TEMR 10

Chapter 10

Crack!

Thunder? Diana looked up at the sky. But the dark blue night sky was calm and clear. Then where was that sound coming from?

She tilted her head in confusion and looked down—and her eyes widened. Thin white cracks had formed on the black lake, like glass dipped in ink.

Her face went pale instantly. She looked at Erno with panic. He had just scolded her harshly a moment ago, but now he was the only one who could help her.

“E-Erno… this is…”

“Bi. Don’t move. Stay still until I get to you.”

Though Erno spoke calmly, his throat moved with tension. He was clearly nervous too.

He carefully stepped toward her, focused on every movement. Diana felt her mouth dry out from fear, and for once, she didn’t argue and did exactly as he said.

When he finally reached her safely, Erno let out a quiet breath of relief.

Diana stood frozen, afraid to even breathe in case the ice broke. Her pale lips were tightly shut in fear.

“Grab this.”

Erno took off the sword at his waist and held it out to her in its sheath. A spear or long branch would’ve been better, but this was all he had.

Instead of grabbing it right away, Diana calmly measured the distance with her arm first. Only once she was sure she could reach it did she grab the sheath with both hands. Erno raised his eyebrows, surprised at how calm she was.

Only after holding the sheath tightly did relief show on Diana’s face. But just as Erno was about to pull her toward him—

“Huh…?”

The ice under her feet suddenly gave way. Like stepping into a trap dug by mischievous kids. But this wasn’t a hole with a bottom—only freezing black water waited below.

In an instant, Diana’s body sank into the lake up to her chest.

“Bi!”

The freezing cold stabbed her like a thousand needles. She couldn’t even scream. As soon as she opened her mouth, the icy water rushed in.

Her soaked clothes wrapped around her legs, dragging her down. Her wet skin froze instantly, and she couldn’t move her fingers.

If she wanted to survive, she needed to reach out, fight, scream for help.

But Diana couldn’t do anything. This was the first time she had ever felt the full force of the northern cold—and even someone from the banquet wouldn’t have survived it easily.

Am I going to die like this?

Her fingertips were now underwater. She could feel a chill under her nails.

She was really going to sink under the ice—without even struggling—and her body wouldn’t be found until spring?

She hadn’t even finished the three-day wedding. Where would they bury her?

Suddenly, the faces of the Lapin family flashed through her mind. The same ones who said they’d collect her death benefit if she died.

No way. Never!

Fueled by rage, Diana used the last of her strength to throw her arm upward.

Even if she was dying, she couldn’t let them win. And she still had to clear up Erno’s misunderstanding. If she died now, he’d just think, She’d rather drown than live with me, and that would be the end.

She wouldn’t be able to rest in peace. No—she’d drag herself up from the lake bottom and whisper in his ear every night if she had to.

That’s why… no matter what, I can’t die like this!

She stretched her hand as high as she could.

And just then, a strong, firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the water.

“Cough… khh… khkk…!”

Diana gasped and choked, both horrified and relieved by how cold she still felt.

But feeling cold meant she was alive. And new cold meant she was back above the water.

Sure enough, instead of icy water, dry cold air now hit her mouth and tongue.

“Khhk… Er… Erno… haah…”

I’m alive. That was the only thought in her mind. She forced her stiff neck to lift, and beyond her blurry vision, she saw a pair of golden eyes, bright like stars.

But her breathing wasn’t returning easily. Her head spun, and her vision blurred at the edges. Her chest felt tight.

No matter how deeply she inhaled, it didn’t help—her breathing only grew more desperate. Diana started clawing at her chest, trying to loosen her clothes, but her frozen fingers wouldn’t move properly.

Erno had pulled her to the lake’s edge, but only now noticed that something was wrong.

“Bi, calm down. Take slow, deep breaths.”

He wrapped her tightly in his cloak and tried to soothe her. It was a thick, military-grade cloak meant to block wind and rain—but it still felt too thin for how blue her lips were.

“Inhale… now exhale…”

“Hic… hhhhk…!”

Erno patted her back again and again, but her breathing only got worse. It felt like she was breathing in water, not air. Her face twisted in pain, and she clutched her chest.

Finally, Erno grabbed both her wrists to stop her. She struggled briefly, but then her strength gave out and her body went limp.

Drowning… outside the water? Even in pain, Diana gave a weak, crooked smile.

Maybe it was time for her final words.

“Er… no…”

“Don’t speak. Focus on breathing…”

“I… I’ll stay by your side…”

Erno was speechless. Then he frowned and clicked his tongue.

Still spouting nonsense? At least it meant she wasn’t going to die just yet. He felt relieved and pulled her closer.

He knew how to deal with this. It wasn’t rare for young soldiers to hyperventilate after facing monsters for the first time.

“Bi.”

While she struggled to breathe, his voice stayed calm—so calm it was almost annoying.

“Bi. Look at me.”

Diana shook her head, burying her face in the cloak.

She couldn’t move. She was so tired. Sleep was coming.

Just leave me alone.

She was so sleepy. She just wanted to rest. Why did he treat her like this? All she ever wanted was to live without shame, to live with a name she could be proud of. Like anyone else.

“Bi!”

Don’t call me that. You don’t even see me as the Grand Duchess. You’re the worst. I told you—so many times—I’m not leaving, I didn’t mean to cause harm, I just made a mistake.

You’re the one who never listens!

“Er… no…!”

“Good girl. Look at me.”

She glared at him with all the strength she had left. Her vision was still blurry, but she could clearly see his golden eyes curve like crescent moons.

“I… I’ll never… leave you…”

That’s not what I meant to say. I wanted to thank you. But the words that finally came out had a totally different meaning.

In the next second, the hand that saved her wrapped around her chin and gently pulled her in. It was firm but careful—like he wouldn’t let her escape.

“Hhhnn…!”

Then, Erno’s lips touched hers—her cold, purple lips.

His lips were hot. Too hot to believe they belonged to the man who had been so cold and cruel—even in the moment of a kiss.