Chapter 27

“…”

In the cold silence, Natalianne strode forward, her long robe sweeping behind her.

Servants scrambled to unload her luggage from the carriage, balancing the small pile on their shoulders as they hurried to follow.

It wasn’t even a heavy load, yet they were panting and sweating as if it were.

‘This is bad.’

The butler’s troubled gaze followed the woman’s swaying robe as she walked deeper into the mansion.

Melissa had been driven out, and now Natalianne had arrived.

‘There will be chaos.’

The butler let out a long sigh from the very depths of his chest.

* * *

Flinch.

Demius stopped moving, a faint sense of unease crawling down his spine.

At that moment, a shout burst out from behind him.

“Watch out, my lord!”

Slash.

Without even looking back, he swung his sword. The charging monster was sliced clean in half.

Boom.

The crash echoed across the mountain, shaking snow loose from the cliffs.

“Haa.”

Demius flicked the blood from his blade with one smooth motion.

The northern end of the empire, Mount Antaras, was already soaked in red and blue fluids.

But the screams of monsters and the shouts of soldiers faded into nothing before they could reach his ears.

‘Am I losing focus?’

Exhaling white breath, Demius scanned the snowy landscape.

It was the second day since the subjugation mission had begun.

There were far more monsters than expected. It felt like they might have to extend the hunt beyond the planned schedule.

Maybe ten days, maybe three weeks.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

A deep rumble shook the ground as a massive beast covered in fur emerged from the ridge.

“Now!”

At the commander’s sharp signal, the soldiers yanked the ropes they had prepared in advance.

Graaagh!

The creature howled as the ropes snapped taut around its legs, pulling it off balance.

“We got it!”

The soldiers cheered for only a moment.

Crack. Crackle.

A chilling sound followed, and suddenly sharp spikes burst from the creature’s fur, slicing through the ropes.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

“No, stop!”

The thick ropes broke one after another, and before the soldiers could react, the beast reared up and swung its massive arm.

They were going to die.

The thought flashed across their minds in that instant.

Slash.

The beast’s arm was severed cleanly.

Blood sprayed in the air, but Demius dodged with ease and leapt up, stepping on the fallen limb.

His sword gleamed as he soared above the creature’s head.

Swoosh.

With a single stroke, the monster’s head flew off and rolled down the snowy slope.

It had all happened in just a few seconds.

The soldiers stood stunned for a heartbeat, then burst into cheers.

“Whoa!”

“As expected of the Vice Commander!”

“Glory to Lord Demius!”

Their shouts rang out, but Demius only wiped the remaining blood from his blade with an empty expression.

Drops of red scattered across the white snow like tiny flowers.

A strange numbness dulled his senses.

‘Am I exhausted?’

No, it had only been two days. That couldn’t be it.

Crash.

A monster resembling a black leopard lunged from behind a tree. Its claws slashed toward his heart, but Demius pushed off the ground lightly, widening the distance.

‘Then what is it?’

Roar!

The beast bounded forward again, closing the gap in an instant. Demius crouched low and angled his blade.

Slash.

The creature’s body split cleanly from muscle to bone, its blood splattering the snow.

He turned quickly as another came charging and swung.

Slash.

‘Yes.’

That must be it.

There could only be one reason.

He was suffering from Melissa deficiency.

Slash. Slash.

Each swing of his sword tore through monsters, their fluids spilling across the snow.

The man weaving through the carnage looked almost like a reaper.

“Whoa!”

The soldiers watched in awe.

Truly the sharpest blade of House Eisenhart.

No, the rightful heir to the Grand Duchy.

Their courage renewed, the men shouted louder.

“Protect the Vice Commander!”

“Activate the traps!”

“Fire the crossbows!”

Boom. Boom.

The sounds of battle faded somewhere behind him.

‘Miss Lili.’

A distant warmth flickered in his blue eyes.

‘I hope you’re doing well. Eating properly. Sleeping soundly.’

‘You probably are.’

‘You’re someone who can find happiness anywhere.’

Slash.

As another monster fell in two, Demius’s lips moved faintly.

‘Still…’

His cracked lips murmured softly in the freezing air.

“I should at least send word to her.”

Just as he whispered that, a sharp voice cut through the din.

“Focus! Cover that flank!”

Damn it. Demius frowned at Linburton’s voice echoing through the communicator.

He had been caught yesterday trying to use the military comm line for personal contact.

‘The world must be ending. Did I hear that right? The Vice Commander of all people wants to use official communication channels for private messages? To contact his wife? Do you even realize what you’re saying?’

He had stopped listening after that, but it was something about neglecting duty for romance.

Damn it.

He clenched his teeth but had no choice but to back down.

Using military equipment for personal purposes was a serious offense.

And if it involved Melissa, even the smallest infraction could be twisted and punished harshly.

Damn it. Damn it all.

His grip tightened until his knuckles cracked.

He had to endure.

He couldn’t risk anything now.

Melissa had already left her home and was living in a strange place because of him. The least he could do was not cause her any trouble.

That was why, even on the second day of the mission, he had resisted the urge to contact her.

Boom.

His sword sparked blue as he swung, slicing three monsters at once.

The soldiers stared in awe.

How passionate their lord was about the hunt. Truly a man worthy of following.

“Glory to Eisenhart!”

“Glory!”

Their cries rose through the mountains as they charged forward.

Demius kept slashing, but in his mind another thought began to surface.

‘Should I bring her a gift when I return?’

Yes. He should.

He’d heard there was a new bakery on Rotten Street famous for its strawberry cake.

Yes, that would be perfect.

A smile crept onto his lips.

Melissa loved sweets, so she would surely be pleased.

But maybe he should get her something else too.

‘Jewelry?’

No, he didn’t know her taste in gems yet.

He’d learned a bit about her dress preferences, but choosing jewels was another matter.

He’d have to visit a jeweler sometime.

Maybe under the excuse of a date.

Thud.

Demius’s ears burned red.

‘A date?’

He, going on a date?

With Lili?

Sweat gathered on his palms even in the freezing cold.

‘Can I really…?’

Of course he could.

They were married.

“Vice Commander, behind you!”

Slash.

His sword moved on instinct, cutting down the monster lunging from his blind spot.

Even with its head severed, the creature swung its spiked limbs wildly, rushing him again.

Heart. Lungs. Arteries.

Stab. Stab. Slash.

The blade pierced through the beast, and blood gushed like a fountain.

‘Yes.’

Running through the storm of blood, Demius smiled faintly.

He would take her on a date.

Even if their marriage only lasted a year, they were still husband and wife.

So he—

‘You idiot!’

The sudden voice made him scowl.

Why now, of all times, was he remembering that brat’s words?

But once a memory surfaced, it refused to stop.

‘Someone like you will never go on a date in your life!’

His foul-tempered sister, Natalianne.

She had been a menace since childhood.

‘You never play with me. You’re always following Asellion around like a shadow. Who would ever want to date someone like that?’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Young Demius had ignored her shrill voice and muttered back,

‘I’m not getting married anyway.’

‘What does that have to do with dating? You don’t have to get married just because you go on a date.’

She had snorted.

‘Besides, who would ever marry you? Stop drinking that sacred soup already.’

Tongue out, teasing him.

He had ignored her then, as always.

But now…

‘Damn it.’

Demius groaned softly.

Yes, Natalianne had always been a troublemaker, but he hadn’t exactly been mature either.

Saying things like he’d never date or marry.

He still thought dating led to marriage, but at least one relief remained.

There was no one left alive who could tell Melissa about that embarrassing past.

It was pure luck that Natalianne was locked away in the Magic Tower.