Chapter 68: Rewards – 5

Vivian slowly let go of her hands, which had been clasped together.

Our hands were covered in sweat.

I asked, without hesitation, the question that had been on my mind for a while.

“So, why did you come?”

She didn’t come to kiss me voluntarily.

Maybe she was here to keep an eye on Serena’s movements, but she definitely had another excuse ready to justify her actions.

Vivian, her face reddening, wiped it with the back of her hand as she answered.

“…Food…”

“What?”

“…You haven’t eaten for a few days. You fought, bled, so… well, I brought food.”

Vivian slowly got up and walked toward the door.

She tried to open it, but when she realized it was locked, she fumbled with the lock until she finally managed to open it.

Her small actions seemed to be checking the impact of the earlier ones.

It reminded me of how, in magic schools, the fantasy world’s northern regions are often seen as backward—like a frog in a well, living out the legend of the lazy man.

She opened the door and gave orders to the maids who had been standing there.

“…Food.”

I heard the sound of the maids moving around outside, and soon enough, two warm bowls of porridge were placed in Vivian’s hands.

I accepted my share from Vivian, and immediately took the spoon she handed me.

Vivian then closed the door again, as though she didn’t want to be disturbed by the maids.

It was an unexpected action from someone who had previously wanted to leave the room.

“…Eat.”

The smell of the food made my stomach growl.

Vivian, too, seemed to be hungry, as she kept swallowing and looking at me.

It had been a long time since I had eaten.

Since my mother’s passing, I hadn’t had a proper meal.

Vivian, however, didn’t eat first.

She still had that attitude—she wouldn’t eat until I did, just like before.

Perhaps it was her own form of competitiveness.

Maybe she was telling me she wouldn’t lose, even if it meant starving.

I finally started eating, and once I did, I quickly shoveled more food into my mouth.

Vivian watched me, and soon, she too began eating, focusing on her meal.

We continued eating like that for a while, only the sound of utensils clinking filling the room.

Perhaps it was because we had both been so hungry for so long—just a little food was enough to fill us up.

Vivian, too, stopped eating after a while, wiped her mouth, and finished her meal.

She broke the long silence.

“…I’m not apologizing.”

“What?”

“…About your mother.”

I scratched my cheek and replied.

“…Do we really have to go back to that story?”

“I just wanted to say that. But, you know, with your mother too…”

• Thud.

I placed my spoon down and said.

“I don’t want to argue, but… I did offer flowers at your mother’s grave.”

“Of course, you ripped those flowers out and trampled them.”

Vivian’s face grew somber, and I set my bowl down at a reasonable spot.

As I said, I didn’t really want to have this conversation.

It was just a topic that would hurt us both.

Vivian, after placing her bowl down, picked up some bandages from nearby.

Then, she said to me.

“…Look at me.”

Earlier, I hadn’t been able to finish my treatment due to the interruption.

It seemed to bother Vivian, as she began wrapping the bandages around my body, her hands moving in slow circles.

…This was always so confusing.

When we hated each other, we bared our teeth without hesitation.

But when we snapped out of it, we were there to tend to each other’s wounds.

We were the greatest enemies, yet also seemed like the most unlikely allies.

I knew Vivian hated me.

But if she only hated me, would she really be doing this?

“…Does it hurt?”

Vivian asked.

I didn’t answer.

As the bandages loosened and she secured them around my shoulder, her movements slowed down even more.

As her hands gently caressed the burn scars on my skin, it felt as though she was tracing the scars left on me for her.

These were the marks on my body, created for her.

Vivian seemed lost in thought, staring intently at the bandages she was wrapping.

But after a moment, she shook her head and continued wrapping the bandages.

I had to try hard not to notice her touch, which brushed against me in various places.

As Vivian continued in silence, I too, continued my own thoughts.

Should I let her go?

Was it really time to give up the kiss after dozens of pecks on the cheek?

My cheek still burned.

I still felt the lingering desire, still incomplete.

“…You’ll stay, right?”

Once the bandages were fully wrapped, Vivian asked.

It seemed like this act of wrapping the bandages was her way of asking for forgiveness.

I slowly took hold of her wrist.

Vivian flinched in surprise at this small action.

“…One more thing.”

I looked into Vivian’s red eyes as I spoke.

“…Tonight, sleep in my arms.”

***

Vivian couldn’t respond.

The strange pleasure that arose from Kailo’s demand was absurdly overwhelming.

She didn’t want it, but she also did.

She didn’t want to, but part of her wanted him to push harder.

His embrace was disgusting, but she also knew deep down that it would feel warm and safe.

Perhaps it was because the assassin incident had only just happened that made her feel this way.

However, the only thing Vivian had to hold on to against Kailo was her pride.

She couldn’t crawl into his arms after experiencing the humiliation of giving dozens of kisses on his cheek.

“…I don’t want to.”

So, Vivian whispered.

But Kailo, as always, wouldn’t let her go so easily.

“There’s nowhere else to sleep, is there?”

Thinking back, Rondor’s bedroom was destroyed in the raid.

The last time she checked, the bed was soaked with blood.

The reality that she couldn’t sleep in her original accommodation hit her, but she still held on to her pride and excuses.

“…I could sleep in the next room…”

“Stop forcing it and sleep here.”

His words sounded almost like a promise to protect her from fear.

“You didn’t keep your promise to kiss me. You’ll pay the price.”

“Several… several times on the cheek.”

Kailo chuckled lightly.

“Do you really think that makes sense?”

“…”

Wasn’t it enough by now?

If she listened to the voice in her heart, Vivian too, now, wanted to sleep in his arms.

Having heard all that, she felt like she had no more words to refuse.

She understood it in her head, but couldn’t say it out loud when Kailo blew out the candle.

• Whoosh.

As darkness descended, Vivian’s body swayed.

Kailo grabbed Vivian’s arm and pulled her onto the bed.

A small hospital bed designed for only one person to lie on.

“…Ugh!”

Kailo, who had pulled her down onto the small bed, enveloped her like a blanket.

“Ky… Kailo!”

One arm around her waist, the other under her shoulder and around her back.

Vivian lay on top of Kailo.

It was the only way they could both lie on that small bed.

“…Wha, what are you doing…?”

Vivian, startled by the hot sensation, struggled, but Kailo’s arm didn’t budge.

Instead, the more she struggled, the tighter his arm wrapped around her like a net.

“…Just sleep, Vivian.”

Kailo whispered in a weak voice, as if shedding all pretenses in the darkness.

“Just sleep like this for today, Vivian.”

His words sounded strangely desperate.

As he let go of his facade, Vivian felt her own body relax, almost as if by some kind of magic.

She let down the sharp thorns she had so carefully raised.

At the same time, Vivian exhaled deeply.

It was then that his scent, which dulled her mind, reached her.

Could there be a smell more reassuring than this?

Without realizing it, Vivian loosened her stiff body and slowly leaned her head against his chest.

“Yeah. Just like this.”

“I’ll let go of the kissing issue now.”

Considering their earlier squabble, the intimacy they now shared felt so unnatural.

But strangely, Vivian now felt the current closeness was completely natural.

Perhaps this was the right thing.

It felt the most natural for Kailo to embrace her rather than any other woman.

And for herself, being in Kailo’s embrace was more natural than any other man’s.

The years and emotions they had shared were too long and deep.

There was no one closer to her than him.

Kailo’s chest felt so comfortable.

It was more comfortable and cozy than any bed.

Though she felt she wouldn’t be able to sleep, it seemed as though all worries in the world had disappeared.

Vivian awkwardly straightened her arm, which had been hanging unnaturally.

Very slowly, and without forcing it, her arm gently draped over Kailo.

Her heartbeat grew louder.

She felt an unfamiliar desire blooming within her.

…No.

Vivian thought.

Not with Kailo.

She couldn’t let her desires show to him.

“…This… this is just sleeping.”

Vivian whispered.

It might have been a message to herself.

When she kissed his cheek earlier, she had felt disgusted, but now she found herself strangely yearning for more.

Maybe she should have done it more intensely, more times.

Kailo’s hand gently stroked Vivian’s hair.

It was a touch like that of a lover.

• Swoosh!

At the feeling of that skin-tingling, blissful touch, Vivian quickly sat up as if to deny her emotions.

As her body moved away, a sudden chill rushed in.

“Wha, what are you doing…?”

But Vivian’s resistance wasn’t as strong as her intentions.

Kailo simply raised his hand, unbothered, and spoke without explanation.

“I won’t do it.”

Vivian slowly lay back in his arms again at his words.

Kailo’s arm gently wrapped around her once more.

An uncomfortable sense of stability returned.

And so, without speaking, without moving, a long time passed.

Even after the time she should have fallen asleep had long passed, Vivian could not sleep.

No, in fact, as time went on, she felt the heat in her body increasing.

The sensation of Kailo’s cheek on her lips faded, and she felt regret.

…Should I do it just once more?

Vivian snapped to attention at the sudden whisper of the devil in her mind.

Even after enduring such humiliation, she still wanted to do it again?

Was she going mad?

Unable to regain her composure, Vivian squeezed her eyes shut, eagerly waiting for morning to come.

Swish.

Kailo’s body moved at that moment.

At first, it seemed like he was adjusting his uncomfortable sleeping position, but then he whispered,

“…Are you asleep?”

Vivian didn’t answer.

Thinking about it, she didn’t want him to realize that she couldn’t sleep because she had been thinking strange thoughts in his embrace.

“…Are you asleep?”

Kailo asked again.

The more he asked, the more Vivian relaxed her body and pretended to sleep.

Swish.

Kailo gently combed her hair once more.

His touch was warm, without a trace of hatred.

It felt as if he were comforting her with his hand.

A tenderness that could never be expressed by his bare face.

How long had it been?

Since someone had brushed her hair like this.

Since her father left, her brother left, and even her mother left, she hadn’t felt this.

It was the touch of someone who saw her as simply Vivian, not as the powerless head of the Rondor family or the incompetent lord of Loctana.

It felt as if he was saying she had worked hard today.

It felt as if he was saying he was worried about her.

Vivian’s emotions swirled at that simple gesture.

After she had already fallen asleep, for him to do this… it made her feel deeply moved.

The conversation she once shared with him came to mind.

-Kylo, do you like me?

-…Didn’t you hear me? I just told you I don’t like you.

His eyes, burning bright red at the time.

Ah.

Vivian thought, feeling Kailo’s soft touch.

…By now, it was impossible not to notice.

All his actions.

All his suggestions.

She had vaguely suspected, and sometimes was even certain, but now the realization came slowly and clearly.

This kindness could not be explained by guilt or obligation.

What he protected her from could be described as guilt or debt.

But what about when he stroked her hair while she slept?

When he gently held her and treated her with care?

That was a feeling so extreme, standing at the opposite end of hatred, something irrational that she couldn’t quite notice.

But now, she understood.

..He likes me.

Vivian thought.

Kailo… likes me.

Swish.

Vivian sat up again.

Kailo, startled, said,

“…What’s this? Pretending to sleep and causing a scene. I won’t do it anymore, really.”

But Vivian eventually stood up and left the room.

“Hey, where are you going?”

She left Kailo and entered the room next door.

Thud.

Clink!

She quickly closed the door, and then Vivian slid down to the floor with a laugh.

A quiet chuckle escaped her.

Was there a more satisfying revenge than this?

The son of the man who killed her father and brother was now falling for her.

He didn’t know the value of his own life and was sacrificing everything for her.

Even if he was cut by a knife, his skin melted in fire, or his belly was pierced, his heart wouldn’t waver.

No, in those extreme situations, he would only worry more about her.

In the far future, he might never leave even if told to.

Thud thud thud!

“Hey! I said I won’t do it! Open the door!”

Kailo called, but Vivian kept laughing.

Even as she clenched her mouth shut and bit down, laughter kept coming out.

Leaning against the door, she kept laughing.

This must be the biggest revenge she could exact against the Alan family.

The useless daughter of the enemy family, falling stupidly in love with her, the capable eldest son sacrificed himself.

If Jade Allen found out about this, he would surely grind his teeth in fury.

Drip…

At the same time, a tear fell from Vivian’s eye.

Drip…

She didn’t know how long it had been since she last cried, but the tears soaked the floor.

Perhaps, it was because, as she realized Kailo’s feelings, Vivian also took a glimpse of her own heart.

She and Kailo had many similarities.

They hated each other, but it had always been like this.

..And it was still the same now.

No.

This was not a simple story of her liking Kailo.

How much easier would it have been if it had been just that?

The witch’s offering.

There was only one thing filling Vivian’s mind.

It was certain that Kailo was the one she hated most.

But somehow… he had also become the one who mattered most to her, a truth she was refusing to face.

“…Ahh…”

Vivian curled up.

This could not happen.

Love grew at an alarming rate when two hearts aligned.

Like oil and fire, it was fine as long as they remained separate, but once they met, it became an uncontrollable flame…

That’s what love was.

So Vivian had to deny her feelings.

If this fire grew any bigger, it couldn’t be stopped.

Kailo could never become the most important person to her.

…If that happened, she would lose everything.

The price of survival would be him.