This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 82

Not long after the two began descending the mountain, raindrops started to fall in the forest. At first, it was just a few drops, but soon, a heavy downpour began, making it difficult to see clearly.

Insisting on descending the mountain in such weather would have been a foolish decision. This was especially true when accompanying someone like Elaina, who was unfamiliar with the mountain terrain.

“This way!”

Lyle grabbed Elaina’s hand and led her to a small cave. It extended deep enough inside to keep the rain from coming in, the same spot he had used for shelter when capturing a falcon last time.

“…When do you think the rain will stop?”

Elaina asked Lyle, who was gazing seriously outside. Wearing a fur coat, Elaina felt like a drenched mouse. Her fur coat absorbed water more than other types of clothing, making it damp and causing her body temperature to drop quickly.

When they returned, she would surely catch a cold. Thinking this, Elaina refrained from saying anything that might worry Lyle. He was already blaming himself—for not descending earlier, for not going with the dragon on the mountain climb, and for allowing Elaina to get drenched.

“Lyle?”

Lyle, who had been silently staring outside, came to his senses when Elaina called his name.

“What did you say?”

“I asked how long you think it will rain.”

“…It’ll take some time.”

It was clearly a miscalculation. The rain clouds approached faster than he had anticipated, and Elaina, being new to mountain hiking, moved much slower. They had only made it halfway down the slope when the rain began pouring. Fortunately, finding the cave quickly could be considered a stroke of luck.

“Achoo.”

Elaina couldn’t hold back a sneeze. Her body shivered, and her teeth chattered involuntarily. Only then did Lyle notice her attire. Drenched to the bone in her fur coat, Elaina’s lips were turning blue from the cold.

“Let’s go further inside. It’s too cold here.”

Luckily, there were materials inside the cave for starting a fire. The firewood and dry leaves, which could be used as kindling, had been prepared by Lyle during his last visit to this spot.

Lyle lit a fire skillfully. Then, he spoke to Elaina.

“Take it off.”

Elaina’s eyes widened in shock. Lyle realized his words had been too abrupt and quickly added an explanation.

“If you keep wearing wet clothes, you’ll catch a cold. So take them off.”

It was common sense, but the problem was that they had no spare clothes to change into. As Elaina hesitated, Lyle approached her and began removing her fur coat.

“W-wait a minute! Lyle!”

“Fortunately, your inner clothes aren’t wet.”

Lyle, who had practically stripped off her coat, touched her shoulders and waist to check for any dampness. His actions were meant to ensure her safety, but Elaina’s face flushed a deep red as if it might explode.

“Your lower garments too. If you keep them on…”

“Fine! I get it! I’ll do it!”

Thankfully, Elaina had worn an extra layer beneath her clothes to protect against the cold. After removing her fur trousers, Lyle draped his cloak over her.

“This waterproof fabric should keep you warmer. Wrap yourself in it.”

The one making this suggestion, however, was wearing a shirt completely soaked through. Lyle deftly removed his wet shirt, placing it next to Elaina’s fur coat. His upper body was now entirely exposed.

Elaina had seen him like this before—at the villa during their honeymoon. But back then, they had been indoors. Now, rain was falling, and the air in the mountain forest was cold. It was impossible for Elaina, who had felt chilled just by wearing wet clothes, not to be concerned about Lyle’s state.

“…Are you okay?”

“What?”

“You look too cold.”

“I’m fine.”

Lyle immediately reassured her.

“I’ve survived much worse situations. This is nothing.”

But it was far from “nothing.” Though a fire had been lit, they couldn’t make it too large for fear of smoke filling the cave.

“Come here.”

Elaina extended her arms from beneath the cloak and beckoned him. Lyle chuckled softly at the sight.

“I’m really fine.”

“You know, I’ve always thought this about you. That’s a habit you really need to fix—comparing everything to the battlefield.”

This wasn’t a battlefield. From now on, he would spend far more time living as Archduke Grant than he had spent in war.

“Many people depend on you now. Simply enduring isn’t enough. Come here quickly. It’s making me cold just watching you.”

Elaina stood up and moved closer to him. She draped the cloak over his shoulders and sat snugly beside him.

“I’m not sure, but I’ve heard that animals in very cold regions share body heat to survive. They say it’s an effective way to beat the cold. Let’s do that too. If one of us catches a cold, the paperwork will pile up in no time.”

Elaina spoke quickly, pretending to be nonchalant. Sitting so close to a half-naked Lyle, she couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Her heart raced loudly. She couldn’t explain why she felt this way, which only added to her frustration.

Suddenly, she was pulled into a tight embrace. Sitting beside Lyle, Elaina found herself in his arms. Startled, she blinked silently, unable to utter a word.

“If you sit like that, you’ll end up catching a cold yourself.”

Lyle explained that the best way to maintain body heat was to eliminate any gaps. His voice, so close to her ears, sent a tingling sensation through her.

“W-wait a moment.”

“Don’t squirm. If air gets in, it’ll get cold.”

He tightly wrapped the cloak around them to keep out the cold air. If Elaina moved, it would disrupt the seal of the cloak, letting in the chilly air. In the end, she stiffened and stared straight ahead.

Crackle, crackle. The sound of the fire filled the cave. Held so closely, Elaina could hear Lyle’s breathing near her ears, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

The more she tried to concentrate on the fire, the more aware she became of Lyle’s scent and the warmth of his body.

“Are you cold? You keep trembling.”

In their tightly wrapped position, there was no way Elaina could feel cold. If anything, she was too warm.

She shook her head firmly. “That’s not it. You told me not to move, so I’m staying still. Otherwise, cold air will get in.”

Though she blamed the cold, the truth was that the feeling of his breath against her ear was sending chills down her spine.

Her face grew hot. Elaina lowered her head, hiding her face from Lyle, embarrassed that he might see her expression.

Unlike Lyle, who was purely focused on avoiding the cold, Elaina felt self-conscious about their closeness. She couldn’t help but recognize him as a man for the first time in their marriage.

Outside, the rain poured down. Inside the cave, she found herself pressed against her half-naked husband.

She suddenly recalled the ball she hosted before coming to Mabel. Many women had circled around Lyle, desperate to exchange even a few words with him.

They must have known. Lyle Grant was an incredibly attractive man. It seemed that Elaina had been the only one unaware of this.

‘Well, that makes sense.’

Even when compared to the glamorous Leo, Lyle’s face was equally handsome. His stern expression and tanned skin from the battlefield exuded a stoic charm that no one could replicate.

On top of that, his tall frame, broad shoulders, and upright posture made him stand out even more when properly dressed. It was impossible not to notice him.

Add to this the title of Archduke Grant. He was the master of the Grant Knights, considered the finest in the empire, and his territories were on the brink of tremendous growth.

In just half a year, Lyle’s status had risen dramatically.

However, few people knew of his good qualities beyond his exterior. Especially his gentle side—Elaina was the only one who truly knew.

‘I’m the only one.’

That thought made her both happy and self-conscious, as waves of complex emotions washed over her.