My Strange Savior - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

“I have a sore throat. Sit here and talk.”

Rey was lying diagonally to the left side, with Gia in the middle, and reluctantly, Kalion sat on the right side of the bed.

Rey, lying on the soft bed, rolled his body in various directions, turning towards the ceiling. Despite the intense struggle, Rey’s left hand still held Gia’s hair as if grabbing a lifeline.

While looking at the handful of hair in Rey’s small hand, Kalion muttered when Rey’s empty right hand moved.

“Uh… You’re in big trouble now.”

“Yes?”

Rey, grabbing the tunic that protruded from his pants with his right hand, clenched his fist.

“Hehe.”

Gia, looking at Kalion, laughed mischievously as if to mock him.

“The grip strength is surprisingly strong.”

“What is that…”

“You have to keep doing that until I say otherwise.”

Confused, Kalion tried to free his clothes from Rey’s hand, but with Rey’s restless movements, Kalion found himself taking a breath.

Kalion’s desperate efforts not to wake the sleeping child were repeated. Gia, silently watching him with a smile, gestured as if encouraging him to continue.

“Hah….”

Despite several attempts, Rey’s fist grabbed Kalion’s tunic each time. Kalion’s forehead was now sweating.

With only the ring and pinky fingers left, whenever he thought he had loosened it, the fingers folded one by one, with Rey’s grip surprisingly strong for a child.

“G… Gia. P-please, don’t just watch, help me.”

Although there was Rey, who was also present, Kalion begged for help until sunrise. It was difficult even for Kalion, who liked spending the night in bed with his beloved one until the sun rose.

“Even with my versatile skills, that seems impossible, Kalion.”

Gia said sternly, lifting the hair held by Rey for Kalion to see. Kalion’s eyes, rare in being flustered by Gia’s playful words, trembled.

“Lie down for now.”

“What?”

“Since your back hurts, let’s talk lying down.”

Folding her arms and resting her head, Gia lay down, smiling at Kalion. Kalion, feeling comfortable enough to make even the onlooker feel drowsy, opened his mouth wide.

“Lying down is a bit…”

Blaming Gia for not having awareness of the relationship between men and women, Kalion leaned his back against the bedhead.

“So, what do you want to say?”

Two days ago, when she took advantage of Rey’s nap to spar with Kalion in the training grounds until late, Gia had no idea that such an incident would occur.

Only later did she learn how apologetic Rey was, having woken up shortly after and come crying and vomiting, searching for Gia. Since then, due to Rey, who stood guard even in front of the bathroom, Gia had no time alone. 

This prevented any chance for Kalion to approach her separately to share what he had to say.

Despite the late hour, Kalion, who had given up, found Gia because he had something to say. They didn’t expect to end up lying on the same bed and having a conversation like this.

Looking at Gia, who was lying comfortably on the bed while Kalion awkwardly leaned against it, Kalion’s heart fluttered when he unexpectedly saw a different side of Gia. 

Gia’s hands caressing Rey were endlessly affectionate, like those of a parent.

As Kalion saw this unexpected aspect, his heart pounded. Already liking someone and seeing that person tenderly begging the weak, Kalion felt his face flush.

Gia’s scent naturally melted into the soft air. Unintentionally, Gia’s faint fragrance wafted through Kalion’s lungs with each breath in and out.

Unlike the tense head, Kalion’s body loosened comfortably.

“Heh. So, what’s the story you want to tell?”

“Well… Uh, Master said…”

Should he make such a request to a woman who enjoys such requests? Kalion’s pride couldn’t tolerate it, causing internal conflict.

“Tell me.”

Gia smiled, looking at Kalion, who was pondering heavily. Shadows were cast on the other side of his high nose by the lantern, giving a deep silhouette.

“Gia…”

“Do you have something to ask? Why are you hesitating so much?”

“Yes.”

At Gia’s words, Kalion nodded heavily.

Drrng. Drrng.

In this place where Rey’s calm snoring spread like background music, Kalion found it hard to ask Gia for a difficult favor.

“I’ll listen.”

“Yes? But still…”

“I’ll listen. If it’s your request, I’ll listen.”

Gia’s voice, spoken with a smile, was as plain and peaceful as the lullabies his mother used to sing.

“You don’t know what kind of favor I’m talking about.”

“It’s your favor, not anyone else’s.”

Believing in Kalion, Gia’s brown eyes were saying so much.

“If it’s you, you won’t make a request that harms me. Even if you do, it must be necessary, so I’ll do it.”

Gia’s eyes, filled with infinite trust, folded beautifully. Kalion’s heart swayed without any restraint.

“I am…”

Rather than finishing his sentence, Kalion moistened his lips with saliva.

“I’m not a good person.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Gia’s voice seemed like it could fall asleep at any moment, and it lacked strength.

“If you’re not a good person, then I’m garbage.”

Gia regarded Kalion’s words as a joke, chuckling as she adjusted her head as if preparing to sleep.

“Ha… Gia.”

Kalion looked at Gia with frustration. 

Seeing Gia close her eyes, as if about to fall asleep, Kalion was about to speak louder but checked himself, glancing at Rey, and then lowering his voice.

“P-please don’t sleep.”

It seemed like Kalion was the only serious person in this place.

“I’m not sleeping.”

Gia raised the corners of her mouth, closed her eyes, and comfortably snuggled her body. Feeling the softness of the bed, Gia, who had been fidgeting, found a comfortable position, opened her mouth slightly, and yawned.

Feeling a sense of frustration in Gia’s relaxed posture, Kalion leaned his head against the firm bedhead.

“Really… it’s okay.”

What exactly was okay? In response to Gia’s sleep-talk-like words, Kalion lowered his gaze, observing Gia stroking Rey.

“You’re a good person. So, whatever request you make is okay. Really.”

Squelch.

Gia’s words, praising him highly, caused Kalion’s face to turn red and a groan that sounded like a moan escaped from his lips.

‘If you say that, what should I do?’

Upon hearing the generous assessment of himself from the mouth of the person he liked, Kalion felt a sense of embarrassment.

“Master said…”

The hesitant Kalion shared Oscar’s plan with Gia.

“It’s nothing much.”

Gia, who had been listening with closed eyes, stopped patting Rey and opened her eyes halfway. Tilting her head, she looked at Kalion and burst into a light laughter.

“His Majesty’s eyes might be on you, given what he’s like…….”

“Uh-huh. I don’t look like the kind of person who would get caught up in something like that.”

Gia’s face relaxed.

“Don’t worry.”

Why did those words bring such relief? Keeping his mouth shut, Kalion looked at Gia’s round forehead.

“Stop talking and get some sleep too.”

“Yes?”

“Why?”

Two people of the opposite sex lying on the same bed – it was a rare sight. Lying down to sleep. 

For Kalion, who liked Gia, it was like a bolt from the blue.

As her unfocused eyes opened again, the lantern cast a glow on Gia’s clear brown eyes. Unlike Kalion’s shaking red eyes, Gia’s gaze exuded an unmistakable sense of comfort.

“Should I sing you a lullaby too?”

At Gia’s words, as she would for Rey, Kalion covered his eyes with his large hand.

“It’s fine. I’ll leave once Rey falls deeply asleep… If you’re tired, go to sleep first.”

“Yeah… I feel sleepy. It seems like all I do these days is eat and sleep, and my sleep just keeps getting longer.”

As Gia complained about how difficult it was to shake off sleep, Kalion, watching her, bit his lip while staring at her sleeping face.

‘Doesn’t look manly at all.’

Even though he knew he shouldn’t give his heart to Gia. Even though he knew he couldn’t get a response. 

Despite knowing that, a glimmer of hope flickered within Kalion.

Even though he knew that after dealing with Morrison, she would return to her world, he still wanted to cling to a small hope.

The first love in youth was turning Kalion into such a fool.

‘Maybe I don’t seem attractive as a man to her.’

Kalion, reminiscing, covered his face with both hands in embarrassment. He remembered how he initially treated Gia as if she were insane and later spewed disrespectful words.

Was that all?

Memories of the times when he showed his vulnerable side to Gia flashed through his mind. 

With his mouth agape, Kalion slapped the back of his head in shock, making a thumping sound. At that sound, both Gia and Rey turned in their sleep.

Kalion, who had stopped hitting himself, tightly closed his eyes.

‘Am I… really that pathetic?’

Kalion, with open eyes, looked at the sleeping Gia and rested his forehead on his wrist.

‘Ah…’

The unsettling emotions of Kalion, who wanted to show only a cool side to the girl he liked, surged and swirled inside him. 

Even so, Kalion had been the number one groom candidate in the capital. Although he didn’t actively seek the news, Rockt, more sensitive than Kalion, was always more proud than him about the annual ranking.

The image of Rockt, who was probably descending from the mountains around this time, came to mind. Kalion always felt guilty for leaving him in such a cold place. 

Was it the time to be excited about love? With a pile of problems to solve, it seemed like a luxurious worry.

Kalion sighed while massaging his forehead. Even so, his eyes lingered on the peacefully sleeping Gia.

Hearing Gia’s even breathing, Kalion’s heart felt more peaceful than ever. He recalled the small hand that rested on Rey’s chest, seeking help.

He always seemed to be the one receiving help from Gia.

“Gia…”

Kalion’s lips murmured that name. The mere utterance of it made his heart pound, and a faint blush appeared on Kalion’s cheeks.

“Thank you.”

Thanks to Gia, who always stood by his side, Kalion could catch the dragon that had become Morrison’s pawn or be rescued from death. 

Kalion realized that he hadn’t properly expressed his gratitude to Gia.

Though the words he had shamefully uttered while she slept were insincere, his feelings were genuine.

“Now, I will protect you. No matter what happens.”

Kalion made up his mind. He wouldn’t let her fight Morrison alone again. 

The determination to protect Gia at all costs, a heavy emotion of wanting to safeguard something precious, is firmly rooted in Kalion’s heart.

Kalion’s hand trembled. He couldn’t help but reach out to his heart, which was falling into love.

Several times, his hand, grabbing the empty air, naturally touched Gia’s silky hair. Stroking Gia’s flowing hair, Kalion leaned his head back.

Then, leaning against the bedhead, Kalion grabbed a handful of Gia’s hair, along with Rey.

On the white bedding, half of Gia’s hair spread out was held by Rey, and the other half was held by Kalion, making for a comical sight. 

Despite that, Gia, peacefully asleep, looked lovely.

Kalion, who softly smiled, absorbed this tranquility and lethargy for a moment, closing his eyes.