“Jenny, maybe it’s time to lie down?” - he suggested softly.
“Are you trying to seduce me now?” - Genevieve asked with a sly smile.
The big, strong man immediately flushed, as if fire had passed down his cheek.
Genevieve laughed - loudly, like a girl.
“I’ll just dry my hair and lie down.” - she said, wringing out the strands.
"I myself." - he quickly responded. "Allow me."
“It’s not worth it, really...”
“I want to. Sit here."
Harrison sat Genevieve on the edge of the bed with a gentle smile, took a large towel and carefully began to dry her damp hair. His rough, worn hands moved carefully, almost reverently, as if he were touching thin glass.
The husband who cared for his wife with such love turned out to be a man of rare gentleness and sensitivity.
Genevieve became increasingly attached to the man she had chosen almost at random.
[His Lordship insisted that I get married within ten days...I just chose the first person I met...Lucky.]
[He threatened that if she did not make a choice herself, he would personally select a husband for her, and would certainly make sure that the whole country knew about it.]
[He even said that he would support her if she wanted to become the next Empress, casually mentioning that Crown Prince Edwin seemed to be interested in her.]
Edwin's name sent Genevieve into a panic. [He was not unpleasant to her... But she never wanted such a husband.]
[He doesn't see people as people. If I suddenly fall in love with him, he will squeeze everything out of me, use the children, and then throw me away when I become useless...]
She had only one condition for her future husband: [He must be kind.]
[And only this.]
[Genevieve knew she couldn't put her husband and family first. That’s why it was important for her that he also had his own priorities. Harrison was a knight, he could prioritize loyalty over love, and she would understand that. The main thing is that there is warmth and peace in their home.]
[Yes, her choice was not passionate, but reasonable. Cozy.]
[Harrison said he loved her. His feelings were devoted, calm, pure. He was balanced and reliable. Maybe boring. Maybe dim.]
[But is that bad?]
[His affection was not morbidly obsessive, like Shane's. And there was no cold calculation, like Edwin’s. His feelings were normal.]
[And it was precisely this ordinariness that turned out to be so attractive.]
[Genevieve's life was full of storms. She is the treasure of the continent, the savior of the world, the love child of the goddess... But the life given to her was not easy.]
[When the person who was kind to her for the first time in her life died senselessly, right in front of her eyes, Genevieve for the first time wanted the world to just disappear. He did not seem worthy of purification by divine power.]
[She just wanted it to be over.]
[Perhaps this is why her holy purification was never particularly strong. Now she seemed to be beginning to understand.]
[Adaline probably never knew what dark thoughts Genevieve was harboring. She didn’t even know how much she loved her. Adaline was just kind. And Genevieve is lonely. And in this kindness she found meaning.]
[Those who cause pain forget easily.]
[And, those from whom something important was taken away remember it all their lives.]
[As they say: the ax forgets, but the tree remembers.]
“She cried so much...I’ll probably visit her tomorrow.” - Genevieve muttered.
“Sorry, who?” - Harrison asked.
“Lady Adaline. She was so scared when she found out that I was attacked again, and she burst into tears.”
“Ah... Apparently she is very sensitive.”
Harrison had a soft, knowing smile on his face. Genevieve frowned.
[She who did not flinch even in captivity - sensitive?]
"No...She's not sensitive." - Genevieve quietly objected.
“Really? But she was crying from fear.”
“She's brave. And kind."
“I've heard a lot of good things about her. Crown Prince Edwin mentions her often."
“It’s unlikely he says anything kind.”
“I don’t remember anything else. Only good things."
“She's kind...strong. And for me - the most beautiful."
“Then I already like her.” - Harrison said with a warm smile. "I'm grateful to her."
Genevieve leaned against her husband and buried her face in his chest. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Harrison...I want a baby." - she said quietly.
"Jenny..."
“I used to think that there wasn’t much good in this world...”
He said nothing.
“But if I have someone else to love, maybe I’ll love the world itself.”
[Genevieve wanted to love. With all my soul. Someone of your own.]
[How Adaline loved her - kindly. She also wanted to become kind, for someone else.]
In response, Harrison only hugged her fragile body closer to him.