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Chapter 27
I Warned You
Johan gently stroked my head with ease.
“You don’t need to be afraid.”
It seemed Johan thought I was terrified by the sudden ambush. Perhaps I really had been trembling unconsciously, because his touch made me feel relieved.
“Your husband is someone who can win no matter the situation.”
I held tightly onto the fingers that had been stroking my hair. Those pale fingers instantly darkened pitch-black, looking as though they were gravely wounded.
I don’t know who attacked us, but…
I lowered my long lashes. Facing the crisis, my heart instead grew calm.
“Can’t we go straight back to the mansion?”
“Of course we can.”
Without hesitation, Johan nodded.
“You just need to wait a little.”
His firm attitude gave me trust. On the other side came the sound of things breaking, footsteps, and voices — noise intruding upon the space we shared.
“You’re not pushing yourself because of me, are you?”
“I’m not. Don’t worry.”
His eyes, as though staring at the enemies beyond, turned icy. That look was merciless, as if he could erase everything at any moment.
With loud crashes around us, the enemies stormed in. Suddenly, daggers poured down like rain. But they bounced off mid-air, not even grazing the hem of my clothes.
“It’s not something my pretty wife should see, so just wait a moment.”
Johan’s elegant hand covered my eyes. The last thing I saw was Johan’s usual gentle smile.
“I’ll clean this up quickly.”
My ears caught the sound of things breaking, collapsing, shattering. The unending groans and screams of people. Even without seeing, I could feel the sting of hostile gazes pressing down.
Because I couldn’t see, the fear multiplied. When I shivered, Johan pulled me into his arms and patted my shoulder.
“Shh. It’s over now.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You did well waiting.”
Yet he still hadn’t removed the hand covering my eyes.
It seems resolved, but…
All the sounds had vanished completely, yet my unease lingered. Johan effortlessly lifted me into his arms, and I leaned against his broad chest.
Could something have happened to him?
I carefully touched Johan’s throat. A searingly strong surge of magic pulsed there. From that alone, it seemed like Johan was suffering backlash from using black magic.
Is it really fine for him to use it like this?
And yet with no apparent problem? From what I’d read before, no matter how great Johan was as a black mage, this should have been impossible.
“Sorry, my wife.”
“…Yes?”
“You must have been very scared because of me.”
His steady breaths brushed against my ears. I could feel his throat moving heavily as he swallowed.
“I wanted to give you a good time… but I ruined it.”
Johan chuckled low. Outwardly, he seemed composed, as if nothing was wrong.
No…
He was only pretending to be fine. Otherwise, why would he still cover my eyes?
“I’m okay. You protected me. You’ve worked much harder.”
As we walked, Johan whispered softly,
“Wife. I have many enemies.”
“…I see.”
“So if you stay with me, you might face things like this again.”
His voice sank low. Nestled quietly in his arms, I wondered about his intent.
Why warn me?
He didn’t need to. It wasn’t as if he’d ever let me go even if I were afraid.
He’s impossible to understand.
By acting like this, he only made me misunderstand more.
“Even so, I’ll stay by your side.”
Because the most dangerous thing to me wasn’t anyone else, but Johan himself.
“Why?”
Because danger had always been with me — whether in Libertan or here. The world was full of people who hated me.
But I can’t tell him that.
I pulled down the hand covering my eyes and met his gaze.
“Because I’m your wife. Husbands and wives stay together through hard times.”
“If we divorce, you’ll be nothing but a stranger.”
“That’s fine. Because I want to be here.”
His red eyes burned brighter. I smiled clearly.
“No matter the danger, I want to stay by your side. Because I like you.”
Johan smoothly changed the subject, pretending to be touched that I liked him so much, and escorted me back to my room.
My gown has changed back to a dress.
But that wasn’t the important part.
Is he really fine?
I blinked, studying him carefully. Johan looked perfectly fine, as though my worries had been baseless. If anything, his slightly disheveled look from the fight only heightened his dangerous allure.
The golden-trimmed uniform coat he’d worn was gone, discarded somewhere. My eyes drifted to his hands — he was once again wearing his black gloves as though it were second nature.
“Wife, I’ll be busy for a while. I might not be able to visit you.”
He bent down to meet my eyes with a smiling gaze.
“Because I need to deal with those who dared interrupt our time together.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. Things like this must be dealt with immediately to prevent fallout.”
His crimson eyes glinted with lethal intent. And yet… strangely, though he looked fine outwardly, something felt wrong.
“Wait for me again.”
“…Is your hand alright?”
When I mentioned the backlash, Johan frowned slightly before giving a short laugh.
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
Just as he was about to leave, I instinctively reached out and grabbed his hand urgently. He looked troubled, lips pulling down.
“…Wife?”
Without answering, I carefully pulled off his glove. Thankfully, though he flinched, he didn’t push me away.
“My goodness…”
My eyes widened at the sight beneath.
“What is this?”
What had once been blackened fingertips had now spread to cover his entire hand, looking like severe burn scars. When I brushed the back of his hand in pity, the veins twitched in response.
That must hurt…
But Johan’s expression didn’t waver. He gently smiled and hid his hand again.
“It only looks bad. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
“That’s a lie.”
“It’s not. Why would I lie to you?”
“Because… you don’t look fine at all to me.”
His red eyes darkened. Despite the intimidating gaze that made most people shrink, I hid my fear and pulled up his sleeve.
“If it’s not a lie, then you won’t mind me looking.”
The black magic backlash had spread up his arm. Even just touching it, I could feel the fierce recoil of power. To confirm further, I loosened the top button of his shirt.
As expected, it’s spread this far too.
Johan swallowed and winked playfully.
“Wife, if you act this forward on the bed, I won’t be able to hold back.”
“It really does hurt, doesn’t it? And you were going to face enemies like this?”
Under my sharp gaze, Johan answered honestly.
“It’s not bad enough to worry you. Such worries are wasted on something like this. I know my own condition.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
I pulled him down and pressed him onto my bed. His eyes widened in surprise at my sudden move.
“Wife?”
“Weren’t you planning to hide your pain while telling me to wait? Going to ‘take care of enemies’ was just an excuse.”
Was I always this emotional?
Confronting Johan like this wasn’t wise. I must have gotten too immersed in this “duchess” role. Tears welled at the corners of my eyes. Johan’s smile faltered.
“My wife is too smart to fool.”
His expression cooled as he spoke.
“But even if you stay by me, nothing changes.”
“….”
“Being near a berserk mage is dangerous. You know that risk, and still act this way?”
His long fingers cupped my cheek. I asked quietly,
“What kind of danger?”
“When mages go berserk, they lose reason. The recoil of magic destroys everything around them, not just themselves. I’m especially bad among mages.”
Black mages used sacrifices to cast their spells. The greater the sacrifice, the greater both the power and the backlash.
And Johan’s sacrifice… was everything he had.
Because he’d had nothing left but vengeance.
Backlash reflects the nature of the sacrifice, they say… but I don’t know the details.
Johan’s lips curved with a sardonic smile at my wavering gaze.
“Simply put, I could lose control and hurt my wife.”
Suddenly, he pulled me under him, reversing our positions in an instant.
“Could you endure that?”
“To be honest, I don’t know.”
“Right. Someone as fragile as you could break instantly.”
Only divine power could heal black magic’s backlash — and only at the level of a saint, not ordinary priests.
He’s right. I can do nothing.
The smartest move would be to comfort him, then ensure my own survival. That had been my goal all along — to gain his trust, then escape his shadow.
I should avoid danger. Especially this kind.
After all, this terrifying man would never die from something like backlash.
So why can’t I step back?
Instead, my heart whispered forbidden thoughts.
If only I had some way to help Johan. If only I could even use fairy power…
“You’re right, Duke. There’s nothing I can do. And the smartest thing would be to act ignorant, just like you said.”
Johan smirked bitterly, and I felt that might be his true self.
“Then why don’t I want to leave you alone?”
“….”
“Bearing pain alone… it’s lonely.”
Johan was a man who had everything — high status, perfect lineage, striking looks, immense power. I had nothing — the cherished daughter of Libertan was a lie, this duchess identity was a lie. Everything was fake. And yet, with him, I felt an odd kinship.
He shone so brilliantly… but like a star shattering in the vast universe, his light felt sorrowful.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped. If my words upset you, I won’t say such things again.”
I cupped his cheek gently.
“But it’s not certain I’ll die from backlash. If you allow it, I want to stay by your side.”
Everyone around Johan demanded perfection of him. That he remain the flawless Duke Blanchet who would fulfill their vengeance. And Johan lived up to that.
But… was he truly unaffected?
My imagination wandered, picturing the emptiness he must bear.
Johan… you’re someone I shouldn’t pity. And yet…
I lifted his blackened hand and softly kissed it.
“Won’t you allow me?”
His hand trembled against my lips. The crimson eyes meeting mine darkened, deep as night. Even the once-burning magical energy began to feel almost familiar.
“No matter what happens, I’ll try to endure. And if it’s truly dangerous, I’ll run.”
The focus in his eyes faded, and he pulled me into a crushing embrace. His hot breath brushed my neck.
“…Duke?”
“I warned you.”
The red eyes staring at me turned savage, more beast than man.
“That I wouldn’t be able to hold back.”
