Read Advance chapters for the month of July by becoming a patron HERE
With You
Perhaps Chizuru’s injuries would have been absolutely non-fatal with the help of modern medicine. There were antibiotics to stop the infection, blood transfusions to restore the lost blood, and intravenous fluids to provide nutrition and fluids.
At the very least, she wouldn’t have been on the verge of life and death for five days.
The same went for wound healing. In an environment where there was nothing but a suspicious ointment prepared by Estabelle, everything else was left to nature to heal, which of course, took time…….
It took another five days before she could get out of bed.
By the time she was allowed to leave her room and walk outside, the season was already approaching winter. It was the first time in a long while where she was able to breathe in the fresh air under the sun, and it was so cold that it sent a chill through her lungs.
The trees, which had been bright and green when Chizuru first arrived at the castle, had lost their leaves and now stood silently with only their trunks and dry branches.
Chizuru looked up at the sky.
She squinted at the glow of the morning sun.
“Don’t move around too much for now. What if you get anemia?”
Lukrov’s voice came from behind her, and Chizuru looked back over her shoulder. He was standing just behind her, wearing a black cloak made of heavy, velvet-like fabric.
It might not be appropriate to say “keeping an eye on her,” since Lukrov was the lord of this castle, but the way he was waiting at close range to make sure that Chizuru didn’t fall over, and to hold her in his arms in case she did, was the very definition of keeping an eye on her.
Chizuru slightly tilted her head and smiled at him.
“You don’t have to worry so much. I feel like I can run around all day.”
“For God’s sake Chizuru, can you please take a little more care of my heart?”
But Lukrov seemed to be happy as he said that.
It was true that she had lost a lot of strength during the period she was bedridden, even going down the stairs made her out of breath, and if she moved around too much, she might get anemia.
However, the joy of being outside for the first time in almost a month was so great, she felt like having a little fun. Chizuru spun around and stood in front of Lukrov, grabbing the front of his cloak.
“Can I go to the kids later?”
These days, Lukrov would rarely refuse Chizuru’s wishes. As long as it didn’t negatively affect her condition, he would grant any wish with a gentle smile.
Of course, Chizuru had no intention of using it for bad purposes, and her wishes were mostly limited to what she wanted to eat or who she wanted to meet. But if Chizuru begged him to build another castle, it was a matter of fact that Lukrov would somehow make it happen.
That’s how doting Lukrov was to Chizuru.
In addition, he regained his old cheerfulness and the mature charm developed over the years made him more attractive. Chizuru’s knees trembled with joy whenever he touched her. It was difficult to maintain a steady posture when she was so attracted to him.
Her entire body became hot with desire with every touch of his hand.
“Only if you promise not to push yourself too hard.”
Lukrov took both of Chizuru’s hands and smiled as he lightly kissed her fingertips. Chizuru couldn’t help but smile back.
“I promise. I will only look at them.”
“They are children. I have no idea what you will do if you get excited with them and start pushing yourself. Ah, I’ll just go with you.”
“You will?! They’ll be happy to see you!”
After releasing his grip, he opened the front of his cloak and wrapped Chizuru completely in it. He wrapped Chizuru in a tight embrace that seemed to protect her from the cold air, the occasional breeze, and everything else in the world.
Chizuru leaned against Lukrov’s chest and relaxed her body.
As she quietly lowered her eyelids, basking in the warmth of his body, she could hear the sound of his heart beating. A sign that he was alive. A sign that they were together.
They were going to be married in a few days.
Roan, who had temporarily returned to his territory, returned to the castle the other day with his wife and two children. He whispered to her ears that Baru was alright, though his arm was injured, and he was resting at his parents’ house, recovering from his injury and heartbreak.
Whether Baru was really in love with her or not was a mystery to Chizuru.
She guessed that it was okay to remain uncertain. He was a wonderful man and would certainly in the near future, meet a wonderful woman who would love him with all her heart.
She wished Baru a happy future, and she vaguely felt that Baru must be wishing for her happiness as well.
Although she was still unable to do any intense exercise, Chizuru was almost fully healed.
She still had severe pain whenever she tried to move her left arm and would probably have some tingling for the rest of her life. Lukrov knew this, and he was very sweet and overprotective of Chizuru.
It would be a lie to say it wasn’t painful at all, but if this were the price she had to pay to live with him, she would gladly pay it again and again.
While being wrapped in Lukrov’s cloak and feeling his body heat and cloak, Chizuru looked up slightly.
She couldn’t help but gaze at the outline of Lukrov’s face as it glistened brightly in the morning sun, and the gentle smile on his face made her feel happy from the bottom of her heart.
“I’m glad to be back…”
When Chizuru murmured, Lukrov raised one eyebrow and gave her a puzzled look.
“–I’m so far away from home, but when I’m with Lukrov, I feel nostalgic. I feel like I’ve finally come home. ……I feel like I’ve finally found my true place.”
“Is that so?”
As if cherishing every word Chizuru said, Lukrov smiled proudly.
“You were born to live with me, and I live only to stay by your side. It’s a pretty good match.”
“Yeah.”
Chizuru nodded with a giggle and received another passionate kiss from Lukrov.
…
The sounds and smells of the beginning of the day were drifting in the castle. On top of normal life activities, many people were busy working for the upcoming wedding ceremony. Even Chizuru had to take the final measurements for her dress, and she wanted to be able to take care of the children again as soon as possible.
Lukrov had his own territory, his own people, and each season required growing and harvesting crops.
There was a lot of work to be done.
In order to live with him.
Lukrov’s lips slowly began to make their way down Chizuru’s skin, brushing through her collarbone, then stopping when they touched her chest …… where her heart was.
“Here.”
Lukrov said.
“Your heart …… is the reason I live. The one and only reason I have.”
There were so many emotions overflowing from him to the point she could barely stand. She wrapped her hands around Lukrov’s head and kissed his short, newly trimmed black hair, just before the nape of his neck, with all her heart.
“I love you, Lukrov. I love you, Lukrov. Now and forever.”
The morning sun was glowing so brightly that it seemed to illuminate their future together. The wind whistled, the horses whined in the distance, and the two of them held each other for eternity.
[Only With Your Heart – End of Main Story]
***
Read Advance chapters for the month of July by becoming a patron HERE
With You
Perhaps Chizuru’s injuries would have been absolutely non-fatal with the help of modern medicine. There were antibiotics to stop the infection, blood transfusions to restore the lost blood, and intravenous fluids to provide nutrition and fluids.
At the very least, she wouldn’t have been on the verge of life and death for five days.
The same went for wound healing. In an environment where there was nothing but a suspicious ointment prepared by Estabelle, everything else was left to nature to heal, which of course, took time…….
It took another five days before she could get out of bed.
By the time she was allowed to leave her room and walk outside, the season was already approaching winter. It was the first time in a long while where she was able to breathe in the fresh air under the sun, and it was so cold that it sent a chill through her lungs.
The trees, which had been bright and green when Chizuru first arrived at the castle, had lost their leaves and now stood silently with only their trunks and dry branches.
Chizuru looked up at the sky.
She squinted at the glow of the morning sun.
“Don’t move around too much for now. What if you get anemia?”
Lukrov’s voice came from behind her, and Chizuru looked back over her shoulder. He was standing just behind her, wearing a black cloak made of heavy, velvet-like fabric.
It might not be appropriate to say “keeping an eye on her,” since Lukrov was the lord of this castle, but the way he was waiting at close range to make sure that Chizuru didn’t fall over, and to hold her in his arms in case she did, was the very definition of keeping an eye on her.
Chizuru slightly tilted her head and smiled at him.
“You don’t have to worry so much. I feel like I can run around all day.”
“For God’s sake Chizuru, can you please take a little more care of my heart?”
But Lukrov seemed to be happy as he said that.
It was true that she had lost a lot of strength during the period she was bedridden, even going down the stairs made her out of breath, and if she moved around too much, she might get anemia.
However, the joy of being outside for the first time in almost a month was so great, she felt like having a little fun. Chizuru spun around and stood in front of Lukrov, grabbing the front of his cloak.
“Can I go to the kids later?”
These days, Lukrov would rarely refuse Chizuru’s wishes. As long as it didn’t negatively affect her condition, he would grant any wish with a gentle smile.
Of course, Chizuru had no intention of using it for bad purposes, and her wishes were mostly limited to what she wanted to eat or who she wanted to meet. But if Chizuru begged him to build another castle, it was a matter of fact that Lukrov would somehow make it happen.
That’s how doting Lukrov was to Chizuru.
In addition, he regained his old cheerfulness and the mature charm developed over the years made him more attractive. Chizuru’s knees trembled with joy whenever he touched her. It was difficult to maintain a steady posture when she was so attracted to him.
Her entire body became hot with desire with every touch of his hand.
“Only if you promise not to push yourself too hard.”
Lukrov took both of Chizuru’s hands and smiled as he lightly kissed her fingertips. Chizuru couldn’t help but smile back.
“I promise. I will only look at them.”
“They are children. I have no idea what you will do if you get excited with them and start pushing yourself. Ah, I’ll just go with you.”
“You will?! They’ll be happy to see you!”
After releasing his grip, he opened the front of his cloak and wrapped Chizuru completely in it. He wrapped Chizuru in a tight embrace that seemed to protect her from the cold air, the occasional breeze, and everything else in the world.
Chizuru leaned against Lukrov’s chest and relaxed her body.
As she quietly lowered her eyelids, basking in the warmth of his body, she could hear the sound of his heart beating. A sign that he was alive. A sign that they were together.
They were going to be married in a few days.
Roan, who had temporarily returned to his territory, returned to the castle the other day with his wife and two children. He whispered to her ears that Baru was alright, though his arm was injured, and he was resting at his parents’ house, recovering from his injury and heartbreak.
Whether Baru was really in love with her or not was a mystery to Chizuru.
She guessed that it was okay to remain uncertain. He was a wonderful man and would certainly in the near future, meet a wonderful woman who would love him with all her heart.
She wished Baru a happy future, and she vaguely felt that Baru must be wishing for her happiness as well.
Although she was still unable to do any intense exercise, Chizuru was almost fully healed.
She still had severe pain whenever she tried to move her left arm and would probably have some tingling for the rest of her life. Lukrov knew this, and he was very sweet and overprotective of Chizuru.
It would be a lie to say it wasn’t painful at all, but if this were the price she had to pay to live with him, she would gladly pay it again and again.
While being wrapped in Lukrov’s cloak and feeling his body heat and cloak, Chizuru looked up slightly.
She couldn’t help but gaze at the outline of Lukrov’s face as it glistened brightly in the morning sun, and the gentle smile on his face made her feel happy from the bottom of her heart.
“I’m glad to be back…”
When Chizuru murmured, Lukrov raised one eyebrow and gave her a puzzled look.
“–I’m so far away from home, but when I’m with Lukrov, I feel nostalgic. I feel like I’ve finally come home. ……I feel like I’ve finally found my true place.”
“Is that so?”
As if cherishing every word Chizuru said, Lukrov smiled proudly.
“You were born to live with me, and I live only to stay by your side. It’s a pretty good match.”
“Yeah.”
Chizuru nodded with a giggle and received another passionate kiss from Lukrov.
…
The sounds and smells of the beginning of the day were drifting in the castle. On top of normal life activities, many people were busy working for the upcoming wedding ceremony. Even Chizuru had to take the final measurements for her dress, and she wanted to be able to take care of the children again as soon as possible.
Lukrov had his own territory, his own people, and each season required growing and harvesting crops.
There was a lot of work to be done.
In order to live with him.
Lukrov’s lips slowly began to make their way down Chizuru’s skin, brushing through her collarbone, then stopping when they touched her chest …… where her heart was.
“Here.”
Lukrov said.
“Your heart …… is the reason I live. The one and only reason I have.”
There were so many emotions overflowing from him to the point she could barely stand. She wrapped her hands around Lukrov’s head and kissed his short, newly trimmed black hair, just before the nape of his neck, with all her heart.
“I love you, Lukrov. I love you, Lukrov. Now and forever.”
The morning sun was glowing so brightly that it seemed to illuminate their future together. The wind whistled, the horses whined in the distance, and the two of them held each other for eternity.
[Only With Your Heart – End of Main Story]
***
