Chapter 73. I can't carry you around in my pocket
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[Hulkan and I aren't as serious as you thought. I know you've been so vengeful that you've even touched the slave I have to get back at me, and that you took Ihedia out of the house on purpose to provoke me. But that's all a misunderstanding, you know you'll always be in my heart, just like you swore to me].
Ihedia stood like a statue, unable to put the note down for a long time after she had finished reading it.
In the meantime, the golden-feathered bird had flown away from Ihedia's side and into the arms of another.
Netira smiled wryly as she saw that the note on the bird's leg was empty.
Seeing it made her feel a little better, as if she couldn't breathe without unleashing her anger on someone.
This messenger bird was a bit special.
The golden color in its tail was a trace of magic.
Thanks to this, it wasn't too difficult to send it flying to the desired spot without having to train it for a long time.
If Kayan had spotted it first, things would have gone awry, but she'd been keeping an eye on Kayan's mansion just in case.
As expected, Kayan would mysteriously disappear late at night, just as he did when he was in Bayate.
So she took advantage of his absence to make things happen.
Kayan built a mansion for Ihedia that mimicked the Elmir Palace.
She had seen it with her own eyes when she visited his villa.
The fact that Kayan, mad for a woman, would do such a childish thing shattered Netira's pride.
It was just a piece of paper, but if even a single shred of doubt about Kayan could cause a small spark in Ihedia's heart, then there was nothing more she could have wished for.
She believed that if she could create that tiny crack between them, things would eventually go her way, no matter how long it took.
She had begun to plot this when she remembered that it had been Ihedia who had overheard the embarrassing sounds at the door while she and Hulkan had been having their affair.
The image of her platinum hair fluttering through the slightly open doorway was burned into her mind.
As she thought back over the day's events, she realized there was no way Ihedia hadn't heard her call Kayan's name.
Perhaps she had mistaken the man for Kayan, not Hulkan.
Even if Ihedia knew it was Hulkan, it didn't matter.
The moment Ihedia saw the note, she would begin to suspect that Netira, Hulkan, and Kayan were in some sort of relationship.
It was something Netira had planned from the moment she realized that Ihedia was about to leave Kayan.
Netira knew that Ihedia's feelings for Kayan were not so deep.
She had been grinding her teeth every day to get revenge on Kayan and Ihedia.
So she dug up everything Ihedia had been doing while she was in Bayate.
The day Ihedia was brought to Kayan's villa, she sold the herbs she had secretly gathered and made a fortune.
The slave needed the money for one reason.
To escape this place.
If she was truly close to Kayan, she would have no reason to do such a thing.
Then she realized that Ihedia had found a smuggling organization and paid a large sum of money to get out of Anut.
That meant their relationship wasn't as trusting as she'd feared.
Perhaps Kayan had been used by the wench.
Netira looked forward to seeing the seeds of doubt she had planted grow to maturity and drive a wedge between them.
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Ihedia strolled outside to collect her thoughts.
The sun's blessing was short-lived, and she wanted to enjoy what little time she had left.
Her eyes lingered on the mansion's entrance.
Just as in Bayate, it was guarded by a bodyguard.
She wouldn't be able to get out of here on her own now.
In other words, she could only get out of here with Kayan's help.
As she thought of that, she felt her complicated mind become clearer.
Ihedia's gaze remained fixed there, and she turned to Sawana nearby.
"You called for me, Lady Ihedia."
"I need something."
Ihedia ordered Sawana to buy some herbs.
"I will have them ready for you later today, but what are they for?"
"One is for Kayan's insomnia, and the rest are ingredients for a tea I've been drinking since I was in Elmir."
Sawana gave a small smile at Ihedia's concern for Kayan.
There was a subtle shade in Ihedia's eyes, but Sawana didn't notice it.
That evening, Sawana ran an errand for Ihedia and handed her a package of herbs.
Among them was the aloche she had ordered.
Ihedia said to Sawana.
"When Master Kayan returns home, tell him to stop by the greenhouse. I'll be waiting."
Not long after Kayan returned home, Sawana found him.
It must be because of Ihedia that Sawana came to see him.
That alone was enough to make Kayan nervous.
"Lady Ihedia asked you to come to the greenhouse. She's been waiting for you there.”
Kayan shifted in his seat as soon as he heard the news.
He sensed that Ihedia's demeanor was changing.
Not only did she no longer look so desperate as if she was going to die if she didn't leave right away, but she had even asked him to join her for a meal the other day.
Their conversation hadn't been the most pleasant, but Kayan had assumed it was all part of Ihedia's gradual opening up.
So he couldn't tell her the truth when she asked.
"Have you ever hidden anything from me before?"
He was afraid that if Ihedia realized that the wolf she was confiding in was actually him, she would be shocked and shut down again.
He didn't want to deceive her, but he felt it was too much for her to take in, and she needed more time, not yet.
That was why he didn't seek her out himself, but simply waited for her to find him.
Kayan found the greenhouse with some trepidation at Ihedia's second call.
Inside, he found Ihedia sitting somewhat uneasily at a table.
It felt like years had passed, even though he had seen her only a few days ago.
"Master Kayan."
At the sound of her voice, he felt a thirst that nothing else could quench.
"Come and sit down."
She said, casting a glance at the seat across from her.
As soon as Kayan sat down in front of her, her mouth opened again.
"I noticed when we ate together the other day, your face looked more haggard.”
"...."
"Are you still suffering from insomnia?"
It was true that Kayan had been marinated in exhaustion lately.
Being away from Ihedia, in addition to his many official duties, had naturally increased his insomnia, and when he finally fell asleep, he was often woken by nightmares.
"Don't worry about it."
The lie slipped out of his mouth when she showed signs of concern.
Ihedia didn't seem to believe him, though.
She held out something from her inside pocket.
An aloche sachet.
Kayan's eyes changed slightly when he saw it.
She had called him here to give him this.
Kayan's gaze lingered on it for a moment before shifting back to Ihedia.
"I thought you might need a new one..................."
Ihedia's voice trailed off a bit, as if she'd been caught off guard.
She reached out to him first, breaking the subtle awkwardness that had been hovering between them.
Had she completely given up on leaving Anut now?
Whatever her true intentions, Kayan's hardened heart softened at the scent of the rich herb.
When Kayan didn't react, Ihedia hid her disappointment and reached for the sachet again.
"I was presumptuous. If you don't need it......."
"I didn't say I didn't need it."
Kayan snatched the sachet from Ihedia's hand.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"Actually," he added, fingering the sachet with its rustic white embroidery. “I have better medicine than this sachet."
"What is that?"
"I don't know why, but when I sleep with you in my arms, my insomnia goes away."
Ihedia's eyes widened at that.
Like a deer surprised to see a hunter.
"But I can't carry you in my pocket."
Ihedia's cheeks flushed, and she coughed.
He made that peculiar expression he wore whenever he said something embarrassing.
For the briefest of moments, Kayan felt as if an impenetrable wall between them had crumbled.
***
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