Kalix Noah's POV
Kassandra didn't respond to what I said until we reached the falls where Mom and Dad first met. My mom was the only child of the last duke who ruled this territory.
I think my late grandfather suggested that I should be the next duke to rule this place after his death because of heart disease.
"Oh my gosh! The water is crystal clear! I can see the fish even from here! Whoa! This is beautiful, your majesty! Wait, how come your mom and dad met here? What... happened?" she says, looking curious and waiting for my answer.
"My dad accidentally saw my mother taking a bath in here. He was supposed to meet Mom's father first, but he heard about this fall. He came and saw my mom swimming around," I replied. She covered her lips and blushed. I know what she's thinking.
"They only told me that part. My siblings only knew that mom and dad were betrothed to each other. My paternal grandmother likes my mom after she unknowingly helped her when she came into the port," I added. She smiled.
"That's what they called fate. I guess love can really be learned, especially when your partner makes an effort. Being appreciative and spending time together will always be the best," Kassandra says.
I want to open up about my curse when she suddenly gets into the water. I sighed. "What are you even thinking?!" I roared.
She grins widely, showing her white teeth. "The water is cold, your majesty."
I glared. "Of course, it's cold. It's still spring. You're just an idiot," I uttered coldly.
She laughs and dives into the water. She starts swimming as if she has clothes to change into. This woman! She's not even thinking!
I sat on the grass and waited until she trembled in coldness and got off the water herself. Time passed, and I was surprised that she swam for almost an hour.
"Oh my! That was great! It's refreshing. It's been a while since the last time that I swam into a river. You try it too," she suggests. I stood up.
"Did you even have spare clothes to wear, hmm?" I ask.
Her jaw dropped and turned pale. I guess this famous and scary general can be stupid when she wants to.
"I forgot! The water was so beautiful that it invited me to dive in. What am I going to do?" she asked, looking at me in the eyes.
"Stupid!" I yelled. She covered her ears and looked at me with puppy-like and teary eyes. I shook my head and sighed.
"I'm cold already, your majesty," she whispered.
I'm glad I'm wearing my coat. It has buttons on it; she can use it in the meantime. I take my coat off and look at her.
"Change your clothes. Take them all off and use this. Can you just be careful next time and use your head? What if I'm not with you? Don't tell me you do this in front of your soldiers?!" I ask. She shakes her head right away.
"No! I just did this because you're the one who is with me, Your Majesty," she says, smiling widely. I looked away and hid my reaction. Damn! 'Why is she glowing?!'
"Your Majesty, can I ask something?" Kassandra asks.
I turn around. My eyes dilated. She already takes off her upper clothes. She turns around and covers her breasts. I turn my body around as well. I covered my lips out of embarrassment.
I saw it crystal clear. Damn! "Tell me when you're done. I want to discuss with you my unluckiness or simply my curse," I whispered.
She didn't say a word. After a few minutes, Kassandra coughs. "I'm okay now, milord." I turn around and look at Kassandra.
"Your Majesty, can you tell me why you believe that you are unlucky, or whatever it is? What makes you think of that?" she asks. I take a seat on the grass and look at the rustling sound of the water.
"The first time I learned of this, I was seven years old. I kissed my mother good night. She was on her way back to her quarters when she accidentally slipped on the stairs and fell down. She's been bedridden for a month," I whispered. She sat next to me and sighed too.
"The next one is my dad. He was on his journey to the borderlands and spoke with your family. He told me to kiss his cheeks like my fifth and sixth brothers. They haven't reached the borderlands yet, but when he meets bandits in the first village outside the capital, he almost dies," I added.
I told her the next situations that proved that my unluckiness brings misfortunes from mild to worse. I'm just glad that none of my family died because of it.
Since then, I have never kissed anyone, whether it's their cheeks, palms, or lips. I suddenly remember the woman from the brothels who stole a kiss from me when we left their place.
The next day, we heard that one of her customers killed her. It only happens that no one saw when she kissed me except Enrique.
"And so?" she replied.
I turn my head and look at her. My expression turns sour. "And so? What kind of response is that!?" I roared. Kassandra turns her body to face me.
"What? I will never get scared of such things. I've already experienced a lot myself. A kiss of bad luck? Nah," my wife says, shrugging her shoulder while raising her palm.
"Plus, I already told you that I've got all the luck in this world. I was born with good luck, so... we're perfectly matched!" she added.
My jaw drops. What kind of courage is she trying to show? Did she really think I'd buy it? "Really?" I ask.
I held her cheeks and pulled her face closer. "If I kissed you and became unlucky, don't blame me," I remarked. I kissed her torridly.
The same intense heat that arises in my chest happens again. I feel like her kiss was a poison that I drank. It warms my body from the inside.
I let go of her and stepped back. I want to see if she'll have a feeling of unluckiness. I heard my horse scream.
I was taken aback when I saw a cobra pass in front of him, and instead of biting him, it was targeting my wife. I grabbed her arms and pulled her up.
"This is what I am talking about!" I roared.
She didn't take my words seriously. She grabbed the rock beside her and threw it on the cobra. I was stunned because the rock hit the snake's head and killed it.
Kassandra stood up and faced me. "Didn't I tell you too? Take my words seriously either, milord. I am not joking like you do," I replied seriously.