360. Resolve (2)
●
The location where Elnor and I are spending our honeymoon is, in fact, unknown to the majority, but there are still a few who are aware of its whereabouts.
One of those individuals is Atalante, the head of Elpante.
The person before me now is indeed that head, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze.
“…Are you alive, Dawood?”
“Barely.”
In a voice reminiscent of a creaking old tree, I barely manage to respond.
“Well, now that the situation has settled, and considering I came to offer some advice… Are you really alive, or are you just a mirage?”
…”
My condition must be dire to receive such a question twice in a row.
It’s a special conversation coming from the head, who always seems preoccupied with the affairs of the kingdom every time I see him, wondering whether I’m alive or dead due to the constant turmoil in the region.
My back hurts.
The room spins before my eyes.
My skin feels rough and my insides are all messed up…
[…To think that just taming a demon could bring me this far, it’s quite remarkable.]
“…”
At Kallivan’s muttered words, I couldn’t agree more vehemently in my mind.
Although I’ve gone through all sorts of hardships and crises, I’ve never been physically wrecked purely due to a lack of stamina.
“Breakfast is served.”
In the meantime, Eleanor’s personal maid, Bella, who had flown all the way here with us, placed the food beside me and said so.
I reach out for the plate in front of me, determined to eat somehow.
But as soon as I see the composition of the food on the plate, my hand hesitates.
“…Um, Miss Bella.”
“Yes?”
“…What is all this?”
It’s definitely a well-prepared meal.
Eel, oysters, garlic, and various other ingredients.
The composition seems to scream its ‘purpose’ too loudly.
“…What in the world-“
“Apparently, the maid in charge of cleaning nearly fainted yesterday. She couldn’t believe so much wet bedsheet came out.”
“…”
“I will only ask for that much from now on.”
I kept my mouth shut, as his words contained a great deal of meaning.
He picked up the fork and knife with a gloomy expression.
Anyway, I knew too well that these were essential for my survival, so I couldn’t just leave them aside.
“…Stay strong.”
As I sullenly toyed with the food, Atalante let out a deep sigh, showing that she had nothing to say to me.
“…But what brings you here?”
Come to think of it, she just mentioned that she had something to discuss, so I wanted to hear about it.
“To be honest, it’s not good news.”
“…Yes?”
She adjusted her posture slightly.
Of course, I didn’t think something extraordinary would happen, not even considering the messages about the ending or whatever on the system window, but still, unexpected dangers could always arise at any time.
“No, it’s not that serious.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s not just Lady Tristane who has plans to crush you.”
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“…”
“Even if you manage to hold on here, many hardships and trials await you.”
“…”
“You must survive, Daoud.”
No.
No matter how I listen, it seems like a serious matter, right?
●
The villa where Eleanor and I are staying together is situated on a rather impressive estate owned by Duke Tristan.
Outside the terrace, there’s a view of a sandy beach and the sea, a time when twilight seeps into the landscape, turning the world crimson like a vivid painting.
A place reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with a cool yet warm climate. A place where just lying down, relaxed, could easily lead to drifting off into a lazy slumber.
“Um… Eleanor.”
I wish she could enjoy this atmosphere a bit more.
Is she planning to do this every day? As the evening approaches, she naturally fills the atmosphere with an air of tension, even going so far as to handcuff herself.
Meanwhile, she nonchalantly lies on the bed, apparently absorbed in reading something diligently.
“Hmm.”
Wearing her glasses, Eleanor calmly turned the pages of the book, responding dispassionately.
With trembling eye corners, Eleanor glanced at the cover of the book she’s currently reading.
“The Art of Parenting.”
“…”
Then, Eleanor briefly scanned through the list of books stacked on the left bedside table.
“Essential Information for Pregnancy 101”
“Recommended Foods for Fertile Women”
“If You’re an Expecting Mother, You Must Know This!”
“Um, we got married just one day ago.”
“Hmm.”
“Do I really need to rush having a child like this?”
Saying that, Eleanor closed the book with a thud and looked at me.
The skepticism in her gaze as she tilted her head suggested she genuinely didn’t understand what I was talking about.
“Isn’t waiting a day quite a long time?”
“…”
“Actually, it’s rather regrettable not to have it right away since yesterday.”
“…Why so urgently?”
“I, too, have a future plan all laid out. To align with that, the current pace is inevitably unsatisfactory.”
“…”
Why would someone be so disappointed for not consummating their marriage after just one night?
Thinking about it again.
What will really happen to my future?
“Originally, it’s not like I’m the only one eyeing to have your child.”
Eleanor said that and stood up from her seat.
“To possess you in a state where there wouldn’t be any complaints from your side, the first consummation, no matter how fast, falls short. How many women do you think you have to deal with, from your perspective?”
“…”
Putting aside the disastrous content within the sentence.
It’s quite unexpected for Eleanor to say something like this.
“…I thought all the other guys would be leaping up, swearing that no one can touch me.”
Eleanor chuckled and walked towards me, tapping lightly with sarcasm in her voice.
“Although I feel like it in my heart… If I were to do that, wouldn’t you be uncomfortable instead?”
“…”
In response to those words, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
There’s no way to refute that.
Anyway, I’m sorry to this person, but my purpose, which I’ve been explaining all along, is to make the nearby people ‘all’ happy.
If I’ve come this far with my work, I should take responsibility for everything, shouldn’t I?
“Well, I think that kind of attitude is rather manly and I like it.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Elenore said that and then swiftly pulled me onto the bed.
And he placed his own head on top of my stomach.
“…Elenore?”
“Pillows aren’t supposed to move, you know.”
Saying that, Elenore pressed his head, which was on top of my body, even deeper, as if he was burying himself.
The cool sea breeze blew in from the window, and his silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Silence.
But not an awkward silence, rather a warm and cozy feeling.
Like a purring cat, quietly breathing in and out, I couldn’t help but find the sight quite adorable.
And so, Elenore remained quiet with his eyes closed, in that state.
Just like he wanted to keep feeling my warmth, tightly pressed against me.
“…It’s peaceful.”
“Mm.”
Once again.
Lying here like this, it feels in many ways like the reward for all the struggles endured thus far.
How much have I been through during this time, accomplishing both what needed to be done and what I couldn’t?
“Nevertheless, it might be better not to be too complacent.”
“Pardon?”
“Sharing life together often entails a much higher likelihood of hardship than you might imagine.”
As soon as that sentence ended, my eyes widened.
Near Eleanor, who spoke those words, a sudden mist began to seep out.
“It’s a gift to inject a bit of tension into your relaxed consciousness.”
“…”
What nonsense.
Before I could even pose such a question directly, the amorphous grey mist swiftly began to form into a doll-like figure.
[…]
And there emerged, arms folded, a grey demon with a discontented expression, resting its chin on its hand.
I haven’t seen it since Eleanor subdued it before, but it’s clear it’s not content with its current state, at least judging by its face.
“In reality, dealing with this side isn’t a walk in the park either. Whenever there’s a gap in the subject trapped within me, it tries to harm me however it can.”
The grey demon grumbled at Eleanor’s words with a sullen flick of its ears.
It’s like saying it’s just desserts for one’s own actions.
Observing that, Eleanor shrugged and calmly continued.
“Sometimes, venting a bit of discontent is necessary for us to get along smoothly.”
[…?]
At those words, a faint smile spread across the gray devil’s face.
Soon, his gaze turned towards me, as if pondering for a moment, then turned back to Eleanor.
It’s a face that seems to be asking, “Am I thinking right?”
“Um.”
And as if confirming that it is, Eleanor’s head nodded.
[Oh.]
A sly smile crept onto the gray devil’s face.
At the same time, a chill ran down my spine.
A foreboding feeling creeps in…
“You.”
Eleanor chuckled as she spoke.
“Are you somewhat interested in what the three of us are doing?”
…”
Seriously.
Please.
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