WDBHV 16

Chapter 16

“Who are you?”

A voice filled with hostility was heard.

Noah concealed his awkwardness and glanced at Easton.

Easton’s eyes, aimed with his sword toward Noah, were fiercely wild as if ready to devour him.

‘Ah.’

Noah sighed inwardly.

Easton was a skilled warrior who had fully supported Lucas in his previous life.

To face hostility from such a person… especially in this situation where his magic was depleted.

Moreover, the scene that was witnessed was him rummaging through the corpse of a monster.

How suspicious, how utterly absurd that must look.

And of all moments, this was the moment he was caught.

Noah carefully raised both hands.

It was a gesture of surrender and simultaneously to show his innocence.

Avoiding a fight at all costs was the wisest choice for now.

“I asked, what are you?”

Ah, maybe it’s impossible.

Easton didn’t lower his guard despite Noah’s attitude.

Besides, how unexpected — to see Easton so intense.

At the Duke’s mansion, Easton had never shown such a sharp demeanor.

Noah’s worries deepened.

“…!”

A chilling sensation brushed across the bridge of Noah’s nose.

More precisely, Noah instinctively bent his body to avoid the chill.

The source of the chill was Easton’s sword.

“If you don’t intend to reveal your identity, I will attack again.”

Now, after all this, a surprise attack?

A threat?

As expected, Easton straightened his posture again.

At the same time, Easton furrowed his brows and gripped his sword tightly.

Was it just my imagination?

The tighter Easton gripped his sword, the more my head ached.

It felt like something was squeezing… a faint haze was clouding my mind.

“……”

Noah staggered slightly.

At that moment—

“Again.”

A voice disturbed Noah’s trembling mind.

“Are you blocking my path again?”

Once.

“…Anyway, this is… connected, what reason do you have?”

Twice.

Unfortunately, the second voice shook unsteadily.

Noah sighed at the increasingly incomprehensible voice.

What is Easton saying now?

Could it be that Easton knows what happened before this?

‘No. That’s impossible.’

Easton appeared after the situation had ended, and all he saw was Noah poking around a monster’s corpse.

Logically impossible.

Noah forced himself to endure and continued thinking.

No matter what, one thing was clear.

From today, Easton would consider him an enemy.

“Ugh.”

Noah stopped thinking and dropped to his knees.

He could no longer keep his sanity.

His vision blurred, and a veil clouded his thoughts.

It was unpleasant, a sickening feeling twisting inside.

But why?

This pain wasn’t unfamiliar; it was not strange.

As if his body remembered instinctively…

“……”

Noah shook his dizzy head and looked ahead.

Then—

He felt a chilling aura approaching before him.

An oddly familiar scene.

[Perhaps you will inform Princess Agrinda about this situation now?]

A line that passed like a whisper in his ear.

Huh.

Have I experienced this moment before?

“……”

Noah desperately tried to hold onto the scattered memories.

But he had forgotten one important fact.

Easton’s sword in front of him was swinging again.

Emitting a surprisingly familiar aura.

The vision, once filled only with dark colors, began to distort faintly.

The distorted view was guiding me to an unknown landscape.

Was this a dream? Or reality?

Since I felt nothing, it must be a dream.

‘Ah.’

Only then did I recall the previous situation.

Right. I suddenly passed out in the forest…

Rubbing my numb eyes, I looked ahead.

At that moment, someone’s figure caught my gaze.

Catlike crimson eyes.

Skin pale from a weak body.

A spring scent from their nose.

‘That is…’

Before I could finish, someone shouted.

• Rosent!

Yes. That was exactly Rosent.

‘Is this a scene from a novel?’

How many books have I read to have such a scene appear in my dreams?

But it was strange.

I didn’t recall seeing this scene in any novel.

Moreover, that was truly Rosent.

Rosent never appeared even once in the novels.

I tilted my head in doubt.

Then a man’s hand grabbed Rosent.

• Rosent, I told you repeatedly it’s dangerous to come out alone like this.

• East.

Rosent whispered, gently narrowing her eyes at the man’s words.

• But East, as you said, staying only at the duke’s mansion is too suffocating.

A small grumble.

Her tone was like that of a lover.

East, the man, answered in a softened voice.

• Then next time, make sure to notify me. Don’t roam alone like this.

• Hehe. If you protect me like this, East, how could you live without me?

• Don’t say that. It’s scary.

East sighed softly while embracing Rosent.

Rosent laughed and patted his back, clearly pleased.

‘Wow.’

Meanwhile, I was stunned watching them.

Rosent had a lover…?

But why was there no such information in my memories?

No matter how vivid your imagination is, such a clear scene couldn’t be just imagination…

‘Besides, it’s too vivid to dismiss as a dream.’

Basically, he’s her ex-boyfriend? This is a big deal.

East? East?

Let me see the face of this East.

How am I supposed to know anything from just his back?

I need to see his face to prepare for when I meet him!

I was desperate to see the man’s face.

• Rosent.

The man snuggled closer to Rosent.

So cute.

The seductive tone made my cheeks burn.

But Rosent seemed used to this; she laughed and hugged his neck.

Then a calm voice filled the air.

• East. I have something to tell you today. Will you listen?

• Of course.

After East’s gentle reply, Rosent released him.

Slowly, she opened her mouth.

• I’m thinking of going down to the Lifnel territory. My uncle lives there.

She was somehow bidding East farewell.

East seemed quite surprised and quickly grabbed her shoulder.

• Why…? Lifnel territory is quite far from the capital. Why are you suddenly leaving?

• Um. It’s a secret?

• We promised no secrets. Don’t go.

East whined, and Rosent smiled faintly, holding his hand.

• Then I’ll tell you the day I return, I promise. I won’t stay long…

Then came the reply:

“Wait for me.”

Those words slipped out like a trance, and the scenery before my eyes began to change.

Bright sunlight, skin feeling the sunlight.

And then—

“Princess! Are you conscious?”

“Can you walk? If uncomfortable, I’ll support you.”

The following voice confirmed reality.

Wait, hold on.

Conscious? Support me?

“Ouch.”

I frowned at the throbbing headache.

It felt like all the pathways in my head were blocked.

“How long was I out?”

Relying on the voice, I turned.

My eyes, accustomed to the dark, quickly searched for color.

Silver or blue, etc.

The combination of silver armor and a blue cloak was predictable.

Imperial Knights.

‘So those chattering voices were the knights.’

I sighed at the aching in my head.

Then the knight holding my arm spoke.

“Princess, you’ve only been unconscious for about five minutes.”

Five minutes? Not fifty?

What? It really hasn’t been long.

“If you feel uncomfortable, I can support you.”

“Thank you. Can you help me up?”

Supported by the knight, I rose.

“By the way, I want to ask why I’m still here.”

Usually, if someone collapses, they call a doctor or at least change locations.

But I was exactly where I had fallen.

The knight answered promptly.

“Ah, that’s because the deputy commander ordered everyone to wait here…”

“Even me?”

Why was everyone gathered here for no reason?

This tense dream made me even more anxious.

Whatever it is, I have to hurry to the tent.

I want to go back.

Noah must be waiting.

Annoyed, I asked curtly,

“Where is the deputy commander?”

Who would have guessed.

“The deputy commander left a moment ago, following the loud noise beyond the forest.”

That question and answer caught me off guard.

Ah, I see.

Easton went out to investigate the noise on behalf of those here.

‘Wait.’

If he followed the noise…

“Could it be there?”

I pointed trembling fingers to the right.

And then, as if waiting,—

Boom.

A loud noise passed between us.

At the same time, anxiety began to stir inside me.

What am I to him, what is he?

He just looks exactly like Noah.

‘This doesn’t feel right.’

I had a vague feeling I should go there.

Eventually, my legs followed the loud noise without hesitation.

“Princess!”

The knight’s shout behind me was drowned out as I ran recklessly.

Suddenly, my legs protested.

But I didn’t care.

Instinctively, I felt I must stop Easton and Lucas from meeting.

At the same time…

I vaguely felt Lucas was in danger.

After some time, another scene welcomed me.

Bloodstains on the bushes.

Lucas staggering, kneeling on one knee.

And Easton, about to swing his sword.

Was this the situation described in novels, the moment before death?

“No!”

I blocked Easton’s path without hesitation.

A chilling air tightened around my neck.

At that moment—