I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 44

‘What? Not feeling well?’

Who?

‘Me?’

It was only then that Kazen realized he had been feeling not just displeased since entering the room, but rather angry.

“……”

He was taken aback.

Was this really something to be angry about?

Lenette was in danger, but it wasn’t a situation that posed a threat to him.

Of course, unlike the previous brides, he had decided to spare Lenette for now.

However, the very fact that he used the word ‘for now’ meant that he didn’t fully recognize her as his own.

‘But why am I…’

So angry?

Realizing that he had indeed been angry at Lenette’s remark, Kazen fell silent for a while.

Lenette, who was watching him intently, let out a sigh of resignation.

It was only then that Kazen snapped back to reality and grabbed Lenette’s wrist as she turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be outside.”

After experiencing that incident just moments ago, she still wanted to go out into danger?

That thought lingered in his mind, but for some reason, he couldn’t voice it.

However, as if she knew what he was thinking, Lenette added,

“I don’t want to stay in that chaotic room.”

“Then let’s find another room.”

“Yes. I’ll do that. I’ll go downstairs and talk about it. And I’ll take a walk while I’m at it.”

“Go with Nazan.”

Although Lenette was quite upset, she still answered readily.

“Okay.”

With that, Lenette hurriedly left the room.

Left alone, Kazen sat down and rubbed his face.

He was disoriented.

Was it because an assassin had barged in?

That was part of it, but more than anything, it was Lenette’s recent words that confused him.

‘I know you’re not feeling well, but can’t you at least consider that I might have been surprised too?’

“I’m not feeling well…”

Why?

Was he angry because that woman had been in danger?

Bending forward and rubbing his face, he slowly lowered his hand and stared at the door through which his priestess had exited.

“Why on earth…”

* * *

Lenette, who had left Kazen alone in the room, stomped down the stairs in an uncharacteristic manner.

She felt bad.

The situation had unfolded so rapidly that she didn’t have time to process her emotions. So, she had mindlessly captured the intruder and followed Kazen’s orders to get dressed.

Once everything settled down, she began to notice Kazen’s attitude.

‘Don’t you think being naked is a bit much?’

‘…I’m not naked. I’m wearing my undergarments.’

‘That’s basically the same.’

“I can’t believe this.”

Nazan was following behind, but what could he report anyway?

“What’s the difference between undergarments and regular clothes? ”

Just a moment ago, when capturing the assassin, Lenette had been wearing her undergarments.

She had wrapped a cloth around her chest to cover her main areas, and although her shorts were short, they did cover what needed to be covered.

“But naked? That’s absurd.”

In the first place, Tazetra’s everyday clothing was designed to reveal the entire body.

The top was either sheer enough to see through or made of such thin fabric that it clung to her silhouette, while the bottom showed her bare legs whenever she moved.

“So, undergarments and everyday clothes are basically the same.”

Yet, why was he pointing that out as if she were a thoughtless and foolish woman?

“Besides, did I get caught off guard by the intruder? That’s not the case.”

If we were to assign blame, the first culprits were the guards who had let their guard down and left their posts, and the second was Kazen, who had trusted those guards and left.

“Ah, well, they probably didn’t expect an intruder.”

No, wait.

Thinking back, it seemed he had mentioned that this had happened before.

“More than ten times?”

When she suggested interrogating him, he had said that there had already been more than ten such incidents and that he knew who had sent the intruder.

This meant that Kazen and the guards had known that such intruders could come at any time.

And yet, they had let their guard down and left their posts.

“So why am I the one being blamed for this?”

“Don’t you think being naked is a bit much?”

That comment resurfaced in her mind, and an unnamed emotion surged within her.

“Seriously, there’s something wrong with your personality.”

She grumbled loudly, and Nazan, who had been quiet the whole time, carefully interjected.

“I think he might be worried about Miss Leneta.”

Although they had closed the door to talk, how thick could the walls of such a shabby inn be? He had heard their conversation clearly.

“So, your emotions might have gotten a bit heated.”

Lenette shot a glare at Nazan, who had turned to look at her.

“Does that mean it’s acceptable to be rude to someone if you’re worried about them?”

“……”

Since it was a valid point, Nazan fell silent and stepped back.

Seeing him retreat like that only added to her irritation.

If he had at least made some excuse about the culture here, she might have tried to understand.

But with him backing down like that, it was clear even to Nazan that Kazen had gone too far.

“Ha.”

So frustrating.

Lenette let out a long sigh and shook her head.

‘Forget it. I’m going to run away anyway.’

So, it didn’t matter if that man was rude or not.

“Let’s get another room.”

As Lenette steadied her voice and spoke, Nazan quickly replied,

“Yes, understood.”

* * *

Since that day, there had been no exchanges between Lenette and Kazen.

They still shared a room, but whenever Kazen entered, Lenette would immediately close her eyes and pretend to sleep. Kazen didn’t bother to speak to her either.

Two days passed like this.

Click.

Hearing the bathroom door close, Lenette opened her previously shut eyes.

She glanced over at the bathroom door. Water could be heard running from inside.

Only then did she get up from her seat and brush her hair back.

‘How long do I have to keep this up?’

Honestly, she had been really angry at Kazen at first.

However, emotions naturally fade over time. Especially negative feelings like anger tend to diminish even more.

When they first arise, they crash in like a wave, threatening to destroy everything, but after a while, they settle down like a calm sea that has never experienced a storm.

That’s right.

Right now, Lenette had passed the stage of the turbulent waves and had reached a calm sea.

So, she felt frustrated.

Even though she continued her silent protest, pretending to be angry and upset… it was honestly uncomfortable.

‘But I’m not going to be the one to extend my hand first.’

Even if her anger had subsided, she still firmly believed that she needed to receive an ‘apology’ from him.

‘Otherwise, he might continue to treat me poorly based on my emotions in the future.’

At that moment, the sound of water stopped inside. Lenette quickly lay back down in her bed.

Not long after, the bathroom door opened.

The humid air spread into the room, and the refreshing scent of soap tickled Lenette’s nose.

“If you’re awake, can we talk? ”

At Kazen’s voice, Lenette slowly opened her eyes.

Since she was turned away from him, Kazen didn’t notice the change.

He approached Lenette slowly and sat down lightly on the edge of her bed. With a small sigh, he opened his mouth again.

However, it seemed he was about to say something but then stood up again.

“Sleep a little more.”

At that, Lenette furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief.

‘What? Telling me to sleep again?’

If he was going to say something from the start, then why did he just drop it suddenly?

In the end, Lenette couldn’t hold back and shot up from her bed.

“What is it? What were you going to say?”

Again, she wasn’t angry at the moment.

The grumpy tone in her voice came from not having spoken for so long, which made it sound a bit flat.

But how could Kazen know that?

“Are you still angry?”

Instead of answering, Lenette looked up at him. She narrowed her eyes slightly, giving him a glare, but there was no venom or irritation behind it.

Maybe that’s why? Even under her gaze, Kazen smiled slightly. He could read her expression.

“You know, if you keep frowning like that, you’ll get wrinkles.”

He pressed between her eyebrows with his finger.

Lenette swatted his hand away. It wasn’t a forceful push, but it was enough to send his hand flying.

“Whether I get wrinkles or not is irrelevant.”

“It’s not irrelevant. You’re my bride.”

“More like a slave, right?”

“Don’t you realize I’m going through this difficult path to make you not just a slave but a bride?”

“When someone has gone through something terrible, instead of saying it’s okay, you get angry, so I thought you were going to treat me like a slave.”

Seeing Lenette sulking with her gaze turned away, Kazen chuckled.

When she suddenly turned her head to glare at him, he pretended to wipe his face with his hand, trying to stifle his laughter.

“I admit I was inconsiderate.”

“Just inconsiderate?”

“I was also rude.”

“Very rude, in fact.”

He burst into laughter again.

It sounded like someone was gently tickling him, as laughter spilled repeatedly from his lips.

Kazen quietly sat next to her.

“I’m sorry.”