After securing all the routes from the capital to Fojetta and from Fojetta to D’Agnon, Leopold rode day and night, just as his knights had done.

The schedule was incredibly tight, but nothing was more important than the safety of his wife on her long journey. Having already lost Hazel once, he couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt or falling into danger again.

However, it wasn’t just his busy schedule that prevented him from seeing her off.

Leopold truly lacked confidence. He wasn’t sure if he could simply watch Hazel board the carriage or if he would be compelled to hold her back, embrace her, and never let go.

If he had acted that way, Hazel would have found it immediately suspicious. So, once again, he chose not to appear before her. It was the only way he could respect her choice.

He knew it was foolish, but he couldn’t think of any other way. The feeling of his resolve crumbling in front of Hazel remained unchanged. In fact, it seemed even more intense than before his return. He always wanted to throw himself at her. Fear stopped him every time, but…

Still, he planned to try to persuade Hazel once more when he reached Fojetta. Even if he couldn’t kneel and beg right away, he thought he could pretend to be the kind husband he once was and offer her a life of freedom as a bargaining chip.

It didn’t seem likely to work on a wife who had already made up her mind, but he had to at least try. He would tell her that, with the status of a duchess, she could do more and live the life she wanted in a more fulfilling way. But she would probably refuse without even considering it.

In truth, as long as Hazel didn’t completely disappear from his sight, it didn’t matter where she went.

Yes, as long as she was alive, even if not by his side…

With thoughts of Hazel filling his mind, Leopold entered the outskirts of the village. To his delight, he spotted something white sparkling in the distance. He chuckled, recalling the old days when he had wondered if it was animal fur or a jewel.

“Inform the village chief that I’ve arrived. I’ll be there shortly.”

He gave a brief order to the accompanying knights and turned his horse toward the beach. Hazel was gracefully descending the large stones that resembled stairs.

What should he say first? She would be surprised to see him. Could he act as if everything was fine? It would be nice to share a meal together, but what if she refused? With these thoughts racing through his mind, he stopped his horse under a nearby tree.

“Carl, stay here quietly.”

As he stroked the glossy black mane, the horse neighed softly, as if it understood. Leopold dismounted, loosely tied the reins to the tree, and turned back toward the beach.

But where he turned, where Hazel should have been, becoming part of the beautiful scenery with the sunset, a group of strangers was violently dragging her away after knocking her unconscious.

What happened next was pure instinct. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew his sword. Pouring all his life force into it, he imbued the blade with immense power. Death lingered at the edge of his sword.

How long did he swing his sword like that?

The beach, once sparkling with fine sand, had long since turned into a brutal scene of slaughter he never wanted to witness, even in dreams.

“Duke! What on earth is this…!”

Jayden’s urgent voice came from afar.

Only then did Leopold lower the arm he had raised high. The bodies, severed beyond recognition, no longer retained any semblance of their original forms.

He carefully lifted Hazel, who had fainted and fallen. Her face, already pale, was devoid of any color. She looked exactly as she had once in the coffin…

His heart raced as if he were about to have a seizure. No matter how hard he tried to steady his hands, the trembling wouldn’t stop.

Only the faint breath he felt between her slightly parted lips kept Leopold’s sanity intact.

“Lead me to where the knights are.”

Jayden flinched at the deadly tone of his lord’s voice. Despite its brevity, the order was filled with such intense anger and hatred that it sent shivers down his spine. Just approaching was enough to sense the threat to his life.

Without asking any questions, he quietly led the way. It was clear that the ones his lord had faced were the injured pirates. When he went to the tent to check on their condition, as per Hazel’s instructions, he found only the mercilessly uprooted stakes scattered around. They were indeed the ones who should not have received any treatment.

The knights quickly assembled.

The twenty or so knights gathered in the tent could not hide their shock at the sight of their lady lying unconscious, more so than at the presence of their lord, who reeked of blood.

“Tonight, we will completely wipe out the pirates. Get ready, everyone. And bring anyone from the village who knows about poisons. Immediately.”

The knights, struggling to breathe under the intense atmosphere emanating from Leopold, finally sprang into action.

The village herbalist, dragged in without understanding the situation, fortunately recognized the faint scent coming from Hazel’s lips right away.

“This is a medicinal herb we grow in our village. To be precise, it’s not a poison but something that temporarily numbs the nerves. Don’t worry too much. She will wake up soon.”

“And exactly when is ‘soon’?”

The herbalist, who had been responding calmly, was frightened by the low, threatening tone of Leopold’s voice and stammered.

“…Well, I, um, I’m not sure…”

A suffocating silence descended.

Leopold, his eyes closed, spoke with as much patience as he could muster.

“That’s enough. Leave.”

As the herbalist hurriedly exited, the air inside the tent grew even heavier. The knights, observing the situation, anxiously awaited orders while watching their lord’s back.

Finally, he stood up.

According to the villagers, the pirates’ base was a small island not far from the coastline. Approaching it wasn’t difficult, but hiding a ship from the land was impossible.

Lanette, who also served as a strategist, carefully outlined the route to the pirate island and proposed several plans.

Since they spent most of their time on the northern continent, the Lawrence knights were relatively inexperienced in naval battles, but some strategies considered the possibility of fighting at sea. Of course, such strategies were feasible thanks to the master they served. None of the knights ever doubted victory under Lawrence’s command.

Especially, the swordsmanship wielded by Leopold Lawrence was unparalleled across the continent, extending beyond just the empire. An unmatched skill. Many knights revered him, saying his very existence was like a divine weapon.

Some even cast curious glances, suggesting that what he wielded was something more special than ordinary swordsmanship.

Regardless of the truth, one thing was certain: it was impossible to survive the full force of his sword.

Moreover, the opponents were mere pirates. No matter how outnumbered they were compared to the knights, they were untrained civilians who had never seen a properly wielded sword in their lives.

After reviewing Lanette’s suggestions, Leopold quickly came to a conclusion.

“In the end, a frontal assault is the answer. I will lead, so maintain formation and cover me. We will deploy immediately.”

As soon as the order was given, the knights moved at once. The sun had already set, and if they delayed any longer, dawn would soon break.

With an appropriate level of tension for their first battle in a while, the knights set sail. However, as soon as they landed on the island, they realized that strategies and tension were meaningless. All they had to do was easily deflect the arrows raining down on them.

Leopold seemed like someone born to kill. With each swing of his sword, the air vibrated violently. The knights covering him thought that the word “reaper” was surely made for him.

The pirates, who were frantically defending themselves, were too stunned to do anything but blink and flee. However, they couldn’t even hide, let alone evade the sword. Their necks were mercilessly severed like fish heads.

The small island, once filled with the fresh scent of the sea, transformed into a bloody graveyard in less than an hour. The horrific scene, which would have been ghastly if visible, was quietly buried in the pitch-black night.

Even after wiping out everything without leaving a trace, Leopold seemed unsatisfied. His voice, commanding the retreat, still carried an unresolved anger.

***

Was it a dream? I thought I heard Leopold’s voice, yelling in anger…

Hmm, Leopold yelling? Then it must be a dream… He would never raise his voice, given his noble etiquette…

I blinked my eyes open and adjusted to the darkness.

So my last memory was, yes, someone suddenly… from behind…

“Ugh.”

Trying to recall the memory made my head throb as if it would split. It seemed the magical defense surrounding my body had been released. As I placed the back of my hand on my forehead and groaned, a very familiar voice called out to me in surprise.

“Hazel? Are you conscious?”

I turned my head toward the sound, feeling puzzled. I couldn’t understand why someone who shouldn’t be here was visible. Was I seeing things because I wasn’t fully awake?

I rubbed my eyes and opened them wide again, but the figure in my view remained unchanged. A man sat on a small wooden stool beside the bed, clasping his hands as if in prayer.

“…Leopold?”

As soon as I uttered his name, he reached out to me.