unedited

Tak.

The little shoes landed gently on the ground. Annie, holding both ends of the dress with her hands, bowed politely.

“Uh, um. Thank you for taking me today.”

As she got off the carriage, Annie felt a subtle sense of crisis. It seemed like it would become a habit for her to be with Ejed all the way to the front of her mansion every now and then.

In addition, she seemed to get used to the fluffy carriage she rode on. The comfort was great.

“…. You really shouldn’t.”

The human heart is so simple that at first she was grateful for the kindness, but later it is taken for granted. It creates hope for someone.

Annie’s expression darkened a little at the vague sense of incongruity that often occurs these days.

‘I think it would be better to do this today……No, no. Something like that happened at a restaurant before. Talking about it today might hurt him.’

Isn’t it a virtue of an adult to use the words in the right place? Annie vowed to herself that it would ‘until the next time.’

“I’ll go inside now. Sir Ejed, please go too soon. So that you can take care of business tomorrow.”

“Annie. Even if I sleep a little, I am healthier than others and do my job better.”

“Ah, yes. Last time…. That, you also talked about the battle of Utran. Haha. Do you remember?”

Annie was puzzled as she gave the answer.

Why was she bragging about him without any opening?

‘Oh, it’s that.’

“As expected, I don’t think there’s anything that Sir Ejed can’t do. I heard that you personally

proposed a negotiation plan this time.”

As soon as she brought it up, Ejed’s cheeks reddened. He did not deny it wasn’t him like before, but only quietly nodded his head.

With his eyes raised slightly, Ejed looked like a shy cat.

‘Ugh. His personality is completely dog-like.’

He was like a loyal dog that would do anything for its owner. It was the complete opposite of Lang.

As she was about to enter after finishing her greetings, Ejed’s call caught her by the ankle.

“Annie, wait.”

“Yes?”

“There are no guards at the front door.”

When he reflexively stared at the front door, there was not even a single ant as he said.

Annie’s expression darkened. She remembered the bad things that happened to Lord Girkan earlier.

‘No way…. Was he out of jail? Did he come here to take revenge…’

A bad idea quickly bit her tail. As Annie shook her body, Ejed stood in front of her.

Annie bit her lip when she saw the back, seemingly protecting her.

She had thought about it before, but his back was very wide.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go and see it first.”

“Then what if the person is holding a knife! It could be a trap.”

Even when Annie lowered her voice, she was angry. He’s such a mean bastard, so it’s possible that he would have attacked or hired another mercenary.

As Ejedd smiled as if it was okay, her stomach burned. Annie grabbed his sleeves with both her hands.

“No way. Rather, report it to the Knights Order and come.”

“Annie…..I have excellent swordsmanship skills….”

She knows. But she couldn’t let go.

“Even if it’s excellent, even monkeys sometimes fall from trees. What if you get hurt?”

Annie gave strength to her hand holding his sleeve as if she couldn’t let go even if she died. Then Ejed blinked his wide open eyes.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at the hem of his sleeve that Annie was holding. The luxurious fabric was wrinkled.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Still, I can’t. How cruel the world is.”

“…..”

Ejed’s expression distorted slightly.

He didn’t know if he was happy or if he was angry.

But the important thing is that they can’t hurt her.

“You can’t.”

As Annie repeatedly emphasized, he raised her opposite hand and placed it over the back of her hand.

Contrary to his notoriety of being a tyrant, he had a warm body temperature. If the temperature had been a little higher, it would have burned.

What was even warmer than that was his voice.

“It’s..”

“…..”

“It’s good that Annie is taking care of me. I like it so much.”

The voice approaching in a slow tone was full of sincerity. And his eyes are warmer.

At that moment, as her head turned white, Annie unknowingly pulled her hand away. She even forgot that he might be offended.

As Ejed looked surprised, Annie quickly bowed her head and apologized.

“I’m , I’m sorry.”

Thump, thump, thump. Her heart trembled as if she had committed a sin, and Annie’s cheeks rose with heat.

Indeed, the emotions she had felt after a long time rose from her chest. Annie knew this feeling very well.

A long time ago, whenever she met a man, she felt the excitement she had always felt.

‘….what. What’s wrong with me?’