Chapter 77
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As if she had been waiting for this moment
This time, Kayan stared at the display and picked up a necklace.
It was a pink necklace with the ancient word 'bovilov' written on it.
According to the vendor's explanation, it meant 'together'.
"It's also a great gift for a couple."
As soon as Kayan paid, he put the necklace on Ihedia on the spot.
"It fits you much better than anything I've given you before."
Kayan held up the necklace Ihedia had given him.
"Here, put it on me."
"Me?"
"Of course."
Ihedia took it quickly, feeling a little embarrassed and glancing around.
Then she noticed the scar at the nape of his neck and stopped.
‘Did he always have a scar like this?’
Ihedia wasn't sure if it was old or recent, as she'd never seen Kayan's bare skin before.
It was hidden by his collar, so she hadn't noticed it until now.
It was healed well, but the redness was still there, so it didn’t seem that old.
But why did it feel so familiar?
"What are you doing?"
Kayan urged her as Ihedia froze in thought for a moment.
Ihedia quickly cleared her throat and put on the necklace.
The vendor covered her mouth and laughed at the sight of the two of them.
Even after Kayan took Ihedia's hand and left the stall, he continued to look happy.
Seeing this, Ihedia smirked and said,
"At first you looked at me like you didn't understand why I was buying this."
"The street vendor's speaking skills are extraordinary, so I can't just pass him by."
It wasn't until they'd explored every inch of the bustling city that Kayan and Ihedia rode together again.
Instead of heading back to the mansion, Kayan took an unfamiliar route.
His horse stopped at a lake near the center of town.
The weather had been so mild that the river, which was supposed to be frozen, had melted.
There were many lovers enjoying a leisurely ride in small boats.
Kayan paid the ferryman and climbed aboard an empty boat.
Ihedia tried to follow him aboard, but she stumbled and flailed.
Kayan quickly scooped her into his arms.
"If you want to be held, just say so."
Ihedia bit her lip and rolled her eyes.
Kayan only thought it was cute.
The two of them sat down.
Kayan paddled, and the boat slowly moved toward the center.
Ihedia's gaze locked on the peaceful view.
The lapping of the water was soothing, and the occasional gentle breeze ruffled her hair.
"It's interesting."
"What?"
"I never thought I'd enjoy something like this in Anut, the coldest place in the North."
"Anut's weather may be the fiercest in the North, but it is also the only place blessed with wolf skies and the sun."
Kayan's voice was naturally filled with affection for Anut.
For Ihedia, it was a place of cold and hardship, but for Kayan, it wass a sanctuary and his only home.
But his next words were a bit of a surprise.
"But these days, I wish the weather was a little warmer, and it's a shame that the sun's blessing only lasts a month."
"Why? You don't get cold very often."
"Because you suffer, and I can't suffer for you."
Ihedia was reminded that Kayan had taken great care of the mansion for her.
Aside from that, he always seemed to be thinking about what she would like.
At times, Ihedia's heart, which she thought had turned to stone, melted at the thoughtfulness.
In the meantime, their boat had gotten far away from the dock.
The others in the boat were far behind them, and any unnecessary noise was drowned out by the sound of Kayan's rowing.
The sun hung low on the horizon, the sky reddened by the setting sun, and it was quiet.
Kayan stopped and looked at Ihedia.
She hadn't realized his gaze, absorbed in the serene landscape.
She didn’t realize that the only thing more beautiful than this lake was herself.
He would rather she never know that.
He wished she would give herself up to him in the same small way that she was now, little by little, to Anut's exquisite landscape.
Kayan had dragged Ihedia back from her attempted escape, but he decided not to try to approach her strongly like before.
Maybe if he kept trying, she would open up.
As long as Ihedia was by his side, he was willing to wait.
Now that he knew that waiting for someone could be so exciting and fun.
"It's a shame that I can't enjoy this good thing now. I have to wait another year." (Ihedia)
"You're already so attached to Anut that you look forward to the next year?” (Kayan)
The words startled Ihedia, who turned her head and locked eyes with him.
I.................. never thought of that.
She was a little embarrassed that she had assumed that shewould still be here in a year's time.
Kayan chuckled, unable to hide his excitement at reading Ihedia's thoughts.
Then she blushed and changed the subject.
"Do you also come out to enjoy the festival every year during the Blessing of the Sun, Kayan?"
“Until now, I haven’t really had that kind of time.”
That was because he had been too busy to even stay in the capital.
He was often on the battlefields, on the frontiers, or abroad, depending on the imperial mandate, so he would not have had time to fully enjoy the sun's blessings.
"So this must be your first time boating on the lake."
"Not the first time, but it's been a long time. When I was younger, I went a few times because Netira kept nagging me.”
Ihedia's face darkened slightly when Kayan casually dropped Netira's name.
But she deliberately pulled up the corners of her mouth to hide her discomfort.
Kayan, not noticing, continued with an innocent smile.
"Of course, you’re always welcome to spend time like this with me."
Ihedia spoke in a nonchalant tone as she studied the man's face as he smiled back at her.
"You say that now, but what if I insist on coming with you every year from now on, and Kayan finds it too much of a bother?"
The smile on the corner of Kayan's mouth slowly faded.
He stared at Ihedia, eyes slightly shocked.
Somehow, those words seemed like a simple confession that she would stay with him forever.
"Thanks to you, Kayan, I think I'll be able to warm up to Anut a little bit."
Ihedia added, turning her gaze back to the beautiful scenery.
It was an irresponsible thing to say, but she meant it.
If it weren't for him, she would have left with nothing but harsh memories of Anut.
It occurred to Ihedia that the blessing of the sun in the midst of the cold winter was somehow resembled Kayan.
***
When Kayan and Ihedia returned to the manor, the sun had long since set.
Kayan's face showed no sign of fatigue, even though he must have been exhausted to feel the full blessing of the sun.
It seemed that even though he was far away in the West, Kayan could live on the memories of this day.
In fact, he wanted to throw everything away and spend the whole day with Ihedia, but unfortunately, he had to compromise and postpone the date of his departure for the West.
If his men gossiped that he was woman-crazy and couldn't recognize what’s more important, he had nothing to say about it.
"Then you go rest."
Kayan walked Ihedia to the door of her bedroom and turned to leave.
Ihedia grabbed his wrist and halted him.
When Kayan looked back at Ihedia with questioning eyes, unbelievable words came out of her mouth.
"I... I want to be... with you."
Ihedia's lips pursed slightly, unable to meet his eyes.
Her ears had already turned bright red.
Kayan raised the corner of his mouth gently, cupping her face with one hand.
She still couldn't look him in the eye, her gaze elsewhere.
Her eyelashes fluttered like feathers.
Kayan spoke, his eyes filled with heat, as if he were barely holding on to reason.
"Say it again."
"I want to be with you."
"Again."
"With you..............."
Ihedia nearly screamed when Kayan suddenly picked her up.
He captured her lips like he'd been waiting for this moment all along.
Ihedia was swept onto the bed in Kayan's arms.
His warm breath tickled her flesh.
She was tense, but she didn't push him away.
Then Kayan's hidden desires began to unleash their full force.
Wet lips nibbled at her ear, then at the nape of her neck.
He tugged at the unwieldy fabric wrapped around her and sucked at the exposed flesh.
A lustful moan escaped Ihedia's mouth at the unexpected sensation.
It was something she'd prepared herself for countless times since she'd made the decision, but now that it was happening, she felt dizzy.
Her body was straining, but Kayan didn't seem to have any intention of stopping, and Ihedia didn’t want him to stop.
She squirmed as a hot, unimaginable pressure came from below.
At the same time, a moan burst from Kayan's mouth.
Ihedia clung to his neck, pleading.
For a long, long time, she could not open her closed eyes, absorbing the man's every move as he sought to consume her.
***
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