TYHL 187

~Chapter 187~

What the heck! I thought his back was hurt!

“I think I’m a little injured, so I’ll take her to the clinic myself.”

His strong arm wrapped around me like a vine. I could feel a slight tremor—maybe he was just trying not to squeeze too hard and hurt me.

“Huh? Sir Khalid, really? And why? You’re actually talking today? I’ve never heard you say more than three words at a time!”

As if. He’s secretly pretty chatty, actually.

I gripped the edge of Khalid’s cloak, thinking this to myself. His big body shuddered just a little.

“Well… we’ll be going then.”

With a slightly hoarse voice, Khalid turned and walked away, boots echoing as we headed to the other end of the alley.

Who knows how long we walked like that. I could feel his hand pressed against the back of my head as I snuck a peek upward.

He’d grown—his jaw was sharper now, more defined than before.
My gaze landed on the strong line of his neck and that Adam’s apple—something I definitely didn’t have. As I stared, it bobbed suddenly.

“Ah—” I looked away, startled, only to find his pale blue eyes fixed right on me. That was even more shocking.

“Put me down! Let me down!”
I wriggled like a fish out of water, but Khalid wasn’t about to let go.

“Ruby… my back hurts. Don’t move.”

Wait, you really are hurt?

“Oh, right. Sorry! No more moving. Can’t risk making it worse.”

I froze, stiff as a board.
Honestly, I’m not even sure what I said—my mind was spinning, replaying the way he’d looked at me.

“It’s been a while,” Khalid murmured.
“Two years, actually.”

“Yeah, I guess it has…”
“How have you been?”
“I’ve been… you know. Fine.”

I nodded awkwardly, feeling a tiny tremor from his chest. Maybe he was laughing.

He didn’t used to laugh like that. Back then, it was all smug grins and sarcastic little huffs, not this quiet, steady warmth.

And he definitely never just picked me up and carried me like this!

Maybe all that monster-carrying in the wild became a habit?

The chaos in my head was unreal.
Before I knew it, we were almost out of the alley when Khalid glanced over.

“Ruby, do you mind if I slow down a bit? It’s hard to walk fast.”

“Isn’t this already pretty slow?”

“My back hurts…”

“Right, yeah, slow is good!”

“Hang in there, Ruby. Sorry if this is uncomfortable.”

I could feel every muscle in his arm as he carried me, solid as ever.

What’s up with my heart? We were just fine for two years and now it’s acting up?

Khalid finally set me down after carrying me all the way out of the alley.

He’d made a huge fuss about his back hurting, insisting we get me checked by a doctor, but as soon as we were outside, he claimed he was magically healed. Just in case, I used a tiny bit of healing magic on him.

With the festival in full swing, we pushed through the crowd and ducked into the first café we spotted. There was a lot we needed to talk about.

“Welcome in!”
“Whoa…”

The place felt like stepping into a greenhouse.

“Our café has private garden rooms—an enclosed greenhouse concept,” the staff explained. “There’s a charge by the hour, but would you like a private space?”

Looking around, I realized everyone here was coupled up—this was definitely a date spot.

‘Great. Just great. We’ve stumbled right into a lovers’ hideout.’

Trying to act casual, I grabbed Khalid’s arm to drag him away.

“Come on, let’s just go somewhere el—whoa.”

But the one getting swept along was me.

“This place is perfect for a private talk. Let’s stay.”

Khalid strode right in, telling the staff we’d take the whole garden area until closing. The staff looked absolutely delighted to have us.

Maybe I was overthinking it.

I scratched my head and followed Khalid to a quiet table tucked away in the corner, shielded by tall trees and thick greenery.

‘Calm down. I’m seriously overreacting here.’

I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. My hat slipped off, and as my silver hair came loose, Khalid clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“You’re going to get caught like that.”

“Oops. Not good.”

If anyone recognized me, I’d be dragged off to meet the king with Dad for sure.

Khalid thought for a second, then pulled my hood up and wrapped his own cloak around my chin for extra coverage.

His fingers brushed my skin as he worked, and I had to fight the urge to swallow nervously.

“There. Now no one will see your face.”

He grinned, satisfied.

Not sure if this is better, but okay…

I peered into the candleholder on the table, catching a warped reflection of myself.

‘Do I look like… a pill bug?’

Well, whatever.

“So, why are you here? You didn’t come alone, did you?”

Even though I felt awkward, I answered honestly.

“No, I came with my dad.”

“The Duke himself? I’d heard reinforcements were coming, but I didn’t think he’d show up in person. Why?”

“Uh, Allen said…”

Because he thought you and the princess might fall in love?
That’s why Dad came barreling down here with me?

Yeah, not something I can say out loud. I clammed up.
Khalid’s brow furrowed, reading between the lines.

“What nonsense did Allen say this time?”

“Uncle Allen didn’t say anything! …Hey, do I look weird to you? I’m as skinny as a matchstick right now.”

“You’re cute, so it’s fine.”

“Huh?”

Khalid, who had just been pouring tea, paused. He tapped his ear.

“Does it bother you if I cover your ears? Is it uncomfortable?”

“Oh, I guess it is a little hard to hear.”

But I was pretty sure that wasn’t what I’d heard just now.

I freed my ears and refocused.

“Oh, by the way. Here.”

Khalid pulled out a thick piece of paper from inside his coat. Even without unfolding it, I knew what it was.

“The tombstone formula…”

“It took two years. Sorry.”

Seeing his calm face, my chest tightened. Some things about him never changed.

‘Little mutt…’

I sniffled, trying to hide it.

“I heard you got a nosebleed.”

His next words caught me off guard.

“My nosebleed news traveled that far? Did it end up on social media or something?”

“You’re making no sense. Let me see.”

I blinked.

“I’m looking right at you.”

“No, your magic. Are you feeling sick because you’re low on magic?”

“Oh…”

Maybe that was it.

Khalid slid the formula toward me, extending his hand.

We were the only ones who could share magic with each other. We’d always touched like this since we were kids—but suddenly, his hand felt so much bigger than I remembered.

‘Was his hand always this big?’

It felt so unfamiliar all of a sudden.

I swallowed hard.

‘She’s so small…’

Khalid stared at the little pale hand resting on his palm.

Was she always this tiny?

After two years, Rubian seemed even smaller than he remembered.
Or maybe he’d just gotten bigger—he’d had to get his uniforms adjusted again and again as he grew and got stronger from constant battles.

‘I’ll have to be more careful. I can’t just grab her hand like I used to.’

Not that he’d ever been rough with her, but now she seemed fragile enough to blow away in the wind.

Maybe it was the way her dark cloak was wrapped tight, but every feature stood out: the round forehead, the big, deep eyes, the tiny mouth always moving with a gentle voice.

‘She hasn’t changed.’

Trying not to smile too much, Khalid gently squeezed Rubian’s hand.

He could still remember the warmth and scent from when he hugged her earlier.
His stomach fluttered, though he didn’t let it show.

That’s when—

“Ow! Khalid, that hurts!”

Startled, Khalid let go right away.