Translation provided by - Shy heaux Translations
"Darn those Ravens!" Edwin swore ferociously. The sound of his heavy breathing filled the air.
Despite our closeness, his voice sounded muffled, but the word 'Ravens' didn't escape my notice.
I grabbed ahold of Edwin as my desperation and fear increased.
"Listen, I'm going to try and pull your hand away. Even if it's painful, you must endure it."
Edwin embraced me tightly before placing his hand over mine, which was still stuck to the trunk of the guardian tree.
Then, with great force, he tried to forcefully pull my hand away from the trunk.
"Argh!"
Rather than freeing my hand, my shoulder felt dislocated now.
"Ha! How dare you try to claim what's mine when you're already dead?"
Edwin clenched his teeth as he continued carefully trying to pry my hand from the tree.
Suddenly, I heard a sword striking a dull object.
Someone was most likely trying to cut down the guardian tree, but each time they struck the tree, the pain in my chest increased.
"My Lord!"
Then I heard the familiar voice of Beryl, the commander of the knights.
As I struggled to breathe, while kneeling on the ground, I gathered my strength, and turn my head to see a black figure with my blurred vision.
Subsequently, my gaze met a pair of crimson-red eyes that pierced right through my soul.
Within those eyes, was the intent to devour my entire being, which left me feeling paralyzed and weighed down with a heavy object.
"Hel-"
I tried to scream for help, but no words left my mouth.
All I could do was helplessly watch as a crimson-eyed monster advanced toward me with each passing second.
'Help me! Someone, please help me!'
I was trembling in terror, with tears streaming down my cheeks as my impending death slowly approached.
'I want to live! I'm not ready to die!'
"Ed!"
At that moment, a surge of energy came over me. Without hesitation, Edwin's name burst from my lips the moment the crushing weight disappeared.
Then, just in the nick of time, the crimson-eyed monster, that was on the verge of attacking me, collapsed with a 'thud' sound.
Standing behind the creature was Edwin, with a bloody sword in hand.
"How dare you try to touch what's mine?"
His cold, hardened face was fiercer and more frightening than ever before.
In particular, the murderous spirit contained in his blue eyes was so ferocious that it felt as if you would be torn apart just by meeting his gaze.
But ironically, I was flooded with relief at that sight.
"Wait for me. I'll take care of the Ravens and return shortly."
Hearing that, I could only smile faintly.
Unexpectedly, the pain that was causing my heart to pound erratically, seemed to have diminished.
'Does that madman know how to wield magic?'
"Don't die. Otherwise, I will chase you to the ends of Hell and make you beg for death."
'How can you make someone beg for death if they are already dead?'
Although it sounded absurd, strangely, I was relieved by his words.
If I was in Edwin's embrace, I don't think even God would dare take me.
'Did I just experience a pain so severe that it's causing these insane thoughts?'
I don't know how it happened, but I think I am starting to favor that crazy guy.
I watched Edwin wielding his sword like a madman until my vision darkened.
* * * * * * *
The plan was perfect.
Angelina is unaware that the royal family is still hunting the Jueri.
But I planned to tell her.
Only then would she realize that the only place she needs to be is next to me.
It would be even better if her memories returned, or her abilities awakened.
Regardless, I have no intentions of informing the Crown Prince of Angelina's existence, seeing as that would put her in a position where her life would be endangered.
Therefore, if there was a threat, a controlled space would be needed to contain it.
Thus, the space I chose was Ambria.
A place where the Ravens were constantly monitored and often appeared.
In preparation for any unexpected variables, more knights than usual were sent in preparation for our arrival.
I wanted to use the Ravens to scare Angelina and have her cling to me, but nothing more.
That was the plan...
So, how did it turn out like this?
"Damn it," Edwin swore while fiercely swinging his sword.
Due to the heat, his body temperature rose, and sweat poured down his face.
There was something besides the madness seething inside of him.
Anger.
Yes, it was anger.
Was it due to the Ravens, who were constantly reappearing despite being killed repeatedly, or was it his weak bride?
Regardless of the source, Edwin knew he had reached the point where the madness within was close to exploding.
"My Lord!"
Recognizing Edwin's instability, Beryl cuts down a Raven and quickly approached him.
"You must calm down."
"Ugh."
Edwin held his sword with one hand and swept the hair from his face with the other.
'I can't lose my grip. My bride could die.'
If he lost his sanity, he would also lose the ability to recognize his bride, which would lead to a deadly situation.
Above all else, time was running out.
If he didn't find a way to remove Angelina's hand from the guardian tree soon, she will die.
Edwin recalled his feelings of surprise and delight when Angelina fell from the sky and landed in his arms, but on the other hand, he was also suspicious.
Everything about it, the time, place, and her appearance were all too perfect.
There was only one way to confirm if Angelina was truly a Jueri.
It was to force her to drink his blood.
If the average person drank even a drop of his blood, they would fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
The only thing that could wound him was a dagger that had been passed down as a family heirloom, so he used it to make a small wound and forced her to consume his blood.
The moment he saw Angelina's dissatisfied expression, his entire body was stirring with excitement.
Then he drank her blood and recited the incantation for the covenant while watching her expression, not wanting to miss a single moment.
'Somehow, I managed to find Angelina, my bride, who happens to also be a Jueri. This kind of luck only comes once in a lifetime.' At the thought of losing his bride, his madness began to rage as if it would swallow his heart whole.
"Ugh."
"Are you okay?"
Edwin exhaled a long breath to soothe the pain in his chest and nodded slowly.
Then he glanced back to see if Angelina was okay.
But she wasn't moving.
At that moment, Edwin was so overcome with rage, that he lost all reason.
His body moved subconsciously, mindlessly knocking out the remaining Ravens as he ran towards Angelina.
He didn't know how it happened, but her hand was no longer attached to the trunk of the guardian tree.
Her silver-white hair partially covered her face as she lay motionless on the ground like a marionette with her strings cut.
Suddenly, the image of his father's dead body, covered by a bloody white cloth, overlapped her prone body.
Subsequently, Angelina's face replaced his father's.
As if God was taunting him with an ominous future.
Without warning, he became nauseous and threw up the contents of his stomach on the sand.
'I can't allow it to end this way. Whether God wins or I win, let's play this game of chess until the very end.'
Edwin wiped his mouth roughly with the back of his hand, his eyes flashing dangerously.
At that same moment, he reached out to check Angelina's breathing and sighed in relief when he saw her weak but stable breathing.
He felt relaxed now that he knew she wasn't dead.
Due to their bond, he would have known the moment she died. Even with this knowledge, his body reacted as if he wasn't aware of this fact.
Edwin clenched his trembling hand into a fist.
"Are you punishing me for trying to manipulate you? Well then, you have succeeded"
As he uttered the last sentence, he laughed bitterly at himself.
Edwin gently hugged Angelina, who looked pale, but more carefree than before.
The way he held her tightly in his arms resembled the way a wild beast tried to protect its young from an enemy.
He pressed his face against her forehead while brushing the sweat and sand from her silver mane.
After a while, Beryl approached and quietly spoke, "My Lord."
Edwin slowly opened his eyes to find Beryl standing before him with a hardened expression.
"It's done."
"Did any of them escape?"
"No, not a single one."
It was a natural result since his subordinates were not incompetent and their numbers had been doubled in advance.
'It was such a perfect plan.'
Edwin lowered his gaze and examined Angelina's pale complexion.
'My bride is the only one who confuses me.'
When she suddenly fell from the sky, his life was thrown into chaos.
"Once again, make sure there are no information leaks. Don't allow anyone to find out about my bride."
After Angelina collapsed from the pain, the hood of her robe slipped back and revealed her silver hair.
That's when the Ravens noticed her.
"Yes, my Lord," Beryl replied. He bowed briefly, before turning around to instruct the waiting knights. After receiving their orders, the knights quickly disappeared.
"...Shouldn't we take the madam to the mansion right away?" Beryl asked cautiously when he noticed Edwin hadn't moved from his position on the ground.
But Edwin acted as if he hadn't heard him.
"If she experienced extreme levels of pain to the point where she fainted, it would be better to seek medical attention as soon as possible. She is very fragile."
"...Yes, my bride is fragile," Edwin exhaled a sigh as he slowly stood while continuing to hug Angelina tightly.
* * * * * * *
Henson, the Duke's doctor, rushed with great urgency when he heard the Duke had summoned him.
Although he was employed by the Duke, Henson had never seen his face since the Duke had never been sick or injured.
Occasionally, he would come to the estate to treat the injuries of the servants and knights.
However, he now had to face the Duke nicknamed 'The Dragon of the West', so how could he not be nervous?
In addition, the Madam, who the terrifying Duke always seemed to be carrying in his arms, had suddenly fallen ill.
Henson was overwhelmed with the anxiety that today might be the last day of his life.
"Master, I have brought the doctor," announced the butler after escorting Henson to the bedroom door.
Henson swallowed hard and adjusted his messy attire.
"Enter."
Although it was Henson's first time meeting the Duke, his voice was much colder than he had ever imagined.
Soon after, the door opened, and he followed the butler into the room.
Not having the courage to face the Duke, Henson bowed his head until the butler gently nudged his arm.
Startled, Henson hurriedly opened his mouth.
"Greetings, my Lord, I am Henson."
However, there was no reply from the Duke.
Instead, he felt a stinging gaze that made his skin crawl.
A cold sweat ran down the back of his neck.
"What are you doing?"
When he heard the Duke's sharp tone, Henson trembled visibly. He was so frightened that he didn't even think to take out a handkerchief to wipe away his sweat.
Fearing for his life, Henson fell to his knees and begged, "My Lord, please spare me."
The Duke sighed deeply and Henson felt the temperature in the room drop several degrees. He felt a chill even though it was not yet winter.
"Come on, get up, you're here to treat the Madam."
Henson quickly regained his senses at the butler's low whispers.
With the sole desire to live as his motivation, he managed to stand up, but his legs lacked the strength to move.
The butler noticed quickly, then proceeded to grab Henson, and dragged him over to the bed.
After a moment of hesitation, Henson raised his head and stiffened immediately at the sight before him.
Rather than the Madam, the Duke was resting on the bed with his long legs outstretched instead. He was clutching a lifeless woman in his arms, glaring at Henson ferociously.
As a physician, Henson had treated numerous patients over the course of 20 years, but today would prove to be his most difficult case.
Clearing his dry throat, he anxiously sent the butler a grave look.
'How can I do a medical examination in such a state? Please help me.'
Rather than helping, the butler only urged him to proceed with an unconcerned expression on his face.
Henson sighed deeply and buried his trembling hands in his pockets.
"May I check her condition?"
The Duke raised a brow in response, but relaxed his arms that were holding the woman.
He even adjusted her position, giving Henson more access to examine her better.
Edwin felt that he was showing an ample amount of consideration and generosity, but in Henson's eye, it wasn't any better than before.
With his shaking hands, Henson slowly examined the woman while trying to avoid eye contact with the Duke.
Feeling faint, Henson desperately tried to calm himself, while fearing that he would soon be on his way to heaven.