I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand Chapter 102

The two of them held each other in silence for a long time.  

 

Whether it was because there were so many things they wanted to ask or because they couldn’t find the right words to say, even Merria and Reukis themselves didn’t know.  

 

They simply pressed closer to each other, as if their embrace was the only place of solace.  

 

Merria felt her trembling heart slowly settle back into place under the familiar touch.  

 

However, Reukis gently pulled away, creating some distance between them.  

 

He was reminded of the moment earlier when his body had acted on its own, something he couldn’t control.  

 

— [Let go.]

 

It had been a strange experience, as if his body had been taken over by something else.  

 

The helplessness of his body moving against his will was more unsettling than he had imagined.  

 

Merria looked up at him, puzzled by his hesitation.  

 

“What’s wrong?”  

 

Reukis frowned slightly as he took in her appearance. Her originally bright-colored clothes were now stained with dirty blood. 

 

Though he couldn’t see it, he was sure the back of her head, which he had touched, was also smeared with blood.  

 

Reukis wrapped a blanket around her and gestured to Gwen.  

 

“Call Merria’s maid.”  

 

“Understood.”  

 

With Reukis by Merria’s side, Gwen could rest assured of her safety.  

 

As Gwen left, Reukis effortlessly tossed aside the bloodied bedsheet.  

 

It landed precisely over the pool of blood, ensuring Merria wouldn’t see the gruesome sight.  

 

He then guided her to a clean spot.  

 

“Please sit here for a moment.”  

 

He stayed close, not wanting to leave her alone in case she felt uneasy.  

 

Reukis knelt on one knee beside her and looked up at her.  

 

“I don’t want you to stay here, where there’s been trouble, but the culprit might still be outside, so it’s dangerous.”  

 

He gently patted her knee over the blanket. Merria nodded slightly, her head poking out from the bundle of fabric.  

 

Though she wasn’t comfortable staying here, she had no intention of running out recklessly. She knew better than anyone that Reukis’s side was the safest place to be.  

 

Not long after, Kalix returned. He had been searching outside for the escaped assailant.  

 

“Did you find them?”  

 

Reukis picked up his bloodied sword and sheathed it as he asked.  

 

Instead of answering, Kalix shook his head and spoke in a stiff voice.  

 

“The blood trail was cut off midway. I couldn’t find them. My apologies.”  

 

Contrary to Kalix’s expectation of a sharp reprimand, Reukis didn’t seem particularly angry.  

 

“There was an anonymous tip.”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

Kalix looked puzzled.  

 

Reukis handed him something. In his hand was a handkerchief embroidered by Merria and a small note.  

 

“They said this handkerchief is enchanted with magic.”  

 

Though it was now stained with blood, it was unmistakably the one she had given him.  

 

“Oh no, it’s ruined.”  

 

Merria frowned as she recognized her gift. It had been their promise that no blood would stain this handkerchief. 

 

In a way, since Reukis’s blood hadn’t touched it, perhaps the promise was still kept.  

 

“I’m sorry. I was planning to preserve it with magic as soon as the hunting competition ended…”  

 

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, looking distressed, as he fidgeted with the handkerchief.  

 

Recently, a new piece of furniture had been added to the Grand Duke’s residence.  

 

It was placed in Reukis’s bedroom, the most heavily guarded area of the estate.  

 

The new display cabinet, positioned at the innermost part of the room, had been specially commissioned from a craftsman who had lived as long as the Frederick family itself.  

 

Made of elegant oak with a dark finish, the cabinet was reserved solely for items that held memories of Merria.  

 

On the bottom shelf was a finely crafted box containing the letters they had exchanged, carefully preserved.  

 

Alongside it were the handkerchief Merria had gifted him, a scented candle, a coffee cup and teapot she had casually complimented during a visit, and even a bottle of lemonade she had bought when visiting the knights.  

 

The cabinet itself was enchanted with air-purifying and preservation magic to prevent dust from settling.  

 

Locked with both a key and his magic, it was a place only he could access.  

 

To him, it was more valuable than any treasure.  

 

That’s why, when Merria had handed him the handkerchief, he had wanted to return to the estate immediately and give it a place of honor in the cabinet.  

 

But a knight was expected to carry the token given by the lady he served during the hunting competition.  

 

No matter how much he wanted to preserve it, he had no choice.  

 

It was a matter of respect and gratitude toward the lady who had taken the time to embroider it for him.  

 

For this reason, Reukis had been torn until yesterday. Between the desire to proudly display the handkerchief Merria had given him and the wish to keep it pristine and untouched.  

 

If he chose the former, he would have to hang it in a visible place, like the tip of his sword, his shoulder, or his wrist.  

 

If he wanted to keep it free from even a speck of dust, he would have to store it carefully in his pocket.  

 

But after noticing the gazes of many men following Merria as she tied the handkerchief to him, Reukis had ultimately chosen the former.  

 

In truth, his confidence in his skills had also influenced his decision. Reukis was an exceptional knight, and hunting prey required a bow, not a sword.  

 

Thus, unless something extraordinary happened, he wouldn’t need to use his sword, and the handkerchief would remain unstained.  

 

Moreover, he had placed the handkerchief on his left wrist.  

 

As a right-handed person, it was the most secure position.  

 

Throughout the hunt, he had been able to glance at the handkerchief, a constant reminder of Merria’s affection, and returned to the barracks feeling deeply satisfied.

 

Merria even promised to tie the handkerchief back on him tomorrow morning.  

 

He planned to cast a preservation spell on the handkerchief as soon as he returned from the hunt early tomorrow evening.  

 

Then, he intended to place it in a box and carry it carefully back to the estate.  

 

However, Reukis, clearly displeased with the bloodstains, flipped the handkerchief over.  

 

Fortunately, the part where Merria had embroidered it remained untouched by the madwoman’s filth.  

 

At the thought of the culprit behind all this, Reukis’s eyes turned cold.  

 

Unable to bring himself to clench the hand holding the handkerchief, he bit down hard, producing a grinding sound.  

 

Earlier, after finishing dinner with Merria, Reukis had returned alone to the barracks. He removed his outer coat and washed his hands thoroughly with soap that carried the scent of flower petals, scrubbing until they squeaked.  

 

Then, with a reverent demeanor, he settled near where the handkerchief was placed.  

 

He wanted to admire the handkerchief to his heart’s content, something he couldn’t do in front of the shy Merria.  

 

“…”  

 

But his delight quickly turned to displeasure.  

 

The handkerchief, placed delicately on a beautiful dish, looked exactly as he remembered.  

 

However, the plain piece of paper shamelessly sitting beside it was entirely unfamiliar.  

 

The fact that Reukis treasured Merria’s gift so deeply was known not only to those who had accompanied him here but to everyone in the Grand Duke’s residence.  

 

After all, it was their duty to inspect the display cabinet and offer advice on its arrangement.  

 

Yet, someone had boldly placed this dubious note right next to the handkerchief.  

 

Reukis picked up the paper with a cold gaze.  

 

Written on it, in an unremarkable handwriting, was the following:  

 

[Be careful with the handkerchief.]  

 

After reading it, he was even more baffled.  

 

Who dared to tell him to be careful of what?  

 

If there was one reason Reukis needed to be careful with Merria’s handkerchief, it was to ensure that the handkerchief, touched by Merria’s hands, remained unharmed.  

 

Lately, there weren’t many things that made him think of the word ‘careful.’  

 

His body was strong enough to withstand most poisons and threats, and his status meant he didn’t need to watch his words or actions.  

 

For someone like him to be personally warned to be careful—  

‘What exactly are they trying to say?’  

 

Reukis reached out to examine the handkerchief.  

 

And he immediately sensed it. The insolent energy lingering on the pristine handkerchief gifted by his beloved.  

 

Instinctively, Reukis scanned his surroundings for any signs of intrusion.  

 

But he found nothing out of the ordinary. Though the intent behind the note was unclear, it was evident that someone wanted to interfere with whoever had tampered with the handkerchief.  

 

‘At least two people.’  

 

That was the number of bold individuals who had dared to enter the Grand Duke’s private space.  

 

Unfortunately, both had already completed their tasks and fled. His eyes grew icy.  

 

Among mages, there were always individual differences.  

 

This referred not only to the amount of innate magical power or their level of skill but also to their “affinity.”  

 

Unless one was a supreme master who excelled in all areas, every mage had a specialized field.  

 

These included attack, healing, potions, alchemy, and more.  

 

If Reukis were to be categorized, his specialization was undoubtedly attack.  

 

A dark mage who drove others into darkness and rained down death. 

 

That was Reukis Frederick. And just as specialization in one area was a strength, the opposite area often became a weakness.  

 

At first glance, one might conclude that Reukis was weak in healing magic.  

 

That assumption wasn’t entirely wrong.  

 

After all, the Fredericks had long been known as offensive mages.  

 

But there was one thing the perpetrator of this prank didn’t know.  

 

The change in Reukis after the tragedy at the Grand Duke’s residence.  

 

If Reukis had grown up without his magical outbursts, he would have undoubtedly become a dark mage excelling in attack, as most people expected.  

 

However, Reukis had faced death head-on as a child.  

 

And that was the part his opponent had failed to consider.