Chapter 21
“Try throwing the bait again.”
When Sharie tossed the bait into the air once more, the black hawk swiftly swooped in to snatch it.
“Now that my bird has given a demonstration, yours should have picked up the trick.”
Just as Kaisa predicted, when she whistled and threw the bait again, Momo darted forward like the black hawk, catching the prey that was meant for him.
“Finally!”
Overcome with joy at her success, Sharie’s cheeks flushed red.
From there, everything went smoothly.
After a few more practice rounds, Momo was flying freely with ease. Even without a tether on his ankle, he would quickly return to her at the sound of her whistle.
“Good job.”
As she stroked his head, the little hawk chirped happily, brushing her fingers with his beak.
“For someone he only met today, he’s already being affectionate. I think the little one is quite taken with you, my lady.”
Rube, watching with satisfaction, couldn’t hide his smile.
The joy of bonding with a small creature was almost indescribably exhilarating.
“Really? Momo, do you like me too?”
Without thinking, Sharie pressed her lips to the top of the kestrel’s head and beamed.
The heartwarming scene filled Rube’s chest with warmth as well.
“Ah, now this is peace. Don’t you agree, Lord Kaisa?”
But when he turned to seek Kaisa’s agreement, Rube faltered.
“Lord Kaisa? Did something displease you?”
“Not particularly.”
His indifferent tone was as usual, but one eyebrow had lifted ever so slightly in mild displeasure.
Striding forward with his long legs, Kaisa approached Sharie, who was still absorbed in training the bird.
“I’m glad you like my gift. But it’s getting late—shouldn’t we head back?”
“Ah, already?”
She glanced around in disappointment, only to realize that the clear sky from earlier had now turned crimson with the setting sun.
Time had slipped away without her noticing, lost in the joy of bonding with the bird.
Barhard was a place where the sun set quickly, and darkness would soon fall.
They quickly packed up and exchanged farewells.
“Please visit anytime.”
Rube, who lived at the training grounds near the lakeshore rather than in the castle, bowed deeply. The two birds at his side chirped in farewell.
“You’re not taking him with you?”
“That’s not possible.”
Momo’s round, bright eyes tugged at her heart, but Kaisa was firm.
The Barhard clan always kept their raptors outdoors. Raising them in cages or indoors risked dulling their natural hunting instincts.
“You can visit the training grounds whenever you wish. And if you want to see your bird, just whistle—he’s trained to come when he hears it.”
Since the place wasn’t far, she could easily make the trip to the lake on her own.
Sharie accepted his reasoning without protest and turned back.
The sound of the birds’ chirping faded into the distance.
When they returned to the castle, a servant was waiting with hot bathwater.
Given the cold weather and their long hours outdoors, it was no surprise they were expected to bathe immediately.
And indeed, the assumption was correct.
After hours in the cold forest and open fields, the sweat that had soaked into their clothes had cooled, making even Sharie—normally resilient against the cold—shiver slightly.
Cough. Her throat tickled and she gave a dry cough.
“Kaisa, you go first…”
She reached for his hand to usher him toward the bath, but froze.
Even through his gloves, his skin felt far too cold. And under the bright light, she noticed how pale he looked—something she hadn’t caught beneath the glow of the sunset.
Kaisa had inherited the traits of a snake—a cold-blooded creature—and was particularly vulnerable to low temperatures.
He must have been enduring the chill in silence all this time.
“Are you all right? How do you feel?”
“What do you mean?”
He seemed indifferent to his own condition, perhaps because he was used to being cold.
But she knew he needed to warm up quickly before things became dangerous. She tugged urgently at his arm, but he didn’t budge.
“You go first.”
He was unusually stubborn.
“I’m fine, truly. If need be, I can wait while the servants bring more hot water.”
“You were coughing just now—why are you being so stubborn?”
He wasn’t wrong about her, but it was clear he was in worse shape.
His cheeks had taken on a faint bluish tint from the cold, and yet he was being obstinate.
How am I supposed to convince him?
While she was fretting, Kaisa suddenly said,
“Then… shall we bathe together?”
Sharie’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, unable to form words.
“We’re married, after all. There’s nothing we can’t do.”
“…Ah.”
The fact that this marriage was purely for political reasons seemed irrelevant to him.
Under normal circumstances, she would have flatly refused, but now only two options remained: leave the pale, freezing man to wait while she bathed first… or share the bath.
In the end, there was only one choice.
“Sharie, is the water too hot for you?”
Her head swam, a faint dizziness taking hold.
Maybe it was from the heat of the steam… or maybe from the heightened awareness of the man so close to her.
“Sharie?”
The hand scooping water onto her shoulder paused.
“Are you feeling lightheaded…”
“I’m fine!”
She blurted the words before his long fingers could touch her bare skin.
“It’s… perfect right now!”
She could feel his gaze on her flushed ears, and she wanted to flee—but there was nowhere to go inside a bath.
Though she kept her eyes fixed on the wall, she reminded herself, At least we’re not completely naked.
They were both wearing clothing… albeit the minimal kind—undergarments.
Kaisa had suggested it to spare her modesty, knowing she could never agree to bathe together otherwise.
Still, their exposed skin brushed far too often for her to remain composed.
“Eep!”
Her bottom brushed against his firm thigh. She tried to scoot forward, but the movement sent water splashing.
“S-sorry!”
Flustered, she reached out blindly for support—and her palm landed on the solid plane of his bare chest.
“Ah!”
Startled, she tried to stand, but the slick marble edge of the tub betrayed her.
Slip—
Before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
“Careful.”
Warm breath tickled her ear.
“You’ll hurt yourself like that.”
The low murmur, paired with the gentle pat on her back, eased the tension in her shoulders.
I can trust Kaisa.
If he had ever intended to do anything improper, he’d had countless opportunities before now.
Her ears still burned, but the unease faded.
“Lean on me, so you don’t fall.”
Timidly, she obeyed, resting her back against his chest. His muscular arms encircled her like the walls of a fortress, shielding her from all harm.
In that warmth, her body grew languid.
Kaisa gathered her wet hair in one hand, idly playing with the strands.
But her attention shifted—his skin against her shoulder still felt cool.
“Are you still cold?”
“Mm. We were outside for quite a while.”
She turned toward him in concern, but he gestured toward his lips.
“If you kissed me here… I think I’d warm right up.”
“What? That’s ridiculous—”
Yet the look in his golden eyes was so earnest that she faltered.
Could he… really mean it?
