Chapter 123: A Battle of Sincerity
When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at a man’s bare chest. It was broad and firm, adorned with well-defined muscles and numerous scars. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
A chest? Wasn’t this the kind of scene people typically encountered when they woke up after a night of heavy drinking?
My mind slowly cleared.
“Aaa—”
I tried to push against the chest, wondering if this was all a mistake, but I had no strength!
“Fiona?”
Someone hastily grabbed my wrist. I looked up to see the owner of the chest and felt a rush of reassurance.
“Si…heok—!”
My throat was dry.
“Wait, I’ll get you some water.”
Fortunately, Sigren was wearing pants. However, when I glanced at myself, I belatedly realized I was only in a thin undergarment. My brain scrambled to remember if I had caused any trouble, but nothing came to mind. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Then I saw Sigren walking toward me with a glass of water. I wanted to take it, but unfortunately, my arms wouldn’t move. My whole body felt limp, like cotton soaked in water. Eventually, Sigren held me up and brought the glass to my lips.
I couldn’t help but feel ashamed to be treated this way. It was as if I were a child.
After drinking the water, my voice began to return a little, and I started to regain my senses. However, I could barely remember what had happened before.
Didn’t I just block the Darkness?
“Why is Sigren lying down with me without a shirt?”
I couldn’t comprehend the situation. Had I died and gone to heaven? Was that why I was in bed with a topless Sigren?
Then Sigren hugged me tightly.
“You’ve made everyone worry so much, and those are your first words…”
The warmth of his body enveloped me; no, it felt more feverish.
Sigren gently caressed my hair, face, shoulders, and waist as if I were a fragile glass vase, trying to confirm my existence. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I was still in shock.
“I’m not dead, am I?”
“Of course not!” Sigren’s voice rose a bit higher than I could handle, making me flinch.
Oh my, that surprised me.
Seeing my reaction, Sigren’s hand trembled as he stroked my hair, trying to soothe me.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine… But why is your body so hot? Are you running a fever?”
“Don’t worry about me. It’s not that I have a fever; it’s just that your body is too cold.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Sigren lay down while still hugging me and covered me with a blanket. I realized that I was the only one covered. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Go back to sleep.”
Now I understood why he was topless—he was trying to warm me up.
“How long have I been sleeping?”
“A day. To be precise, you fainted.”
“Where are we?”
“It’s a temporary barracks in the forest. The headquarters was destroyed because of the Darkness. I wanted to move you to the Marquis’s castle right away, but your condition was so bad that it wasn’t possible.”
“How are the others?”
“….”
Sigren looked very dissatisfied.
Did… everyone die? No way… Isaac has a pregnant wife in Heilon…
“Everyone is safe.”
“Really?”
“Yeah… so please sleep. You’re still so cold…”
Sigren hugged me tightly. His voice sounded like he was on the verge of tears, which made me want to stroke his hair. Unfortunately, my body was too limp to move. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I was in very bad shape.
Then, I fell asleep at the end of that thought.
***
I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping.
Sigren was still in front of me.
Is it still only a day?
The difference from yesterday was that Sigren was now asleep. It had been a long time since I had seen his sleeping face. When I looked closely, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
I touched his eyelids gently, thinking he might wake up, but he didn’t. He must have been very tired.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of regret for the trouble I had caused him.
When I lowered my gaze, I noticed the childhood scars on his skin. I lightly traced one of the lumpy scars with my fingers. It was much darker than I remembered.
“It must have hurt a lot…”
“This is nothing. For me, it was more painful to see you unconscious,” Sigren whispered in a hoarse voice. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Ah.
I smiled bashfully.
“Are you awake?”
“….”
Sigren opened his eyes and looked at me for a moment with those dazzling irises. However, he quickly frowned slightly. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m better now. It’s not like yesterday. I can move.”
As I touched Sigren, I noticed that his body temperature was just as high as it had been yesterday.
He took my hand, which was resting on his body, and held it. Then he got up from the bed.
“I’m going to ask them to prepare something to eat.”
“I’m not sure if I’m hungry.”
“It’s because you haven’t eaten.”
Sigren put on a shirt.
“Sigren, come here.” I spread my arms wide as I looked at him. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“What are you doing?”
“I heard you crying yesterday, so I want to hug you.”
Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it right away yesterday because I was very sick.
“…”
Sigren suddenly looked like a lost boy. He hugged me tightly as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I think I’m really going crazy because of you…”
“It’s okay as long as you’re safe and sound…”
“You really don’t understand how others feel and just say whatever you want.”
My feelings grew heavier as I heard the tremor in Sigren’s voice when he said that. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
***
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