The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 78

Gasp!

I instantly averted my gaze.

In fact, all I could see was his chest, the collarbone, and a little below it.

Nevertheless, I was conscious for no reason.

‘Oh, my. Now, what should I do now? I’m starting to feel like a real pervert.’

Caleb called me when I was twitching my fingers to distract myself.

“Elena.”

“Yes, yes?”

“You may now return.”

I almost asked back, “Really?”

Caleb’s abrupt change of heart was unexpected, but it was quite nice for him to ask me to go back.

But I couldn’t do that since saying I’d leave straight away would indicate that I was conscious of him.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”

“That’s not it. It’s only… I was considering singing you a lullaby.”

As I spoke, I bit the tip of my tongue.

It was all a load of crap.

Lord Egon is not even a kid, but to sing him a lullaby!?

I knew what Caleb’s reaction would be even if I didn’t have to look at him.

He’s definitely speechless.

“Do you mean lullaby?”

Look at that.

He must have been flustered that he asked that question.

I think it’s better to admit that I made a mistake now……

“Wouldn’t it have an impact on your wound?”

“It’ll be fine because I’m going to sing softly.”

No way! You should have declined!

It was a time when I felt obliged to cover my mouth with my hands in response to an unintentionally protruding response.

“Can I then request that you sing the song that you performed at the Solenia Festival?”

“Yes?”

“At that time, I heard people around me saying that the song you sang was based on a lullaby.”

Caleb mistook my question for a request for an explanation, so he continued to speak gently.

“I want to hear that song again…… is that possible?”

I was unable to respond quickly.

It wasn’t as if I was hesitant to sing.

I had no idea Caleb would want to hear my song again.

Similarly, Caleb often stated he felt great when he listened to my song back then, but I assumed he said it out of politeness… …

“You have the right to decline if it is difficult.”

“No, I’m going to sing it for you. I’m simply not sure if you recall the song, Lord.”

“There’s no way I’m forgetting.”

“I-is that so? However, there is currently no instrumental available. I think I’ll change it up a bit and sing it.”

“You may sing as you wish.”

Then. As I cleared my throat, I considered the section that needed to be changed.

Because the stage song’s tone is so high, I should lower it and sing it with a stronger gentle feeling, right?

To calm the listener’s emotions.

“I’m going to sing right now.”

Caleb nodded, and I inhaled deeply before opening my mouth.

“……I think of you to the stars around us.”

To be honest, it began haphazardly, but I was frightened of arranging the music on my own.

What if he thinks it’s even worse than what he first heard?

Caleb’s eyes were slowly shutting as I looked at them with anxiety.

Like someone who is attempting to listen to and appreciate the music.

His silver eyelashes, which reached the corners of his eyes, remained still.

For some reason, I felt relieved.

If it’s Lord Egon, he’ll pay attention to me no matter how I sing.

“Mother of Spring, bless my child’s future.”

As I sang, I fell in love with the song I sang.

Caleb’s eyes were still closed as I concluded the song with a little long melody and gazed at him.

Caleb’s steady eyelids and a more even breathing sound told me he was sleeping even after the song ended.

A serene face.

I bent my head slightly and said gently after confirming Caleb’s sleep.

“Good night.”

Dreams of sweet dreams.

* * * * *

I decided to take a casual walk in the garden the next morning after taking the medicine prescribed by the therapist.

Perhaps because I was acquainted with Caleb, the lord did not specifically forbid me from moving around.

I refused the maid’s effort to follow me.

That’s alright because I’m simply going for a walk in the garden.

As I went down the stairs to look around the garden alone, I encountered Caleb, who was coming up from below.

“Oh! Good day, Lord Egon.”

“Good morning.”

“I agree. Did you get a good night’s sleep?”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to you.”

Caleb’s face lit up with a smile as he replied.

Maybe it was the brilliant sunlight, but even if it wasn’t, his nice looks shone even more brightly.

It makes me happy to see a handsome person first thing in the morning.

“Can we talk for a while walking together? I have a few questions for you about the demonic beast.”

Is he attempting to get information from me about what occurred at the time?

“Okay. But, while we’re on our way to the garden, may we talk? I was out for a walk.”

Caleb eagerly answered yes, and I took a step forward.

Because before leaving the room, I took a cursory check at the location of the garden.

“Elena? I thought you said you were going to the garden?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s the garden over there.”

Caleb pointed to the opposite side of where I was headed.

Eugh, how can I be so bad with directions!

For a long time, I’ve been deafeningly quiet.

I had no idea it would come out this way.

I hurriedly turned in the direction Caleb pointed.

Caleb did not open his mouth until we were to the garden, contrary to what I expected him to ask me as we walked.

Is it better if I just ask first?

“Didn’t you say you wanted to talk about the beast with me, Lord?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Please do not hesitate to inquire. I’ll do my best to respond to as many questions as possible.”

Caleb paused for a second longer.

That piques my interest even more. What will he inquire about?

“In the morning, I looked at the dead body of the beast. I also discovered a weapon in its mouth. Do you have any information about this?”

Did Sword stick in the beast’s mouth?

As soon as I recalled my memory, I remembered that I was chased by the beast and stuck a sword in it. And there was a golden light that appeared for a brief while before evaporating.

“I’m sure you’re aware of this. The beast’s skin cannot be cut or penetrated unless Auror encircle the sword”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, I’d like to ask you a question. Elena, did you manage to pull it off?”

I knew as soon as I met Caleb’s stare.

He had already deduced that I was the one who had done it and had inquired.

“…that’s right. I did it.”

I was scared for a moment when I hesitated to respond, but I eventually admitted it.

Why should I be lying about this?

Being an Auror holder is no big deal.

Caleb was unfazed by my response, as was to be expected.

Rather, he simply asked me a variety of questions.

“Did you know how to use Auror?”

“No, that was the first time for me. This time, I learned that I am an Auror holder.”

I had no idea I could use Auror.

“Is that so? Don’t you want to develop your Auror?”

“You mean, Auror?”

“Yes. It’s a rare talent, so if you wish, I’ll assist you.”

I considered it for a while.

It’s definitely not common to have an Auror.

It’s intrinsic, and it’s an ability that only a select few possess, allowing them to be referred to as chosen.

“I’m sorry, Lord.”

However, the concern was brief.

“Thank you for your words, but I’ll just accept your intention. I have no desire to further improve it.”

The ending was a lie.

If I could, I wanted to do it.

It’ll be preferable to nothing.

I had no choice but to deny Caleb’s offer of assistance because he was the one who offered it.

There would be no end to it if I started using Auror development as an excuse.

Then I won’t be able to give up this feeling.

“If that’s what you wanted.”

Caleb accepted without much dissuasion.

It was then.

Next to me, there was a rustling sound.

Surprised, I reached out and unintentionally grabbed the end of Caleb’s jacket.

“Elena?”

“Well, there… Just now, the rustling sound……”

I looked at the bushes in the garden.

Even though it was daytime and the place was different, I felt like I could see bright red eyes through the bushes.

“Please calm down.”

Caleb tried to calm me down, but I couldn’t.

My heart continued to race.

“It won’t be a big deal.”

“But, yesterday too, through the bushes, the beast…… Oh, my goodness! Gasp.”

I was just glancing at the bushes when something caught my eye.

Surprised, I clutched Caleb’s arm and closed my eyes at the same time.

Caleb patted the back of my palm, and I didn’t even consider inquiring into its identity.

“Elena, don’t worry. It wasn’t a beast, but a cat.”

“C-cat?”

“Yes. Can you see the cat running over there?”

I opened my eyes carefully and looked where Caleb was pointing to see a cat running really fast just as he said.

The three-colored cat swiftly hid itself amid the bushes on the opposite side, which were properly mixed with white, yellow, and reddish-brown hair.

“Really, there’s a cat there……”

When I found out what surprised me, I felt dejected.

There was no reason to be terrified in the first place.

In addition, this was a garden in the territory’s Lord’s castle.

There is no way that a beast can come in when a barrier has been put in place.

This fact came to mind as I thought about it rationally.

But why was I so taken aback and flustered?

It occurred when I was embarrassed and inadvertently looked down.

Suddenly, I realized that I was hugging Caleb’s arm.

Since when did I start doing this?

I immediately released my grip on Caleb’s arm.

“Please accept my apologies, Lord. Without realizing it, I made a mistake.”

“… It’s alright.”

He responds a bit late.

“It’s reasonable, given your recent encounter with a beast. Don’t be concerned.”

Caleb caught my gaze.

His look was the same as always, and his tones in response to me were the same as well.

Calm, but with a hint of sweetness.

But I caught a glimpse of it.

The veins in his neck and the harsh expression on his face.

‘He doesn’t have it at the moment, but……’

While I was walking through the garden, I looked closely at Caleb, but I couldn’t find the same expression as before.

I must have seen it wrong.