3.1 – Each Person’s Circumstances

At dusk, Julian awoke again to the presence he felt in the room. His body was still heavy, but his mind was clearer. Thinking the presence beside him was Vanessa, he turned with a smile. However, the person standing by the bed was not Vanessa.

“…Donnie.”

“Why the frown? Disappointed it’s not Lady Vanessa?”

Donnie said as he pulled off the blankets wrapped tightly around Julian. With Donnie’s help, Julian managed to lean against the headboard of the bed.

“I can’t say I’m not.”

“Really hurtful. Who do you think carried your big body all the way here?”

“Well, I vaguely remember being loaded onto a wagon.”

“I should have left you on the roadside. What a hassle.”

Julian lightly patted Donnie’s shoulder in gratitude. Donnie grinned without saying anything and hugged Julian. But soon he pushed Julian away, dramatically pinching his nose.

“Ugh, you smell like rotten cheese. Better take a bath while I’m being nice.”

Donnie washed Julian’s hair but told him to handle the rest himself, pushing him into a cylindrical wooden tub. The water, shallow up to his thighs, was pleasantly lukewarm. Julian carefully washed his entire body with a soapy cloth, avoiding getting his wound wet.

According to Donnie, Pierre and Max had left a while ago to recruit mercenaries to join the allied forces in a neighboring country, following their commander. Donnie was entrusted with the important task of training the archers.

“We thought you were going to die and even arranged a grave for you at the church. As your condition gradually improved, we wondered if we should sell it back, but Pierre said we might need it soon, so we left it.”

“What a jinxed thing to say.”

“Because of the trial by combat, of course. We agreed to meet in the capital once the trial date is set. They said they’d gladly watch your last moments.”

Donnie teased as he helped Julian dress after his bath. Unaware of Julian’s change of heart, Donnie assumed he would naturally participate in the trial by combat.

Though he knew he should keep his promise to Vanessa, Julian was worried about losing her if things went wrong. He feared the fleeting happiness he had barely tasted would vanish.

Wasn’t there a way to live quietly with Vanessa without going through the trial by combat?

Julian was troubled about how to resolve this issue. Drops of water from his wet hair soaked into his linen shirt.

“Why the serious face all of a sudden? Afraid of dying now that you’ve survived the crisis?”

“It would be a lie to say I’m not afraid. I have someone to protect now, so my life is no longer just mine.”

Julian felt a responsibility to protect and care for his woman. Donnie recognized Julian’s sincerity in his serious voice. Julian, who had once recklessly defied the heavens, seemed to have matured in an instant. Though worried about his sudden change, Donnie decided to support Julian as a friend.

“By the way, Earl Hendrick doesn’t seem to know who Vanessa is. What’s going on?”

Julian said, putting an arm around Donnie’s shoulder. He leaned on Donnie, taking one step at a time.

“I deliberately hid it. If you die, who will help Lady Vanessa? The Earl isn’t one to show mercy to just anyone.”

“I see. If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t have suggested I marry Vanessa and settle here.”

“What? That’s like the sun rising in the west.”

So surprised, Donnie nearly dropped Julian onto the bed. Julian grimaced, clutching his wound.

“I don’t know how to explain this situation to the Earl. I’m not in good condition and want to stay quiet for a while.”

“Still, I think it’s right to tell him first. What if the Earl finds out the truth by accident? If you try to explain then, it’ll only sound like an excuse.”

It was doubtful that Earl Hendrick would risk helping Julian if he learned the truth, but the old Julian would have acted according to his feelings without much concern. Seeing him hesitant now, Donnie’s expression gradually changed.

“Wait, you don’t intend to not request a trial by combat from the Earl, do you?”

“If I don’t win, Vanessa will die too. Isn’t it wiser to survive like this?”

Though this injury was particularly severe, fortunately, it wasn’t severe enough to leave lasting aftereffects. Having survived the crisis, he only needed to wait for his body to recover. But Donnie couldn’t understand why Julian, unlike himself, was speaking so weakly.

Though Donnie initially opposed helping Vanessa, he couldn’t understand why Julian would break his promise to her in this situation.

It was obvious Vanessa wouldn’t stay still, and how would he handle Earl Hendrick’s wrath once he learned the whole story later? It was a fact anyone could see with a little thought, but had the injury affected his mind? Julian harbored a naive hope that everything would be resolved if he kept silent.

“Anyway, I’m still thinking. So, Donnie, keep your mouth shut until I talk to Vanessa.”

“It’s too late. I’ve heard everything.”

At that moment, Vanessa’s voice came from the door.

Vanessa had prayed to God every night to save Julian from death. With her devotion, Julian had barely regained consciousness, so she was reassured that things would proceed smoothly afterward. But what was this bolt from the blue?

Vanessa threw the freshly laundered bedding she was holding onto the floor and approached with a face full of anger. Donnie instinctively distanced himself from the two. The usually gentle lady had a fiery temper when angry. If Vanessa, with her notoriously bad temper, clashed with Julian, who was no less hot-tempered, it was clear that Donnie would get caught in the crossfire.

“Yikes, I know nothing.”

Donnie tucked his tail and quickly fled, leaving a chilly silence in the room.

He hadn’t intended to reveal it this way, but things had gone awry.

Julian sighed heavily, looking up at Vanessa’s face, flushed with anger. He wasn’t skilled enough to turn this worst-case scenario into something positive with words. He tried to speak as calmly as possible without getting agitated.

“Earl Hendrick wants me to marry you and settle here. If I pledge allegiance in exchange for a reward and land, I can be appointed as his knight. If you marry me, you’ll live without want. Of course, it won’t compare to when you were a Viscountess…”

The more his unromantic proposal continued, the more the color drained from Vanessa’s face. Her reaction was much worse than he had expected. She looked like someone in despair rather than happy.

Was marrying me and starting a new life not even worth considering for her? I thought she liked me, but was it just my imagination?

“That’s nonsense. Do you really think you can deceive Earl Hendrick forever? It’s only a matter of time before my identity is exposed.”

“If we quietly hide like this, Earl Plar will eventually give up searching for you. I’m not even sure I can fight properly in the trial by combat in my current condition, so why take on a reckless challenge?”

Julian seemed to have already made up his mind. Vanessa thought it was like talking to a wall. He had broken his promise to her without consulting her.

His attitude of not respecting her opinion made her feel both disappointed and humiliated. Her eyes stung, and her lips trembled involuntarily. She barely managed to hold herself together, feeling like she might collapse on the spot.

“Then what about my son? Robin will think not only did I kill his father, but also abandoned him and ran away! That child must be waiting for me to return…”

Thinking of her son felt like her heart was being torn apart. A tear rolled down her cheek.

Julian, who hadn’t thought that far, felt Robin was an obstacle between him and Vanessa but didn’t show it. He held Vanessa’s hand.

“He’ll understand when he grows up. We can have more children when we marry. It would be painful, but forgetting for a while is the best option. If you miss him too much, you can go find him when things settle down.”

Julian’s insensitive words pierced Vanessa’s heart like a nail. She shook off his hand as if shuddering.

“Forget and move on? You speak so easily because you’ve never had children. You never intended to keep your promise from the start!”

“That’s not it. I’m suggesting another option because the situation has changed. I didn’t expect to get hurt so badly. It’s safer to hide than to court death.”

Vanessa, not wanting to hear his excuses, stormed out. Unable to follow her due to his injury, Julian glared at the hallway where she disappeared.

He thought Vanessa wouldn’t leave the Earl’s territory as Sven was following her. Needing his help to survive, he arrogantly assumed she would eventually return.