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nTranslator: Yui

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nIt was not a sad or affectionate position, but a position where the parents put their children on their knees to scold them.

nThat was the position! Damn it! What was this?

nI was so embarrassed that I couldn’t even think of moving, but somehow I heard my husband’s cautious voice.

n“Are you all right?”

n“…….”

n

n

n“Do you feel faint?”

nNo, but I’d rather faint. I felt that it was better to have a bloody nose and faint.

nIf only my toes were okay. No, if only there weren’t any turtle plates.

nHis hands helplessly dug under my armpit.

nNo, don’t touch me!

n“You seem weak…”

n“Oh, no..!”

n“What do you mean no?”

nI’m so embarrassed!

nHowever, it was useless even if I tried to hold on with all my strength. I bent my head as low as I could while Izek lifted me up easily.

nAh, respectful Paladins, please make a mouse hole with your fraudulent superpowers.

n“Raise your face.”

n“I-I don’t want to….”

n“You don’t like me?”

nWhy are you asking me that so seriously?

n“I-I’m so embarrassed…….”

n“You just fell down, what’s so shameful?”

n“But…”

nGod, you really hate me, don’t you? There’s no way you’ll keep holding this conversation without doing that.

nI didn’t even realize that I was stuck on Izek’s lap, burying my head in his magnificent shoulders.

n“Really, really, really stupid.….”

n“I don’t think it’s stupid at all. Raise your face.”

nReally?

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nI pulled myself together and lifted my head gently.

nI heard half of what he said. Until my eyes met the vivid giant turtle’s eyes.

n“Ahhhh!”

n“Why, why…”

n“A-Aren’t you surprised to see that?”

nWhat’s wrong with me? I’d expected to be over the trauma. I thought I could stand turtle phobia calmly. It’s all because that’s too big.

nWhat kind of artisan made such a big turtle dish!

nOr maybe these are the psychological aftereffects of a stranger trying to break my toe….

n“Are you afraid of turtles?”

n‘What, are you scared of turtles?’

n“No, no, I’m not scared. I’m sorry. I’m not scared at all.”

n“What?”

n“I won’t be scared. It’s not scary at all. I’m sorry.”

nThere was a rumble above my head.

nNo, no, no. Wake up. Snap out of this, you idiot.

n“No more turtles!”

n“You hear me? Let me see your face now.”

nMy husband’s voice sounded strange for some reason. It was so gentle that I couldn’t get used to it.

nHis rugged hands came down to my chin, slowly sweeping down my tangled hair and face. Then I lifted my head.

nThe damned turtle was no longer in sight.

nThe only thing that came into my tear-stained vision were his red eyes, which were filled with unknown light.

nOn the contrary, my heart, which had been pounding, was already calming down.

n“Why did you cry?”

nThat’s a strange question. Why did I cry? I know he doesn’t like crying, but can’t he interrogate me later?

n“Did you have another accident?”

nAm I a kid?

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nI was trying to open my mouth, but I kept getting hiccups.

nI didn’t know why my toes hurt so much. I resented the turtle plate maker whose face I hadn’t even seen.

n“Because I’m hurt…”

n“Hurt?”

nI can’t. I can’t say it. You will definitely laugh…You don’t have to make fun of someone stepping on my foot.

nWhy the hell did I even come here? I should have gotten some ice packs from Ronja. What was I possessed by?

n“My feet, my feet hurt so much…”

n“….”

nI tried to hide myself because I was in pain, but my tongue had its own mind.

nIt hurts, it hurts, hubby. Some nasty bastard crumpled my foot and walked away. I told you to not laugh at it.

n“It hurts, it hurts…….”

nIt was clear that the mouth and body played separately. To the shame of my contradictory struggle of whining, Izek was pressing down on my shaking legs and leaning down to take off my shoes himself.

nSomeone gasped out in the hall. The look of my foot was quite gruesome.

nIt didn’t seem like a broken toe, but blood was flowing out of my toenails and my toes were horribly swollen.

nThe silky socks that were peeled off were stained. It suddenly reminded me of the first time I learned ballet.

nThere was a cold silence as if someone had poured cold water on the fire. My husband, who had been staring at me for a long time, finally opened his mouth.

n“Who the hell did this?”

nMy body trembled at his cold voice.

nHolding my shoes, Sir Ivan, who had been frozen blankly, bent towards me.

nHis light green eyes had a rare, serious light in them.

n“My lady, how did this happen?”

n“I, I don’t know. I was just passing by when…”

nI had become a lady who walked around without knowing who stepped on her feet. A moment where I was overwhelmed with self-pity.

n“If you can’t speak, I’ll have to find out.”

nWhat?

nIzek jumped to his feet with me in his arms.

nIt was only then that Paladins and Andymion surrounded the area like a circular wall.

nThey were unfamiliar faces, all of which seemed serious.

n“Izek, wait a minute…”

n“Get your hands off me.”

n“I’m sorry, sir. I should have kept an eye on her a little longer…”

n“If it had happened with so many eyes, it could have happened anytime.”

nIt suddenly hit me why Izek was famous for being the best paladin in the North and the best knight.

nIf he scolded his colleagues who were all unique and had a strong temper like this, to what extent had he lost his temper before?

n“Izek!”

n“Hey, hey!”

n“What the hell’s going on?”

nIzek shrugged off his colleagues, who hung on anxiously, giving off the aura that he was about to slaughter some people on the occasion of Judgment Day.

nIt was natural that the people around me, who were enjoying the feast, were confused.

n“Iz? What is going on here?”

n“Hey, what’s wrong? What’s going on?

n“Get out of my way.”

nEllenia’s face had a rare look of puzzlement.

nOthers were all the same as usual.

nWhy was he doing this to Ellen, this son of a b*tch?

nI’m already dying keeping an eye on your colleagues these days, but do we have to be a couple that’s good at ruining the mood?

nThat was why I was like the seed of real turmoil, even at the feast he hosted…

nI opened my mouth trying not to make a fuss.

nIt was very scary, thinking he might throw me away, but I had to stop my husband from destroying the banquet.

n“Please calm down, it’s not….”

n“If that’s not the case, why did your feet become like this? Why can’t you tell me who did it?”

n“It’s…….”

n“A brat dared to hurt you, without anyone, even you knowing?”

nOh! That growl makes chills run down my spine. Listen to me, you personality wrecker!

nMy angry husband was deliberately threatening in the open. I could tell why.

nHe must have thought it was a provocation to him in many ways to hurt me at a banquet hosted by him.

nNevertheless, I didn’t expect him to be so furious, I really didn’t know who did it!

n“All I can think of is you!”

nI grabbed my spinning head and spat out whatever came to his mind.

nIzek, who was moving like a scary figure; Cerberus in hell, halted.

n“What?”

n“I,I was too scared and hurt to see who did it, and that’s why I went to you… I didn’t know you’d be this upset. I’m sorry.”

nHic.

nI couldn’t hear anything but my hiccups for a moment. My heart was pounding, about to burst any moment.

nDid I pour oil or water on the fire?

nSoon after, with a gentle sigh, his tense arms tightened.

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nSave me! Is it oil?

n“… Please wait a bit.”

n“Don’t mind the things here, go quickly.”

n“Yes, go ahead.”

nEllenia, who nodded her head gently with the Paladins at her back, gave me a worried look. I was ashamed of myself.

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