1.8

After finishing her meal, Vanessa left for a while, and Julian couldn’t resist following her. Like a wolf stalking its prey, he stealthily trailed after Vanessa.

Vanessa knew Julian was following her but didn’t bother to stop him, unlike during the day. The clouds covered the moon, making it pitch dark, and the howling of wolves could be heard in the distance, making her afraid to be alone.

“Stay there! Don’t come any closer!”

Vanessa shouted, leaning against a tree. Apart from the eerie sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the cries of insects, there was no response. Surely, he wouldn’t follow her all the way here. She lifted her skirt to relieve herself and pulled down her underwear. As she squatted, a sharp pain shot through her b*ttocks as if she had been stung.

“Kyaaa!”

Vanessa jumped up, clutching the bitten area. It was too dark to see what had attacked her bottom.

She thought of the viper she had seen that morning. Snakes are nocturnal, so it might have been hiding under the bushes and attacked. The thought made her breathless as if she had indeed been bitten by a viper.

“What happened?”

Julian asked as he approached quickly, having heard her scream.

“Something bit me, and I think it’s a viper!”

“Let me see.”

Julian said, kneeling on one knee.

Vanessa, swallowing her embarrassment, exposed her b*ttocks for Julian to see. Julian’s gaze was entirely captivated by her long legs, moon-like white b*ttocks, and the erotic view between them.

“Here, it hurts here. Do you see a snake bite?”

“…It’s too dark to tell.”

“What if it was a viper?”

If it was indeed a viper bite, the venom had to be sucked out before it spread through her body. Julian didn’t hesitate. He grasped her b*ttocks and sucked on the area Vanessa indicated with all his might.

“Wait!”

“Don’t move.”

“But, sob…”

Julian repeatedly sucked and spat out the bitten area. The wound wasn’t deep, so there was no taste of blood in his mouth.

“It seems like you were bitten by an insect, not a snake, but whatever it was, I’ve sucked out the venom, so it won’t spread.”

“Sob, really, really?”

“Yes, you’re fine, so don’t cry.”

Julian said, adjusting Vanessa’s clothes. His low voice soothed Vanessa’s startled heart. Only then did Vanessa, regaining her composure, hastily wipe away her tears as if she had never cried. To have caused such a fuss over an insect bite was embarrassing, and she couldn’t raise her head.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you had to do something so dirty…”

“What’s there to fuss about between us? It wasn’t dirty at all. In fact, it was a nice view.”

Julian chuckled and grabbed Vanessa’s b*ttocks.

“If you want, I can suck you until you’re sore.”

He whispered in her ear and lightly bit her earlobe. Vanessa’s shoulders trembled in surprise. She still wasn’t used to his vulgar words or his bold, teasing hands.

What an inscrutable man. What’s so great about that place…

“Don’t say weird things.”

“Heh, you’re cute.”

With those words, he swallowed Vanessa’s lips. As she tried to dodge his sticky tongue, he hugged her tightly, almost crushing her waist.

“Not here!”

Vanessa shouted in a high-pitched voice, barely breaking free from his lips.

“Have you never done it outside?”

“I’m not an animal. How can you do that where others can see?”

“If we do it on a bed, you have no complaints, right?”

She felt like she was getting drawn in by him, but she couldn’t refuse. If she had to do it again someday, she wanted to do it in a way that preserved her dignity. She needed to hold on to what little honor she had left.

“Alright.”

“Good choice. Let’s go back before a real snake shows up.”

Julian said, stepping back a few paces.

After finishing her business, she returned to the campsite to find Donnie and Max curled up under blankets, asleep. Pierre, who was keeping watch nearby, spoke to Julian.

“Oh, you’re back early.”

“Are you first?”

“Yeah, you’re third, so go to sleep quickly.”

Vanessa’s mare was lying down, sleeping near the fire, away from the stallions standing asleep. Horses are naturally timid, but this one seemed to lack caution, perhaps because it had been living comfortably and well-fed. Vanessa smiled and stroked the mare’s neck.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Julian sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. As Julian leaned against the mare’s side, the horse glanced at him before resting its head back on the ground and closing its eyes.

“Not really.”

“I’m cold.”

Julian said, pulling Vanessa closer.

“I’m sensitive to the cold.”

“Ridiculous.”

Pierre, who was listening, interjected incredulously. When Julian glared at him, Pierre sighed and plugged his ears.

“I won’t do anything.”

It didn’t seem like he would do anything indecent with others around. Vanessa lay down on the ground, wrapped in his embrace. She stared at the burning campfire.

Julian’s chest was firm yet warm. She had mostly slept separately from her husband, using the excuse of caring for her young son.

Lying in the arms of a large man after sleeping with a small child felt strange. 

Was this what it felt like to be protected by someone? 

It was an unfamiliar sensation for Vanessa, who had always been the protector, caring for her child.

Julian was lustful, violent, and rude. She hadn’t seen him fight, but judging by how he had killed the viper instantly and his iron-hard body, he was undoubtedly a strong force. He would be a frightening adversary but, at least for now, he was on her side. He didn’t force her when she said no, so he wasn’t a complete scoundrel.

He said he enjoyed it, but sucking on someone else’s b*ttocks couldn’t have been pleasant. It was surprising that he did the unpleasant task without complaint.

Though they had only been together for a day, Vanessa felt her impression of Julian changing in many ways. She felt she needed to watch him a bit longer to see if he was trustworthy.

The crackling of the fire mixed with voices as Vanessa gently woke from her sleep. She thought she had only dozed off lightly, but it seemed quite some time had passed. Her whole body felt heavy as if soaked in water, so she lay still without moving. Julian’s warmth was absent from her back, indicating he had gone somewhere.

“It doesn’t seem like a simple family quarrel. Miriam didn’t act alone. I think Earl Plar is behind it.”

Donnie’s calm voice carried a sharpness he couldn’t hide.

It seemed Donnie and Julian were sitting together across the fire. Vanessa quickly closed her eyes to avoid revealing she was awake.

“If Viscount Michael and his heir both die, all the land he received for his war achievements will become Earl Plar’s property. So he had his mistress Miriam poison Viscount Michael first.”

Vanessa hadn’t ruled out that possibility either. If her husband Michael was eliminated first, and then her five-year-old son was also killed, all the Cloet family’s lands would go to Earl Plar, the lord. That was Vanessa’s greatest concern.

Before her son Robin was unjustly killed, she had to prove her innocence in the trial by combat and ensure Miriam received her due punishment.

“If a trial by combat occurs, Earl Plar will do whatever it takes to win, even resorting to dirty tricks. Even if he fights fairly, where will you get the money for full armor for the joust? And you’ve never participated in a joust before. Do you think you can beat Earl Plar’s knight one-on-one?”

“…”

“Don’t hasten your death with a reckless fight. Just enjoy some fun with her while traveling, then hand her over to the guards before returning to the Earl’s domain. You’re not planning to ruin yourself along with that woman, are you?”

Donnie, whom she thought was the most gentlemanly and polite among the group, had such thoughts.

It was painful, but Donnie wasn’t wrong. The worst-case scenario kept appearing in her mind.

Vanessa’s heart pounded, worried about what Julian might say if he agreed with Donnie.

“How can a devout believer like you say such heartless things to a noblewoman in distress?”

Julian, who had been quietly listening to Donnie, said with a weak smile.

Vanessa couldn’t believe her ears. She had expected Julian to say it wasn’t a sincere promise, that he planned to play with her and then abandon her, but it was unexpected.

Donnie inhaled sharply at the unexpected response.

“Julian, what are you thinking? You said you’d never give your heart to a woman again. Have you forgotten what happened during the Holy War?”

It was an old story, but one that couldn’t be forgotten. Because of them, Julian’s life’s path had been completely altered. If it weren’t for that heathen woman, Julian wouldn’t have lived like a stray dog wandering the streets.

When Donnie mentioned that incident, Julian’s eyes glowed red. Donnie knew Julian would react sharply, but he had no choice. He had to make Julian come to his senses somehow.

Julian stared at Vanessa’s face, eyes closed for a long time.

She was beautiful, but not to the extent of sacrificing his life for her. Her situation was pitiful, but he had seen countless women more unfortunate than her.

The promise to be her champion in the trial by combat was impulsively made, blinded by lust. He could have easily wiped his hands clean and walked away, having gotten what he wanted, but strangely, he didn’t want to break his promise to Vanessa.

Perhaps it was because of her eyes, which burned with the will to live even in the face of death. The sight of a small, pitiful being struggling to survive was both amusing and pitiful. The fact that her last hope was someone like him was truly absurd.

“Whether it’s misguided sympathy or being blinded by lust, even if I end up ruined because of her, it’s my decision. It’s not your place to interfere.”

“Julian.”

“I know what you’re worried about. But if I win this gamble, I can buy land. We can’t wander forever, can we?”

“Did you mean that? I can’t imagine you plowing fields and herding sheep.”

Julian had joked about living peacefully by farming and raising livestock if he got land. Given that Julian was more suited to raiding than being a powerless farmer, it seemed like a cruel joke.

Though unlikely, if he won the trial by combat, Julian would gain the honor of upholding justice in this land. His reputation, which had hit rock bottom, would be restored. And with the money Vanessa would pay, he could buy land from a lord without issue.

Having reached this conclusion after much consideration, Julian wasn’t swayed by Donnie’s persuasion.

“Sigh, you’re the only friend I have left. If you die, who will I rely on?”

“Don’t like me too much. It’s creepy coming from a guy.”

“What, you bastard.”

When Donnie punched his shoulder, Julian chuckled and laughed quietly.

“It’s still a distant future. Life is such that you might die tomorrow, so don’t worry too much. It’ll work out somehow.”

“Yeah, if you were someone who made plans, we wouldn’t be here like this.”

“Shut up. It’s way past your turn, so zip it and sleep.”

Even after Donnie went to bed and the surroundings fell into heavy silence, Vanessa couldn’t easily fall asleep. When Julian returned after switching shifts with Max, she merely kept her eyes closed. Vanessa could finally sleep peacefully when Julian hugged her from behind, sharing his warmth.