Ever Ever After - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Marriage, Huh

Clint looked back at her. The way he looked at her was… complicated. Rather than hold contempt and dislike, he looked at her with a mixture of awkwardness and discomfort.

Ailea, who was used to living alone for nine years, spent seven years of her life looking at knights and soldiers slashing and killing countless people on the battlefield, yet she couldn’t handle how he looked at her after two years of separation.

She shrank back and turned her head around.

Clint already knew that she was in the Outer Castle. Why did he need to see her while she was bathing? Why did he ask that question?

Ailea tried to avoid him because of the running discomfort, but Clint grabbed her arm and turned her body around so that she was facing him. His face was full of nervousness, worried that she’d run away. Sighing, he covered her head with the towel he brought.

Ailea flinched in shock and looked up at him.

Clint’s golden eyes were visible.

“You should dry yourself and get out.”

As if venting his anger, he rubbed Ailea’s hair with a towel then went inside the bathhouse and closed the curtains.

Ailea blinked blankly. Her face turned red, clenching the cloth on her head with both hands. He seemed to have changed much these past two years, but still, that carefree and friendly trait was there somewhere.

She put on a brand new set of towels on the shelf.

“I left you a towel on the shelf. Sleep well,” she said, her footsteps fading as she left the building.

Clint sighed again, his heart stuffy.

‘Getting married, huh…’

The emperor had ordered him to marry a woman he never had a romantic relationship with. Moreover, she was special; she was Ron’s daughter. Her father saved his life far too many times on the battlefield to count.

Last time too…

But what about her? Would she be willing to marry him? She would lose her seat to the throne. Would she be willing? Her status would fall.

Clint’s mind was full of complicated and solemn thoughts.

***

The twenty knights certified by the Imperial Castle had to train in the Imperial Castle for thirty days of the year.

During those thirty days, Ailea almost took charge of twenty knights, but fortunately, Clint ordered and said, “Ailea is only managing things related to the Outer Castle. Each person should solve their own affairs.”

There wasn’t much to be done thereafter.

Blue was initially wary of strange men but soon realized that they posed no threat and began to ignore them carelessly.

Ailea had pleasure spending time with a company. Though however, problems sometimes occurred while living with men, and Clint would come forward to save her.

Just like now…

When the wind blew and whistled past Ailea’s skirt and blew it a little over her knee. Her hands were full carrying laundry so she reacted a bit too late. But the knights looked at her in an instant and reveled at the sight.

“We can do it by ourselves, you know?” Clint approached her and spoke while lifting the basket in Ailea’s hand.

“But while I’m doing my own…”

“Your skirt was…” Clint trailed off.

“Your skirt lifted,” Clint immediately changed his words as Kaiton approached.

Ailea nodded and grabbed her skirt down, cheeks slightly beet.

“Ailea, will you be okay tomorrow? We’ll be going to the victory party and…”

Ailea smiled. “Yes, I’ll be fine.”

She had always been alone. Kaiton was worrying about nothing.

“If you come back, please tell me how it went. I’m curious,” she said, smiling.

“Didn’t the maids prepare the party when they were in the Imperial Castle?”

“Ah…” Ailea pursed her lips. “I couldn’t get inside…”

Even when she was old enough to debut in society, Ailea never had the chance. She lived in the corner of the Imperial Castle as if she was a dead fish. And even if she made a debut today, the important matter would be to find a husband, though that would be the least of her priority. She had a husband who would soon murder her.

Ever since she was young, she’d often encounter drunken men and women seeking a dark place in the far corners of the castle to confess their feelings. She’d also seen aristocratic ladies walking in beautiful dresses, the backdrop of music echoing.

Each time she couldn’t take her eyes off its beauty and her imagination of a debut grew ever so colorful.

“I understand. I’ve never been to one either. I’ll let you know what I find after observing in detail,” Kaiton answered.

Ailea smiled. “Thank you.”

They parted ways with a beaming smile.