160. Wanting to Hold Her Close

2024.03.08.

Yuan appeared restless, as if struggling to breathe, and Eugene calmly soothed her.

She seemed greatly startled by the sudden appearance of her ex-husband—or rather, her husband.

Her small hand tightly gripped his arm like a lifeline.

He couldn’t bring himself to shake it off, silently watching Yuan take deep breaths in front of Tasha’s room.

Eugene Kimfri had studied swordsmanship under Sir Elias, the empire’s greatest swordsman, alongside imperial family members during his youth.

The prince Clade Euphris he had personally seen and heard back then was truly a peerless youth, worthy of being called “Euphris’s Treasure.”

He shone so brightly, even from a distance, that it was almost blinding.

Yet, because of a curse, he had voluntarily renounced his claim to the throne and secluded himself for over a decade.

And only bad rumors had spread. Of course, they weren’t entirely baseless.

It was true he had become a hideous monster. It was true he had endlessly replaced his wives.

And there were many who had seen and heard firsthand that, once the curse or unknown illness lifted, he became a reckless, debauched, and thoroughly ill-mannered ruffian—so sadly, people had no choice but to believe it.

People inevitably change over time, and Clade was no exception to this natural course.

But the Clade Eugene observed possessed something that couldn’t be explained by that alone.

Just recalling the incomprehensible aura he felt when their swords clashed during a tournament—

If someone could strike down Eugene, who never slacked in daily training and frequently participated in monster-hunting operations, without making a sound—

then such skill couldn’t be achieved without surpassing even Eugene’s diligence and perseverance. No matter how much of a genius, no one could ignore over a decade of absence without such dedication.

Clade Euphris’s behavior clearly had some purpose.

But still, Eugene couldn’t understand his actions toward his wife.

Clade’s attitude toward Yuan had been consistent, despite occasional variations. The ex-prince couple was living separately.

Clade had spent nights with countless women, and Yuan was rumored to be Bollonico’s lover—a relationship devoid of any trust, in short.

Yet Eugene Kimfri ultimately concluded that these were merely rumors.

The Yuan he had seen differed greatly from public gossip, and the Clade he saw today acted in ways that shattered his previous consistent assumption—that the ex-prince was dissatisfied with or disliked his wife.

Would anyone willingly intrude into a household they had no connection with just to meet a spouse they couldn’t stand?

He was confused, but he made no effort to show this to Yuan.

Instead, words escaped his lips without thought.

“You may use me if you wish.”

The words were directed at Yuan, who seemed to have just calmed down and was about to enter her room.

Yuan looked up, staring deeply into Eugene’s distant eyes.

She wanted to ask what he meant, but then realized she was still clutching his arm. Startled, she let go and stammered incoherently.

“I know better than anyone how I’m talked about.”

She meant she was too ashamed to accept help.

Seeing the unshaken look in Eugene’s eyes, Yuan flinched again and added hastily, as if making an excuse.

“There’s no need for you, Lord Kimfri, to bear that rumor yourself. I appreciate your words… but still.”

Yuan replied sincerely. Recently, she had grown overly close to Eugene Kimfri.

Not because she had observed specific behaviors, but by an intuitive sense of the atmosphere between them.

Like how her understanding with Noel grew deeper without words, or how she gradually drew closer to Tasha.

Yuan had naturally begun relying on and conversing with this man before her.

For someone like Yuan, who knew better than anyone that she shouldn’t leave emotional attachments behind in this world, these relationships warmed her heart, yet simultaneously filled her with fear of the inevitable parting, leaving her uncertain at every moment.

Unaware of these feelings, Eugene simply replied in his usual firm voice.

“Rumors are just rumors.”

“I…”

Yuan hesitated, about to vanish into her room with a vague smile, but then abruptly lifted her head and looked up at Eugene, as if making a decision.

Yuan’s tense face filled Eugene’s amber eyes, which had been steadily watching her.

“About the wish right… You keep giving it back to me every time I use it… Please, don’t do that anymore.”

Yuan smiled awkwardly, looking at his tightly pressed lips.

“I was being unreasonable. Truthfully, on that pirate island, I didn’t want you to die. You were right. Me saying I’d use you because I saved your life… was excessive. What I should’ve said was simply ‘thank you.'”

Yuan straightened her back and composed her expression, as if regaining control over the emotions stirred by Clade.

No matter how much Clade unsettled her, she had things she needed to say.

“Thank you for accompanying me to the pirate island, and for trying so hard to find me in the storm. And thank you for helping me find my uncle.”

The more she thought about it, the more grateful she felt, and Yuan’s hand naturally moved to the back of her neck.

Embarrassed, she rubbed the nape of her neck a few times, then lowered her eyes, her face slightly flushed.

“It’s random, but if I don’t say it now, I’ll regret it later. Thank you again for helping me out of that awkward situation just now. You’ve done more than enough. So there’s no need to keep dwelling on that unreasonable wish right.”

Glancing quickly at Eugene, Yuan saw he was only silently staring down at her with no particular response. Truly embarrassed now, she hurried to finish.

“Anyway, thank you! Thank you for taking the time despite being busy. Good night, then!”

Yuan spoke rapidly like a burst of gunfire and reached for the doorknob. Only then did Eugene finally speak.

“I also do not wish for Your Highness to die.”

At the quiet words, Yuan stiffened.

“Don’t die.”

“You can do anything.”

“Just don’t die.”

Again, in a place without Clade. She was swept away by Clade’s voice.

Yuan, who had silently endured the storm of sorrow welling up inside her, slowly turned and studied Eugene.

She had desperately lied to Clade, but she didn’t need to do so with Eugene before her.

A promise never to die in front of someone—only one such promise needed to be made.

“Better not to make promises you can’t keep.”

Yuan answered softly, unaware that her expression of resignation was causing Eugene’s face to grow increasingly tense.

“Good night.”

At her faint voice, Eugene quickly responded.

“Good night, Your Highness.”

“You know the title ‘Your Highness’ means little to me, don’t you? You may call me Eugene, just as Tasha does. At least… until the ex-prince departs from here.”

As her barely calmed emotions began to churn again, Yuan continued uneasily.

Even a brief moment of warmth with someone else would blur completely once she started thinking of Clade.

The moment she remembered Clade and realized death approached every hour, she felt pathetic for only wanting to deceive Clade—even if it meant relying on Eugene’s help.

Yet, no self-loathing could compare to the terror of possibly failing to uphold the one thing she and Clade had shared—the one thing he had ever wanted from her.

Seeing Eugene react slightly at the offer to use his name, Yuan gathered her courage and spoke.

“You’re the only one I can ask for help… I’m sorry for going back on my word. I’ll only use you briefly whenever I’m in trouble like now. But after this, let’s consider that damn wish right completely gone.”

As her hand, gripping the doorknob, trembled, Eugene’s warm hand gently touched it. Before she could react, the door opened.

Eugene had opened it for her instead.

Startled, she looked up to see his amber eyes, shadowed yet firmly fixed on her.

Compared to her wavering, trembling form, his gaze was solid, like a stone wall.

“That isn’t a wish. Use your wish right carefully.”

“……!”

“That is the condition for helping you this time.”

Having ushered her into the room, Eugene vanished like the wind before she could respond.

***

The moment Yuan entered the room, she saw Tasha, whose face looked like she was about to vomit.

Yuan instantly realized, by intuition, that Tasha had overheard their entire conversation at the door.

But before she could feel embarrassed, Tasha wiped her expression clean and raised her cool eyes sharply.

“The ex-prince came, did he?”

Tasha spat the words as if Clade were her sworn enemy.

“He barged in without notice and went straight to you—did he hurt you anywhere?”

Not knowing how low Tasha truly thought of Clade, but her expression was quite serious.

Her deep amber eyes, resembling Eugene Kimfri’s, anxiously scanned Yuan’s body up and down.

Seeing Yuan’s increasingly awkward expression, Tasha abruptly stopped mid-sentence, cutting off her fierce criticism of Clade’s behavior.

“…Sometimes you seem so fearless, saying whatever you want. But the moment the ex-prince is mentioned, you wear the most pitiful puppy-like expression.”

Wanting to hold her close.

The muttered words that followed made Yuan doubt her own ears.

But before Yuan could tilt her head in confusion, Tasha suddenly pulled her into a fierce embrace.

To the taller Tasha, Yuan felt like a child, completely enveloped in her arms.

“Just stay still.”

As Yuan flailed in surprise, Tasha pulled her even closer and murmured.

“Truthfully, ever since my brother woke up on that island, I’ve been so happy and grateful—I’ve been holding back the urge to hug you like this.”