Chapter 9 (Part 5)

Much time had passed.

The seemingly invincible beasts finally collapsed to the ground.  

Roshan pulled the shamshir he had embedded into the bear’s forehead, while Duke Richard retrieved his sword from the wolf’s back.  

Panting heavily, Therese clutched her dagger tightly as she stood before the massive carcasses of the beasts.  

After sheathing her dagger, she scanned the group. Fortunately, no one seemed seriously injured. Approaching the Duke last, Therese asked, 

“Your Grace, are you alright?”  

“Madame, you need not worry about me.” 

He replied with a faint smile, reaching out to wipe the blood from her cheek. His gaze then fell on her jacket and pants, stained with the beasts’ blood.  

“You must have been terribly frightened. We should return quickly.”  

At that moment, Victor, who had scouted the edge of the forest, came running back in haste.  

“Your Grace, it seems we’ll have to spend the night in the forest.”  

“What do you mean?”  

When Duke Richard frowned, Victor quickly explained.  

“They said a barrier is set up between the forest and the tent area at night for safety.”  

Apparently, this was to prevent dangerous beasts from descending into the camp and threatening the Emperor.  

“But we’re still in the forest…” 

Therese murmured, her voice trailing off as she gazed at the dark woods, utterly exhausted.  

***

Stranded in the forest, Roshan and Victor hurriedly went scouting.  

“It seems there are no other beasts around.”  

Though this was a small relief, Therese couldn’t shake her sense of unease.  

Camping in the wilderness when the tent was so close by felt absurd.  

‘Moreover, His Grace needs immediate treatment.’  

The Jeremy Richard she knew never showed pain, even when he was suffering. She could only imagine the agony hidden beneath his composed expression.  

“We’re fine, but we can’t let you sleep out here, Madame.” 

Jeremy said, draping his cloak over her shoulders with a frown.  

In this situation, his status as the Empire’s hero, commanding two knight orders, was of no use.  

At that moment, Roshan gave Victor an order.  

“Victor, bring out the supplies.”  

From the bundle Victor retrieved from the horse, they pulled out leather sheets, ropes, and wooden stakes.  

“Captain, should we set up the tent here?”  

The mention of a tent made Jeremy’s eyes widen.  

“Roshan, a tent?”  

When Therese asked, Roshan bowed respectfully.  

“I learned it from my master during my time in Pasa.”  

“That’s truly impressive.”  

Therese couldn’t hide her admiration as she examined the tent materials, and Jeremy felt a strange sense of defeat toward Roshan.  

“Master, how about taking a bath first? I noticed a quiet pond nearby on our way here.” 

Roshan suggested, handing her a change of clothes.  

Therese once again showered him with praise.  

“Roshan, your preparedness is truly remarkable. It reminds me of that time years ago when we were pickpocketed.”  

The smile on Therese’s face made Jeremy’s expression darken.  

He couldn’t help but envy Roshan for receiving her warm compliments. He was also irritated by their shared past, which he wasn’t a part of.  

‘I swore I wouldn’t be greedy…’  

Memories of a rainy day long ago, when he had miserably begged for a cup of milk tea, came flooding back.  

‘Your Grace, you don’t like sweet things, do you?’  

‘I’ll have some, too.’  

Jeremy had asked for the milk tea Roshan was enjoying, only to be scolded by Therese.  

‘But this, I cannot tolerate.’  

Straightening his shoulders, Jeremy wrapped an arm around Therese’s shoulders and declared confidently, 

“I’ll take that.”  

He couldn’t let another man escort Therese to the pond.  

‘That’s my job as her husband.’  

Snatching the bundle from Roshan, Jeremy glared at him. But even in the face of his provocation, Roshan remained unshaken.  

“Master, please be cautious of snakes. While you’re away, I’ll set up the tent and start a fire.”  

“…”  

Once again, Jeremy found himself silently defeated.  

Therese and the Duke walked side by side, turning their backs on the group. As they strolled through the nighttime forest, the tense moments of the bear and wolf attack felt like a distant dream. Watching the fireflies flit about, Therese finally broke the silence.  

“Your Grace, let me carry that.”  

She gestured to the small bundle he was holding, but Jeremy shook his head firmly.  

“You’re not in good health.”  

Moreover, she must have been deeply shaken by the earlier attack. Red blood was splattered across her hair and clothes.  

His goal was to protect Therese from such horrors, yet everything had gone wrong from the start. A sigh escaped Jeremy’s lips.  

“There it is.” 

Therese said, pointing to a small pond. Above it, the branches of a crape myrtle tree stretched out, its flowers long gone.  

Though he had confidently led the way, the thought of Therese bathing there suddenly made his mouth go dry.  

“Well, I’ll just leave this here…”  

Jeremy stammered as he hurriedly placed the bundle on the ground. He quickly leaned against a tree and turned his head away.  

“I’ll stay here, so you can wash up comfortably.”  

Therese let out a deep sigh as she watched Jeremy Richard’s golden hair flutter in the wind while he leaned against the tree.  

‘How could I possibly feel comfortable?’  

Not when you’re right there.  

The metallic scent of blood and animal fur clung to her clothes, wafting into her nose. It was so nauseating that her stomach churned as if she were riding in a carriage.  

‘I might even throw up.’  

Though she was aware of the Duke’s presence nearby, her priority was to clean herself. After confirming once more that the Duke was leaning against the tree, Therese stepped into the pond, still fully clothed.  

The water was so cold, being deep in the mountains, that her teeth began to chatter as soon as her feet touched it.  

“…Ugh.”  

Therese almost let out a cry but quickly covered her mouth with her hand. If she screamed, the Duke might rush toward her.  

She glanced around and plucked a handful of daffodils blooming by the water’s edge.  

‘There’s no bath oil or proper tools.’  

Despite the cold, she submerged herself up to her neck. Crushing the daffodil petals, she rubbed them into her hair and used her hands to roughly scrub her body before rinsing off.  

Though she wasn’t completely clean, she felt noticeably refreshed. Just as she was about to leave the pond, she froze.  

“…!”  

A long snake was gliding toward her across the water’s surface. Its sleek, brown scales shimmered as its eyes locked onto hers. Therese felt as though her heart had stopped.  

‘It’s not venomous… right?’  

But she had never learned how to distinguish snakes. Backing away slowly, fear overwhelmed her, causing her steps to falter.  

“What’s wrong?”  

Jeremy’s voice rang out as he immediately sensed danger from her labored breathing. Therese wanted to respond, but her lips seemed frozen, unable to produce a sound.  

“Excuse me.”  

Jeremy plunged into the pond without hesitation, reaching her in a single leap and pulling her into his arms. Spotting the snake near her, he drew the dagger from his ankle.  

“Close your eyes.”  

Jeremy’s blade sliced through the calm water, cutting the snake in two in an instant. Water droplets scattered everywhere as ripples spread across the pond’s surface.  

“Ha, ha.”  

Clinging to his arm, Therese gasped for breath and slowly opened her eyes. The snake that had threatened her was now gone, but her heart refused to settle.  

“Are you alright?”  

The Duke’s voice brought her back to her senses, and she managed to speak.  

“Was… was it venomous?”  

Jeremy awkwardly nodded as he looked down at the frightened woman clinging to his arm. The snake wasn’t venomous, though its bite would have been painful.  

“Thank you for saving me.”  

“I promised to protect you, didn’t I?”  

Therese suddenly examined his body in a panic.  

“Your Grace, did the water touch your shoulder?”  

But she soon regretted her words deeply.  

What stood before her was far more dangerous than the water snake.  

Droplets clung to his flawless forehead, just below his dark brows, and his eyes, like the night sky, were more beautiful than any masterpiece. Beneath his wet shirt, his taut muscles glistened under the moonlight.  

“…Ah.”  

Therese let out a soft exclamation and swallowed hard. His lips curved into a faint smile, and his deepening gaze locked onto her.  

The look in his eyes reminded her of the wolf that had threatened them earlier in the forest. Instinctively, she tried to step back.  

‘…This is dangerous.’  

Therese quickly turned her head, but his hand caught her chin before she could move. His voice dropped to a secretive whisper.  

“I think I have a fever again, Madame.”  

“…Hmm.”  

“My shoulder hurts terribly… perhaps because water splashed on it.”  

When she only blinked in response, Jeremy slowly leaned closer, his lips parting slightly.  

“Let’s… get out of here…”  

Therese barely managed to reply, her shoulders trembling violently. She convinced herself it was because the water was ice-cold.  

His unrelenting gaze traveled from her soaked silver hair to her round forehead, then down to her nose and lips.  

Running a hand through his wet hair, he spoke in a desperate tone.  

“Are you going to leave me like this, Madame?”  

“When did I ever…”  

Determined not to be swayed by the Duke’s vulnerable state, Therese tried to avoid his gaze. But his hand, wrapped around her waist, grew increasingly warm.  

“Why are you trembling so much? Are you cold?”  

When she couldn’t answer properly, Jeremy’s expression turned serious.  

‘…Ha.’  

Even in his weakened state, he only worried about her. Therese’s resolve crumbled once again.