“Fortunately, the burns were only mild, about a 1st-degree burn. It seems like there’s no danger to his life.”
“Phew… I see.” Freya, upon hearing that Dariann had secretly gone out and rushed into the fire scene with nothing but an axe to save a child before collapsing, was able to sigh in relief only after Dariann was brought back to the mansion, treated by a doctor, and confirmed to be safe.
“When will he regain consciousness?”
“After escaping the fire, he seemed to relax and collapse from the relief. He should wake up soon.”
“Understood. Thank you for your hard work.”
“It was nothing. Please feel free to call me if anything happens.”
“I think it would be better if you don’t have to come.”
“Haha, well then, I’ll take my leave now.” The doctor, who had applied burn ointment and changed Dariann’s bandages after he sustained only mild 1st-degree burns despite rushing into the fire scene with nothing but a cloak, gave a nod to Freya and left the room.
“Hmm…”
With only Dariann, unconscious in bed, Freya silently pulled a chair next to him and stared at his face without saying a word.
And then…
“Honey.”
“I know you’re awake.” “S…suh…uh…”
Dariann’s even breaths, which had been steady, suddenly became irregular when Freya spoke to him, his eyes still closed.
“You always pretended to be asleep when things didn’t go your way. It’s been over 25 years since we got married, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“…I swear, I just woke up.” Having spent 25 years living with Dariann, Freya could easily tell when he was faking it.
She made it clear with a teasing remark, and Dariann, who had been keeping his eyes shut, finally opened them, scratching his head and sitting up, offering an excuse.
“I just wanted to rest, but then I heard you talking, so I—ugh, I was trying to sleep but you were being loud next to me, who could sleep through that?”
“Huh?”
“You, when you fall asleep, even if dozens of alarms go off next to you, you won’t wake up.” The excuse was utterly ridiculous, and Freya, with a blank face, shot back at him.
“So, this wasn’t the first time you secretly left the mansion, was it?”
“No! This really was the first time! I was just so frustrated! Huh? I just needed to catch my breath—”
“Gordon already told me.” “…That damn old man.”
“So, you snuck out without telling me?”
“Well, you know… it’s just that it gets suffocating staying inside all the time, and you’re always so busy, I didn’t want to be a bother, so I thought it was a considerate act on my part…”
“If you were truly that considerate, you would’ve contacted me before going to any meetings or drinking parties back in the day, right?”
“Well, bringing up that old stuff now seems a little petty, don’t you think?”
“…I have no words.”
Dariann tried to resolve the situation in his favor, but eventually gave up as he met Freya’s stern gaze.
She was the same, always squinting her eyes, a trait that had been her charm, whether in the modern world or now.
And when those eyes focused on him, Dariann became like a nervous puppy, unable to stay still.
“And then, with your bare body! You just rush into that fire scene?!” “…Ugh!”
“There are no fire trucks like in the modern world, no colleagues to help, and, and! No protective gear at all?!” Freya’s anger finally reached its peak.
“Do you realize how dangerous that was? If you hadn’t made it out, there would have been no one to help! If you had inhaled smoke… without protective clothing, without a mask…!”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Do you know how scared I was when we first fell into this strange world?”
“It was more about being worried about our son, daughter, and you… my family… than anything else.”
“And when we were finally reunited as a family, how relieved I felt… I have nothing but my family…!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Freya gripped the hem of her dress tightly, her hidden feelings pouring out as she sobbed.
She had always valued and loved her family more than anything, even more than the heirship to the massive corporation of Hanseong Group.
After they came to this world, Freya had acted like an aristocratic lady, not revealing her true emotions, even when they didn’t know each other’s true identities.
It wasn’t until they went to their separate rooms that night that she finally let out the anxious feelings she had tried to suppress.
“If you die… what am I supposed to do…?”
Her face crumpled as she spoke, and unable to hold it in, tears began falling onto her dress.
“…I’m sorry.”
Dariann, carefully pulling her into his arms, whispered softly.
“I’m sorry for making you feel so anxious, falling into this world without knowing anything.”
“But you know, I’m a firefighter.”
“If someone calls for me, even if I have no protective gear, even if I don’t have an axe, I have to rush in.”
“And because I’m that kind of person, you ended up falling in love with me, right?”
“Even if there are huge flames, if someone calls for me, I’ll run into the fire.”
“…If I had been careful with my life all this time, would I have been able to be with you?”
“…Probably not. I gave up everything and married you because of the person you were, the one you were at that time.”
“Haha, remember? I barged into your company and shouted, ‘I’m taking your company’s heir!’ and carried you out, running?”
“Please don’t talk about that. I was really childish back then.”
“I had fun.”
“…That’s cowardly.”
“What’s cowardly?”
“I should be angry right now, but you keep trying to brush it off.”
“So, you don’t like that?”
“…You’re really being unfair.”
“I’m really sorry too. I wasn’t thinking clearly. There might have been a safer way, but I acted without thinking because I’m so reckless.”
“…Still, I guess there’s no changing me.”
‘…Even if I tell you not to, if something like this happens again, you’ll just rush out, right?’
“Of course. That’s the only way the heir of Hanseong Group could throw everything aside and fall in love.”
“…It’s so unfair, really unfair. I feel like an idiot for wanting to scold you firmly.”
“What? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you talk to me so casually.”
“No, nothing. Anyway, I’m just glad you’re safe. I just wanted to say that.”
“…Thank you. I’m back.”
“Welcome home.”
Before they realized it, Freya, who had calmed down in Darian’s arms, lifted her face and looked at him.
With her eyes slightly reddened from crying, she gazed at him, smiling.
“…Ugh!”
‘W-wait…! I shouldn’t be reacting like this…!’
It was a critical hit.
Swoosh, swoosh—
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere else?”
“No, no!! I’m really fine!! So could you step back a bit?”
Freya suddenly shivered, her face turning serious as she noticed Darian’s attempt to push her away.
She immediately questioned him, looking deeply concerned.
Even as Darian insisted he was fine, she recognized it as the same expression he wore whenever he tried to lie.
“Stay still! Where are you hurt?”
“I said I’m fine?! Just, please, step back—Agh?!”
“Kyah?!”
Freya, leaning in to inspect his body, inadvertently pressed herself against him, and her ample, soft chest brushed against him, causing a tense area of Darian’s body to stiffen even more.
Darian, flustered, flailed and ended up collapsing, which caused Freya to fall right on top of him.
“Um… Why are you acting…like…this…oh.”
‘…Don’t get the wrong idea, really… I mean, it’s not like I’m into…you know…’
As Freya lay across his chest, she adjusted her gaze and happened to notice his abdomen strangely elevated, her words trailing off as she understood.
Darian, meanwhile, stammered, caught off-guard and embarrassed, as Freya’s expression hinted that she realized he was flustered by her, even though she had once lived as a woman in the modern world.
“Well, I was also a guy…so I get it.”
“Right?! I mean, all guys are like this, right? Just, you know, out of nowhere! Up and up?!”
“…Yes.”
“…That’s how it is?”
“…Yes, especially for guys your age. The energy is still there.”
“That’s true, I suppose. Before we had Hyunsoo, we were…well, every night, right? Actually, even before coming here, we were like that too.”
“…Ahem, uh…anyway. Now, could you please get up? I need to, you know…calm myself.”
As the warm atmosphere abruptly turned chaotic, Darian scratched his head awkwardly.
Having only ever used his manhood for bodily functions, he thought of taking a deep breath to calm himself after Freya left.
Then—
“Um…dear.”
“Huh?”
“I know it’s a bit strange to say this right now…”
Freya, who had been bowing her head after noticing the prominent state of his lower body, lifted her head to look at Darian.
Her face was as red as a ripe tomato, and she kept glancing away, as though steam were coming off her head.
“If you…if you’re okay with it… I thought maybe I could…help calm you…down…yes…”
“…What?”
Hearing Freya’s words, Darian’s expression froze, just like his lower body.