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Chapter 2
Master?
While I was still reeling from hearing the word master, Blake slowly pushed himself to his feet.
Raindrops dripped from his rain-soaked black hair, but he didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
Stretching out his long legs, he stood and quietly surveyed his surroundings.
Then Blake’s gaze came to rest on me.
To be honest, if I brought him back to life, I had imagined he might look at me in shock, get angry… or perhaps even be afraid.
Instead, Blake simply looked down at me without the slightest change in expression.
I was the one who had done it, but…
A dead man had really come back to life.
Seeing Blake move with my own eyes gave me a strange feeling.
Still, standing alone in this gloomy place with such a tall, well-built man made me uneasy.
He isn’t going to lose his mind like a zombie in a movie and attack me… right?
Not knowing what to say, I instinctively took a step backward.
Blake blinked slowly before speaking.
His voice was even deeper than it had been when he was alive.
“Why are you running away, Master?”
“W-Well…”
“And how long has it been since I died?”
That question caught me by surprise.
I had assumed that since he’d been assassinated, he wouldn’t even realize he was dead.
As I stared at him in astonishment, Blake turned his head.
His eyes drifted over the trees and flowers blooming throughout the cemetery.
Then he looked back at me and smiled.
It was a smile that was strangely unsettling.
“It hasn’t been very long, has it?”
“N-No. About… two days?”
“Really? They buried me awfully quickly.”
“…”
“Well, I suppose it was an embarrassingly pathetic death.”
That scathing remark was undoubtedly directed at the imperial family, but it still sent chills down my spine.
In truth, despite being the protagonist of a classic heroic story who steadily overcame hardship and grew stronger, Blake had always been rather cynical.
He was quick with sarcasm and had a mischievous streak.
That was part of his charm, and one of the reasons so many readers loved him.
But hearing him evaluate even his own death so mercilessly left me speechless.
“Um… You… do recognize me, right?”
“I do, Master.”
“No…”
Something is seriously wrong with my husband.
I swallowed those words and simply looked up at him.
Finally, he let out a faint sigh, as though he’d given up.
“Do you dislike being called ‘Master’?”
“…”
“I thought that’s what you’d want if you went through the trouble of bringing back a husband you hardly ever looked at.”
What part of me looked like I wanted to be called Master?
Dumbfounded, I kept my mouth shut and only rolled my eyes.
With his arms crossed, Blake looked down at me, wearing an enigmatic smile that gave away absolutely nothing.
His imposing height, broad build, and overwhelming presence…
Blake always dominated those around him like a king born to rule.
I wasn’t any different.
But I’d only ever been an ordinary person living an ordinary life.
For the past year, he’d been a husband I’d barely even crossed paths with.
Now that I was facing that overwhelming presence head-on, my body couldn’t help trembling.
Then Blake suddenly lowered his head and looked at his clothes.
Even if there hadn’t been a proper mourning period or funeral, he was still dressed in luxurious, elegant clothing befitting a member of the imperial family.
Without a word, he removed his outer coat and draped it over my shoulders.
Did he think I was trembling because I was cold?
No…
Even if that were true…
How was I supposed to explain this kindness?
He would never have done something like this before.
Simply seeing my face had always seemed to irritate him.
Even on the rare occasions we met, he’d only frown and walk past.
So why was he acting like this now?
Something was definitely wrong.
When I looked up at him in confusion, Blake stared back with an indifferent expression.
“Why are you staring at me like a rabbit, Master?”
“Um… Could you maybe stop calling me ‘Master’?”
“Weren’t you the one who brought me back to life?”
“Y-Yes, but…”
“I thought all corpses revived by necromancers called them ‘Master.'”
Blake answered with complete indifference.
Seeing how casually he joked about it irritated me.
Judging by the fact that he was making such ridiculous jokes, he seemed perfectly fine.
I glared at him.
Blake tilted his head and placed a hand against his chest before letting out a sigh.
“I’m breathing, but my heart isn’t beating.”
“Ah…”
“I can’t even feel the cold, despite all this rain.”
“…”
“So my body is still dead, isn’t it?”
I didn’t know either!
Still, since I was a necromancer, I hadn’t exactly expected him to come back completely alive.
So Blake’s current state was…
Basically a zombie.
A zombie that could hold a conversation.
He stared at my face for a long moment.
Whatever conclusion he reached, he didn’t ask any more questions.
Instead, he pointed toward the cemetery entrance.
“Let’s go.”
“N-Now?”
“Of course. Were you planning to stay here?”
“N-No, but…”
“If you have something to say, then say it. Stop hesitating.”
It seemed my husband’s unusual personality hadn’t changed even after dying and coming back.
After jokingly calling me Master, he immediately switched to speaking as though he were addressing one of his subordinates.
It left me completely deflated.
I slowly shook my head before cautiously asking,
“If we suddenly go back without saying anything… won’t everyone be shocked?”
“They’ll be shocked regardless, considering I died and came back.”
This was the first time I’d ever resurrected someone.
I honestly had no idea what the consequences would be.
After nervously fidgeting with my fingers for a moment, I finally spoke.
“Just tell them you were resurrected according to the prophecy. You have to keep your position as Crown Prince.”
“Hm.”
“Some people may doubt it, but… Your Highness is the one from the prophecy.”
The one from the prophecy.
Like any proper fantasy novel, there had been a prophecy foretelling an incredible future.
And Blake was the subject of that prophecy.
It basically foretold that he would overcome countless trials, become Emperor, and save the world from destruction.
Though…
Interpretation was everything.
One line did say,
“The one who shall return even from the brink of death.”
It probably wasn’t meant to be taken this literally…
Still, in a country that worshipped prophecy so blindly, no one could openly question Blake’s resurrection.
Blake slowly turned his head at my words.
He looked beyond the cemetery entrance for a moment before those blue eyes returned to me.
“I didn’t know you wanted to remain Crown Princess so badly.”
“T-That’s not it…”
“Then may I ask why you brought me back? I doubt the answer is ‘because you love me.'”
“…Your Highness, are you really okay? How many fingers am I holding up? Huh?”
Blake grinned.
Against the tragic backdrop and with his decadent beauty, even that smile looked like a masterpiece painted onto a canvas.
But his icy voice followed immediately after.
“I’m not joking. So… can’t you answer?”
“Eek!”
His blue eyes flickered like flames.
Startled, I hurriedly lowered my head.
Blake clicked his tongue as though he hadn’t expected an answer anyway.
At the same time, I heard the sound of footsteps splashing through muddy puddles.
Surprised, I looked up again.
Instead of pressing me for an answer, Blake was already walking toward the cemetery entrance.
I simply stood there blankly watching him.
He stopped, glanced back over his shoulder, and looked at me.
“You’re not planning to stay rooted there forever, are you, Master?”
“Ah, seriously!”
Maybe he found my horrified reaction to being called Master amusing.
The corners of his beautiful lips seemed to lift ever so slightly.
I hurried after him.
Then…
Suddenly, my vision blurred.
Did I get soaked by the rain too much?
I stopped walking and staggered.
Blake frowned as he looked at me.
His expression made it seem like he was watching yet another one of my ridiculous antics.
Still, my body apparently wanted to survive, because I faithfully reached my hand toward him.
“Your Highness… my head…”
“…My lady?”
A sharp pain exploded through my skull as though it were splitting apart.
Only then did I see Blake rushing toward me.
That was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness.
Even then, one thought crossed my mind.
Ah… So this isn’t because of the rain.
It’s the aftereffects of bringing someone back to life…?
If that’s the case… don’t you dare leave me behind, you bastard of a husband.
I rubbed my face against something warm and soft.
It even smelled nice…
But as my mind slowly cleared, every muscle in my body screamed in pain as though I’d been beaten black and blue.
At the same time, something was wrapped tightly around me, making it hard to breathe.
What on earth did I do to end up in this condition?
Trying to identify the culprit responsible for my miserable state, I recalled what had happened.
My husband suddenly died… I brought him back… We exchanged stupid jokes… Then I fainted…?
There was no mistake.
This feeling…
It was definitely my bed.
Right.
At least he had enough decency.
He hadn’t abandoned his unconscious wife and had brought her home safely.
Feeling relieved, I slowly opened my eyes.
“…Huh?”
The first thing I saw was a head of soft-looking black hair spread across my pillow.
A face that was closer to pale than fair.
A straight, elegant nose.
Long eyelashes that put most women to shame.
Red lips.
“U-Uh…?”
My startled scream finally made that sculpted face frown slightly.
Only then did I clamp my mouth shut.
But it was already too late.
Those trembling eyelashes fluttered open, and beautiful blue eyes slowly came into focus.
Well…
Since I’d already woken him up, I might as well ask.
“Y-Your Highness… why are you here…?”
Why are you sleeping in the same bed as me?
And why are you holding me so tightly?
