Chapter 198 - The Shadow of the Scythe (2)

Not thinking of anything, Cale smiled at her and raised a hand towards her.

"How have you been, Rexa?"

She looked at him for a few seconds, dazed.

Then, instead of taking his hand—

BAM!

She punched him in the gut!

"Ugh!"

His body was as tough as a dinosaur’s, but he still had to act the part.

Taking hold of his hand, she pulled it toward her face and bit down.

"Umm... miss... Rexaline..."

She stared at him, narrowing her eyes.

Cale sighed, resigning himself to fate. ’She’s definitely angry. Why does this always happen to me?’

Finally, she let go of his hand. He quickly clasped both hands behind his back and put on the best seductive smile he could manage, hoping to lessen the damage to his body.

Folding her arms, she huffed.

"Hmph. Young Master. You really are using me, aren’t you? You don’t care about me at all! Only one single letter. One letter! That is all you sent me. And Lady Fiora, Miss Emma, even that bitc— uhm, Niva got more than a few letters!"

She closed in and shoved him.

’I’m dead!’

"How could you! A year! Rather, it was more than a few years. Is... is it because I’m a maid? That must be it, right? You couldn’t care less about a single maid. I’m just one of the filth—"

"Shut up!"

He shouted and covered her mouth.

She bit him again.

"Sigh... seriously, why are you so possessive?"

Then again, he couldn’t blame her. He had been one of the only friends who stayed by her side her entire life, and well... stuff happened. Being assigned as his personal maid and guard, it was obvious she would develop some feelings for him. He had been the idiot who failed to notice it in his past life. Rexa, with only her father left alive, had always been searching for a family, and here he was, her family. Of course she would grow more and more possessive.

He placed both hands on her shoulders, pulled her into a hug, and started rubbing the back of her head.

"I won’t leave you again, alright?"

Then he added, as if it had just occurred to him, "...At least not for such a long period."

"No! You’re lying, aren’t you? You’re just trying to get out of this situation for now. I’m all too familiar with your personality," she said, squirming with her head against his chest.

’Seriously? Am I that easy to read?’

He patted her head.

"Come on now. If you say that maid and whatnot stuff in front of me again, I will definitely leave you. To me, status has no meaning. As long as you’re on my side, that’s good enough."

"Hmm." She continued, "B-but then why didn’t you—"

"I only informed them of important matters, just like you. And I did want to send you a few more letters, but then you said my uncle had taken you under his wing, so I had to be quite careful."

Cale still couldn’t believe it. Sirius had randomly decided to take her as a student? That man had only three disciples, and one of them was Rexa? What kind of fortune was that?

Cale did have a theory, though.

’He’s trying to bind me, obviously.’

Pulling her out of his embrace, he leaned closer until their foreheads touched.

"Well, how have you been?" he asked, looking into her deep violet eyes.

"I-I have been fine, I guess..." She instantly became shy.

Leaning in, Cale kissed her, and she responded in kind.

Her lips still tasted of sweet strawberries, plump and unforgettable.

When they parted, he held her by the waist and flew to another location, this time even higher, nearly to the peak of a mountain.

There, the two of them sat with their backs against a large rock, holding hands, her head resting on his shoulder.

’Phew... I guess I’m in the safe zone now.’

Thinking a bit, he asked, "Why would you even agree to become a student of that madman?"

"But... um, he said he would help me. Even you, Young Master."

Cale sighed and rubbed her head.

"You’re too naive if you think that’s all there is to it. Well, I’ll talk to him myself, but you should be careful too. Who knows when that guy will just up and leave this place."

Rexa couldn’t understand. ’Why does the Young Master always think the Emperor will leave the kingdom? That can’t be possible... right? He’s just tired and thinking too much.’

Saying that, she tapped her lap, hinting at him.

He looked at her, tilting his head.

’This is becoming a regular habit at this point. God, I might get addicted to thighs.’

He let his body fall into her lap and began playing with the curled ends of her hair.

"Forgive me, Rexa."

"Hm? Why?! What are you... no, are you leaving me again?"

"Ugh, that’s not what I’m talking about."

Her grip on his hand tightened, a little more every second.

"Then... what is it?"

Taking a deep breath, he looked at her seriously.

"You see, I can’t guarantee the path ahead will be safe. Believe it or not, in a few months, or maybe even weeks, we’re going to be in some crazy, god-knows-what kind of shit. Forgive me. You’re a sweet girl who wants a family, who wants to live a normal life with a husband and kids and spend the rest of her time with them. But well... here we are. You’re tied to me now, heh. I doubt we’ll spend much time together, and many times we’ll likely be on the run, who knows."

She looked at him and stroked his hair.

"No. The difference in our strengths... I know, Young Master. Like everyone, I want to become stronger for you too. I’m afraid that... if I can’t, what will I do? You should go on your path. I cannot stay here like a burden—"

He flicked her on the forehead.

"Idiot, are we going through some divorce here?! I’m pursuing a life at the top. A burden or two would only help my practice, heh.

I’m a selfish man. If there’s a time when we’re both in danger, I will of course save you. But before you, I will always think about saving myself."

"I understand."

His face soured.

"You understand? No, you don’t. The madness one experiences when someone they trust wholeheartedly betrays them isn’t something I want you to go through. So... well, I only have one way ahead. To walk the bloody path and become strong enough that there is no competition left at all."

"Heheh, that is surely something you would achieve, Cale."

His head snapped toward her. His hand rose as he cupped her cheek, and his thumb stroked it gently.

"Now... you’re just flirting with me, my lady."