I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

 

Three sleeping spots were placed closely together on the floor without any gaps.

 

Chad turned around while stroking his chin.

 

“Since the outside is probably the coldest, it would be best for Nia to sleep on the innermost side.”

 

“I don’t mind either way.”

 

“I mind.”

 

Sionel cut in decisively and sent Ponia to the inner side.

 

“Well then, that leaves two spots.”

 

Chad looked back and forth between the spot right next to Ponia and the outer spot.

 

“It seems like Sio has the best danger detection abilities among us, so you can sleep on the outside.”

 

“Why should I? Who knows what you might do.”

 

“We’ve overcome dangers together, and you’re still saying things like that?”

 

“Overcome, my ass.”

 

Sionel showed a sneer and swept back his dark blue hair.

 

“You showed excellent combat skills last time I saw, so you sleep on the outside.”

 

“I’m quite cowardly though?”

 

“Bullshit. I can’t sleep next to you.”

 

“Really? I could sleep just fine.”

 

Ponia, who had been watching the two bicker, shook her head. At this rate, they wouldn’t decide anything and would just keep fighting.

 

“How about I just sleep on the outside and you two sleep on the inside?”

 

“No.”

 

“I’ll pass.”

 

The two answered simultaneously as if they had coordinated it.

 

“…If you don’t like being close together, how about I sleep in the middle and you two sleep apart?”

 

Sionel glared at Ponia.

 

‘…Why, what. Did I say something wrong?’

 

“Once you fall asleep, you wouldn’t know even if someone carried you away.”

 

Not knowing what others are thinking.

 

“Really? How very interesting.”

 

Sionel took a step closer. Their gazes met at almost the same height.

 

“I warned you not to mess with her.”

 

“I told you that makes me even more curious.”

 

Though Sionel and Chad’s atmospheres were starkly contrasted, the tension flowing between them remained taut.

 

“You said you were her cousin.”

 

Chad’s voice dropped sharply.

 

“Does a cousin look at his sibling with those eyes?”

 

‘Eyes?’

 

Sionel frowned slightly.

 

“What kind of eyes am I looking with?”

 

Chad stopped speaking at his reaction of knowing nothing.

 

‘He can’t even realize it himself?’

 

Even while having eyes that said he could collapse at any moment and it wouldn’t matter, when she was beside him, he would act normally as if nothing had happened, clicking his tongue, or sometimes even showing faint smiles.

 

As if he could only maintain himself when she was there.

 

‘The most gentlemanly among the nobility?’

 

What nonsense.

 

He had met many nobles while taking commissions, but even those reputed to have the finest character couldn’t escape the arrogance and self-centered thinking unique to nobility.

 

Sionel Devonham was just crouching down, waiting for his time. Cunningly.

 

To his eyes, he looked like a beast ready to pounce the moment its leash was released.

 

‘Maybe the leash was released long ago.’

 

While faithfully playing the role she had given him, it was obvious he wanted to act according to his own temperament right now. He was holding his own leash and waiting obediently.

 

Until she would permit it.

 

A hollow laugh escaped him.

 

Just how did that Unnamed Man turn the heir of a ducal house into this?

 

Chad stepped back and smiled.

 

“I’m not going to tell you.”

 

For whose benefit would that be.

 

“So, as cousins, how about keeping some boundaries? You might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.”

 

Chad walked past Sionel and approached Ponia’s side.

 

“Sio should sleep on the outside…”

 

“Move over, I’m sleeping here.”

 

Sionel stubbornly squeezed herself in between them and lay down. Then, she left a brief remark directed at Chad, who was about to speak.

 

“Like you said, I’m her cousin, right? You’re just some other guy.”

 

Chad stared at him speechlessly, and Sionel raised one corner of his mouth.

 

It was the laughter of a victor.

 

I finally found a spot and lay down.

 

Ponia, who would fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, couldn’t seem to fall asleep today.

 

This is also because the sleeping environment changed and they had to sleep on a hard floor.

 

Also because I’m worried about the cabin, which must be soaked with water by now.

 

It wasn’t that she was worried about what might happen between Sionel and Chad if they all slept together.

 

Thud thud thud thud thunk.

 

It wasn’t just because of the late night, and certainly not because of the rain that showed no signs of stopping.

 

“Hey, Shio?”

 

I really just can’t sleep at all.

 

“How can I sleep when Chad Moreau is sleeping right next to us?”

 

“There’s no way I can sleep with Chad Moro sleeping right next to me.”

 

“No, that’s not the issue—I’m asking why you see it that way.”

 

Because of this man who had turned his back on Chad and was staring intently at her with his arms crossed.

 

“…”

 

“To protect us from the countless criminal acts that Chad Moro might commit.”

 

“You don’t need to thank me so much.”

 

I’m not grateful.

 

“It looks like Chad is already asleep?”

 

Ponia lifted her head to look at Chad, but he already seemed to have fallen asleep, sitting upright with his eyes closed.

 

Sionel also agreed.

 

“I know, because I gave you sleeping pills.”

 

…What?

 

“Then, the reason you volunteered to check the food was…”

 

“I only put sleeping pills in the food that Chad Moro will eat.”

 

“Then, the reason you volunteered to check the food was….”

 

“What else could it be?”

 

“He might wake up again at dawn.”

 

I definitely don’t want to become his enemy. I feel like I’d die the most painful death in the world without even noticing.

 

“Don’t worry about Chad Moreau and sleep comfortably.”

 

I absolutely don’t want to become an enemy. It felt like I would die the most painful death in the world without even realizing it.

 

“Don’t worry about Chad tomorrow and just sleep comfortably.”

 

“It’s not because of Chad that I can’t sleep comfortably—it’s because of you.”

 

Sionel tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand at all. Her fine hair fell to one side and touched the pillow.

 

“Why?”

 

“If you wanted to worry about such things, you should have worried when we started living together in the cabin. You usually sleep just fine, so why are you being strange about it now?”

 

He continued with an utterly indifferent expression.

 

“Most importantly, you’re not a noble, so do you need to worry about such formalities?”

 

“If you were going to make a fuss about that, you should have done it when we first started living together in the cabin. You’ve been sleeping just fine all this time, so why are you suddenly acting like this?”

 

He continued speaking with an utterly indifferent expression.

 

“Most importantly, you’re not a noble, so why do you need to worry about such formalities?”

 

“So that means, I’m also that noble…!”

 

Ponia stopped mid-sentence. A strange glint flickered in his blue eyes.

 

“As a maid who has… met many nobles, I’m speaking from that perspective.”

 

Afraid her flustered expression would be discovered, Ponia turned her back to him.

 

Sure enough, he didn’t miss her unnatural behavior and seized upon it.

 

“Noble what?”

 

“As a maid who has encountered many nobles… that’s what you’re asking.”

 

Afraid her flustered expression might show, Ponia turned her back to him.

 

“Ah, right.”

 

The disappointment was clearly felt in his noticeably subdued voice. Even though she had said no like that, it seemed he still hadn’t let go of his suspicions.

 

Ponia closed her eyes.

 

‘If he says he’s fine, there’s no need to keep talking about it.’

 

Being away from his gaze felt much more comfortable.

 

‘But why is he so obsessed with that day’s meeting?’

 

The fact that he had completely forgotten about it for three years meant it wasn’t even a memorable event for him, so why now? Does he have some other intention?

 

As expected, I should ask him directly.

 

Ponia, who had been contemplating while raising her eyebrows, couldn’t overcome her curiosity and quickly turned around again.

 

His shoulders stiffened at the green eyes that crashed into him completely. He swallowed lightly as if catching his breath and put on an indifferent expression, but his gaze strangely avoided hers.

 

“But why do you keep trying to identify me with that noble young lady?”

 

“…”

 

Even if Ponia was indeed the young lady he had thought of back then, it wouldn’t be a very important fact to him.

 

Sionel wasn’t the type to be delighted about finding a past connection.

 

“Don’t tell me you have some bad memory?”

 

Don’t memories originally become idealized because we think about them self-centeredly?

 

What was a good memory for her might actually be a humiliating memory for him that he erased from his mind.

 

Thinking that way, she wanted to confirm it right away.

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

 

Anxiously.

 

“…away.”

 

“What?”

 

“Step away.”

 

Her puzzlement was brief, as Ponia soon realized the reason.

 

The distance between Sionel and her was less than a span apart.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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