TROWFT 17

Chapter 17

Ah, I’m going to die.

On the night road back to Count Hessen’s territory from Kellian’s barracks. Lewin slumped his alcohol-flushed body over the swaying saddle.

“Thank you.”

You’re the best.

Lying face down, he stroked the black horse’s coat gently, as if praising it.

The horse, which had been finding its own way, let out a pleased snort.

“Don’t go to the barracks—let’s go to the hut.”

Whether it understood or not, the horse swished its tail back and forth. As expected, it’s smart.

The reason he wasn’t going to the barracks right now was clear.

‘I can’t share a barracks with Shabian anymore!’

That dramatic first meeting.

For that, he was doing his best not to let Shabian see his bare face.

‘The moonlight softly glimmering, the lake sparkling, fireflies everywhere! You and Shabian must meet at that hazy, beautiful lakeside!’

Because he knew how much Rosalyn had emphasized that first meeting.

Though things had already gotten tangled beyond repair since they’d met before. Well. At least he was making an effort.

“Haa.”

He breathed out a wine-laden sigh. And above all, he wanted to be alone.

‘I don’t know what might happen while I’m asleep. Let’s be alone today.’

Thanks to years of training, his body would automatically purify itself while he slept.

The circulation of mana would speed up his bloodstream and spread the alcohol further.

Even worse would be if the dark magic broke and he reverted to female form.

“Why is window closed?” (Why is the window closed?)

Ugh. Look at my pronunciation getting twisted.

I definitely need to be alone today.

Eheheh—.

The black horse flicked its tail back and forth, as if telling him not to say things it couldn’t understand.

“The window!”

I corrected my tangled pronunciation and pointed to the hut’s window beyond.

When I left last time, I was in such a hurry I couldn’t close it… Why is it closed now? Did the wind blow it shut?

Eheheh—.

The intelligent horse woke me up after I’d drunkenly rambled and then passed out on my own.

Opening my eyes at the horse’s snort, I was in front of the hut.

Haa. I want to lie down right now, but… I can’t just sleep without washing up, can I?

‘Right. Let’s wash, let’s wash.’

I dutifully even washed my face at the stream.

‘Let’s clean this too.’

Out of habit, I also tended to my helmet and sword before finally opening the hut door.

*Creak—*

As the door opened, the humble interior of the hut came into view.

The night breeze blowing in from the doorway made the small window clatter open. So the wind was the culprit after all.

Though it was old and shabby,

‘This is paradise on earth.’

I was moved enough to feel like I was in my own personal heaven. Lately, I hadn’t been able to rest comfortably in the barracks.

‘Who knows when Shabian might see me—I had to act so impressive all the time.’

Outside, the dignified Duke; inside the barracks, the taciturn Duke.

Having to maintain that gravitas all day long, my muscles were in a constant state of tension.

Look. Even now, I’m standing impressively out of habit.

“…”

Since I was alone anyway, I thought about relaxing my posture and carelessly loosening my muscles, but I gave up because I just wanted to lie down quickly.

A fairly wide bed, with a pile of blankets rolled up in the corner, was beckoning me!

‘Hm?’

But if that pile of blankets seemed to twitch, that must be my imagination, right?

Haha. See, this is why you should drink in moderation.

*Clink—*

Using the moonlight as a lamp, I began removing my armor piece by piece.

After taking off even the leather padding underneath, I was down to a simple shirt and pants.

I neatly arranged the armor and padding on the table. Then I was about to dive into bed—but.

“Hah.”

An exasperated sigh escaped me.

I forgot to take off my boots.

I stared blankly at the intricately designed iron boots, then bent down.

Only after removing even my boots did I finally lie down on the bed.

I reached for the blanket in the corner of the bed, which was bunched up somewhat—

‘It’s hot, so let’s not cover up.’

With that thought, I let go of the blanket I’d grabbed.

‘I’ll be fine by morning.’

While I slept, my body would automatically absorb mana and expel all the bad things from within.

“Haa……”

Mana circulated inside me and began detoxification. As my blood flow quickened, the smell of alcohol grew stronger.

Wow. My face suddenly feels hot.

I tried to undo a few shirt buttons because of the heat, but my drunken hands kept slipping.

*Pop pop—*

Only after tearing off the top two buttons and throwing them to the floor did the air finally brush around my neck.

The hangover hitting me all at once made my head hazy.

‘I really am drunk.’

At the sound of buttons rolling on the floor, the blanket pile shook faintly.

Huh? I’m even seeing things because of the alcohol. Why would the blanket be moving on its own?

‘This is worse than I thought.’

Feeling awkward, I reached out to press down on the rising blanket pile—when suddenly, as if struck by a tidal wave of drowsiness, I fell straight into sleep.

Shabian relaxed his extremely tense body.

When the Duke’s hand approached the blanket pile, he’d even squeezed his eyes shut. But.

“……”

Whether he’d fallen asleep, the Duke’s hand slowly dropped.

Shabian let out a sigh of relief and lowered his hands, which had been covering his mouth. But that relief quickly turned to panic and shock.

‘What do I do now!’

A hot breath felt on the back of his neck. The Duke was lying right behind him.

Shabian’s cheeks flushed red.

‘I never expected it to turn out like this…’

There was a reason Shabian had come to this hut.

These days, the Duke was busy with work, yet because of Shabian, he had to sleep cramped on a cot in the barracks.

Shabian felt so guilty about that.

I can sleep on the floor, but our Duke should sleep in a proper bed!

-I’ll spend the night in the hut, so please use the bed, Duke.

So he’d left a note like this, covered himself with a blanket, and slipped here under the guards’ radar.

How startled he’d been when the door creaked open!

At first, he thought Kellian’s men had come to catch him.

So he’d pressed himself as flat against the wall as possible, disguising himself as a crumpled blanket.

*Clank—*

But what he heard was the faint clinking sound of iron armor.

Shabian immediately recognized the meaning of that sound. It was the sound a knight made when removing armor.

‘This is bad!’

He might be in danger.

Even in the imperial palace, Shabian had encountered wicked people who pestered him.

Back then, at least there was the safety of the palace walls, but here…

‘I shouldn’t have left the barracks. Won’t the Duke come rescue me when he sees the note? What should I do? Should I strike with the blanket? No, if they’re wearing armor, they’re a knight. Can I win?’

All sorts of thoughts ran through his mind.

With trembling fingers, Shabian carefully lifted the blanket.

A black helmet on the table, and a cloak embroidered with silver thread.

The person turning around, removing his armor, was… Duke Berwen.

Just as a relieved Shabian was wriggling to slip out from under the blanket—

“Hah.”

At the Duke’s exasperated sigh, Shabian froze.

‘What do I do…’

Shabian finally realized it.

The reason the Duke had come to this hut instead of the barracks.

‘He came here to avoid me.’

The Duke just didn’t show it. But with his busy schedule, sharing the barracks with Shabian couldn’t have been comfortable.

Dejected, he stopped his efforts to escape the blanket.

And so Shabian missed his timing.

‘……What now.’

And that was the current situation.

“Haa.”

At the Duke’s breath felt from behind, Shabian could only stare at the wall and blink.

A sweet grape wine aroma wafted thickly from the Duke.

That explained why the Duke had been fooled by Shabian’s clumsy disguise.

*Pop pop.*

The sound of the Duke ripping off his buttons and throwing them to the floor was still vivid in his mind.

Come to think of it, the Duke had removed the armor that had encased him like iron. He was probably in just a thin shirt now.

From behind Shabian, he could hear the Duke’s faint, even breathing. The Duke seemed to be deeply asleep.

‘Should I turn around?’

A dangerous impulse wrapped around Shabian.

If he just turned around, he could see the Duke’s face!

The Duke had been especially careful not to show his face to Shabian.

Even the canopy over the bed was arranged so it cleverly blocked the view of where the Duke usually lay…

‘That ugly bastard said the Duke was uglier than him.’

But the Bahat palace attendants who’d seen the Duke’s portrait said he was handsome.

Was the real face different from the painting? It wasn’t uncommon for nobles with inferiority complexes about their looks to tamper with their portraits.

Shabian guessed that the Duke was that type.

‘At first I was surprised to think the Duke would do such a thing… But he must have his reasons.’

For the Duke’s sake, Shabian tried to suppress his curiosity.

“Hot……”

If it weren’t for that voice—so beautiful it was almost provocative.

That low, husky voice mixed with fevered breath sounded strangely alluring.

‘It should be fine to just peek a little. I won’t be disappointed no matter how ugly the Duke’s face is!’

Shabian convinced himself.

‘And anyway, to slip out without the Duke noticing, I’d have to turn around…’

With a clear conscience, he kept one eye closed and turned his body. Then he lowered the blanket that hung darkly before his eyes.

“……!”

Ah.

An unformed exclamation scattered.

His prediction—that the Duke would have a dark, rugged face due to his fearsome reputation as the Black Knight—was mercilessly shattered.

Ashen hair bathed in moonlight, translucent skin, delicately refined androgynous features—so pure and noble, like a divine priest.

His reddened lips, as if bitten hard, parted slightly as he breathed out. The sight was very…

‘Precarious.’

Just then, a droplet fell from the Duke’s damp hair.

The droplet pooled at the corner of the Duke’s eye and trickled down.

As if it were a tear.

“…You’re the one who got on the bed, Duke.”

Shabian murmured very quietly.

“So I’ve done nothing wrong.”

With a dazed expression, Shabian wiped away that droplet with his finger.

The Duke, who had been frowning slightly as if having a nightmare,

“……”

Slowly relaxed his face.

Just as Shabian’s eyes wavered at that white, serene countenance—

*Creeeak—*

With the sound of rusty hinges, someone came in through the rattling wooden door.