Thank You

【What if Count Cangor Were a Monster?】

Irena didn’t even dare to think about it—this was her only hope now. The territory of Count Cangor was far from the royal capital, and she believed the other regions hadn’t yet been overrun by those skin-wearing monsters.

"I don’t know… I don’t know what to do anymore." Irena buried her head in her hands, her slender ears drooping slightly, as if her mood had suddenly plummeted.

Beside her, Ye Chuan stroked his chin. "Still, I’m quite curious about those skin-wearing monsters you mentioned. If there’s a chance, I’d like to catch one for study."

"Study?" Irena found Ye Chuan rather strange. This man seemed fearless, and for some reason, it made her feel an inexplicable urge to rely on him.

"Lord Ye Chuan, could you escort me to Count Cangor’s territory first before accepting my next request?" Irena asked.

"Assassinate the king?"

"No, just protect us for a while." Irena shook her head.

"That’s something I can consider." Ye Chuan tilted his head. "It’s late now. Don’t you want to get some sleep?"

At this, Irena curled her legs slightly, her voice tinged with loneliness and fear. "I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in so long… Every time I close my eyes, those monsters come back to haunt me."

"I can help you sleep well."

"…?"

The next moment, Ye Chuan extended his hand. "Hypnosis magic."

Irena’s body stiffened before going limp, collapsing into Ye Chuan’s arms.

"See? Simple and direct." Ye Chuan steadied her, then scooped her up in a princess carry.

Torres, who had been standing at a distance, rushed over upon seeing Ye Chuan holding Irena.

"What happened to Her Highness?"

"She’s asleep. No big deal." Ye Chuan replied. "Probably just exhausted. She’s out like a light."

"Oh, she’s just asleep…" Torres let out a relieved sigh. "Lord Ye Chuan, please take her back to the carriage to rest."

"Mm."

Ye Chuan leaped onto the carriage with Irena in his arms, then pushed aside the curtain and stepped inside.

Torres stood quietly outside, but after more than ten minutes passed with no sign of Ye Chuan emerging, he frowned. "Lord Ye Chuan, is there a problem?"

"The padding in here is pretty comfortable. I think I’ll sleep here tonight."

"B-but Her Highness…" Torres immediately protested, flustered. "This isn’t appropriate. She’s still inside."

Her Highness was still an innocent maiden—how could she share a room with a man?

"I saved your lives, and you won’t even let me borrow a cushion?" Ye Chuan drawled. "Tsk. Doesn’t seem very fair, does it?"

"N-no, that’s not it," Torres stammered.

"Would you rather have the princess sleep outside and get eaten by mosquitoes?" Ye Chuan’s voice floated out again.

"Of course not…"

"Then it’s settled. You keep watch. I’m going to sleep." With that, silence fell inside the carriage.

Torres stood outside, staring helplessly. Something felt off, but Ye Chuan had saved them.

"Alright." Torres finally relented, sitting down beside the carriage to stand guard.

……

The night passed without incident.

Irena woke groggily to find herself inside the carriage. Rubbing her eyes, her silver-white hair spilled messily around her.

She turned her head—

A face lay beside her, eyes closed, breathing steadily.

"……" Her brain short-circuited for several seconds before she mechanically turned away, instinctively checking her clothes.

"Why…"

Why was she sleeping next to him?!

Irena desperately tried to recall the events of the previous night, but her memory was blank. There were fragments, but no matter how hard she tried, nothing came back.

"Eek?!" Her involuntary noise alerted Torres outside, who barged in immediately.

"Your Highness?!"

As the curtain was yanked aside, he took in the sight of Irena sitting up in a flustered panic.

"Torres, wh-why was I sleeping with Lord Ye Chuan?" Irena demanded the moment she saw him.

"Oh, you fell asleep last night, and Lord Ye Chuan needed a place to rest too, so he shared the carriage." Torres relaxed upon seeing her unharmed.

"Th-that’s weird, isn’t it? Sleeping together?" Irena’s ears flushed red as she flailed her arms, trying to mask her embarrassment.

Just then, Ye Chuan, who had been lying still, stirred. He yawned and sat up, his gaze landing on Irena and Torres.

"What’s all the noise so early in the morning?" he asked.

"H-how did I suddenly fall asleep? And why were you in my carriage?" Irena pressed.

"You said you couldn’t sleep, so I gave you a little hypnosis boost." Ye Chuan stretched. "You slept like a log. Even drooled a bit."

Irena instinctively wiped her mouth, her cheeks burning. "No! G-get out!! Both of you!!!"

Soon, Ye Chuan and Torres were unceremoniously ejected.

"Lord Ye Chuan, wasn’t that a bit inappropriate? Her Highness is still a young lady, after all," Torres ventured once they were outside.

"When a girl says no, she means yes. Got it?" Ye Chuan side-eyed him.

Torres scratched his head. "Is that so?"

"You’re as dense as a log. When we get back to Yisu Town, I’ll treat you to a massage." Ye Chuan rapped Torres’s arm.

"Uh…"

A short while later, Irena emerged, her face still tinged pink. "Lord Ye Chuan, your actions were a bit excessive."

"Did you sleep poorly last night?"

At his question, Irena paused, recalling. "I slept well… N-no, that’s not the point!"

"Tch. I was injured and just wanted a comfortable place to rest," Ye Chuan sighed.

"O-oh… Is that what happened?" Irena froze for several seconds before guilt washed over her.

"Yes, Your Highness. Lord Ye Chuan didn’t want you sleeping outside and getting bitten by mosquitoes," Torres chimed in, backing him up.

Irena pressed a hand to her chest. "I… I didn’t realize."

"I’m sorry, Lord Ye Chuan. I overreacted." The princess hurriedly apologized. "Are your injuries better now? Please, rest inside a while longer."

"Meh." Ye Chuan crossed his arms.

"Never mind. Let’s just get moving. I forgive you."

"Alright." Irena hesitated, then added softly,

"Thank you…"

She even thanked him.