"I didn't know you could cook" Renee raised her eyes and looked at Caesar surprised.
"There are many things you don't know about me, haha" Caesar laughed softly and gestured to a finely sliced up piece of the boar.
"Come, breakfast is served," Caesar beckoned Renee over and smiled.
Renee walked over and sniffed the air, "it smells delicious!" she could not help but compliment.
"Let's hurry up and finish eating so we can get back on the road…" Caesar said while looking at Joe that was currently stuffing his face with a piece of the boar.
Suddenly a stiff breeze kicked up Renee's hair and further escalated her beauty. Caesar observed her quietly.
"The cold heart that I had developed for so long in my past life… Is it melting?" Caesar thought to himself silently while observing their currently pleasant atmosphere.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Caesar laid down on the grassy plain and put his arms behind his head. He gazed upon the cloudless blue sky.
"The happiness which I felt that I could never grasp… Has it been here all along?" Caesar thought to himself quietly while staring at the endless sky.
Caesar slowly stood up from the ground and patted the grass off his bottom, the radiance from his red eyes were glowing brighter than ever before.
"I shouldn't be getting too soft yet. The cold CEO is still needed," Caesar whispered under his breath and walked over to Renee that was currently feasting on a slice of Favin boar.
Once Caesar got close to her, Renee stopped eating the boar and looked up at Caesar curiously. "Are you not going to eat?" she asked, bewildered.
"I detest eating my own cooking, always have and always will" Caesar smiled gently and responded to her.
Renee tilted her head in puzzlement, "why do you dislike your cooking? It's delicious" Renee could not comprehend Caesar's reasoning.
"It's not about the flavor. It's about the memories," Caesar explained calmly.
Renee snorted and continued eating, "I feel as though you know everything about me, my family, my tendencies, my habits, and probably even my favorite food… But you are like a locked book, and you are not willing to unlock it for me," Renee protested loudly while chewing on her food.
"It's not as though I don't want to tell you. It's probably because I am afraid you will not accept what I truly am," Caesar retorted.
Renee stood up and lightly punched Caesar in the stomach, of course, Caesar could have evaded it, but he didn't.
"I would not let a man I didn't love, sleep with me. I do not care about who you once were but who you currently are… My feelings are not so shallow that I would dislike you for your past," Renee barked and marched towards the carriage.
The carriage door slammed, leaving Caesar there standing alone while Joe looked at Caesar's expression with wonder.
The breeze caused Caesar's hair to flutter, resulting in his expression being temporarily cloaked. But, if one were to see his current expression, they would see a smile silently forming on his lips.
"Oi, is this a lover's quarrel?" Joe asked loudly, breaking Caesar from his thoughts.
Caesar slicked his long hair white back with his slender fingers and looked westward, the tips of a few towering mountains were currently visible.
"You had said that you wanted to explore a few mountains for… magical gems?" Caesar looked at Joe inquiringly, and expertly changed the subject.
"Yes, yes, deep inside mountains and normally in the harshest of climate are where mana gems are produced" Joe corrected Caesar and explained with a longing look.
"They're called mana gems? I see, we should be able to reach those mountains by tonight, " Caesar spoke with certainty.
Joe nodded his head energetically and ran towards the carriage, he hopped on front and winked at Caesar playfully.
"I'll drive the carriage, go patch things up with your girl!" Joe spoke as if he was the most excellent wingman to have ever lived.
Caesar just shook his head with a wry smile. He went over towards the large tree. The horses were tied up to and untied them. Once he was finished, he did as Joe suggested and walked inside the carriage.
Edward was currently sleeping soundly, and Renee was in the furthest back pouting with her arms crossed. She ignored Caesar's presence and just kept looking out the carriage window.
Caesar stepped over the sleeping Edward and sat down next to Renee, he sighed loudly and looked up at the ceiling.
"When I was very young, my mother would cook for me… She made the best food I had ever tasted. One day, because of my father's past demons, she was suddenly taken away from me. Every single day I took care of my brother, I would try to recreate my mother's cooking. After many years of practicing, I finally was able to accomplish it. However, when I ever I tasted my food, I would just feel discomfort. I cooked for myself many times, and after a while, I grew tired of the taste and began hating it." Caesar spoke softly, and he could see Renee's ears twitching.
"Aren't you a dukes son, though? Why didn't you have a chef do it for you?" Renee couldn't help but ask after a few seconds of silence
"Haha, that is enough storytelling for now… I will tell you more about me later," Caesar chuckled softly and pulled Renee into his embrace.
Renee was still slightly angry at Caesar, "you said you were afraid that I wouldn't accept you for who you were, why is that?" Renee asked while nestling her head in Caesar's sturdy chest.
"On my path to the top, I had destroyed many careers, lives, dreams, and I even lost myself while climbing the ladder… I controlled people with fear, and by manipulating their self-interest, I am not a good man," Caesar said with a self-deprecating smile.
Renee raised her head and studied the insides of Caesar's eyes deeply, "Even I have killed many people, there is no such thing as a good-man anymore… as long as you don't betray me and continue to love me, It doesn't matter what you did," Renee said soothingly.
Caesar pecked Renee's lips, "you are truly a great woman," Caesar complimented with a sly smile.
Renee nestled closer to Caesar and sat down on his lap, she rested her head on his shoulders and smiled comfortably.
"No great man has walked a clean path, and besides, every emperor needs an empress." Renee smiled and whispered into Caesar's ear.
Caesar leaned down and whispered back into Renee's ears, "are you sure? Emperors tend to have tons of concubines," Caesar said teasingly.
"Hmph, only women that sell themselves short would allow their husbands more women, and besides, I hate those fickle men that consider themselves worthy of many different women… it's clear that they don't respect their first wife enough," Renee spoke coldly.
"Does that mean you won't allow me to have an imperial harem?" Caesar laughed loudly and continued to tease.
Renee rolled her eyes, "Sure, you can have an imperial harem, you just won't have your 'spear' to do anything to them" she spoke coldly and glanced at his groin.
Sweat formed on Caesar's forehead as he examined her solemn expression… "you don't have to worry darling, I prefer prideful women anyway" Caesar soothed the raging inferno by his side and smiled comfortingly.
"I know, I was just messing with you" Renee laughed merrily and kissed Caesar's cheek.
Seeing that Renee was no longer mad, Caesar wrapped his arms around her and put his arms around her waist, "I'm quite hungry," he whispered seductively.
Renee flinched slightly and glanced at Caesar, "y-you can have some of my blood, but you can't do anything else… Edward is sleeping right there" She hesitated for a second but relented in the end.
"You didn't seem to mind Edward's presence last time; you even moved your hips yourself-" Caesar's words were soon cut off by an elbow striking him in the gut.
"Shut up, you rogue!" Renee protested.
Caesar smiled wryly and stopped teasing her. He moved his fangs closer to her neck.
Caesar penetrated her neck with his fangs and softly sucked out some of her mana, the t
aste of her mana was delicious, probably the best thing Caesar had ever tasted.
This continued for about a minute before Caesar finally parted from her neck, her body went limp in his embrace, and her breathing was heavy.
"I-I don't think I can ever get used to that feeling," Renee complained quietly.
"I'm sure one day it will come naturally" Caesar made a satisfied smile and gentled rubbed Renee's hair.
They stayed in this comfortable position for the entire morning and noon, Joe at the front of the carriage, rushed the horses as fast he could. He looked at the mountains eagerly.
"I might be able to make a magic accessory soon!" Joe muttered to himself happily and urged the horses to run faster.
Inside the carriage, both Caesar and Renee fell into a deep sleep. The sound of their rhythmic breathing echoed out inside the carriage.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Oi, Wake up, you bastards!" Joe abruptly pulled the reigns of the horses and roared.
Caesar's eyes snapped open, and he grabbed his two spadroons at the side, he kicked open the carriage door and hopped off.
"Whoa, easy now rich boy," a middle-aged man spoke up from the front of the carriage after seeing Caesar hop out.
The man had an eyepatch over his right eye and a large scar running from the right side of his chest to the left.
Caesar observed this man for a few seconds and glanced around to examine the surroundings. He could sense roughly 20-25 people surrounding them… their arrowheads were barely discernible through the tall grass and thick trees.
The man with the eyepatch furrowed his brows, "lookie here pretty boy, I ain't looking to take any lives… I just want your valuables," the middle-aged man spoke once again.
"And if I declined?" Caesar tilted his head and asked curiously.
"Although I don't wanna kill nobody, sometimes a necessary sacrifice is needed… you're a smart guy, right lad? Do the smart thing and don't get you and your companions killed" the middle-aged man had a heavy accent.
Renee poked her head out of the carriage "what's wrong?" she asked Caesar in a worried tone.
The man with an eyepatch halted his footsteps once he caught sight of Renee, his breath quickened, and his face blossomed with a lustful smile.
"Heh, actually, as long as you hand over that woman… I'll let you keep your miserable life, haha" the man laughed loudly and pointed his rusted scimitar towards Renee's head.
Caesar turned his head slightly and pecked Renee on the lips, "nothing is wrong, just stay in the carriage…" Caesar spoke calmly.
"I'm not weak, you know?" Renee protested.
"I am aware. It's just that your hands should not be dirtied on scum such as these," Caesar's lips curled as he explained.
Renee glanced at the middle-aged man and their surroundings for a second before she begrudgingly entered back into the carriage.
The carriage door closed, and the surroundings became silent.
"Do you not realize what is happening, kiddo? Oh, let me guess… You're trying to be a hero!?" The middle-aged man grabbed his gut and roared in laughter.
Caesar could hear other bursts of laughter from his surroundings, presumably the other bandits. Joe furrowed his brows and looked around.
"This isn't good, there should be at least 20 people around us," Joe thought to himself and glanced at Caesar with an anxious expression.
"Hehe, I don't condone killing children, how about you hand over the lass inside the carriage and we can both go on our ways" The middle-aged man stopped laughing and took a step forward.
Caesar squinted his eyes and unsheathed one of his swords. He could feel the killing intent from the surrounding bandits.
"Huh, you are going to waste your life because of one woman? Are you an idiot? Listen here, kid, being a hero won't get you anywhere in life," the man with an eyepatch spoke loudly once again.
"It's been a long time since someone looked down on me, it's been an even longer time since someone called me a child" Caesar's voice was like a cold blade striking the bandits hearts, they felt their spines shiver in fear.
The middle-aged man looked into Caesar's eyes and instinctually felt fear, "w-what the hell are you?" the man stuttered for words and raised his scimitar in a defensive stance.
Caesar kicked off the ground and charged the man; the bandits surrounding them didn't even see when Caesar left his position.
Caesar cleaved down with his sword. However, the man blocked with his scimitar.
"W-what strength, I haven't seen such speed since the last war!" The man roared out and laughed maniacally.
Caesar's expression was calm, and he focused on the man's body; he could see many different red dots and lines that streaked across his current fighting stance… Caesar cleaved down once again with his sword.
"That won't work a second time!" the man roared back and blocked Caesar's sword once again, right as their swords collided, Caesar stepped forward and kneed the man's belly.
The man clenched his teeth and tried to punch with his left hand, Caesar easily evaded it and let go of his sword… He stomped on the man's toes and grabbed him by the neck.
"W-what kind of swordsman doesn't rely on his sword," the man spoke angrily.
"What is your name?" Caesar asked coldly.
"Cleft," the man barely could say his name as Caesar gripped his neck tightly.
"Well, Cleft, If I used my sword, it would have taken me around three moves to kill you, whereas if I let go of my sword… It merely took two. I prefer efficiency," Caesar explained calmly as he slowly tightened his grip.
A few arrows landed next to Caesar's feet, and the bandits walked out of the tall grass, "let Cleft go this instant, or the next arrow is going in your heart!" one of the bandits spoke vehemently.
As if to answer the bandits, Caesar tightened his grip and broke Cleft's neck. He swiftly picked up two of the arrows that landed at his feet, he threw both of them and easily penetrated two of the bandit's skulls.
Caesar picked up his sword that was lying on the ground and charged at the bandits, immediately 20 or so arrows rained down on Caesar's location.
Caesar's eyes moved swiftly, and the most efficient path slowly formed in front of him, Caesar's eyes radiated a deep crimson as he moved forward.
Caesar raised his sword and easily parried a few of the arrows, he jumped up and acrobatically moved his body to evade the rest.
"SHOOT HIM, HE'S IN MID AI-" Before the bandit could finish his words, he was already impaled from the sword Caesar had thrown down at him.
Arrows once again flew towards him, a black mist suddenly erupted from his back and disintegrated the arrows from his behind, Caesar maneuvered in mid-air and caught two bolts that were flying at him from his front.
Caesar once again threw the arrows down and swiftly killed two more bandits. After a few seconds, Caesar finally reached the ground and picked up his sword.
Three of the bandits in front of him pulled out their swords and struck down at him, Caesar moved quicker than them, however, and ran through them in a zig-zag fashion.
Three heads flew into the air, and blood spurted from their necks, similar to a fountain.
Arrows once again madly flew at him, Caesar didn't panic and grabbed one of the nearby bandits by the neck. He charged towards the bandit archers with the bandit's body blocking all of the arrows.
"STOP, PLEASEEE" The bandit screamed out in pain as dozens of arrows pierced his back.
Caesar moved quickly and nearly instantly made it towards the dozen or so bandit archers, he flung the dead bandit towards one of them and started his slaughter.
The archers couldn't shoot Caesar, who was right next to them. They started to run away in fear as Caesar beheaded them one by one.
"H-help, It's a monster!"
"MOMMY"
"GOD SAVE US"
"Your praying is in vain" Caesar spoke coldly and stabbed the heart of the last bandit.
The bandit's body fell
to the ground, and the earth was littered with corpses — blood flowed like a river.
Caesar could feel a slight stinging pain in his right eye, "as I had thought, this power isn't omnipotent… Although it shows me the most efficient path, that doesn't mean my body is capable of following through," Caesar thought to himself bitterly.
"My God, I didn't know you were such a beast!" Joe ran towards Caesar and looked at him admirably.
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