Chapter 193: Towel

I stepped toward the rack and picked up a clean wooden training sword, testing its balance in my grip. I didn’t raise my blade. Instead, I set it back down on the wooden pegs, turned around, and looked at Viora standing in the center of the padded floor.

She stood completely still, her head angled slightly toward me. Her purple hair was tied up into a loose ponytail, but several soft strands had loosened around her neck, damp from her sweat. Her light breath rose and fell in a quiet, steady rhythm.

“You’re not picking up your sword,” Viora observed softly. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she tracked the sound of my bare feet on the ground.

“Not right now,” I said plain and simple.

I reached out and gently closed my fingers around the wooden handles of the twin blades in her palms.

“Put these down for a minute,” I murmured gently.

Viora relaxed her grip instantly, letting me slide the daggers out of her hands. I turned and placed them on the flat bench nearby.

When I turned back, Viora had her chin tilted upward, her head followed the tilt of my chin perfectly.

“Did you exhaust yourself during your morning warm-ups?” Viora asked, a tiny, fond smile touching her lips.

“I’m not exhausted,” I said, stepping closer until our boots almost touched. “I think you are training too hard. Your hair is wet, and you’re breathing heavier than usual.”

“I was practicing my footwork sweeps while waiting for you,” she explained simply. “I wanted my speed to match yours.”

‘Wait…’ I thought, ‘She was practicing get slower?’

I reached over to the wooden bench, picked up a soft, clean white towel, and unfolded it.

I raised the soft towel and gently pressed it against her forehead, dabbing away the fine drops of sweat near her hairline.

Viora let out a small, soft breath, her eyes closing gently as she felt the warm cloth against her skin. She leaned her head forward slightly, letting her weight rest against my chest while I worked.

“You are very gentle today, Woo Jin,” Viora whispered, her voice carrying a quiet warmth that echoed off the high stone walls of the shed.

“I’m always careful with you,”

I moved the towel slowly down her temple, carefully wiping the side of her cheek and down toward her soft jawline. My left hand moved up to cup the back of her head, my fingers sliding through her thick purple hair to hold her steady.

Viora lifted her right hand, her soft fingers tracing their way up my arm, over my shoulder, and lightly touching the side of my neck. Her thumb brushed over my pulse point, feeling the strong, steady thump of my heart beating under my skin.

“Your heart is fast,” Viora noted softly, a small smile appearing on her face. “It always sounds like this when we are alone.”

I finished wiping her skin, set the damp towel back on the bench, and wrapped both of my arms around her waist. I lifted her up effortlessly, carrying her two steps backward until her legs brushed against the comfortable leather cushion of the bench.

I sat down on the bench and pulled her down onto my lap.

Viora let out a soft, contented sigh, shifting her body until she was sitting comfortably across my thighs. She wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her face into the side of my collarbone. The sweet, clean scent of her hair washed over me instantly.

“The shed is very quiet,” Viora murmured into my neck. Her breath was warm against my skin. “No sounds are here.”

“Raymond took the kids inside the library,” I said, my hand resting comfortably on her lower back, stroking her soft sweater in a steady rhythm. “Aunt Elena is locked in her office until noon. Nobody is coming out here.”

“Good,” Viora said softly.

She tilted her head up, her face only an inch away from mine. Her hand moved up to touch my face. Her fingertips lightly traced the line of my jaw, moving over my chin, and brushing gently against my lower lip. She memorized my facial features with that familiar, delicate touch, her expression soft and completely peaceful.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked, keeping my voice low and calm.

“I was thinking about how much I like this,” Viora answered honestly, her soft purple eyes looking toward mine. “No dungeons, no monsters, no dark guilds. Just the quiet room and you.”

“We’ll have plenty of days like this,” I said. “Once the summit is over and Aunt Elena returns, everything will be completely settled.”

“I know,” Viora said softly. “As long as I am beside you, I am not worried about anything.”

She leaned forward and pressed her lips softly against my cheek, right below my eye. Her kiss was gentle, lingering against my skin for several seconds before she pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against mine.

I tightened my hold on her waist, pulling her even closer against my chest.

CREAK.

The heavy iron door of the training shed opened slightly, casting a bright streak of yellow sunlight across the gray padded floor.

“Hey, lovebirds!” Carmilla’s lazy voice echoed through the doorway.

Viora turned her head toward the sound of the door, her hand staying resting comfortably on my shoulder.

Carmilla stepped into the shed, wearing a loose red cardigan over a black shirt. She had an apple in her right hand, taking a loud, crunchy bite as she looked at the two of us sitting together on the bench.

“I knew I’d find you two slacking off in here,” Carmilla said with a small smirk, leaning her shoulder against the iron door frame. “You said you were coming out here to spar.”

“We finished our warm-ups,” I said. “What do you want, Carmilla?”

“Mr. Raymond sent me out here,” Carmilla replied, chewing her apple. “He made fresh berry tea and brought out some sweet cream pastries. He said if you don’t come eat them now, Leo and Mia are going to eat the entire plate.”

“Leo already ate his breakfast,” I remarked.

“That boy has a stomach like a bottomless pit,” Carmilla chuckled, turning back toward the sunlight. “Anyway, bring Viora back to the patio. The weather outside is actually pretty nice right now.”

“We’ll be right out,” I said.

Carmilla waved her hand lazily without turning around and walked back toward the main house, leaving the iron door slightly open to let the warm morning breeze flow into the shed.

I looked back down at Viora. She was smiling softly, her thumb making small circles on my shoulder.

“Berry tea sounds nice,” Viora murmured.

“Let’s go then,”

Instead of letting her step down, I slid my right arm under her knees and my left arm behind her back, lifting her up into my arms as I stood up from the bench.

Viora let out a tiny, soft gasp before laughing softly, her arms instantly tightening around my neck. “Woo Jin, I can walk.”

“I know,” I replied. “It’s faster this way.”

“You just like carrying me,” she said, her voice full of quiet affection.

“Maybe,” I said.

I carried her out of the dark stone shed and into the bright, warm sunlight of the back garden. The grass felt soft under my boots, and the cool breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers from the garden beds along the brick wall.

We stepped onto the stone patio.

A small round table had been set up under the shade of the large wooden pergola. Sitting on the table was a glass teapot filled with dark red tea, steaming softly in the morning air, alongside a large ceramic plate stacked high with warm, golden pastries dusted with white sugar.

Leo and Mia were sitting on the low wooden bench near the table. Mia was holding a small pastry with both hands, nibbling on the crust carefully so she didn’t drop any cream on her clean blue dress. Leo had a red stain around his mouth from the berry tea, his wooden toy sword propped up against his leg.

“Brother Woo Jin!” Leo yelled out, his eyes lighting up when he saw us step onto the stone tiles. “Look! Mr. Raymond made the sweet ones today!”

“I see that,” I said, carefully setting Viora down onto the comfortable cushioned chair right next to the table.

Viora adjusted her sweater, her hands reaching out smoothly to locate the edge of the table. She felt the warm porcelain tea cup that Raymond had already set out for her.

I sat down in the chair beside her, reaching over to pick up the glass teapot. I poured a fresh cup of warm red tea for myself, then topped off Viora’s cup until the steam rose softly into the air.

“Thank you, Woo Jin,” Viora said softly, taking the teacup in her hands and holding it close to her chest to feel the pleasant warmth spreading through the porcelain.

Raymond stepped out from the glass doors carrying a small bowl of fresh strawberries and a jar of honey.

“I hope the temperature of the tea is to your liking, Miss Viora,” Raymond said, bowing slightly as he set the honey jar down near her plate.

“It smells wonderful, Mr. Raymond. Thank you,” Viora replied with a polite nod.

“Excellent,” Raymond nodded approvingly. “I am pleased to hear that.”