Chapter 87

The moment I saw him, my face flushed red.

“Are you crazy?”

“I saw an opportunity.”

As he replied with a cheerful grin, I suddenly remembered my conversation with Jed in the palace and hesitated.

“Actually…”

“Hmm?”

I stopped myself.

What was the point of saying it? It would only make me feel worse.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“What is it?”

“Never mind. I’m going.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m probably going to be late, so just go to sleep.”

“But my wife is still…”

I didn’t listen to his reply and squeezed through the gap between his side and arm, quickly slipping away. I heard his laughter behind me, though I pretended not to notice and headed for the study.

Who knew I’d fall for his tricks?

Entering the study, I picked out a few books. Not to avoid Kairos, but because I really thought I’d be up late tonight. I’ve never thought about having a nightmare, but tonight, I was sure I would. My head was a mess, remembering Hazel’s childhood, even her younger days.

With no one to talk to, this was the only thing I could do.

When I only had memories of when I was more or less grown up, I wanted to know everything so I wouldn’t be caught as someone who wasn’t the original owner of this body.

But now that I know everything, I wish I didn’t.

My original body, Hazel Love, and the life I lived so desperately were all tiring. I sat comfortably on the sofa in the corner of the study, put my knees up, and opened the book.

Chapter 13 — Stepping on Feet, Stealing a Kiss, Smiling, and Emptying the Heart.

Hazel’s sudden disappearance made Kairos laugh uncontrollably.

As she left, she deliberately stepped on his toes.

He always had plans to show her only the side of him that she liked, but honestly, he couldn’t stand it when Hazel made such a troubled expression.

Her usually flat eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her stubborn little lips were pursed, making them even fuller. On top of that, her cheeks were slightly puffed out, making him want to look at her face all day long.

With that kind of face, she kept blaming him, and he felt wronged by this.

His heart, which had begun to accept her, was growing uncontrollably like a fire, and the frosty coldness had subsided a little, but he was still on a difficult journey.

The fear Hazel showed towards him, the shock, had not yet faded.

He knew it was his fault, yet he didn’t want to let Hazel go even a little. He had to find a way for Hazel to look at him again. The chances of that happening would increase if he could see her face, but even though he split his time and came to see Hazel’s face, it was difficult to find her at home.

Hazel had made up her mind to hide, so he had to find her every time.

Whenever he tried to run into her in the hallway, she would disappear in a flash, leaving only the ends of her hair behind, slamming the door shut.

It seemed like she was going to hide in the study and stay there until dawn.

Kairos, who had been smiling gently on the sofa at the sight of her, had his face hardened a few moments later.

A few hours ago, Hazel’s expression when she left the palace was not bright. It wasn’t the usual expression she made because she didn’t like him, but a face that seemed to be preoccupied with something else and suppressed.

He had warned him so the Crown Prince wouldn’t do anything to Hazel unless he were crazy. He had even offered to keep an eye on the palace so that there wouldn’t be any ears there.

He had thought he was a stupid scarecrow, but he was actually quite useful.

Hazel had given him a chance after a year, but it was far from enough. She was always ready to slip away like sand, so he did something he liked in the midst of his anxiety.

So, it was definitely not those two.

He remembered Hazel looking back as she left the palace, and he ended up investigating. It was an unexpected person, so he needed to find out more.

Why would Hazel be uncomfortable seeing Madam Gadiel, who was highly respected and even praised by the Emperor several times? If she were a noblewoman, she would have wanted to be educated by her at some point. If it would help his relationship with Hazel, he would leave it alone, but if not, he would feel better if he got rid of her.

He sat on the sofa, calmly waiting for his wife, thinking hard and tapping his fingers on the armrest. After some time, the curtain fluttered through the open window.

“My lord, I apologize for being late. I’ve found out more.”

A shadow approached Kairos and quickly told him something.

“….”

It turned out he hadn’t found out much.

Count and Countess Gadiel had taken care of and sponsored young Hazel.

It had been about ten years since then, and there hadn’t been much contact since then. He had asked around about the servants who had worked at the Count’s house during that time, but all he could find out was that they had been educated somewhat strictly.

There was nothing else he could find out.

No, there was definitely something. There was no way Hazel would have made that kind of expression just because of that connection.

‘Should I dig deeper?’

“Keep digging.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The man disappeared, and Kairos’ gaze, which had been frozen for a long time, turned to the clock.

It was almost midnight.

A subtle light filled his expressionless face.

Scratching his eyebrows slightly as if he was troubled, Kairos got up from his seat. He decided that it was better to be scolded than not to see Hazel’s face. Calling himself a terminal case, he headed to the study where Hazel would be.

Hazel was asleep in the study, holding a book in her arms.

“Hazel.”

She was fast asleep, not even twitching. As Kairos reached out to take the book from Hazel’s arms, she held it tighter and shifted to a more comfortable position.

His mouth twitched a little.

The book… What was it doing in Hazel’s arms?

As he glanced around, it seemed she had been quietly reading a book. A document peeked out from between the books at her bedside. When he lifted the book, he could see a document for the operation of the Soul Guild.

Kairos’ lips curled up slightly.

She had been so fond of the guild that he had been angry when she left, saying she would pay off the debt. Every time he saw this possibility, he wanted to turn back time even more.

He knelt before the sleeping Hazel and took the book out of her arms.

Thump.

As he carefully lifted it up, Hazel’s hand fell on Kairos’ head.

“….”

Startled, Kairos’ eyes widened as he slowly lowered his head towards Hazel. When his cheek almost touched her thigh, he leaned his head a little more, looking as if he was being stroked on the head while lying in Hazel’s arms.

How long had it been since Hazel’s confession of love? It was the last night at the hotel, so it was the 79th day today.

Kairos rested his face on Hazel’s leg for a moment.

So close, yet so far.

A self-deprecating laugh escaped his lips.

Crazy man.

After a long time, he got up, leaving his regret behind. Even as he carried Hazel to the bedroom, he held her close, closer, so that she wouldn’t be even a little further away from him.

* * *

“….”

I was in the study yesterday…

My d*mn husband must have moved me to the bedroom again. He left the door open, probably worried I’d try to break the knob again. I didn’t understand why he couldn’t keep his promise for a year.

I guessed he didn’t trust me either, but there was no point in talking about it.

Anyway, I had a dream last night. It wasn’t a nightmare, which was good, but I dreamt of a dog.

A huge, pitch-black dog the size of a house nestled in my arms. I’ve never even owned a dog. It kept nuzzling against me, so I petted it for a while, and then I thought I dreamt something else, but at least it wasn’t a nightmare.

I ruffled my messy hair, hastily grabbed my robe, and stepped out into the hallway.

And there he was.

“…”

Of course. Kairos was approaching me with that infuriatingly handsome smile. The moment I saw it, I turned on my heel and ran in the opposite direction, towards the bathroom.

—