Ch.105The Iron Blood Rejects You (1)

Evan opened his eyes to a throbbing pain in his head and white light piercing through his eyelids. He carefully looked around.

The sensation of blankets against his bare chest, Evan glanced down briefly before struggling to sit up.

“I’m dizzy…”

The weakness in his body was more severe than ever before.

Even fighting Biltain hadn’t been this exhausting. If he tried to swing a sword now, he’d probably collapse.

As Evan pressed his temples to clear his blurry vision,

he noticed a pale white hand holding one of his and smiled bitterly.

So he had fallen asleep here after all. After doing such things until sunrise,

even someone like him couldn’t maintain his stamina.

He had barely managed to lay Irene beside him while half-unconscious.

Shuddering at the sudden chill, Evan trembled slightly and caressed Irene’s cheek.

She was so peaceful when sleeping like this… but in the early morning…

Still, feeling they had taken a step closer to each other, Evan nodded, satisfied with that alone.

It wasn’t a bad thing. It’s not like Irene could always be like this anyway.

Evan firmly believed it was just because of the alcohol and the mood.

Yesterday he had been a bit tired himself, so his stamina wasn’t at full strength. Next time wouldn’t be like this.

Having fallen asleep just as the sun was rising, when he slightly parted the curtains, he noticed the sun high in the sky.

How long had it been since he’d slept in this late? It was surprising the maids hadn’t woken them by now.

Lying back down on the bed, Evan quietly embraced Irene.

Smiling at the faint rose scent still emanating despite their intense night activities,

he pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. How nice it would be to stay like this forever.

Of course, they couldn’t do what they did last night every day, but someday… he thought it would be nice to sleep together like this.

Marriage—as Evan seriously contemplated that word, he let out a soft sigh.

For now, the Extinction and Scarlet came first. Thoughts about marriage would come after that.

Unless Irene unexpectedly conceived from what they did last night, it was too early to worry about it now.

“Mmm… Evan…?”

As Irene stirred and slightly opened her eyes, Evan smiled quietly and kissed her forehead.

Irene, who had been anxious about Evan not being beside her, shed her unease at that kiss

and pulled Evan closer, nestling against him. Unlike holding hands or hugging, feeling his body heat completely,

the sensation of their naked bodies touching under the blanket felt somewhat sensual,

but Irene smiled at the warm feeling and pressed her lips to Evan’s chest.

The red marks left all over their bodies confirmed that the night’s memories were real.

Feeling the vivid memories and the warmth still inside her, Irene spoke while nestled in Evan’s arms.

“…I’ve always wanted to say something. May I?”

“You may say anything you wish.”

Irene looked at Evan, recalling past memories.

She had always been alone, longing for her early childhood.

Words she used to say to her mother who always held her when she woke up in the morning,

words she hadn’t been able to say since her mother passed away.

Now, in a bed where they were no longer alone but two, Irene dispersed her thoughts and moved her lips.

Though slightly shy and lowering her head, she held Evan’s shoulders and smiled brightly as she spoke.

“Good morning.”

Though the sun was too high for it to truly be morning, Evan smiled naturally and responded.

“Good morning, Irene.”

Sunlight streaming through the curtains illuminated both Irene and Evan’s faces.

As the shadows slowly lifted, their faces, clearly revealed in the light, wore the brightest of smiles.

Too bright to be morning, too vivid to be evening—the afternoon.

A new day awaited them, a good morning better than any other.

#

Looking in the mirror, Evan couldn’t help but laugh wryly.

Dark circles under his eyes, sunken cheeks. His appearance was so haggard that anyone would think his vitality had been drained.

It wasn’t that his vitality had been drained… or perhaps it had?

In vulgar terms, he had been wrung dry. Recalling the night’s memories, Evan nodded in understanding.

Learned from books? Ha, that couldn’t be. He thought his stamina had increased significantly since reaching Master level.

After briefly glancing at Irene reflected in the mirror, Evan turned away and ran both hands over his face.

What was the point of thinking about this now? He could think about it later.

What mattered was that his relationship with Irene had deepened.

“What are you doing? Are you hurt somewhere?”

“Hmm, if you’re asking about injuries, yes.”

Evan chuckled and pointed to the numerous marks on his chest.

Seeing the red marks left by suction, Irene blushed and turned away.

She was reminded of how she had behaved last night.

Completely different from her usual self… Evan had said it was fine,

but the night version of herself that Irene remembered was like a beast.

Indulging only in lust, demanding his body until Evan fell asleep exhausted…

Irene felt nothing but embarrassment about that side of herself.

It was her first time so she was clumsy, but she was confident she could do better next time if such an opportunity arose.

A sudden fear struck her—would Evan avoid her now?

But she was reassured by Evan’s still kind gaze.

His eyes were no different than before. No, if anything, his gaze toward her seemed even deeper.

Could they sleep together like this regularly?

Even without doing those things, Irene felt great comfort just having Evan sleeping beside her.

But they were merely lovers. If rumors spread that an unmarried lady was sleeping with a man…

neither Evan nor herself would hear anything good about it.

Marriage—as Irene recalled that word, she blinked for a moment.

It felt like a word so far away, yet close enough to reach out and touch.

What would Evan say if she proposed marriage?

Would he agree, or say it was too soon and needed more time?

‘There’s no need to rush.’

Irene thought as she caressed her still-warm abdomen.

There was no need to be hasty. They had plenty of time, and Irene firmly believed that time was on her side.

Weren’t they a couple who had shared their firsts with each other?

Not just last night, but before that too—they had always been present for each other’s firsts.

With that thought bringing a slight smile to her face, Irene looked up at the sound of knocking.

“My lady, may I come in now?”

“Come in.”

As Ropena opened the door, she was slightly surprised to see Evan in the room.

She had been looking for him since he hadn’t left his room all morning, but he was with her lady.

When had he gotten up and entered? Despite usually keeping the windows closed because of the cold,

today they were open, and Ropena shivered at the breeze coming through.

Noticing something strange about the neatly folded blanket, Ropena approached and wrinkled her nose as she sniffed it.

What was this smell? Something that made her body feel slightly heated when she smelled it…

Though it had completely dried, the night flower scent coming from the blanket was somewhat puzzling.

Why would such a smell suddenly appear?

Evan’s lips twitched each time Ropena buried her nose in the blanket,

but Irene deliberately ignored his expression and pretended not to notice.

‘Surely… Ropena won’t realize? That’s impossible.’

Since it was still embarrassing to be caught in such a relationship, Irene’s hands holding the book trembled.

What should she say if they were discovered? As she looked at Ropena,

the maid who was holding the blanket and smelling it gave Evan a suspicious look.

There was definitely… something. From not letting her in this morning, to Evan being here so naturally.

Seeing Evan’s haggard face, Ropena also realized the subtle atmosphere filling the room.

What had happened between these two? The evidence in this room,

the strange smell from the blanket, and the atmosphere between them.

After thinking through these clues, Ropena carefully moved her lips.

Just as she was about to confront Evan,

“Ropena, where is Ropena? Ah, here you are.”

Chris burst through the door looking for Ropena.

Having opened the door without knocking, Chris slightly bowed his head to Irene in apology,

then looked at Ropena with a stern expression.

“Ropena, didn’t I say I had something to tell you? Come with me.”

“Eh? But I have things to do?”

“This is more urgent. Quickly.”

As Chris urged her, Ropena looked at Irene and Evan for a moment before pouting and following Chris.

She had no intention of disobeying Chris of all people,

and as she left the room grumbling, Chris chuckled and tousled her hair.

“Aack, stop it!”

“That’s what you get for trying to interfere between those two. If I had been late, my lady would have been troubled.”

“No, something seemed strange and I was going to ask Sir about it. There’s definitely something going on, do you know what it is?”

“It’s something you don’t need to know. You don’t need to know.”

Taking his hand off Ropena’s head, Chris looked into the distance with a contented smile.

The old man hadn’t slept easily at dawn and had heard every sound clearly.

How could they already be at that stage when they had only been officially dating for such a short time?

The sky visible through the window was blue. So high that it seemed much higher than the sky he had seen in his youth.

His aging body—he knew well that he could no longer wield a sword like he used to in his prime.

Wasn’t he the one who had helplessly allowed his charge to be kidnapped?

Though that mistake had been forgiven and he remained a knight,

Chris still kept it in his heart. An unforgivable mistake.

Something he should apologize for to the Duke who had trusted and left him, to his lady, and to Evan.

He couldn’t remain in the position of guard knight forever with this aging body.

Thinking of Irene and Evan, who had grown completely close unlike a few years ago, Chris smiled wryly and looked at Ropena.

“Ropena, how about taking me to the seasonal festival this time?”

“The seasonal festival? Sure. I heard there’s so much to see at this winter festival. But do you have time?”

“Well.”

Stroking his graying beard, Chris quietly continued.

“I think I’ll have quite a lot of time from now on.”

Because his time as a knight was coming to an end.

As he stroked Ropena’s hair, Chris deliberately kept that thought to himself.

After Ropena disappeared from the room with Chris, Evan scratched his cheek looking at Chris’s back.

He had clearly helped them. Perhaps he had been awake at dawn?

Irene also realized this and blushed. She had thought no one would hear,

but to think Sir Chris had been awake. In the awkward silence, Evan was the first to speak.

Rather than bringing up such a topic, it seemed better to talk about something else.

Mentioning what happened last night would only make things awkward between them.

Another topic… recalling that the Emperor had summoned him, Evan looked at Irene

and then sat down heavily on the sofa before speaking.

“By the way, what about the Emperor’s summons from before? Shouldn’t we be going soon?”

“Yes, you should go before winter comes…”

As Irene’s voice trailed off, Evan quietly smiled and looked at her.

She was probably worried about sending him alone.

A visit to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor wouldn’t be over in a day or two.

This would be the first time they’d be apart for so long, so Evan understood Irene’s anxiety and spoke again.

“I’ll just see His Majesty the Emperor and return. Who else would I meet there?”

“…Come back as quickly as you can.”

“Of course I will.”

Because Irene would be lonely without him.

Besides, what he had realized from sleeping together this time was that Irene enjoyed sleeping with someone more than he had expected.

It would be nice if they could sleep together like this again if possible… but would that be possible?

While telling him to come back quickly, Irene turned her gaze away to hide her slightly trembling eyes and moved her lips.

“I wish I could go with you.”

“…How about asking for permission?”

Evan carefully suggested. Perhaps it might be possible? The Emperor was particularly considerate toward him.

Though he didn’t know the reason, was there any reason not to allow Irene to accompany him?

They could be together during their stay at the palace except when meeting the Emperor.

At Evan’s hopeful suggestion, Irene showed a half-doubtful expression.

“Would that be possible? I’ll try if I can, but…”

Hadn’t the Crown Prince himself mentioned it? That he preferred Evan to come alone if possible.

Would that change now with just one letter? Though skeptical, Irene wrote the letter.

Asking if she could accompany Evan—even if the possibility was slim, Irene wanted to grasp at any straw.

She felt she couldn’t bear the emptiness of being without Evan for several days.

Before receiving his confession it might have been different, but now they were officially dating and had even shared their bodies.

Even if sleeping together might be too much, was it greedy to want to be together?

If that was greed, then Irene wanted to be greedy.

Some time after sending the letter,

a clean sheet of paper arrived for Irene containing exactly what she had hoped for.

[His Majesty the Emperor has granted permission. You may come together. I heard you’re officially dating, and I’d like to hear about that too. Congratulations.]

Irene stared at the letter for a long time, then looked at Evan beside her and smiled brightly.

They would go to the Imperial Palace together. Just the fact that they wouldn’t be separated filled Irene with happiness.

Although they couldn’t act as freely as they did at the Duke’s mansion, just being together was enough.

As their lips naturally met, Irene smiled broadly, then embraced Evan’s waist and pressed her forehead against his.

Had the word “together” always been such a happy word?

Though she didn’t know what conversation he would have with the Emperor, Irene was happy in this moment.

#

“Oh my, what should I do?”

“My lady, you can move a bit more calmly. Isn’t it His Majesty the Emperor who summoned you?”

“My heart is racing. Will the Crown Prince be there too? I’ve heard rumors that he’s incredibly handsome. Though probably not as handsome as Sir Evan.”

A woman with red hair barely reaching her shoulders, with an innocent yet quite cute face, hurriedly made her way toward the carriage.

The old butler following behind smiled awkwardly, but the woman didn’t notice such a gaze

as she imagined the future ahead with a happy smile.

Having always lived in the countryside, she had only heard stories about the capital.

Just imagining what might be in Evangelium was so exciting that she couldn’t hide her laughter and burst out giggling.

“Lady Scarlet, be careful of men when you go to the capital. I’m worried they might try to seduce an innocent lady like you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything well. Just thinking about not having to hear Father scold me again for being a disgrace to the Terazein name makes me so excited!”

“By the way, my lady, do you remember everything I told you?”

As Scarlet tried to recall at the old butler’s question, she eventually nodded and smiled brightly.

Don’t follow strange people in Evangelium, always be kind to people, and—

“If the word ‘extinction’ comes up, pretend I don’t know about it, right?”

“That’s right, my lady. While you’re in the capital, you must not mention that word to anyone except the names I told you.”

“I know, I know. I’ve heard it so many times it’s tiresome.”

Recalling the words she had always heard, Scarlet frowned slightly and hummed a tune.

For extinction—it was always what she heard, but she knew well that it was portrayed as something bad to the rest of the world.

Hadn’t she heard just a few days ago that Uncle Berman, who occasionally spoke with her, had died?

Scarlet wasn’t stupid,

and she would keep her mouth shut until people realized that Extinction was a good place.

Everything was—

For Extinction, after all.