SDIWD - Chapter 72
Chapter 72
"Even if everyone else is ordinary… you- you're not." Hua Mu was incredibly shy, but the feelings in her heart finally gave her the courage to speak her mind.
In her eyes, Bai Zhen was special too.
She often grew frustrated with the other's denseness and lack of romantic sense, but she also often thought that perhaps these were the very reasons she cared so much for her.
Unlike the noble ladies of her circle, who spent most of their time idly, pouring their affections into girlish fancies and playful dalliances, Sentinels seemed to be born without that romantic bone in their body. All they thought about day in and day out was work and duty.
Yet, it was precisely this kind of person who had protected her countless times through crises big and small, who guarded her with a devoted posture, never asking for anything in return.
Bai Zhen might not be good with words, might not understand her awkward thoughts, but she had never minded her cold attitude and had always done everything in her power to protect her.
Perhaps this was what she liked about Bai Zhen: powerful yet humble, dependable and straightforward, both infuriating and reassuring.
Bai Zhen's body seemed to tremble slightly, and Hua Mu could feel the arms around her tighten. Her heart began to race, and she looked up, apprehensive yet filled with a hint of anticipation.
Bai Zhen was looking at her, her dark, bright eyes moist and full of emotion, reflecting Hua Mu's figure.
Those eyes were too deep; Hua Mu had been bewitched by her gaze more than once. Every time she met the Sentinel's eyes, she would have the illusion that Bai Zhen also remembered that time, that she also admired her.
Those dark eyes often threw her heart into turmoil, making it flutter like a trapped deer, letting her imagination run wild and her thoughts wander. She could only force herself not to look at Bai Zhen, to avoid her gaze, treating her with an even colder, more distant attitude in an attempt to suppress the feelings that were about to overflow.
She also understood that, regardless of what Bai Zhen thought, if her father and aunt discovered her feelings, Bai Zhen would absolutely not be allowed to continue as her guard.
But here, no one could control her, and no one could stop her.
Hua Mu trembled all over, almost unable to bear Bai Zhen's gaze. But she couldn't bring herself to look away, wanting to bask in this warmth, to be utterly captivated and lost in a daze of love.
Come on, kiss me. I definitely won't refuse.
As if suddenly inspired, the Sentinel pursed her lips, lowered her head, and placed a kiss on the corner of her forehead.
Hua Mu closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering softly.
The Sentinel's lips lingered on her smooth forehead, filled with tenderness and immense affection. Hua Mu was intoxicated by it, gripping Bai Zhen's arm tightly, anticipating further intimacy.
"Miss…"
Why is this idiot still calling me Miss? It would be so much better if she called me Mumu, like Father and Auntie do. It would surely sound wonderful in Bai Zhen's voice.
Hua Mu lifted her face, waiting for more lingering kisses.
"Please rest well."
"…?"
Wait, that's it? Where's the earth-shattering passion?
Hua Mu's eyes flew open, and she stared at Bai Zhen in disbelief. The other woman wore a gentle, faint smile, looking utterly considerate.
What the hell? After all that, she's telling me to sleep?
Seeing her glaring, showing no intention of sleeping, Bai Zhen was momentarily at a loss as to what she had done wrong.
"Miss, you- you didn't want to sleep?"
Sleep, sleep, sleep my ass! You can sleep forever when you're dead. Shouldn't you seize the day while you're alive?
"Right…"
But the Sentinel's face was so innocent that Hua Mu couldn't bring herself to tell her what she was thinking.
Is she kidding me? Aren't I supposed to be the innocent one? Shouldn't Bai Zhen be the one taking the initiative? I've thrown almost all my reserve out the window!
"I'll call you when the medicine is ready. If you're still feeling uncomfortable anywhere, just tell me."
"Oh…"
"Miss?"
"It's nothing. I'm going to sleep. Hold me."
Forget it. I just confessed. It's probably not good to be so hasty. We'll take it slow.
Seeing Hua Mu rest her head on her and close her eyes peacefully, Bai Zhen felt a sense of satisfaction well up inside her.
So the Young Lady didn't dislike her; in fact, she valued and cared for her deeply. This realization thrilled her beyond measure.
The thought of kissing Hua Mu, unable to control her feelings, made Bai Zhen's face flush red with shyness. Such an intimate, even presumptuous, act was something she would never have dared to imagine in the past. It wasn't because of binding heat, nor had she lost control; she had kissed the Young Lady of her own free will.
Will the Young Lady think I'm frivolous?
Their statuses were worlds apart, and she knew she shouldn't be indulging in fantasies. But since the Young Lady had feelings for her, she would never do anything to hurt her affections.
Bai Zhen had already resolved to protect Hua Mu for the rest of her life. Just as her master had become the Queen's shadow, she was willing to become the Young Lady's shadow.
Compared to Sentinels, Guides were much more stable. The two served different functions, and in terms of ability alone, it was hard to say which was stronger. But judging from the attitudes of both the royal family and the government, the restrictions placed on Sentinels were far greater than those on Guides.
The royal family had a rule that among heirs, Guides were ranked higher in the line of succession than Sentinels, after which age was the deciding factor. This was because Guides were far more stable than Sentinels and were more efficient in handling political affairs. Sentinels, on the other hand, mostly served in the military or worked in specialized fields, putting their unique talents to use.
Generally speaking, Guides were closer to what one would consider ordinary people. They could even marry ordinary people, have children, and go their entire lives without bonding. The most typical example was Hua Mu's father, whose actions had caused a huge uproar not only in aristocratic circles but throughout the entire country.
Public opinion on his actions was mixed, but the royal family's attitude made it clear they strongly disapproved. Yet, when the Queen declared she would not marry, the previous king not only didn't punish her but even praised her greatly.
This was not uncommon in the history of the Sheng Chao Empire. Some busybodies had even compiled a list of names, implying it was merely a royal "tradition." The Queen not marrying didn't mean she had no lovers, no Sentinel, nor that she wouldn't have heirs. On the contrary, by not marrying, she could have numerous lovers without committing bigamy under modern law, and she could also prevent a partner from interfering in state affairs. In a sense, it was an extremely wise move.
Yes, the characteristic pairing and bonding of Sentinels and Guides was never considered applicable to the royal family's Guides. This was also one of the reasons their abilities were said to be stronger than those of ordinary Sentinels and Guides.
In Bai Zhen's view, even if she were to become just one of Hua Mu's Sentinels, she would have no complaints.
Hua Mu had thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but she "passed out" less than two minutes after closing her eyes. After the great sorrow and joy, her mind was actually exhausted. Luna had returned to her mental landscape at some point, and once Hua Mu relaxed, she couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Though it wasn't fatal, it was still venomous. Hua Mu woke up with a slight fever, and drinking the medicine didn't make her feel much better. After checking her injuries, Bai Zhen couldn't help but worry. The golden flower snake's venom wasn't strong; for Bai Zhen, a few days of simple rest would be enough to recover.
But the Young Lady was frail, and there was no specific antivenom on the island. Relying solely on herbs and general detoxification pills was too slow, so some suffering was unavoidable.
Hua Mu's skin was delicate, making the wounds look particularly shocking. The bites were itchy and painful, surrounded by purple bruises with hard lumps underneath. After the initial shame and joy of their mutual confession had passed, she finally felt the pain in her body.
"Bai Zhen, I'm so itchy…"
She was injured and sick, so it was inevitable that she would be vulnerable. It was only natural to act spoiled and ask for hugs and kisses. Besides… besides, their relationship was different now. What was wrong with being a little spoiled?
Bai Zhen's heart ached for her. She hated that she didn't have the Queen's abilities to heal Hua Mu. All she could do was comfort her again and again, carefully stroking the skin around the wounds to alleviate the unbearable itching and pain.
Hua Mu thoroughly enjoyed this intimacy with Bai Zhen. Of course, it would be even better if she weren't injured. If she weren't injured, they might have already… why would they need to spend so much time recovering?
Lying in Bai Zhen's arms, Hua Mu's mind was filled with all sorts of messy thoughts. Looking up at Bai Zhen's tense and focused expression as she massaged her wrist, she felt exceptionally content.
This big dummy is so doting when she's gentle. She's still a bit too proper, but at least she doesn't get flustered by a little closeness anymore.
"My leg hurts too…"
Bai Zhen reached down to rub the wound on her thigh, her face showing not a trace of impure thoughts.
The Sentinel's hands weren't particularly delicate; the pads of her fingers had noticeable calluses, which worked wonders when rubbing the itchy, painful area.
Hua Mu hummed in comfort while speaking some nonsensical, sweet nothings to her.
"That snake was so hateful. If I'd known, I would have brought it back to make soup. It made me suffer so much."
The Sentinel said, "Wild snakes have parasites and are hard to prepare. We shouldn't eat it."
"Fine. But I did chop it in two with the axe, so I guess it's the more pitiful one."
"You're amazing, Miss."
Hua Mu was very pleased. "Of course. You didn't get to see my heroic posture…"
As she said this, she inadvertently recalled the pathetic sight of herself crying and cleared her throat in embarrassment.
"Ahem, before you arrived, I hadn't cried. I very calmly pulled it off and beat it to death… I only cried because I thought I was going to die. That's perfectly normal."
Bai Zhen went along with her. "Of course. That's a normal reaction for anyone. You were already very brave."
Hua Mu found that Bai Zhen had suddenly become so good with words. She was pleased but also felt a little awkward.
"Hmph, do you really think so? You're not just trying to humor me, are you?"
The Sentinel chuckled softly and said very seriously, "Of course I think so."
Ah, her smile is so beautiful.
Hua Mu clutched her chest, feeling like she was about to faint. It was no exaggeration to say that this person was like a public heartthrob in the circle of noble young ladies. She still remembered the time the second daughter of the Li family had bragged for a full ten minutes at a study group just because this person had asked how she was doing.
Hah, what's so great about that stupid Sentinel anyway.
She still remembered saying those words.
No, she's great. She's absolutely wonderful. And the best part is, this Sentinel is mine!
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