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Chapter 15
“If she came back to the past like I did, then why didn’t she recognize me?”
The mystery was that Halara didn’t seem to remember him.
“I can’t tell if she truly doesn’t remember or if she’s just pretending.”
Muttering to himself, he strode across the village.
When he reached the house, she wasn’t there.
That left only the market. Dochev immediately turned toward it.
Just as his sharp eyes were scanning the market, he caught sight of the back of Halara’s head in a narrow alley. He stopped and observed her.
Her long hair was tied tightly into a single braid, and she was speaking quietly with her head bowed.
“What is she doing?”
Curious, Dochev approached her silently.
He hadn’t decided what to say first.
Because Halara didn’t know him. He had to watch carefully to see if she was pretending.
Slowly, her muttering reached his ears:
“What am I going to do now?”
She spoke while bowing her head deeply, her hands gently caressing her belly.
“I think having you here gives me some strength.”
At that, Dochev stopped in his tracks.
She was speaking to the child in her womb.
“Halara Seheb…”
Dochev let the name slip from his lips.
“…Could she really be pregnant?”
I distinctly heard someone calling me.
When I turned, no one was there.
“Isn’t this one of those followers tailing me again?”
Ugh.
I hurriedly made my way home. I didn’t even want to enter, but Aunt Michelle would probably have returned by now.
Junel fluttered off, saying she had something to pick up at the market.
When I arrived home, a red envelope stuck in front of the door caught my eye. It was chilling, but I opened it anyway.
“Everything is ready on our side, so just pack your things and come. It would be best not to have any foolish thoughts.”
That was all it said.
At the end of the letter was the emblem of the Bloody Mary Dukedom.
“PTSD incoming.”
If it were really Halara, she’d probably be excited and throwing a party, but I wasn’t.
“Just come yourself. Seunghyuk insists, so that’s why we’re letting you in. Don’t bother bringing any of your old appliances—they’re useless here!”
The letter seemed considerate on the surface, but in reality, it meant the same as my mother-in-law: the things I brought were old and worn, so don’t bring unnecessary items to annoy us. My mother-in-law even once refunded a blanket I brought as a dowry while I wasn’t around because she didn’t like it.
“Ah, what am I supposed to do?”
I wasn’t even sure whether Dochev and I really spent the night together or not.
A sigh escaped endlessly.
On top of Halara’s stalker making me uneasy, I thought,
“Should I go find Dochev? He probably wouldn’t understand me getting married either.”
Come to think of it, in Chapter 1 of the original story, Dochev didn’t outright deny that Halara was pregnant.
“If they really spent that passionate night together, Dochev wouldn’t be raging like this.”
And he was the male lead. The heroine being celebrated in the novel was someone else.
“Alright, I’ll go find Dochev! His words will carry more weight than mine!”
Just then, as I turned around, I bumped my forehead against someone standing behind me.
It was the mercenary who had raided the potato pancakes recently.
“You scared me! What are you doing here at this hour?”
But he just stared at me through his hair, silent.
“Excuse me?”
I needed him to explain why he came and what he wanted.
He seemed like he wanted to speak but hesitated, unable to open his mouth.
“Excuse me?”
What the heck?
“What is it?”
I didn’t know what the matter was, but I let the mercenary into the house. Being with him felt safer than being alone. Who knew when the stalker would appear again?
We sat across from each other at the wooden table.
“This guy doesn’t feel dangerous at all.”
Was it because glimpses of his handsome face peeked through his hair? Or because he didn’t seem interested in me? Being with him made me unusually calm.
“Do you have any connections here?” I asked.
I thought he might be able to help me.
“Connections?”
He finally spoke after keeping silent for so long:
“I was wondering if you know anyone at that castle.”
The Bloody Mary Castle glimmered dark red in the sunlight.
If he knew someone there, it would make things easier.
And the most likely person I knew there was this mercenary.
“What do you want with them?”
“I have a favor to ask. Do you know them or not?”
I asked without expecting much.
“I do know them.”
His unexpected answer surprised me.
“Really? You really know the family?”
“Yes.”
He said calmly, though his suspicious gaze didn’t match his words.
“It’s nothing weird. But can you introduce me?”
“Who?”
Would he do it!?
Was he finally going to repay me for all the meals I’d cooked for him?
“You’ll do it? Anyone?”
“Hmm, tell me first.”
He stood with his arms crossed.
I dragged him from the bustling market into a nearby alley. He followed without protest.
“I’m serious. Can you really introduce me?”
“Introduction is possible.”
“Even today?”
“Depends on who it is.”
Amazing!
I’d better have worked hard to feed him before.
“Who do you want to meet?”
“It might be difficult… but please introduce me to Lord Dochev.”
I went all in.
In the village, even kids avoided Dochev. He was notorious as a rogue before awakening.
“Will it work…?”
The mercenary’s expression stiffened. Dochev might be too much.
“I know it’s a difficult request. He may not even be at the mansion. He’s unpredictable. But if possible, please meet him.”
Right now, persuading Dochev was the best plan. He’d probably try to stop the marriage, so if I got him on my side, I could handle it.
The mercenary seemed to hesitate, though his hair covered his eyes.
“You really know nothing.”
“Huh?”
He moved his red lips and spoke:
“There’s no need to ask anymore. Follow me. I’ll properly introduce you.”
Though his words were casual, his gaze was dangerously sharp.
Thus, we went to the Bloody Mary Dukedom.
The castle up close was even more imposing than it looked from afar.
“I’m back! I took some things from the market, so I’m late.”
Junel, carrying bundles of things, joined us.
Unlike me, cowering, she fluttered around excitedly.
“Bloody Mary is the best. It’ll be even better when the head of the household returns!”
Being close to powerful aura-users seemed to energize her.
Following the mercenary without a word, I had no time to be bored—rather, I was completely distracted.
At the castle, the initially wary guards hurriedly opened the gate when they saw the mercenary’s face.
What exactly was his identity?
Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask his name. I knew almost nothing about him. I’d definitely have to introduce myself later.
“Haha. You seem pretty close. Are you… that kind of couple?”
Junel asked, fluttering around.
“That kind of couple?”
I shook my head instead of answering.
“No? Hmph, what a shame. If you were lovers, you and I could just settle down here.”
Settle down?
“What does that mean?”
Junel tilted her head, watching me shrug.
“You don’t know who he is?”
I nodded slightly this time.
Then, the massive gates of the Bloody Mary mansion opened.
I hadn’t expected to enter so formally.
“Mercenary…!”
I called him urgently. I wanted to have a secret meeting with the rogue lord first. Coming in openly would make it seem like I accepted Francesca’s proposal…
Of course, Francesca appeared at that open gate, dressed in a black gown.
I hesitated and took a small step back.
“That’s Dochev Bloody Mary.”
“Dochev.”
Junel and Francesca spoke simultaneously.
