Chapter 10
I checked the outside through a crack in the curtain.
The swords and monsters’ claws clashed with each other, sparking flames in the dark forest.
At that time, a shadow fell outside of the curtain.
Creak-! Creak-!
Something sharp scratched the window. The strong smell of sulfur prickled my nose.
“Damn it, this isn’t a monster!”
I realized when the knights shouted.
The demon that shook the carriage was influenced by the sacred ground, and had no intelligence but driven by instinct. It was a demon that had a quick leaping ability.
‘I need to escape. It’s night and there are knights outside.’
The demon was a creature whose vision was terrible in the dark. If I stayed like this, either I’ll die on those sharp claws or get smashed along with the carriage.
“Protect the carriage!”
The knight’s scream stimulated the demon to trample on the carriage as if it was a toy.
Holding my breath, I gestured to Anna to step back. At that time, the long arm of the demon poked through the carriage.
Bang-!
The limb that pierced through the carriage passed right next to my face.
An array of sliced lemon-colored hair fluttered in the air, and I felt a burning pain in my cheek.
In front of me, the other limb of the demon approached me.
“Miss!”
Crash-!
The glass shattered.
A blood-soaked strong arm broke through the window and grabbed the demon’s wrist. A thick tendon sprang up in the arm of a man who grabbed the furry demon.
The demon stuck its claw in the man’s forearm and his white skin was torn long.
“Ha.”
My heart sank at the familiar small laugh.
No way.
Without any time to confirm, the man grabbed the demon and pulled it out of the carriage. The carriage shook violently as the demon burst out screaming.
I quickly lifted myself up.
The scratch from the claw ached, but it wasn’t a big deal.
‘I’m sure I heard that laugh clearly….’
I rolled up the curtains to look outside. Only the knights struggled to fight the demon, but I didn’t see that familiar figure anywhere.
I nibbled my lips out of nervousness. A lukewarm blood flowed from the scratch.
Bang-!
The carriage shook.
As the body of the demon slipped down from the window cracked by the collision, I could see someone drew his sword midair.
Green fluid splattered on the ground and he lifted his sword high. Then, the familiar figure grabbed Anna and pushed her to the wall.
Then someone swung the sword downward.
With a loud noise, the carriage split into two and my body fell back. When I closed my eyes tightly, a strong arm wrapped around my waist.
Along with the roar and billowing cloud of dust, I let out a small cough. As the dust settled down, I could see the golden eyes shone like the sun.
It was Signus.
***
I stared at him blankly.
I finally realized that he truly changed now. I almost failed to recognize him.
His eyes, which were always kind and sweet, turned cold.
His long, neat black hair was also sloppily cut under his neck.
Even if his brilliant appearance did not change a bit, I couldn’t feel his kind and warm air that he used to have.
“……”
Suddenly I was choked by something unknown.
I was choked by the frustration.
I looked at the shimmering golden eyes for a long time. He also looked at me with immersed eyes.
He glanced over me from head to toe persistently. As if he was looking for something.
Then Signus raised his blood-soaked hand.
White hands and red blood shone brilliantly in the dark.
Touching my cut hair lightly, he swept the cut on my cheek with his thumb. His handsome face showed signs of discomfort.
Signus’ hand, which caught my face, went down to my chin. He held my face with one hand and turned it from side to side.
It was not an act to check on my wound, but rather an unpleasant action.
His eyes, which had been bounced up and down like waves, become colder and colder. As the coldness clearly permeated his face, his red lips opened.
“Yes. It can’t be this easy to find.”
I could feel pain in my cheek as he spat out his self-deprecating remark. Unlike just now, a rough touch penetrated the wound on my cheek.
“My fiance is already good at running around.”
“………”
“Didn’t you say you were too weak to walk?”
I silently received his obvious ridicule.
Signus’ smile deepened.
After digging into the wound a few more times, he grabbed my arms and turned my body. His cold gaze touched my back.
‘What is he doing?’
My mind became blank at his action.
What did he want to do?
But it was true that he changed.
When I glanced sideways, I could see the knights who helped Anna, and few other Dojino Knights came closer to me.
‘Leo, Droop.’
Droop was looking at me with a pitiful look. Leo, who was standing there with a shocked look on his face, opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
‘You guys were fine.’
Looking at them with longing faces, I felt someone’s body heat on my neck.
Signus was grabbing the collar of my shirt.
In a panic, I grabbed him by the wrist and asked.
“What are you doing now?”
“Can’t you see?”
Ha, I burst out laughing at the ridiculous situation.
‘Are you trying to undress me without asking my consent here?’
I heard you like to change out women, but you turned into an absolute trash.
“Have you gone crazy?”
I glared at him with a surge of anger. The tail of his red lips went up. He seemed to be laughing at me as if saying ‘do you know the truth now?’
Then the first button popped out at his touch.
‘You pervert!’
I was about to lift my fist, but I felt the vibration from the ground.
“There’s another wave of demons coming.”
The knights clicked their tongues and held the sword, they became wary of their surroundings.
Signus’ gaze touched my exposed collarbone.
After a brief contemplation, he pushed my back lightly and I could see the captain’s chest in front of me.
“Take her and get lost.”
I turned my head because I was irritated by the way he talked as if he was passing over a suitcase. But Signus was already on his way.
“I’m glad you’re fine. Let’s go back.”
Did the captain mean he was glad that I was alive from the demon’s attack, or that I was able to escape from Signus?
The captain, who lifted my body and put me on the horse, climbed behind me and held the reins.
“Hiya!”
I wasn’t hurt that he told me to get lost.
I could put up with him treating me like luggage and when he messed up with my wound.
But his cold gaze pierced my heart like a thorn.
I’ve never seen Signus eyes like that.
So I closed my eyes while enduring my boiling anger.
* * *
The Marquis screamed as he ran toward me.
“Navian! How is this possible…”
I only listened to him silently. My appearance at first glance through the mirror attached in the mansion was very beggarly.
My clothes were all covered with blood, and the bundle of hair on the side of my cheek was cut straight.
Blood was still dripping from the wound from the monster’s claw.
“Hurry, hurry call the doctor…!”
The Marquis fell to one knee. He seemed to be greatly shocked. Then the captain said as he supported the Marquis.
“We ran into monsters. I’m sorry.”
The Marquis’ face was distorted.
“It’s my fault. I tried to bring you home before the constraint was lifted.”
It was understandable since monsters moved slowly.
‘The problem is that it was a demon.’
The Marquis reached out to me. He was looking at the wounds on my wrist and cheek that were dusted by the tree debris. The captain continued his report.
“His Highness Signus saved us.”
Everyone around us gasped. Then the frightened Marquis asked me.
“Have you met His Highness?”
I nodded silently.
The captain shook his head when the Marquis glanced at him. Maybe he wanted to know if Signus had harmed me.
The Marquis, who breathed a sigh of relief, said to me.
“You must have been scared. I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t answer. Because it was true that I was scared. Not because of the demon, but Signus.
To be exact, his changed behavior.
I came into the bathroom with the intention of washing my dirty body before my treatment. I didn’t forget to lock the door.
I didn’t want to be seen by anyone right now.
When I raised my hand to undo the button, I felt the white exposed neck. Taking off my clothes, I gritted my teeth and approached the big mirror.
A strange woman was looking like a bum. The lemon-colored hair cut in a straight line just above the chin glowed even when it was dirty.
After I tucked the cut hair behind my ear, I looked at the throbbing wound on my cheeks.
“You just pressed this, huh?”
I was angry no matter how much I thought about it.
‘I learned the truth when he roughly tried to undress me. I would’ve skewered him to death if it wasn’t for my weak body.’
I gritted my teeth and examined my neck area. Every time I found a wound, my murderous intent toward Signus grew rapidly.
‘I’m the crazy one for saving that bastard. What kind of fortune and glory can I get from that anyway?’
Judging from his action, he seemed to destroy the empire soon.
‘If I knew this would happen, I should’ve just lived.’
I used to have a personality that didn’t easily hold regret, but now I had so much regret that I wanted to turn back the time.
The golden eyes that were first examining me thoroughly, and the man who tilted his head and sneered at me, crossed my mind.
In the end, I couldn’t overcome my temper and did what I should never do. I hit the mirror with my fist.
“Gah!”
Kuung-!
Tears welled up as the pain was felt in my arm. I must’ve broken my wrist!
“Damn…”
I held my wrist and leaned my forehead against the mirror.
Everything was annoying.
Even this weak body that couldn’t even hit the mirror.
Even my current situation.
Even Signus who had changed.
How could you do that? Why did I save you?
You should have become a benevolent ruler. You should have lived well.
You turned into everything that I didn’t want. What the hell changed you?
I stayed there for a long time while the servants knocked on the door and called me frantically.
***
Lemon-colored long straight hair leaning against the mirror shook finely. When her hair fell, Navian’s shoulder blades were exposed.
There was a mysterious yellow butterfly pattern engraved on it.