TMLLT 51

Chapter 51

“You Look Hot”

“Is it really okay?”

I had planned to come inside anyway, but I asked again out of courtesy.

But the rain was so heavy now that my voice was drowned out.

Thunder and lightning crashed above us.

It felt like the world was ending.

“Just come in and get out of the rain.”

Roitz pulled me inside.

The scent of damp mist filled the air as the door closed behind me.

“……”

A short silence passed.

I was standing between Roitz and the door, close enough to feel his body heat because of how quickly we’d stepped in.

The sound of the rain pounded all around us.

I looked up at Roitz, and he stood still, staring down at me, not even blinking.

Then suddenly, he turned sharply and walked deeper into the house.

I glanced around the entryway. It seemed like the housekeepers cleaned the place but didn’t live here.

‘This is the first time I’ve been inside his quarters.’

Even though I’d been his direct subordinate for a while in Elche, I’d only ever seen him during missions.

“Here.”

Roitz came back and lightly tossed me a towel.

I caught it and wiped the water off my shoulders and hair before stepping further inside.

It was summer, but rainy days like this were cold.

“What brings you here?”

Roitz guided me to the living room and began making tea.

He soon handed me a warm mug.

It was a large one, perfect for warming my hands.

“Here.”

I pulled the handkerchief out of my pocket and handed it to him as I accepted the mug.

“You came all the way here just to return this?”

“Yes. Wow, your house is nice.”

“You sound like someone who came just to look around.”

“That’s true. Can I look around?”

“…Do whatever you want.”

I walked through the living room, warming my hands with the tea.

Roitz’s public image was distant and cold, but his house felt surprisingly warm.

The fireplace was glowing, and the walls were covered in soft wood-patterned wallpaper.

“What if the fire spreads to the walls?”

I pointed to the wallpaper, and Roitz chuckled.

“It’s treated with fire-resistant paint. It’s fine.”

‘Good, that means I can even use sword aura in here if I need to.’

I might need to use my sword techniques to deal with his beast someday, so this was important.

As I wandered the house, Roitz leaned against the wall, quietly watching me.

“Do you want to see the library too?”

Thankfully, he made it easy for me to figure out the layout of the house.

He even personally guided me around, showing me each area one by one.

This helped me think about whether I could really carry out my plan here—and where the best spot would be.

“This is the guest room. Visitors stay here.”

“Can I come visit often too?”

“Often?”

“Yes.”

“…With the other knights?”

“No, alone.”

I wouldn’t be able to deal with the beast if others were around.

‘That’s the whole point of checking the places where he’s alone.’

Roitz rubbed his forehead like he was troubled and reluctantly agreed.

“…Do whatever you want.”

Good, I laid the groundwork.

“What’s that room?”

“An empty room. I don’t use it.”

“You even have unused rooms? This place is so nice.”

After showing me the living room, library, guest room, and kitchen, there was still one place he hadn’t shown me.

The most important place.

I tugged at his sleeve.

“Where’s your bedroom?”

“My bedroom?”

Roitz looked startled.

“…Why do you want to go in there?”

“Because I’m curious.”

“Why would you be curious about that?”

Of course I’d be curious. His bedroom was where he spent most of his time—it was the most important room.

“We’ve seen all the other rooms. If you’re going to show me, you should show me everything.”

Pressed by my insistence, Roitz finally moved.

It seemed like his bedroom was upstairs.

He reached the door at the end of the hallway, put his hand on the doorknob, then stopped to look at me.

“Serdin. You really just want to look, right?”

“…Huh?”

My heart suddenly thumped hard.

Did he figure something out? Did I seem suspicious?

“Am I not allowed?”

I tilted my head, trying to look innocent.

Roitz’s lips parted like he was going to say something, then closed again.

A pained expression flickered across his face.

He brushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead, and I swallowed nervously.

“…Never mind. Come in.”

He didn’t figure it out, right?

I followed him in, still a little tense.

Of course, I’d eventually have to tell him about this plan.

But I didn’t want him to find out before I’d even gathered the tools.

I couldn’t exactly ask for his help when the beast inside him might kill me.

I had to prepare more first.

I tried to hide my nerves by making casual conversation.

“All the furniture looks so nice. This bed is too big for just one person though.”

“…What?”

Talking with him made my nervousness fade away a bit.

“It’s huge! At least three times the size of my bed. I wonder what it feels like to sleep in it.”

I admired the bed for a moment before turning back to him.

But Roitz was just standing there, stiff, silently staring at me.

“Sunbae?”

As I stepped closer, he suddenly walked to the window and threw it open.

“Why are you opening the window?”

“Isn’t it hot in here?”

“No, but… Sunbae, the rain’s coming in a lot now.”

It was actually cold, not hot.

Rain was pouring outside, and cold air swept in.

Roitz had kept the fireplace going downstairs, so maybe it felt warmer up here.

But opening the window let in too much rain.

The heavy, slanted rain splashed onto the windowsill and soaked everything nearby.

“Look, it’s all wet now.”

I walked up and closed the window firmly.

The pounding rain became a distant murmur again.

“It’s okay if I close it, right?”

“You already closed it.”

“It was fine to close it anyway.”

The rain had splashed onto Roitz’s clothes and hair too.

His black hair was dripping down onto his forehead.

‘He’s soaked.’

I reached out to brush it off, but Roitz raised a hand to block me.

I looked closely at his face.

His cheeks and ears were slightly red—he really did look hot.

“Are you very hot?”

“No.”

“You look hot though.”

“…A little.”

I picked up a piece of paper lying nearby and handed it to him like a fan.

It wasn’t mine, but he could use it to cool down.

Roitz accepted it and began fanning himself hard.

He must have been hot because he undid one more button on his shirt.

Then, suddenly, he buttoned it all the way up to his neck again.

“…?”

He coughed awkwardly and kept fanning himself, his muscles tense.

His stiff expression didn’t look good.

Sometimes I really couldn’t tell what he was thinking or feeling. This was one of those times.

‘Did I come too suddenly?’

But really, what was the problem?

‘That woman came to visit earlier too.’

Speaking of which, who was she?

I stared at Roitz and finally asked.

“Who was that person earlier?”

“Wh-who?”

He was stammering—almost like he’d been caught in a secret meeting.

Of course, in this free country, Roitz was allowed to date whoever he wanted.

But wasn’t he supposed to meet Lucike soon?

‘Once he meets Lucike, his heart will go to her anyway.’

So no matter who he was seeing now, they would break up when Lucike appeared.

‘It’s kinder not to date someone you’ll inevitably hurt later.’

I didn’t know who that ash-haired lady was.

But I felt like warning her before she got hurt.

“You were there the whole time, Serdin?”

“Yes, I was hiding.”

“Why were you hiding?”

“I’m not sure either.”

“Were you alone?”

“Of course. Who else would I be with?”

“…Just wondering. You could’ve been with someone.”

“You’re the one who was with someone earlier. Who was she?”

“…Just… someone. Anyway, you still haven’t found the one, have you? Your destined partner, I mean.”

Instead of answering properly, Roitz suddenly changed the subject.

But the fact that he asked showed he was curious about his destined partner too.