I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 19

Gerard was staring at me with one hand shoved into his pocket. My bag, which had been taken from me before I knew it, was now hanging from his shoulder.

“Did you get abandoned?”

“Please give me my bag.”

“Then I’ll carry it.”

“What? Wait, hey, ah—!”

Just as easily as he had slung the luggage bag over his shoulder, he flipped me over and hoisted me onto the other side as well.

Just like he had at the Odriann estate before.

No, why does he keep carrying people like baggage! No matter how much I struggled, Gerard crossed the garden steadily.

“Excuse me, Lord Castion!”

“If you fall, whose loss would that be. Stay still.”

He pushed me into the carriage.

Thump. My body sank into the soft seat. As I raised my upper body from where I had half fallen back, Gerard climbed into the carriage as well and shut the door.

Being alone with him in the confined space immediately made my body recoil on instinct. I tried to get out, but a large hand pressed down on my shoulder.

“When someone gives you a ride, you say ‘thank you’.”

Gerard knocked twice on the wall behind him and shouted, “Go!” Soon the driver’s shout was heard, and the horses broke into a quick trot as the carriage moved forward.

Even as I felt the rattling motion through my whole body, the situation somehow didn’t feel real.

Gerard leaned back arrogantly and stared at me without blinking.

His ash-blue eyes were persistent, as if trying to strip my thoughts bare. It felt like I was the only one suffocating in the silence.

The corners of my mouth kept twitching awkwardly.

“…Thank you for the ride.”

“You’re the one who rubbed lips with me and ran, aren’t you.”

My words caught in my throat.

“…No.”

I answered, forcing a calm expression.

At that, Gerard stuck out his tongue and lightly touched the cut at the corner of his mouth. My gaze was drawn to the red tip of his tongue without thinking.

At the sound of his short laugh, I hurriedly looked away.

He leaned forward and lightly grasped my chin.

“You’re going to lie without even hiding the fact that your lips are all split?”

“They just. Crack easily.”

“Really?”

His dark brows lifted slightly. The hand holding my chin slid down and pulled at my collar.

Before I even had time to react to my neck being exposed, his firm fingertips pressed lightly against one spot.

“Ah!”

I flinched at the sharp sting.

“Does that spot crack easily too?”

It was where he had bitten and sucked the night before. Heat rushed to my face.

‘…Damn it.’

I had forgotten how sharp his instincts were.

Any excuse beyond this would only make things more ridiculous. I fanned myself and opened the window.

Ah, it’s even hotter.

Instead, a wave of hot air rushed into the carriage. Gerard clicked his tongue and closed the window again.

“First you yell at the person who saved your life, and now you molest me and pretend nothing happened?”

“You didn’t save my life. You just dealt with a drunk.”

“So you admit to the molestation.”

“…I was just purifying you. You looked like you were in bad shape.”

“Oh. So when someone looks like they’re struggling, you just grab them and stick your mouth on them?”

“…Well, I guess I might be that kind of person.”

I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him. When I admitted it so easily, he frowned and pressed his tongue against the inside of one cheek. I watched the bulge rise and fall before lowering my gaze.

“Didn’t you say you were fourth-rank?”

“Yes.”

“Even a first rank couldn’t purify me, so how did you manage it?”

“What did I do. Arvina did everything. She collapsed during purification, and I just finished it.”

For a moment, Gerard said nothing.

When I glanced at him, he leaned back again and crossed his legs.

“Figures.”

After that, the conversation between us stopped completely.

I watched him cautiously, wondering if he would question me further, but Gerard only pressed his tongue against the injured spot on his lips and released it. He didn’t look angry.

Since he seemed willing to let it go, I didn’t add anything more. When I opened the window halfway, a familiar street came into view.

“Um, please let me off here.”

“Why not go all the way to your place?”

“Are you planning to smash the carriage getting in? The alley is too narrow.”

“Then at least nearby.”

I shook my head firmly. When he knocked twice on the wall, the carriage gradually slowed and then came to a stop.

I got down, grabbed my bag, and bowed deeply.

“Thank you for the ride.”

Something flew toward me with a soft swish. It wasn’t fast, so I caught it with both hands before it hit anything.

“Put it on before you sleep.”

It was ointment.