PLML 13

Posted by Zahid, Released on July 21, 2025

CHAPTER 13

“Put these on.”

Theoris held out a pair of leather gloves. Jeyna found it odd that she was being told to wear gloves for sword training, but she slipped them on without complaint.

“We’ll start with practicing basic swings using a wooden sword.”

Jeyna took the wooden sword. It was quite heavy for a training weapon. Just mimicking Theoris’s stance and raising the sword was already exhausting.

Unlike Jeyna, who struggled to hold the sword with both hands, Theoris effortlessly lifted his with one.

He gave a light swing. The wooden blade struck a tree, leaving a deep horizontal line in the bark.

“What the—? That’s possible with a wooden sword?”

“Jeyna, your turn.”

“My turn to what? Chop a tree with a wooden sword?”

Thinking back on Theoris’s movements, Jeyna swung the sword down with all her strength. The recoil was worse than she expected. Just that one swing made her wrist throb.

“Repeat that movement one hundred times.”

“One hundred times?!”

“Yes. Normally it would be more, but I’ve reduced it, considering your stamina.”

Theoris gave her a gentle smile.

“Surely you’re not tired already?”

‘I quit,’ was on the tip of her tongue, but out of sheer pride, Jeyna swung again. However, having never exercised before, she managed only twenty swings before setting the sword down. Her wrist had gone completely limp.

“I can’t. I give up!”

Jeyna sat down. Theoris, who had been watching her from a distance, approached and helped her remove the gloves. Her palms were red, though thankfully not scraped thanks to the gloves.

“Do you still want to learn swordsmanship?”

“No. I’m sorry for being stubborn, Theo. I didn’t realize how hard it would be.”

“I appreciate that you understand now. Shall we head in? It’s nearly dinner time.”

“Okay, let’s go…”

Excited by the thought of eating, Jeyna stood up—only to stumble. Before she could hit the ground, Theoris swiftly caught her in his arms.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, thank you… but I really can’t feel my legs.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration—her legs truly had no strength. Smiling sheepishly, Jeyna wrapped her arms around Theoris’s neck.

“Just carry me to the dining room like this, Theo.”

In the end, she made it to dinner cradled in Theoris’s arms. The meal tasted especially delicious after all that physical activity. Still, Jeyna had no desire to go through sword training again.

“People should live according to their strengths. Mine is being a rich, lazy bum who lounges around all day.”

After finishing his shower, Theoris glanced at the now-asleep Jeyna and chuckled softly.

She’d spent her whole life indoors, and now she’d tried sword training for the first time—it was no surprise she was exhausted. Seeing her sprawled across the bed brought back memories of their wedding night.

His doubts about how she’d captured his heart so quickly had long since vanished. Whether Jeyna had used a mind control spell or was an assassin sent by the royal family—it no longer mattered.

“As long as she stays by my side…”

When Jeyna had first insisted on learning swordsmanship, Theoris had a troubling thought: what if she turned out to be talented and abandoned him?

He hated himself for fearing her departure more than her getting hurt.

But he couldn’t help it.

To Theoris, Jeyna had become irreplaceable.

He gently massaged her limbs. She was delicate—someone who got muscle aches from just one night of activity. He hoped to ease the soreness she’d surely feel tomorrow.

“Hmm…”

Jeyna stirred slightly, her hand brushing his thigh.

It was such a small touch, yet Theoris froze. His heart raced from nothing more than her fingers grazing his leg. Was something wrong with him?

He carefully moved her hand aside and lay down at the edge of the bed.

She slept with her mouth slightly open, mumbling incomprehensible phrases. It was endearing. Her pink hair splayed messily across the pillow, her sweet scent, her lips—everything about her was precious.

Jeyna was spring. The only warmth that had ever reached him in a frozen world. The love he’d found for the first time in his life—he cherished it more than anything.

Had he never known it, he wouldn’t have longed for it so desperately.

But it was too late now.

How could he not love the woman who raged at those who hurt him instead of offering hollow comfort, who gave him such joyful memories that the past seemed to fade?

Theoris knew. He knew this feeling that grew stronger every day wasn’t the gentle love Jeyna gave him.

He couldn’t label it as love—this jealousy so intense it envied even the monsters who had once held her in their arms. But still, he called it love.

Because he loved her, he wanted to possess her. Because he loved her, he wanted her. He wanted her eyes to see only him, her lips to speak no one else’s name. He wanted to lock away her loveliness so no one else could ever know it.

[“I’m not your daughter or your pet—I’m your wife. Why do you keep trying to control me?”]

[“I don’t want to hear your excuses right now. Leave.”]

He remembered the first time Jeyna, who always looked at him with such warmth, had gotten angry. His heart still sank whenever he recalled that moment. The tightness in his chest made it hard to breathe.

Jeyna hated being controlled.

He didn’t want to do anything she disliked. He didn’t want her to hate him. He was terrified that one day, she would stop whispering words of love.

So for now, he decided to bury his obsessive clinging deep inside—lest she grow tired and leave him.

Theoris pressed a kiss to Jeyna’s cheek. Her soft lashes fluttered slightly.

“Theo…”

Jeyna murmured. Though she was clearly asleep, Theoris answered anyway.

“Yes, Jeyna.”

“…I want chicken… mmm…”

Chicken?

It was a word Theoris had never heard before.

Now that he thought about it, Jeyna sometimes said strange things he couldn’t understand.

Like the night they’d spent together, when he told her she was so precious he wanted to cherish her, she had laughed and said:

“What are you, some Joseon Dynasty man?”

When he asked what that meant, she simply kissed him and said:

“Oh, it’s a thing.”

He had once wondered if Jeyna came from a foreign country. But after asking Homel to secretly investigate, the results were clear—Jeyna was indeed the biological daughter of Count Blake. Though not of the Countess.

“An illegitimate child and an illegitimate child… quite the perfect match.”

Their marriage had been arranged purely for political reasons, without regard for their feelings.

In truth, Theoris had felt a strange joy in knowing Jeyna’s background mirrored his own.

“So, what is ‘chicken,’ exactly?”

Since she said she wanted to eat it, it must be food.

Jeyna was someone who looked happiest when eating. If she mentioned it in her sleep, it must be something she loved dearly.

Theoris imagined the joy on her face while eating this “chicken.” Just thinking about it made the corners of his lips twitch.

“…Ah, drumstick… tch, fine. I’ll give you one.”

She was drooling now. Theoris wiped it away with his sleeve and returned to thinking about what this “chicken” could be.

She had just said “drumstick.” It must be a dish made from chicken.

Theoris quietly slipped out of bed, leaving behind the peacefully sleeping Jeyna.

The morning felt unusually cheerful.

Jeyna had enjoyed a dream that truly delighted her. In it, she had been gloriously locked up in the world she’d originally come from.

A massive house straight out of an NTube video. Floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Han River. A house clearly worth tens of billions. And in it, Jeyna had eaten chicken. A giant TV, the latest computer, a folding smartphone she could never afford, even an Apple pad. Everything she ever wanted was there.

It would’ve been the perfect dream—if only she hadn’t had to give Theoris one of her drumsticks.

After her usual wash-up, she headed to the dining room.

“Did you sleep well, Jeyna?”

“Yes, Theo. I had the most exciting dream.”

“I’d love to hear about it.”

Like I could tell you I dreamed of being locked up by you in my old world while eating chicken.

“Oh, just… we were eating something delicious together.”

“I see. If you’re happy, then so am I.”

“Theo’s tongue is dripping with honey again today.”

As she absentmindedly reached for her spoon, something unfamiliar caught her eye on the table.

“…Um, Theo? What is this?”

As if waiting for the question, Theoris gave her a warm smile and answered:

“It’s chicken.”

Do I look like I don’t know what chicken is?!

There was no such dish as “chicken” in this world.

Then what was this golden, crispy food placed before her?

No matter how she looked at it, it was definitely chicken.

It must just be something with the same name…

Jeyna picked up a drumstick and placed it on her plate. She restrained herself from grabbing it with her hands and instead cut it with a knife. It felt strange.

Through the golden crust, the white meat inside was unmistakably chicken. The moment she tasted it, the juicy, savory flavor overwhelmed her tongue. It was leagues beyond the average neighborhood chicken. It even reminded her of B Company’s H Chicken.

How long has it been since I last had chicken?

Devouring the chicken, Jeyna looked up.

Theoris was watching her eat with a deeply content expression, like he was full just from seeing her happy.

“Theo, did I… talk in my sleep?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Be honest.”

“You did.”

“What did I say?”

“You said you wanted chicken. You also promised to give me one drumstick.”

Oh my god.

The thought that Theoris had heard her sleep talk made her want to hide. But part of her was curious.

“Theo, where did you learn how to make chicken?”