal Orb and taught me this and that. When activated, the Crystal Orb emitted a faint yellow light. For a moment, light that flickered and wavered slightly popped out. I thought it would break!
This isn’t hard to handle! Each other’s faces were reflected in the Crystal Orb Ruman held and the one I held!
“Wow! I can see your face!?”
“Good job.”
“Well, I’m good with tools even though I may not look it!”
I gleefully turned the Crystal Orb this way and that. Ruman just stared at me like someone curious if I was doing well. The Crystal Orb seemed to crackle a bit, but I didn’t particularly mention it in case Coco would be embarrassed. Ahem. Don’t I seem quite mature?
“Yeah.”
Ruman smirked and stroked my head. I flinched at the approaching hand, but thinking he’d be leaving soon, I stopped because I didn’t want to avoid it, but the hand that was about to touch my hair withdrew.
‘Why? Weren’t you going to stroke it?’
When I stared at him blankly, Ruman made a perplexed expression and lightly touched my slightly long hair.
What’s this! It’s neither stroking nor not stroking!
“Ruman.”
“Yeah.”
Just stroke it properly! It tickles because the feeling lingers in my hair!
I was staring at Ruman who was hesitating like he was broken, when Temarr hyung came inside.
“Hyung!”
Hyung’s gaze swept past me. Our eyes met so I smiled brightly, but heartlessly, hyung’s eyes were staring at Ruman! Hyung, isn’t turning your gaze away too fast…….
“The Knight Order brought back the corpses. I’ll need to contact His Majesty.”
