Chapter 36
Jamie had prepared a horse in front of the main building.
A glossy black horse, bigger than Keivrand’s unicorn, White.
The black horse, who was grazing, bowed its head as Keivrand approached it.
“Do you want to try?”
Keivrand said as he looked back at Iris.
Iris quickly shook her head.
“It’s okay.”
The black horse looked too big and rugged for Iris, who had never ridden before.
Keivrand asked mischievously.
“Are you scared?”
Iris replied stubbornly.
“I’m not scared, I just like to walk.”
“This guy is milder than a unicorn.”
“If it’s gentler than Windy trying to eat my hands, at least it won’t try to eat me.”
“Yes. He’s a very gentle fellow.”
Keivrand reached out his hand. She hesitated before putting her hand on his.
“You know what? Every time I reach out my hand like this, I like it when you give me your hand naturally.”
She didn’t know how to react to what he had said.
Jamie, who was standing silently, coughed dryly and left quietly.
Jamie, unlike Wallace and Nathan, had the self-control to not reveal his feeling of wanting to vomit.
But the cough and the anxious footsteps seemed to say, ‘At least show moderation in front of me. Boss!’
Iris was embarrassed, but Keivrand, the one who sent Jamie away, was fine.
“Come here, Irie. Look at this guy’s eyes.”
Keivrand didn’t drag Iris’ hand, but instead waited for her to move on her own.
Iris took a deep breath and approached the black horse.
The black horse, which looked as big and threatening as the black death that roamed the battlefield, had eyes as black as its fur. The big eyes were very clear and deep.
She reached out carefully toward the black horse. The black horse held his cheek still against her palm.
As Keivrand had said, it was more gentle than a unicorn.
“Is his name Black?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
“That’s obvious. Your naming sense.”
“You know me well enough for it to be obvious. As expected, Countess Green is phenomenal.”
Keivrand placed his hand on his stomach and bent down to express his respect.
At the tumultuous compliment, Iris smiled and nodded.
“It’s kind of like that.”
Keivrand motioned Iris to step back a little.
It was dazzling to see Keivrand riding on the black horse as it kicked off the ground.
There was a saying that prince charming would ride on a white horse, but it occurred to her that the Count on the black horse was very good as well.
Keivrand reached out to Iris.
“Come here, Irie.”
“I’ll walk.”
“Don’t do that. I’ll hold you tight. Okay?”
His voice, which sounded like a child, was pleasing to the ear, so Iris walked toward him and reached out.
He bent toward her, pulling her stretched arm, while slightly propping up her waist with his other arm.
“Ugh!”
She let out a soft grunt as her body soared into the air. The next moment she found herself sitting in front of Keivrand.
“Look, Irie.”
Keivrand pointed ahead.
“It’s pretty nice up here, isn’t it?”
It really was.
The concentration of the wind coming in and the shade of the landscape, it felt different from when she saw it from below.
She felt like she was flying even though her legs were attached to the back of the horse.
Keivrand’s arm wrapped tightly around Iris’ waist. Then, with his other hand on the reins, he whispered.
“Let’s run.”
“No, wait…!”
Black started running down the garden path. He was just walking a little faster, but it felt like he was running at a tremendous speed to Iris.
She looked around to find anything she could grab onto, but ultimately closed her eyes and held her arms tightly against her stomach.
‘Is it because I closed my eyes?’
Clip-clop-clip-clop-
Black’s steps seemed to be getting faster and the wind brushing against her hair seemed to be getting stronger.
So she couldn’t open her eyes any more.
“Irie.”
She didn’t even feel Keivrand resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Irie, you can relax.”
Was what Keivrand said sincere? The moment she relaxes, she feels like she will fly far away.
“Because I’ll hold onto you.”
Only then did she feel Keivrand’s warmth on her back. She sat securely between his thighs, clinging her back against him.
“Open your eyes, Irie.”
It was only after she felt his temperature that she relaxed a little. She slowly opened her eyes.
“Wow!”
She gasped without realizing it as soon as she opened her eyes.
‘When did we get here?’
They were running around a wide, clean lake. The path of the lake was covered with grass, and beyond that there were many kinds of trees growing. Sunlight fell on the clear water, and the lake shone brilliantly as if it were sprinkled with gold dust.
Black slowed down little by little and stopped completely under a big tree.
Keivrand got off first and then he helped Iris off.
“It’s a nice place. Did you want to show me this place?”
“I wanted to get you out of there because Britney was with you. Did I do something wrong?”
“No, good job.”
At Iris’ compliment, Keivrand smiled, revealing his teeth.
His happy appearance was cute because he looked like a puppy enjoying the praise of its owner.
‘How can a person who is much taller than me look so cute?’
Also, the other person was Count Keivrand Green.
Iris unwittingly reached toward him. She was going to pat his head, and as if he realized her intention, he lowered his head to make it easier to stroke.
She gently stroked his soft hair.
“I like it when you touch me like this.”
“Well, me too.”
“Really?”
Keivrand raised his head and placed his hand on Iris’ head.
His hands are big and Iris’ head is small, so his hand completely covered her head. He bent his fingers like a rake and stroked her head like he was scratching her. The light pink silver hair got caught in his fingers and became tangled.
‘This wasn’t what I meant.’
But Iris didn’t say that. This is because the tip of his finger stimulating her scalp felt good.
She didn’t know that having her entire head pressed and scratched could make her feel so relaxed and drowsy. At first, she just felt drowsy, but as the stimulus continued, she felt strange.
A tiny shock ran down her neck and down the spine. It was her head that was being stimulated, but strangely, the area near the tailbone was tickling and numb.
A mild heat that has been spreading gathered near her abdomen. Surrounded by the strange feelings, she felt as if her heart would crumble at this rate.
“Kei.”
The voice that came out didn’t seem to belong to her.
“How long are you going to do it?”
“Oh. I didn’t hear you say stop.”
Keivrand took his hand off. Iris’ hair was completely messed up and a few strands spilled down her face. She looked up at him, leaving her hair untouched.
Between the gaps in her hair, Iris looked happy.
“You’re still pretty.”
“I look pretty covering my face?”
“Why would you say that?”
Keivrand put Iris’ hair back that had covered her face with his hands.
“You have a pretty face even if it is covered or shown.”
His grayish-blue eyes reflected Iris’ face.
Iris knew she had a pretty face. Everyone has said that since she was young.
But she couldn’t believe she looked pretty in Keivrand Green’s eyes.
Iris knew Keivrand was a man who looked at women like stones.
“Do I really look pretty?”
When Iris asked, Keivrand widened his eyes as if he was surprised.
“Irie, you should know. How pretty you are.”
“Of course I know. But you…You don’t really like women.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Irie. I like women. It’s just that there wasn’t any woman who had caught my eyes.”
“Have I caught your eyes?”
“Yes, and more.”
Keivrand gently swept Iris’ ear with his thumb.
“Much, much more, Irie.”
She had to be satisfied with just this. If she goes deeper than this, she may not be able to get out of it. The purpose of this life may change otherwise.
But she wanted to know.
Is the color of their hearts alike?
She wasn’t certain how much of her she can give.
Can she look forward to this life with him?
She wanted to know.
“Because I’m your wife?”
“No. I thought you were pretty even before you became my wife.”
“And now?”
“I’ve been out in the wilderness with Eugene before, and we went through a canyon. It was a beautiful place. You know, Eugene doesn’t smile much, but when he does, it’s excessive.”
As Keivrand suddenly went off topic, Iris became puzzled.
“I asked. Why are you smiling like that, and Eugene said, ‘There are times you can’t help but to smile when you see something beautiful.'”
“…”
“Look at me, Irie.”
Keivrand grabbed Iris’ chin with his thumb and index finger. Staring at Iris earnestly, he spoke.
“I smile every time I see you.”
Deep down in Iris’ heart, a flower bloomed for the first time.
The flower was very sweet with soft pink petals.
Shyly raising its head and proudly spreading its petals, it wasn’t the flower of Duke Whittle.
Iris simply decided to call this flower with a throbbing sweet pulse ‘Iris.’
Under Keivrand’s loving gaze, it was the moment Iris bloomed.
* * *
Keivrand didn’t ask Iris, ‘What about you?’
Iris didn’t say anything, but her feelings were conveyed a little just by her eyes alone.
‘Is this what they meant by couples sharing one body and soul?’
Thinking that his shadows would frown if they heard it, Keivrand kissed Iris’ forehead lightly.
Iris blinked like a surprised rabbit.
Keivrand felt a dull heat spreading under his abdomen, but he held back.
“Let’s take a walk, Irie. It’s going to be difficult coming back here for a while.”
“Why?”
“Cel said she was having our wedding here. Construction will start tomorrow.”
“Oh. Even construction? That will cost a lot of money.”
“You don’t need to worry about the money.”
“You should worry.”
“Not really. The Divine Kingdom won’t let the guardian of the sacred relics starve to death. But it might be hard to give you dresses, shoes, or accessories for the time being.”
“There’s plenty of that right now. And don’t worry. You don’t have to go to the Divine Kingdom, because I’ll feed you.”
At Iris’ determined ambition, Keivrand burst into laughter.
What can this little fragile woman do, he thought.
“Irie, I’m not such an incompetent man.”
“It’s not that you’re incompetent. It’s just that I’m a little more capable than you are.”
“Oh, really?”
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“Yes, Kei.”
Iris tapped Keivrand’s forearm.
“Please wait a bit. I’ll buy you pretty suits, shoes, and accessories.”
== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .