The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 144

The Harsh Winter Was Passing.

As if to show that the season was about to change, the piled-up snow was slowly melting.

“Take a look at this! It’s a gift that would look great on you, Miss!”

Ella said, holding up a necklace from a luxurious case towards Celonia, who was lying down.

“And what about this bracelet! Hehe. They sent only things that would suit you, Miss!”

Ella continued, holding up the bracelet that came with it.

Celonia still had her eyes closed.

But Ella was talking to her every day, believing that her voice would definitely reach Celonia.

Most of them were trivial stories about today’s newspaper articles or the weather outside.

There had been no response for three months, but if she kept chattering like this, it felt like a rebuke would flow from those lips someday.

Like, ‘Ella, I get it, so please stop.’ Even if it’s not today.

“They say they’ve adapted a lot now. They really want to meet you.”

Ella read a note that came with the gift.

It was a gift that Grace Bennett had actually sent to Celonia.

At the time when the incident was settled, she hadn’t been able to pay attention to the thank-you 인사 [greeting/formality] due to the great shock, but now she was conveying it.

Ella showed the bracelet and necklace to Celonia, who had her eyes closed, then quietly put them back in the case with a bitter smile.

But soon, with a brighter face, she picked up the newspaper she had brought.

“Oh? His Highness the Crown Prince is getting engaged soon! The partner is… someone you know, Miss? Lady Roana Serday! Do you remember? You had dessert together, and you invited her to the celebration!”

Ella was excited about the welcome name she saw after a long time.

“I’ll read it to you! According to rumors, Lady Roana Serday is pregnant before marriage… Huh!”

Ella, who had been reading the article with sparkling eyes and a happy heart, was startled and gasped.

“Hahaha! Anyway! The two of them are getting engaged soon!”

Then she quickly finished. She was embarrassed by the unexpected article.

As Ella carefully examined the newspaper to read another article, her mouth felt bitter.

Now, she couldn’t find Celonia’s name anywhere in the newspaper. Not even in the smallest scrap of an article.

It had been three months since Celonia collapsed.

She had been completely forgotten in people’s memories.

“I’ll go bake some cookies….”

Ella, feeling very sad and resentful about it, stood up from her seat, holding back tears.

She always wanted to show her Miss only a bright and positive side. So, she hurried out of the room to avoid being caught in this clumsy 모습 [appearance/figure] that she couldn’t bear to 참지 못하고 튀어나오는 가끔씩 [occasionally bursting out because she can’t hold it in].

“……”

Tann, who was silently guarding Celonia’s side as always, quietly lifted her white hand that he was holding. Then, he pressed his forehead against her hand.

The soft and weak hand, as if it would break if he held it tightly, would fall limply downwards as soon as he let go.

So, he had no choice but to hold on tightly. He had no choice but to keep holding on. Otherwise, this hand would slip away at any moment.

“The weather is nice today.”

Tann quietly spoke to Celonia, looking at the bright sunshine that was warm just to look at.

“I wish I could welcome the spring of the North with you.”

He said sincerely in a low voice and kissed the back of her hand where he had been burying his forehead.

“Tann. Let’s go to the North as soon as things are settled.”

She had clearly said so, but he was still staying in the capital because he couldn’t take her without permission.

He was waiting for the moment when she opened her eyes, took his hand, and told him to go together first.

Three months had passed like that.

Time had passed to the point where this 모습 [appearance] of her with her eyes closed felt more familiar than the 모습 [appearance] of her with her eyes open.

What kind of dream are you dreaming now? Am I in that dream?

When will you open your eyes and look at me?

Even if it was a 기다림 [waiting] without promise, it was okay. It didn’t matter even if it took a very long time. Only if there was certainty that these eyes would open.

After she lost consciousness, there was an action that he habitually did from time to time. It was to check her breathing.

Because he was 불안해 [anxious] that this breath might be cut off, that her breathing might stop at any moment.

I could wait forever, but it would be nice if I had the certainty that she would definitely open her eyes…….

“It’s okay……”

What did you mean by saying it’s okay? What meaning did you put into those words?

Are you saying that I’m okay even without you? Or is it a promise that you will definitely come back to my side?

Because he couldn’t know for sure, Tann was drying up day by day.

Every time he checked her breathing, his heart was dropping to the floor and then 올라오기를 반복하고 있었다 [repeating the action of rising up].

With darkness settled on his face due to the gnawing 불안 [anxiety], Tann grabbed the wet towel placed on the table.

“Soon, new shoots will sprout.”

Then, as always, he let her hear his voice and 정성스레 [sincerely/carefully] wiped the hand he was holding.

“There are many spring flowers in the North that you can’t see in the capital.”

Even the wild forest behind the Demon King’s castle was full of beautiful and rare flowers that humans could never see in their lifetime.

“Summer is also 괜찮아 [okay/fine]. It’s much cooler than here, so you can spend it comfortably.”

After wiping her hands, he gently 문질렀다 [rubbed] her slender and white arms with a towel.

“In the fall, 열매 [fruit] that only grows in the North 열린다 [ripens/opens]. I don’t know the taste well, but the other guys like it, saying it’s sweet and delicious. You like sweets so much, so you’ll like it.”

Tann, who was wiping her body with familiar 손길 [touch] as if he had done it once or twice, 피식 웃었다 [smirked/chucked].

He remembered when she first stepped into the Duke’s residence, she 야무지게 [deliberately/purposefully] ate even the chocolate cake after finishing the meal he had served.

At that time, she said to him 퉁명스레 [bluntly/curtly], who was 바라보는 신기하게 [looking at her in wonder].

“Dessert 배 [stomach] is always separate, you know?”

At her 권유 [recommendation/suggestion], he had no choice but to put the cake in his mouth, and his tongue was 아릴 정도 [tingling] from the 살인적으로 단 맛 [murderously sweet taste].

Even so, he 호기롭게 [boldly/spiritedly] nodded his head to her asking if it was delicious and did the 미련한 짓 [foolish thing] of eating a whole piece.

Because he didn’t want to disappoint her for no reason.

It was she who 권유한 [recommended/suggested] it to him, and she liked the 모습 [appearance] of him eating well. So, he wanted to show her only what she liked.

He could show it to her right now if she wanted. If only these eyes would 떠인다면 [open]…….

With a face that had lost its smile, Tann opened his mouth again.

“Winter in the North is more 혹독하지 [harsh] than in the capital. But if you prepare well in the fall, you can 무리 없이 지낼 수 있다 [live without difficulty]. Besides, it’s cold, so it’s good to 딱 붙어서 지내는 게 좋겠군 [stay close together]. Sometimes, while 구경하면서 [looking at] the 고드름 [icicles] that form on winter trees. The 고드름 [icicles] that form on winter trees sparkle like crystals when sunlight is 반사될 [reflected], so it’s a 장관이거든 [spectacle].”

Tann, who had wiped one arm completely, 물끄러미 바라보았다 [gazed at] Celonia’s face, which seemed to be 잠들어 있는 고요히 [sleeping peacefully].

His hand was 어느새 매만지고 [already caressing] Celonia’s cheek.

“There’s a lot I want to show you.”

The beautiful flowers that bloom in spring, the pleasant 바람 [wind] that blows in summer, the 달달한 과일 [sweet fruit] harvested in autumn, and even the 눈부신 수정 [dazzling crystal] that winter 맺히는 [forms].

There was something he wanted to show her in all four seasons.

“So, anytime is 괜찮아 [okay/fine]. Any season.”

No matter how long it takes, no matter what season she opens her eyes in, please find me again.

So that she can see what he sees, and she can 함께 느끼는 [feel together] what he feels.

“I can wait.”

Tann lowered his head. His 뜨거운 입술 [hot lips] touched her 동그란 이마 [round forehead] briefly and fell away.

He 부드럽게 쓸어 만지며 [gently stroked] her cheek, which was still 미동조차 없는 [without even a twitch], and 삼키었다 a 쓴웃음 [swallowed a bitter smile].

“The 햇빛 [sunlight] is going to be too 눈부실 것 같군 [dazzling].”

He turned his body, 혹 [lest/in case] that the 강렬한 햇살 [intense sunlight] would 괴롭힐 [torment] her today.

At that moment, as he was about to head to the window to close the 활짝 젖힌 [wide open] curtains.

“……”

Tann froze in his spot. Something 살며시 잡았다 [gently grabbed] his fingertips.

Too 놀라 [surprised], all 사고 회로 [thought circuits] stopped for a moment. He 얼른 [quickly] turned his head and 바라보았다 [looked at] his hand.

His 눈동자가 흔들렸다 거세게 [pupils shook violently].

Clearly, the white finger that wouldn’t be 잡히지 [caught] unless he 잡지 [grabbed it] was 붙잡고 제 손끝을 있었으니까 [holding onto his fingertips].

Biting his 떨리는 입술 파르르 [trembling lips quiveringly] as his 심장이 was 뛰어 대는 미친 듯 [heart was pounding madly], Tann 옮겼다 his 시선을 [shifted his gaze].

Past the 잡혀 있는 손 [hand being held], past the 가녀린 shoulder [slender shoulder] and 흐드러진 긴 머리카락 [disheveled long hair], and finally 닿은 her face [reached her face].

“Haa…….”

In the end, 뜨거운 숨이 참지 못한 터져 나왔다 [hot breath that couldn’t be held in burst out].

In her face that he had 마주하게 된 [come to face], the eyes that had been 감겨 있던 오래도록 [closed for so long], so making him 불안하게 [anxious], were 바라보고 저를 채로 뜨인 있었으니까 [open, looking at him].

“……Tann.”

A deeply 잠긴 목소리가 새어 나왔다 희미하게 [hoarse voice leaked out faintly] from her 입술 벌려진 작게 [lips parted slightly].

The first word that came out of her mouth as soon as she opened her eyes was his name.

“I’m back.”

The 이어 진 목소리 뱉어 낸 힘겹게 조금은 was 뚜렷했다 더 than before [following voice, exhaled with a little difficulty, was clearer than before]. So much so that it didn’t seem like a dream right now.

Tann, who had 깜빡이던 눈을 several times in disbelief [blinked his eyes several times in disbelief], 웃었다 [smiled].

It was a 진실 된 웃음 올린 입꼬리까지 [genuine smile reaching the corners of his lips], but it felt like tears were 고여 있는 in that 미소 [welling up in that smile], making the person 바라보는 다 울컥할 정도 [watching feel overwhelmed].

“I waited. Eun-yeong.”

Soon, his 거대한 몸 내려갔다 향해 은영을 [huge body lowered towards Eun-yeong].

Without 망설임 [hesitation], her 가느다란 두 팔 끌어안았다 한껏 him that was 느껴지는 작게만 [slender arms fully embraced him, feeling small].

“Me too.”

Eun-yeong buried her face in his 품에 오는 붙어 틈 없이 [arms, clinging without a gap].

The stopped time of the two people began to flow again.

Spring had come.

* * *

쿵!

The 거대한 드래곤’s two 다리가 착지하였다 땅에 내며 굉음을 [giant dragon’s two legs landed on the ground with a roar].

순식간에 the 드래곤 바뀌더니 모습으로 인간의 서둘러 움직였다 발걸음을 향해 어떤 곳을 [instantly the dragon changed into human form and hurriedly moved his steps towards a certain place]. 뒤따랐다 남자가 또 다른 그 뒤를 [another man followed behind him].

“대체 된 거야 어떻게 뭐가! [What on earth happened!]”

남자, 맥라이언 앞서 걸어가던, 부렸다 잔뜩 성질을 [The man, MacRyan, walking ahead, was very angry]. 들려 있었다 편지가 통의 한 그의 손에는 [A letter was held in one of his hands].

The 발신인은 편지의 셀로니아였다 [sender of the letter was Celonia].

“다행입니다 깨어나셨으니 그래도…… [It’s a relief that you woke up anyway……].”

들려 있었다 편지가 똑같은 손에도 레예프의 [Leyev also held a letter in the same hand]. 마찬가지였다 건 당황한 했지만 그렇게 말은 [He was also flustered, but he didn’t say so].

왔다 북부로 바로 받자마자 편지를 셀로니아의 그들은 [They came to the North immediately after receiving Celonia’s letter]. 태워 등에 레예프를 모습으로 드래곤의 맥라이언이 마음에 급한 날아온 것이었다 북부로 [MacRyan, in dragon form, carried Leyev on his back and flew to the North with a hurried heart].

수밖에 그럴 [There was no choice but to do so]. 물론 되찾은 의식을 셀로니아가 없던 의식이 해도 전까지만 일주일 분명 이랬다 내용은 편지에 적힌 [Of course, the letter stated that Celonia had regained consciousness, but even a week before, she was clearly unconscious].

올라갔다는 북부로 내용이었다 물론, 것은 [Of course, the content was that she had gone up to the North].

알려 주지 깨어났으면 말도 없이 가 버리다니 올라가…… [To go up without a word, without even telling us she woke up……].

들었지만 배신감이 납득은 보곤 내용을 마지막 적혀 있는 밑에 편지 [He felt betrayed, but he understood after seeing the last content written at the bottom of the letter].

뿐이었을 레예프와 자신 결국 아마도 것도 받은 편지를 이 [In the end, perhaps only Leyev and himself received this letter].

“거 아니야 보여 줘야 한 번은 얼굴 그래도 그렇지 [Still, shouldn’t she at least show her face once?]”.

멈췄다 앞에 대문 커다란 움직여 빠르게 아주 서운함에 없는 수 걷잡을 맥라이언은 [MacRyan, unable to contain his disappointment, stopped in front of the large gate].

열렸다 듯 기다렸다는 순간 뻗는 손을 위해 두드리기 대문을 없는 아무도 이가 지키는 [The gate opened as if waiting for him, just as he was about to reach out to knock, since there was no one guarding it].

“셀로니아야 너……? [Celonia, is that you……?]”

내뱉었다 이름을 익숙한 모르게 자신도 그가 놀란 모습에 여인의 한 등장한 열리고 문이 [He unknowingly blurted out the familiar name, surprised by the appearance of a woman as the door opened].

“오랜만이야 [It’s been a while].”

돌아왔다 대답이 긍정의 그러자 [Then came the affirmative answer].

“어떻게……? [How……?]”

모습이 아니었으니까 알던 그들이 셀로니아는 마주한 다시 아주 했으나 알아채긴 떴다 크게 눈을 놀라 레예프와 맥라이언이 [Leyev and MacRyan were very surprised and widened their eyes, though they recognized her, because the Celonia they were facing again was very different from the Celonia they knew].