# 35
35
'Don't like it?'
Angelica suddenly turned to him upon hearing this strange word.
A clear astonishment appeared on her face, which she could not hide.
“No, why not...”
She wanted to ask him what part made him think that, but she suddenly closed her mouth. She thought for a moment, then realized that he might have misunderstood her.
'But I didn't say his name the whole time.'
But the reason was just a feeling of joy and excitement!
She couldn't take her heart out and offer it to him.
She let out a short exhale of frustration, then sat up, leaning back on the bed.
“Angelica?”
Hugo suddenly noticed her raised hand, shuddered slightly, then sat down on the bed.
The sound of the falling quilt moving and mixing with the robe and bed sheet was heard.
Angelica hesitated for a moment, thinking about turning on the lantern next to the bed, but she shook her head and opened her mouth to speak:
“I don’t hate it. I never hated it. On the contrary……”
“On the contrary?”
Hugo held on to the unfinished end of her speech, trying to figure out what she wanted to say.
Angelica gave him a glance, and hesitated before saying:
“I think it's a nice name. It's just... now it sounds weird to me...
“……”
“Anyway, don't think I hate anything about you. I really like everything about you—Hugo.”
She added the name tenderly, even in the dreary silence of the room, it could barely be heard.
However, Hugo clenched his fist as if he heard the name.
After a long silence, Hugo let out a long sigh. His breath, mixed with a hint of laughter, sent a strange shiver down his spine.
Angelica shuddered instinctively, and Hugo, who had been watching her closely, furrowed his eyebrows. “You meant what you said last night.”
His voice was calmer than usual.
Angelica also realized the slight difference and stared at him blankly.
Her mind was fuzzy. What did you do yesterday to make him feel so happy?
“Hmm, hmm, what did you say yesterday?”
“It was nothing.”
“It's not like it wasn't something—”
“It's cold, so I have to cover you with a blanket. You need to sleep now.”
“No…”
She tried to continue, but suddenly his hand reached out and pushed her onto the bed.
He carefully covered her with a blanket and lay next to her as if nothing had happened.
“What's wrong?”
Did Hugo really know? His mere presence makes her go crazy?
“What's the point of someone like that talking nonsense and then giving up?”
There are limits to how easy it is to be happy,
I finally gave up and tried to get up again. But Hugo quickly noticed this and changed the subject.
“Angelica, you said you wanted to learn magic, right?”
“I just… wanted to see the magic book.”
There was some disapproval in her voice, as if she was dissatisfied with the course of the conversation, which did not go the way she wanted.
Even her tone was rare and he had not heard it in a long time.
Hugo laughed artificially, ignoring her petting tone.
“Kain promised to send an imperial magician to the palace within a few days. You will learn magic from him four times a week, for three hours each time.”
“I didn't mean that I actually wanted to study…”
“Then we can do without the wizard.”
Cain's reason for keeping Angelica within the Empire was clear: to make progress in magic.
But if she said she didn't want to, Hugo wasn't going to force her to do anything.
'It could become unnecessarily dangerous.'
The Eye of the Wise, which is only born once every few thousand years.
In other words, humans have thrived for thousands of years without it, right?
Why doesn't he let one girl pass safely?
“No! I want to at least learn!”
"…Good."
Whether it was bad luck or good luck, Angelica seemed genuinely interested in magic.
So Hugo backed away from some of the plans he was making to protect her entirely within his borders.
Then he turned to her with a quick look.
Despite the darkness of the night, her cheeks were flushed with a clear, faint light.
‘Finally… the blood returned to her face.’
He thought he could finally free her hand,
But, despite that thought, he clenched his fist more instead of letting go.
Slight intensity, then stronger.
Angelica raised her head towards him and said anxiously:
“Hugo?”
“…”
His body froze when he heard his name flowing from her mouth so spontaneously.
Do you know? Those beautiful red eyes met his directly now.
If she had known, her features would not have looked so childishly innocent.
He moistened his dry lips nervously, and forced his hardened mind to think:
“A month later, the Imperial Court will hold a celebration to mark the founding day of the Selene Empire.
“A hunting party will be held for couples.”
"Really? For couples? Great!"
“Cyril loves fishing.”
On the other hand, Cain hated hunting, and would sometimes hide behind Cyril while hunting, using the excuse of his hatred of seeing blood.
“Participation is not obligatory...”
“I want to participate!”
This time, her hand tightened around his with strong determination.
Hugo looked at her, thinking how she had never been affected by the word husbands, and then continued seriously:
“But there is a condition, you must ride a horse.”
Although Cain didn't like hunting, he loved seeing Cyril enjoy it.
Therefore, he allocated an entire mountain near the capital to hold this event.
Because the area is so vast, horseback riding was necessary.
“Ah...but I'm not good at riding a horse...”
Her excited voice suddenly faded.
This was really a problem, she didn't particularly want to hunt, but she wanted to see Hugo's sword skill before her eyes.
'Besides, Cyril will undoubtedly look amazing there.'
Maybe if she was by his side, people would be a little distracted from Cyril.
Especially since it is an event for couples…
It's the perfect opportunity to show the nobles that her place is right next to Hugo!
“Is there no other way for me to participate?”
“Angelica, horse riding is a skill that can be learned.”
“Ah…”
True…
‘How did this intuitive idea not occur to me?!’
Do I look so stupid now? She thought, scratching her cheek shyly.
Hugo laughed lightly and said:
“If it is difficult, I will help you myself.”
In fact, that's what he wanted to say from the beginning.
After she knew his identity and moved away from him, he wanted any chance to get close to her again.
Since he couldn't teach her magic himself, this was the best possible excuse.
“Of course I agree! As long as it doesn't bother you!”
“It never bothers me.”
“So we'll start soon, right?”
He smiled, feeling that she had said exactly what he had intended to say.
Thus, the agreement was reached quite easily.
After that, Angelica started babbling as usual before falling asleep little by little until she fell asleep completely.
“Angelica…”
“…”
He called out to her several times, but the only response was the sound of her steady breathing.
He gently extended his arm and put it around her shoulder, then pulled her towards him.
She was drawn to him easily, light as a feather.
She was completely cold, except for her hand that was still intertwined with his.
“I'm just sharing your warmth, don't be afraid.”
He whispered gently, knowing that she was shivering from the cold, not from fear.
He patted her shoulder lightly until she collapsed completely in his arms.
Then he let her head rest on his neck so she could breathe freely, and slowly closed his eyes.
“Mmm... Hugo...”
Was it a dream? Or was his hidden desire prepared for him in the form of her voice?
Her sweet call was whispering in his ear like a warm breeze.
At that moment, she moved her body into his arms, clinging to him more and wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Her coldness was strange, mixed with a gentle heat that resembled his own.
Hugo let out a sigh of contentment, like a beast that had finally found its home, and fell asleep.
It was the perfect start to our honeymoon.
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