IBWMD 57

~Chapter 57~

‘Got you.’

Kailen stared at the woman looking back at him.

Her wide, no-longer-surprised eyes met his fully in his vision.

‘I ran like a madman all day just to see that look.’

“Your Grace, what about the New Year’s bonfire?”

Jeremy asked this early at dawn, just as Kailen was slipping into his formal clothes.

Their routine had become mechanical: fight mutant monsters at night, return to review paperwork at dawn, and visit Elaine during the day.

When Kailen didn’t reply, Jeremy asked cautiously:

“Did… you forget?”

Kailen looked over at him. Jeremy’s stunned expression said it all.

“It’s been a while since I forgot something.”
“A while? This is probably the first time.”

“I never imagined Your Grace would ever forget something…”

“Enough.”

Shaking his head, Kailen changed from hunter’s garb to his duke’s uniform.

‘At least teleportation still works inside the duchy.’

Even though his magical flow had been erratic lately, his core ability remained intact.

His plan:

1. Teleport to the mountain border

2. Encourage the soldiers

3. Attend the banquet

4. Light the bonfire

5. Return in time to see Elaine

‘If everything aligns just right…’

He knew why he was anxious.

“Elaine is going to the slums today, right?”
“Yes. She’s accompanying her uncle.”

Jeremy glanced at him carefully, remembering Kailen’s disapproval of that uncle.

But Kailen was concerned about something else:

‘If I leave now, I can’t be with her for most of the day.’

That’s what made him uneasy.

“Shall I accompany her as escort?”
“That’s best.”

He trusted Elaine could handle herself—but he also knew how easily life could vanish.

“I’ll assign a shadow to her too.”
“But wouldn’t that drain your magic?”

Jeremy was right—shadows consumed magic, especially over long distances. And Kailen’s magic had been misbehaving lately.

But he shrugged.

“I won’t be doing anything major today.”

Just speeches, meals, and a bonfire—not too draining.

“Just your presence will inspire the troops.”
“Even if you dislike socializing…”

Despite critiquing Kailen’s people skills, Jeremy’s eyes were sincere. Kailen chuckled.

“They’re suffering on the frontlines in my place. It’s the least I can do.”
“Monsters aren’t even migrating south this year—thanks to Your Grace handling those mutations.”
“You’re suffering more than them.”

Mutants were appearing more frequently and closer to Saint Portu.

‘Not being able to meet Elaine… that’s what’s most frustrating.’

Admitting that made him feel even more annoyed.

“Praising me for doing my job is pointless.”
“I just thought you should know—you’re a good leader.”
“…Elaine says similar things.”
“Really? What did she say?”
“That I’m a good person.”
“Ha! What would you do without the Duchess? You’d never realize it.”

Seeing Jeremy smile like that, Kailen chuckled again.

‘That little squirrel has even won over my closest aide…’

“I’ll leave her safety in your hands.”
“What if Clark goes too?”
“Let him.”

“Really? I thought you two were still fighting.”
“We’re not fighting. Clark’s just sulking.”

Maybe if Clark spends a few hours with Elaine, he’ll change his mind too.

“Just make sure no pests bother her while I’m gone.”
“Have a good trip.”

At that moment, Kailen had believed he’d return swiftly…

“Your Grace! You’re here!”
“How’s the front?”
“Just now—a monster appeared!”

Of course. Just as he arrived, they were attacked.

It wasn’t a mutant, thankfully—it fled the moment Kailen arrived.

Still, he stayed longer to patrol.

Meanwhile, his shadow detected someone bothering Elaine.

‘What’s Jeremy doing?! I told him no pests!’

His nerves wore thin. He even doubted his aide for the first time.

He couldn’t clearly see what was happening from this distance.

Even worse, his shadow connection broke—his magic had been depleted.

Throb… A splitting headache hit as the patrol ended.

He rushed through formalities:

“To those who fight for Saint Portu—I raise this toast! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”

He cut short the speeches, lit the bonfire at the mountain’s edge, and prepared to return.

‘Now, to Elaine—’

Suddenly, a pain surged through him.

“Ugh…”
“Your Grace?”
“It’s nothing.”

This headache was unlike any he’d had before.
‘Damn dragon magic…’

Magic meant to protect the land, but useless for protecting what truly mattered.

“Haa…”

He calmed his breath, waiting for it to subside.

‘By now… she must be seeing the bonfire.’

Would she feel anything, seeing it blaze across the mountains?

Would she think of the magic as something terrifying—like the force that would someday kill her?

‘What’s she thinking with that small head of hers?’

He wanted to ask.

‘I wanted to see it together…’

And then—

Whoosh

His magic settled as if answering his thoughts.

The next instant, he was standing in the middle of the Saint Portu market.

“…”

Among the crowd, he spotted Elaine instantly.

That round little head of hers pointed at the bonfire across the mountains.

He strode straight to her.

“Weren’t you out hunting monsters?”
“I did.”
“You got back just in time.”
“You sound disappointed I came.”
“…”

“That’s cold. I rushed back as fast as I could.”

He smiled gently.

“Strange, though.”
“What is?”
“Why did you call the name of a man you didn’t want to see?”

‘She whispered my alias…’

His blood boiled at the memory.

“You missed me, didn’t you?”

He teased as usual, hoping she’d react flustered.

Instead—

“You’re right.”
“…”

“I guess I missed you.”

She smiled as she said it.