The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 132



131 – Ricessa (03)

132.

The Ecclesia exclusive inn could be used at any time.

Provided, that you were a young lady belonging to the Ecclesia Salon.

For that reason, Kalen could only get one room.

The innkeeper had recognized Ricessa, but not Kalen.

Since it was quite late, they could only secure a room for Ricessa.

Ricessa was fine with Kalen’s coat over her, but…

Kallen had even taken off his coat, so he was drenched from the rain.

A few young ladies gathered on the first floor of the inn glanced at Kallen, but he had no time to notice their gazes.

So, he had to wash up first.

When they arrived at the room and woke up Richeza, she managed to wash herself.

Kallen, having experience in washing Eliana’s body, offered to help, but Richeza firmly refused.

When Richeza finished washing and came out,

“…What… are you doing?”

Kallen was laying out an extra blanket on the floor.

Richeza couldn’t understand what he was doing and asked, and Kallen, who noticed Richeza coming out after washing, threw a pillow roughly.

“They said they can’t give us another room.”

“No…”

“That doesn’t mean we can sleep in the same bed.”

“…”

It was an obvious statement.

It was something Richeza should have opposed.

But instead of such thoughts, she felt sorry first.

It was the first time she felt sorry for a man’s consideration.

“Then I’ll go wash up.”

“…Okay…”

Richeza tried to say something but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

She hesitated, and when Kallen went in to wash, she dropped her arms weakly.

She then crawled into the warm and soft bed of the Ecclesia Inn and hugged the blanket.

But… for some reason, it was far inferior to the coat Kallen had covered her with.

Kallen’s coat was warmer.

Kallen’s embrace was cozier and more comfortable.

Richeza lay quietly in bed and turned her head to the side.

She saw the blanket Kallen had roughly laid out.

He hadn’t brought many extra blankets, so he had only laid out a mat without a blanket to cover himself.

If he slept on the floor without a blanket on such a rainy day, he surely wouldn’t be able to sleep properly.

With emotions welling up inside her.

Riche couldn’t keep staring at that miserable bed.

Even when she forcibly turned her head, the bed felt more uncomfortable than being in Kallen’s arms.

She tried pulling the blanket up to cover half her face.

It only felt suffocating, with a strange warmth.

She couldn’t remember when her body stopped trembling…

Maybe it was when she fell asleep in Kallen’s arms.

She used to hate and detest touching a man’s skin so much.

But she kept longing for the boy’s warm hand.

What came to mind was when the boy caressed her cheek.

She kept thinking about that indifferent hand that brushed off the dirt.

No, it wasn’t just that.

Being with Kallen was fun.

Eating honey milk dessert together.

The boy’s bright smile when she first saw him at the auction.

The fan he gave her as a gift.

Giving her his honey milk, and even what happened today.

None of those moments included any calculation.

Kallen treated her sincerely, and she liked that.

As Riche hugged the blanket with deep eyes.

Click…

Kallen, who seemed to have just washed, opened the door.

“Ah…!”

She didn’t even realize it herself.

Riche got out of the blanket and looked back at Kallen.

“…Kya, kyaak…!”

“…Ah. Right.”

She screamed as soon as she saw Kallen with his shirt off and a towel draped over his shoulder.

Then she retreated to the end of the bed, covering her eyes with her hands.

“You, you pervert…!!”

“No… This is…”

Richeza found it hard to believe, but.

It really wasn’t something she did consciously.

Dranus Mansion.

Being served by a maid morning and evening without a break, it turned out like this.

When she came out after washing in the morning, they applied medicine to her bare body.

It became a habit to take off her top when she came out after washing.

“Haa… Haa…”

“…”

Richeza covered her eyes with her hand, breathing heavily.

Kallen hurriedly picked up his top and put it on.

“I’m dressed.”

“Haa…”

Richeza peeked through her fingers.

Only after confirming that Kallen was dressed did she lower her hand from her eyes.

“Sir, you really had this in mind…!”

“…It’s a misunderstanding. Truly.”

Richeza, clutching the blanket, blushed and glared at Kallen.

Kallen, slightly bowing his head, apologized politely.

Richeza trembled for a long time, then finally calmed down and lowered the blanket.

“…Alright. I’ll let it go.”

“Thank you.”

Zap.

Richeza, glaring at Kallen, suddenly realized she was holding something in her hand.

“That is…”

“Medicine.”

“Ah…”

When she was thrown onto the stone floor, her legs and palms got scraped.

When did he know and even bring the medicine?

Richeza fidgeted, clutching the innocent blanket.

“Since I need to apply the medicine, please extend your leg.”

“…”

*Shh…*

A pale, thin leg peeks out from under the blanket.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she extends the leg, and Kallen, sitting below, carefully takes hold of her foot.

“Hh…”

“Even if it stings, endure it.”

“Ah, I know…”

Tingle, tingle.

It felt like he’d deliberately brought harsh medicine; her leg felt hyper-sensitive.

His careful grip on her foot felt the same way.

Her entire awareness was focused on her leg.

She felt each touch of the boy’s hands.

This shouldn’t be happening.

A man’s hand was touching her; she should want to recoil instantly.

But she liked his meticulous, warm touch.

She could only clench the blanket tightly.

Once the medicine was fully applied to her leg, it was the palm of her hand’s turn.

Hesitantly, Richesa gently extended her hand, and Kallen, equally cautious, took it and applied the medicine.

“Hh, hh… hh…”

Twitch, twitch.

For some reason, she felt a shiver.

His large hand was arbitrarily kneading and rubbing her small one.

Looking at the result, it wasn’t much different from what Nirn did.

But strangely, Richesa didn’t dislike his sincere, warm hand.

Watching him concentrate on applying medicine to her hand, Richesa quietly nudged Kallen’s leg with her toes.

“…That hurts.”

“Liar…”

Despite her words, her toes shifted to almost caressing Kallen.

Over the soft pajamas, Richesa’s toes gently rubbed against Kallen’s body.

How long had it been?

Finally, Kallen, who had applied all the medicine to his palm, let go of Liches’ hand.

“Dinner. Would you like to have it? The innkeeper said he would prepare it if needed.”

“…”

Liches stared blankly at his meticulously medicated palm and shook his head.

“…It’s okay. I’m not hungry, and I don’t feel like eating…”

“Then shall we go to bed right away?”

“…Yes.”

That was the end of it.

Kallen turned off the light and lay down on the miserable bed.

Liches watched Kallen and slowly lay down on the bed.

She felt unfamiliar with herself.

Even in this situation, she didn’t feel the need to test Kallen.

She didn’t want to reveal that he was no different from other men.

She didn’t think he would be driven by desire and target her body.

This was supposed to be a confirmation for Daphnis.

It was supposed to be a test to see if she could really trust Kallen.

Unable to sleep, Liches quietly moved her body to look down at where Kallen was sleeping.

His dark hair was naturally loose.

He had taken off his well-fitting glasses.

For some reason, she liked his defenseless appearance without the glasses better.

Oddly enough, just having him by her side calmed her trembling body.

The feelings of guilt and gratitude tightened her chest, making it impossible to sleep.

And suddenly.

Kallen’s body came to mind.

It was only for a moment, but Kallen’s body was covered in scars.

A boy who hadn’t even gone through the coming-of-age ceremony, how much hardship had he endured?

Seeing someone like that exerting himself for her, she was momentarily stunned.

The moment Kallen subdued that guy in an instant and broke the arm that had pushed her.

The daughters of the five great families were desperate for attention over a single boy.

Liches couldn’t understand them, nor did she want to.

Now, it seemed like I understood.

A boy full of things I couldn’t understand.

Being with him was quite enjoyable, and though clumsy, his sincere actions were endearing.

I couldn’t even understand why I felt this way.

A boy who appeared when I needed someone the most, protecting me.

Richeza stared blankly at the fan placed next to the cane on the side table.

Why did she like the fan he gave her so much?

I must not let him approach Daphnis.

Though still deceiving herself, Daphnis liked Kalen.

Like this.

If I let her meet alone with a dangerous man full of unknowns.

Daphnis would become certain of her feelings.

If that happens…

She might not be able to meet Kalen alone anymore.

“…”

Her chest felt tight.

Not knowing why, Richeza lay uncomfortably on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

She had no interest in men.

But when it came to Kalen, she knew quite a lot now.

How big his hands were.

How warm his touch was.

He was handsome and liked honey milk.

He seemed to like betting… and had many unknown scars.

His voice was pleasant to hear, and he was handsome.

At least more so than any noblemen she had seen so far.

Most importantly, she knew well about his clumsy attitude.

He was clumsy in dealing with women, but he was sincere.

Richeza lay on the bed, quietly closing her eyes.