I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 3.5
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***
Severus looked at the mansion. Strangely, Irene, who was supposed to come out to see him off, was nowhere to be seen.
“Where did Irene go?”
“She won’t be coming out. She didn’t seem to be feeling well, so I told her to rest.”
“…She’s not feeling well?”
Wasn’t she fine just yesterday? Severus looked up at her room with worried eyes. Even the curtains were drawn, so he couldn’t even see her silhouette.
“I should go see her.”
“Your Grace, if you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”
Albert’s hurried attempt to stop him was strange, but he was right that if the departure was delayed, the imperial family would find fault with it.
He reluctantly took his feet that didn’t want to move.
“Why are there two carriages today?”
“I packed extra food just in case. So please eat well and don’t go hungry. Your Grace, since the Madam is also your wife, is she not also my master whom I should serve?”
“Yes, that’s what Irene said. That husband and wife are one.”
Albert smiled as if relieved.
“Your Grace. I always think of you as my top priority. I want you to know that everyone in the duchy, including the Madam, feels the same way.”
“Albert, you’re saying strange things all of a sudden.”
Something felt strange, but with time being short, he had no choice but to get into the carriage. The maids looking unusually anxious was also strange. Even Eliza, who usually maintained a blank expression, seemed somewhat unnatural.
“Have a safe journey, Your Grace.”
“Yes, take care of yourselves as well.”
When the door closed and the carriage started moving, Severus let out a sigh. It bothered him that he couldn’t see Irene’s face before leaving. He didn’t know when he’d return if he left now. Though he’d try to return as quickly as possible, this time it didn’t seem like it would be easy.
The carriage ran without rest and only stopped late at night. He surveyed the surroundings to set up a tent and sleep.
“I’m supposed to meet the mercenaries in two days, so there should be plenty of time.”
Severus massaged his tired shoulders while looking at the night sky. This armor, though thin, seemed sturdy enough to hold up well.
“The war won’t be endless, they’re probably starting nonexistent wars just to kill me.”
After roughly setting up the tent, he returned to the carriage.
‘The journey ahead will be rough.’
The imperial family wouldn’t let him pass peacefully until he met with the mercenaries. He gripped his sword and closed the carriage door.
Night had fallen, so it was time for visitors.
Screech!
“My, they come so quickly.”
As he expected, the tent he had set up was slashed to pieces. When he opened the door and stepped out of the carriage where he had been quietly observing, the masked figures seemed to hesitate in surprise.
“You should be well-trained dogs, yet you slash without even checking if someone’s there. You must have been in quite a hurry.”
It seemed like people sent from both the imperial family and the temple were mixed together. Severus quickly counted their numbers. There were no other presences besides the five who appeared before him.
He pointed his sword at those rushing toward him. Compassion and pity were unnecessary emotions. They were merely assassins sent to kill him, so he would treat them the same way.
Severus offered his arm to take a hit while slicing another’s throat, and offered his leg while stabbing another’s heart. Though there wasn’t a single uninjured spot on his body, he wasn’t afraid. He was more afraid of failing to return home after losing to these people.
His breathing was labored and his sword wounds stung. But he didn’t stop fighting. There was nowhere to retreat. The only way was forward.
“Die! If only you die, everything will… kuhek!”
Severus’s sword, deeply embedded in the assassin’s abdomen, twisted as it was pulled out. The assassin collapsed, spitting bright red blood.
“Do you really think so? If I die, another like me will appear. The imperial family’s greed is endless, and their ugliness will never disappear.”
“Y-you demon, you monster!”
Though trembling, the remaining two assassins didn’t stop. They were probably like him. With nowhere to retreat. Severus willingly offered his body while taking their lives.
The smell of blood was overwhelming. Though it had only been one night, his body was exhausted. This was just the beginning. He looked down at the assassins lying dead and bleeding on the ground with a pained expression.
Only after ending the life of an assassin who was gasping and struggling in agony did silence fall.
***
How much time had passed? Hidden among the luggage and holding my breath, I wanted to get out of the carriage as soon as possible. I was worried whether he was injured, whether he was in danger.
What if that useless man came back severely injured like last time? We’re supposed to spend our lives together as a couple, but at this rate, I might end up embracing a gravestone.
‘No, I can’t wait any longer.’
I carefully got out of the carriage. The front carriage was pierced and in chaos, but the one I had been in was intact.
‘Is Severus alright?’
I frantically searched for him. With no light around, it was completely dark. My eyes moved quickly in the darkness where nothing could be seen. I needed to check if his body was alright. The tent was already in tatters, impossible to think of as a place where someone could sleep.
However, no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t see him. Something felt strange about not being able to sense his presence. Only assassins who had died bleeding were visible on the ground.
“Where on earth…”
I grew anxious. Had he moved elsewhere to prepare for possible additional attacks? I bent down to scan the ground.
There was too much blood to tell if it was his. I bit my lip nervously and stood up, about to move to search for him.
“Ah!”
Suddenly someone grabbed my wrist, and my body slammed against the carriage.
“Who sent… Irene?”
“Severus!”
I grabbed his arms, not even feeling the pain in my back from hitting the carriage. Then I quickly examined his body.
“You’re hurt! Where have you been? I’ve been looking for so long…”
“Does your back hurt? And why are you so good at hiding your presence?”
“You’re one to talk.”
Who was he to say that? I almost moved somewhere else. If we had missed each other, I might not have found him. Then I would have had to return to the mansion without being any help. That would have been embarrassing for Eliza who helped me too.
“Let me see.”
Severus grabbed my body, pulled me into his arms, and checked my back. He slowly ran his hands over it, carefully checking for injuries.
“This much is fine. Those guys ended up like that, but are you not hurt?”
I grabbed his hands and started healing. Along with the feeling of strength leaving my body, my mind became peaceful.
“Irene, you don’t need to strain yourself like this. More importantly, how did you come here? You didn’t come alone without any companions, did you?”
“…I didn’t come alone.”
I’ve been with you from the start. Severus seemed to have no idea, but I needed to be honest. Otherwise, he might send me back.
I held his hand tightly and said.
“Actually, I couldn’t let you go alone, so I followed from the beginning. I knew you would say no if I told you beforehand.”
“Irene, what made you think of coming to a place like this?”
“…Couples should do everything together, shouldn’t they? How could I let you come to a place like this alone?”
“Dangerous things don’t need to be done together.”
“If we’re only a couple during good times, how are we any different from strangers? Is that what being married is supposed to be?”
I couldn’t understand it.
“The imperial family is strange for sending you alone. It’s not good to endure things alone. Severus has so many good people around him, so why…”
Severus doesn’t know. How wonderful it is to have such people by his side.
