I Became a Barbarian's Bride - Chapter 182

Nisha faltered at Kagan’s pointed words, which struck at the heart of the matter

It was not the whole truth, but it was not wrong.

She bit her lower lip and took a deep breath in silence.

When she used her ability and everyone praised her and said she was needed, a part of her chest eased.

It felt like being forgiven for still being alive. Like she could at least let others know she had helped someone.

Those who received her help would not easily forget it.

Watching her face flush red, Kagan opened his mouth.

“Do you know? Princess. I hear voices in Roshan are rising, looking for the Saint of the Red Moon.”

“……!”

“That is the trace you left behind.”

Kagan spoke as he quietly looked at Nisha.

She left such a trace and vanished without hesitation. There was even a time when she was going to abandon them without regret and try to run away from Kagan.

If he had not arrived in Roshan earlier on a whim, Kagan would have lost Nisha right before his eyes.

Of course, there were many ways to catch her. He was a born hunter, and catching fleeing prey would not have been difficult.

All the more so when the prey was a princess who knew nothing about hunting.

“I do not know what it is that you want. If you wanted a place to stay, I would have given you one.”

Kagan spoke quietly and slowly turned his head.

To him, Nisha was truly a riddle. He never imagined she would rent an inn on her own and lock herself inside just because he made that expression.

How was she supposed to know what he felt?

“……I am sorry I did not think things through. I just… I just did not like seeing that expression on your face.”

“Why?”

Kagan looked at her and asked.

“Excuse me?”

Once again, returning to formal speech alone told him that the psychological distance between them had not closed at all. It was only because he kept asking her to speak comfortably that she complied. It was an act with none of her own opinion in it.

“Why did you dislike me making that expression?”

“That is……”

At Kagan’s blunt question, Nisha’s lips opened and closed without sound, her brows knitting.

Come to think of it, why had she done that? Even if she disliked seeing it, she could have just ignored him. Mary had tried to stop her before as well, but she had brushed her off with a simple “I am fine.”

“You could have just been firm with me. If you did not want to see it, you could have told me not to come. Then why did you run away, Princess?”

“Ugh……”

Nisha could not say anything, her lips merely opening and closing. Kagan rested his chin on his hand and quietly watched her.

‘The reason?’

It was just… simply just.

Simply because she did not want him to see her. He would nag her, and he would make that expression again, and she did not want to see it.

“You would scold me.”

At her words that barely came out after a long pause, Kagan’s eyes narrowed.

“Because of nagging? Did what I said sound like nagging to you?”

“……”

At Kagan’s words, Nisha slowly turned her head away. She had nothing to say.

“Do you dislike me knowing your flaws?”

“……Anyone would dislike that.”

“But your maid, your knight, and the stable hand knew.”

“That is because they were people I grew up with, so it was inevitable……”

Each time she spoke, the conversation felt stranger and stranger. She could not understand why she was being interrogated by him.

“Were you upset that I hid it from you?”

“Yes.”

Nisha spoke with effort, yet the reply that came back was casual, indifferent, and firm.