IBWMD 111

~Chapter 111~

Wait. That sound…

“…A monster?”

No matter how I listened, it sounded like a monster’s cry.

Whoosh.

I quickly turned my head and saw it.

“K-Kyaaa…”
“Kki…Aaaak…”

Down the dark hallway—

Shadows were staggering and swaying, moving like creatures from a horror movie.

Wow. This feels like I’m in a zombie movie.

The moment I thought that, my skin prickled in warning.

The eyeball hanging at my waist widened in excitement.

I lowered my body calmly, pushing down my tension.

It’s either really a monster…

Or…

They’re corrupted people, like the assassin or the man I saw in the slums.

The latter seemed more likely.

First, they were much smaller than normal monsters.
And monsters didn’t normally roam together like that, as if someone had gathered them.

Humans, maybe.

I kept my eyes in the scope and thought.

If they’re human, I can’t shoot.
I’d have to subdue and purify them instead.

Even if they’re monsters…
I couldn’t shoot anyway.

Why?

…I can’t get a clear shot.

That’s the worst condition for a sniper.

The hallway was still pitch dark.
The only light was moonlight pouring in from the terrace or windows.

Precise aiming was impossible, and if they heard the gunshot, they might all rush at once.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped me.

Guess my fists are the only answer?
I’d have to quietly take them down one by one.

Just as I holstered my musket and clenched my fists—

Bang!

The terrace door I’d entered slammed shut from the wind, making a loud noise.

“….”

I felt their gazes snap toward me. Not just one or two—several.

I grabbed the doorknob to secure my escape route, but it wouldn’t open.

“…Seriously?”

Kyaaa!

No time to sigh.
The shadows at the end of the hallway started running toward me.

This is exactly what I was trying to avoid!

It really felt like I was an extra in a zombie movie now.

Is there somewhere to hide?

I turned to run—

Whoosh!

An arm shot out from somewhere in the hallway and yanked me inside.
Into a wall recess I hadn’t even noticed.

“Ah…!”

“Shh.”

Fwoosh.

A curtain closed over us, blocking our view.

At the same time—

Kyaaa!

The shadows rushed right past the recess.

I felt a firm arm wrap around my waist.

Kyaak… Kyaa… Kyaaa…

The cries grew distant.

But the owner of the arm didn’t seem to plan on letting go.
If anything, the hold grew tighter.

“….”

Normally, I’d shove him off or land a hit, but I didn’t.

Instead of kneeing him or sweeping his legs, I just took a deep breath.

“Elaine.”

“….”

“It’s dangerous here.”

The slightly rough voice was too familiar.
Even the warmth holding me felt strangely familiar and gentle.

I calmed my heart for a moment and spoke.

“…Karl.”

Not as a question, but with certainty.

When I turned, I saw the familiar figure—
Standing with the moonlight behind him, the man who always looked so annoyingly handsome.

I couldn’t even joke about why he was here.

“….”
“….”

Karl gave a tired-looking, bitter smile.
No—he really did look tired.

His perfect face was still the same, but there were faint shadows under his eyes.

Is he still sick?

But he didn’t look sick enough to be unable to come.

To be exact—

He doesn’t look too sick to come find me.

His arms and legs worked fine, no muscle loss, standing solidly on the floor.

I don’t know how he got treated without a priest or holy knight, but…
For someone who had been poisoned by a monster, he looked fine.

Which meant…

It’s not that he couldn’t come. He just didn’t.

Thud.

My heart sank.
It felt like the truth I’d been denying was finally staring me in the face.

…He could’ve come, but didn’t.

Right after the Duke appeared, he disappeared—
Proposing before even asking to date me.

And now he suddenly shows up here, acting cool, telling me it’s dangerous?

Without thinking, I spoke.

“You bastard.”

That wasn’t what I’d planned to say.
I wanted to ask if he was okay, how badly he’d been hurt, how worried I’d been.

But instead—

“I was an idiot to worry about someone like you.”

“…Elaine.”

“Coward. Spineless. No ambition.”

“….”

“Deserter. Loser. All talk.”

Even as I kept throwing insults, Karl stayed silent.
That made me even angrier.

The moment I heard his voice, my heart had raced.
Even while telling myself I shouldn’t… I’d been glad he was back.
Relieved he was safe, enough to forget my confusion over the Duke.

But Karl… he still seemed to be weighing my status against his position.

“…Elaine.”

While I glared at him, Karl suddenly reached out and cupped my cheeks.

That casual gesture made my chest tighten even more.

Why are you touching me so easily?
I’m the Grand Duchess now. Even the Duke acknowledges it.

While you were gone!

I was about to shove him away when he said something absurd.

“Don’t cry.”

“What?”

What was that supposed to mean?
I wasn’t crying—or even planning to.

But when I looked up…

What the—

Wasn’t he the one about to cry?
Karl’s eyes looked like they’d well up any second.

Damn it. I almost softened.

I forced my voice to be cold.

“I wouldn’t waste tears on a deserter like you. Got it?”

“….”

“Don’t make me laugh. Even if you dropped dead somewhere, I wouldn’t cry.”

Karl flinched as if stabbed.
And honestly, I felt the same sting from my own words.

Truth is, I’d be really sad.
Sad enough to cry harder than ever before in my life.

But what can I do now?

When I go back, I’ll be in the Grand Duke’s bedroom as his bride.
This might even be the last time I see Karl.

That thought made me reach out.

Time to cut ties.

I grabbed his collar tightly. His golden eyes wavered, glowing brighter.

“Got it? I won’t think about you. I’ll forget you completely.”

“…Do you hate me now?”

“Yes! I hate you. So never—”

“That’s a problem.”

“….”

“Don’t hate me.”

His twisted expression looked painfully pained.

“At least… keep liking me a little longer.”

“….”

“I’ll try harder.”

Please.

The moment I met those eyes, something surged inside me again.

What is all this?

Where was the confident man who didn’t deny being called my lover?

Even as I fumed, his lips looked so pitiful when he asked me not to hate him…

“You damn bastard!”

I’m not sure how it happened.
Maybe I yanked his collar harder in anger—
Or maybe he moved first.

Either way, suddenly his familiar, refreshing scent was right in my face.

It was so natural I didn’t even notice him getting closer until…

“….”
“….”

Our lips—rather than softly touching—
Smack! collided roughly.

A faint metallic taste spread in my mouth.

It was the taste of Karl’s lips splitting from the sudden impact.