Chapter 144 - Do you like that uniform too…?

What’s going on? What really happened?

Or is it just awkward because we haven’t seen each other in a long time?

That shouldn’t be happening…

“Iz, where are you going?”

“Huh? Nowhere.”

“Then why are you wearing that…?”

“Well, you said…you like it.”

“What?”

I tilted my head involuntarily at his small voice that didn’t fit his personality.

I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Why is he doing this? It’s strange for him to come see me like this…is this really my husband?

Izek, who was mumbling something while staring at the ground as if there was something on his feet, suddenly glanced at me.

Now he looks more like the husband I know.

“You said you like it.”

“What?”

“This outfit…!”

“….”

* * *

“Oh, that b*stard really…”.

In a gloomy valley leading to the cave, among the huddled figures behind the pile of rocks that overlooks the blueberry fields, someone yelled out loud.

A gentle scolding followed.

“Be careful with your words, we still have to serve under him.”

“It’s so funny, I almost died trying to hold back my laughter.”

“That’s true. What the hell is that idiot b*stard up to? I’m going to screw him over.”

“Um, shouldn’t we lower our voices a bit?”

“Eek!”

Ivan and Ruve, who had been talking to each other, were startled as if they had been struck by lightning by the sudden squeak from behind.

The eyes of the two paladins’ flickered fiercely.

“What the… Why are you following us?”

“As a servant of Lord Izek, I’m watching and learning from his peers, so I can be useful someday…”

“Ha! What’s this kid who hasn’t even seen anything saying now…?”

“I’m here too. Don’t mess with my brother.”

“Ugh… What, Bear, why are you here too…?”

“The others are here too. We can’t just let you guys have all the fun.”

…It seemed like everyone had followed them after all.

From Galar, who was quietly rumbling his huge build, to Camu, who was fidgeting with his braid, and Ezekiel, who was fixing his mask, they were all gathered together.

Should they really be moving around like this?

Even though it looked a bit strange, they didn’t really care.

“I didn’t know Ruve was that close to Izek, wanting to peep on him.”

As Ezekiel approached, making a weird sound, Ivan, who was about to tightly grip Camu’s braid with his fist, gave a strangely ominous look.

Ruve reacted one beat late.

“I’m not close with that guy.”

“It doesn’t seem like that.”

“That’s a misunderstanding…”

“Hey, you all shut up!”

“You’re the noisiest one, you jerk.”

“Can you all be quiet for a bit?”

Finally, true silence had come.

Immediately, everyone became silent and looked towards the direction where the sound had come from, next to Ivan, which was clearly empty just a moment ago.

“My L-Lady…? How…”

Ellenia raised her finger towards Ivan’s face, who looked like he was about to faint.

“Quiet.”

“But…”

“My brother got a new ring.”

“Really…?”

“A new ring.”

“Oh…”

“A new ring.”

“Yes.”

“Shh.”

Ivan shook his head dumbfoundedly and quickly regained his senses, whispering urgently.

“My Lady, may I ask you one thing? Please be honest, do you like that uniform too…?”

It took Ellenia a while to answer.

“Depending on who wears it, it would look nice.”

“I see.”

I see. That’s what you think.

He had thought it was just a useless piece of cloth that was too cold, but it turned out to be a surprisingly excellent piece of fabric?

A sly smile spread across Ivan’s lips as he turned his gaze away.

But then, he realized that Camu was staring at him with a very contemptuous look, and he immediately met his gaze.

“Why are you looking at me, you idiotic moron…..”

“Krrrrrrrrrr……”

The vibrating growl that shook to their bones was not made by Camu, of course.

It seemed as if the sky had turned dark in an instant.

They all turned their heads involuntarily, cold horror creeping up on them, their gazes meeting a strange monster that had crawled out of the darkness and was staring at the hillside with great interest.

“Oh my goodness, it’s the dragon.”

“Don’t disturb us today, for once, your dad…..”

“Krrrrrrr…… Krak, kra, krahaha……!”

And that was when it happened.

Ruve had just thrown a stupid joke about his dad Izek, which was fatally offensive, and the dragon vomited.

Sticky white foam and tangled small debris fell on top of the heads of the northern paladins.

Their hair became moist, but they all just closed their eyes forgivingly.

After all, their opponent was a monster.

“What the hell did it pick up to eat?”

“…… Looking at the bone shape, it looks like a turkey. But does it even eat that kind of thing?”

“Did it go inside while it was breathing?”

“You, you…!”

At that moment, Andymion, who had been glaring at the dragon, suddenly lunged at it with a bone fragment dripping down his cheek.

Everyone was taken aback by this unexpected action.

“What the…? Are you crazy?”

“Oi!”

“Why is your little brother acting like this all of a sudden? Hey, can’t you stay still?”

“Everyone, please calm down!”

Around the feet of the hill, flowers that grew eating demons along with the frost flowers bloomed all over.

After a long time, the couple who met again sat side by side on the flat rock in the centre of the garden and were silent for a while.

Actually, only the sound of coughing was heard.

“Cough, cough.”

“Iz, do you have a cold?”

“…No.”

“Then are you feeling a bit chilly?”

“…”

“As expected, it won’t work, this cloak of yours is…”

“It’s, it’s okay!”

As I pretended to take off my cloak that had been draped over my shoulder, the guy who had been coughing and staring at the horizon finally looked at me urgently.

What an odd thing to do today of all days.

I don’t know why, but I can’t stop laughing.

“Oh really? I thought maybe you kept coughing because you were cold.”

Not wanting to miss the chance to tease him, as soon as I said it, my always-stoic husband looked at me as if he was going to grab me and swallow me whole.

And then he said something so arrogant after all this time.

“I’m the best paladin in the north.”

“…So?”

“I don’t get cold.”

“…But what about your heart?”

“Well, if my heart is cold, I don’t know about it.”

“Why would your heart be cold?”

“Because I’ve been working in a freezing cave all winter.”

While I was questioning my own hearing, Izek was talking as if it was nothing.

Does he even realize what he’s saying?

“And also…”

“And what?”

Izek’s voice trailed off and he scratched his head awkwardly, looking down.

It was a strange and shy gesture. I couldn’t help but feel a little confused, even though it had been so long since I last saw him.

What was this secret plan that Andymion mentioned?

It can’t be this picnic basket.

I couldn’t take my eyes off my inexplicable husband as I began to unwrap the sandwich packaging he had brought.

Why was he acting so cute…

“Anyway… “

“Yes?”

“Did you eat?”

“I’m eating with you right now.”

The strongest Paladin of the North was silent for a moment.

Look at him, Izek van Omerta.

Why is the always capable protagonist like this?

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, I told you earlier.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Sergei must have already told you.”

“A quack’s words don’t mean much…”

“You’ve been keeping to yourself this whole time, saying you feel cold and not even getting yourself checked out?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I know, I know. Besides, you don’t even need to tell me that you were really busy.”

After all, he was going to be the king of the North.

I had heard this dialogue before too.

It was then that Izek forcefully grabbed my arm, trying to take a bite of the food while I was still holding it, and I was startled by his intense energy.

“That’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Huh?”

“To be honest…”

The man who was talking nonstop glanced over at my sandwich unexpectedly.

More precisely, he looked at my left hand holding the sandwich.

“I don’t like this.”

His voice was so determined and calm that I thought I had misheard for a moment.

“My hand?”

“No! The ring.”

“…”

“Not just the ring, but the entire wedding.”

I looked at his dark ruby eyes, momentarily stunned.

Yes, the wedding was a past event that we had to accept, along with the proxy marriage and the wedding ring that we had prepared in Romania.

Our fate was destined to begin that way.

Suddenly, I began to feel uneasy.

If Izek wanted to erase all traces of Cesare in our relationship…

“But Iz, it was an inevitable situation at the time…”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean! Ah, damn it! Why am I like this?”