Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

[Mental State: Embarrassed, Self-Conscious, Hyper-Aware]

’...’

Soren paused reading, and his eyes subconsciously drifted down toward Ethea again. The tips of her ears were bright red, and the flush had spread across her face like a sunrise he couldn’t look away from.

’Dup... Dup...’

His heart started hammering even harder than earlier. However, there was one thing he didn’t understand.

’...Why is she self-conscious and... hyper-aware?’

He replayed the question in his head, trying to make sense of it. Then it hit him.

’...Could it be...’

He rapidly imagined their situation internally.

’Hmm...’

His arms... They were wrapped around her and her body pressed against his chest... He wasn’t just carrying her. He... He was also hugging her! And he had been doing it for hours without realizing.

His face went hot in an instant.

’!’

And right at that moment, he felt it: a soft sensation pressing against his chest, and before he could stop himself, his gaze dropped.

’...’

His mind went blank. Then the realization of what he was staring at hit him like a bolt of lightning.

’...Gulp.’

He snapped his head up so fast his neck cracked, staring dead ahead at the clouds with the intensity of a man facing a life-and-death battle. He silently prayed that Ethea hadn’t noticed where his gaze had wandered. But with how loud his heart was pounding, he was sure she could feel every beat against her back.

’...Wait.’

’...Why... Why am I even reacting like this? I... I bathed her this morning and before dinner. I... well... helped her get dressed. And... none of that made me feel...’

’...Well, I did feel something. But...’

But it was different from now. Back then, he forced himself to focus on the task and not overthink anything because if he did, he knew he would mess up everything. Heck, he had been fine until now. So why was his heart racing like this all of a sudden?

’...Could it be because of her reactions?’

’...’

’...Y-Yeah, that must be it.’

He clung to the explanation even though he knew he was lying to himself. But it worked. Slowly, his heartbeat began to settle, and the heat in his face receded to a manageable warmth.

’I should get used to this. We’re going to be together for a long time, and I can’t keep thi-’

’No! Don’t think about it. Just... focus on something else.’

So he did. He worked through every training drill Hector had ever given him, step by step, counting stars and drawing patterns in the clouds until he could name them backwards. Anything to stop his mind from straying back to her.

Hours passed like that, and at some point he noticed that Ethea’s breathing had slowed. He glanced down and found her eyes closed, her expression peaceful, all traces of her earlier embarrassment gone.

”...”

With a faint smile, he reached up and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her skin with a tenderness that surprised even himself. Then he looked back up at the stars and let the rest of the journey pass in silence.

───────

Dawn’s first light slowly emerged over the horizon, illuminating the clouds with hues of gold and soft pink. Soren looked at the sun rising over the mist sea, and Hector started descending not long after.

They crossed the border of Oros and into the neighbouring kingdom of Dale. The cities and highways dotting the landscape fell behind and were replaced by rolling hills and dark forests stretching to the horizon.

Hector landed at the edge of a clearing in the woods. A massive stone marker was half buried in the grass. A small rest stop was close by, its lights still aglow in the dimness of early morning.

”We have arrived,” Hector said, his feet settling onto the ground without a sound. ”You will have to continue on your own.”

Soren landed gently as well, checking if Ethea was still asleep. He looked at her face and felt a faint flicker of emotion through Perceptive Eye.

’Pretending again, huh.’

His lips curled up as he looked back up at the Emperor. ”Thank you for everything, Sir. We wouldn’t have made it this far without your help.”

”Mmm?” Ethea ’stirred’ at the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times, taking in the forest clearing and the morning light, before her gaze settled on Hector. Realizing what was happening, she gave a grateful nod of her own. ”Thank you for escorting us, Teacher Hector.”

Hector inclined his head. ”No need to thank me. In fact, I should be apologizing for not being able to accompany you any further.”

”You have your own life, Senior,” Soren said with a small smile. ”We’ve already taken enough of your time. We’ll manage from here.”

Hector studied him for a moment, then nodded. ”See that you do.”

Then, his body was lifted from the ground as he rose into the air.

”Till we meet again... Teacher/Sir.”

”Till we meet again.” With a final nod, Hector shot upward and disappeared beyond the clouds.

Soren and Ethea watched him go, the silence of the forest settling around them. After a long moment, Soren glanced down at her and chuckled.

”...We’re all alone again, huh.”

Ethea turned to him, noticing the emotions behind his eyes and voice. ”We... We have each other.”

Soren was stunned for a moment, then his expression softened into something warm and steady. ”Yeah. We do.”

Then he looked toward the rest stop and calculated the time. It would take an hour for them to reach the nearest city, and from there, they could speed up their travel. However, they had to have breakfast first, especially Ethea. Fortunately, he had already considered it yesterday and prepared everything beforehand.

”Let’s have breakfast there first.” He gestured toward a wooden bench near the stone marker. ”Then we will head out.”

”Mmm...” Ethea agreed.

He carried her over to a patch of grass where the morning sunlight filtered through the leaves. Once she was settled in her chair, he unpacked their breakfast, and they ate together, surrounded by distant birdsong and the rustle of the forest around them.

When the last of the food was gone, Soren leaned back and watched the sunlight dance through the branches above. Ethea sat beside him, her gaze turned toward the horizon. The road ahead stretched into the unknown, filled with dangers they couldn’t predict and answers they still hadn’t found.

But they would face it together.

He rose, folded her chair, and retrieved the car from his storage ring. After helping Ethea into the passenger seat and securing her safely, he slid behind the wheel and started the engine.

”Ready?”

She nodded. ”Ready.”

”Then, let’s go.”

And with that, the car disappeared down the forest road, swallowed by the light of a new beginning.

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[Volume 2: End]