Chapter 13
I grabbed the back of the chair to keep from falling, but my body had already started to tip forward.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the pain of hitting the ground.
But no pain came.
Instead, I felt a large hand firmly gripping my shoulder.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Hernan. With his quick reflexes, he must have caught me.
“Did your legs give out again today?”
“Yes. But I’m fine—ah!”
I was about to say I was okay, but I couldn’t finish. Hernan had suddenly lifted me up.
He carried me with ease.
“I’ll take you to the carriage.”
There was no reason to refuse. Being in his arms was comfortable.
I looked around.
Delta and Angel were smiling as if they had just witnessed something amusing, while Ishar stood awkwardly, his body slightly twisted.
It looked like he had been about to approach me.
Could it be that Ishar was also trying to catch me?
My thoughts didn’t continue. Hernan pulled me closer to his chest.
“We’ll be going ahead.”
With that, Hernan left the dining hall. As expected, the ride was incredibly smooth.
When we stepped outside, the surroundings were dyed red. The sun was setting.
The overwhelming glow painted Hernan’s black hair and pale face in crimson.
Bathed in red light, he looked flawlessly beautiful.
They say the face is a mirror of the heart—then surely his heart must be filled with nothing but beauty right now.
A dangerous kind of beauty—one that could captivate others and drive them to ruin.
No matter how much I looked at his face, I never grew tired of it. Maybe I never would.
After walking halfway through the well-kept garden, Hernan finally spoke.
“There’s something I want to ask you.”
His voice was unusually serious.
Of course, he was almost always serious—but this felt even more so.
I responded in an equally earnest tone.
“Go ahead.”
He suddenly stopped walking and quietly looked down at me. In his dark red eyes, only my reflection remained.
I wondered how I looked to him.
Just as I thought he looked beautiful in the sunset, did he also think I looked beautiful bathed in red?
“…Am I really enough for you?”
He was asking if he was suitable as a marriage partner.
“Of course you are! I’ve never thought badly of you.”
If I disliked him, I wouldn’t have treated him this warmly—no matter what was at stake.
“I’m not good at dealing with people. Especially women. My honesty might put you in difficult situations again.”
“…”
“And… I might have to go back to the battlefield someday.”
A sigh escaped his lips. He seemed to resent his own circumstances.
I turned his negative words into something positive.
“If you’re inexperienced, that just means you’ll be more careful.”
“…”
“And since you’re honest, you won’t lie to me. I really hate people who lie.”
“…”
“And because you might go to war at any time, you’ll treasure each day we spend together even more.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
I hated playboys and people who were different on the inside than they appeared.
“…Linzel.”
His voice sounded strangely emotional.
The sunset deepened, and so did his gaze.
Looking into his eyes felt like I might be pulled in.
“…Your words were touching. You’re the first person—no, the first woman—to make me feel this way.”
“I’m not the kind of person you find everywhere.”
“You’re right. You weren’t afraid of me either.”
“…”
“That’s why… I feel like I want to give you anything.”
Then maybe he’d help me with my ultimate goal—getting into the imperial archive.
I had a feeling this was the perfect moment to plant the seed.
“Your Highness, then please grant me one request someday. No matter what it is.”
He answered without hesitation.
“Alright. I promise.”
Without even knowing what I’d ask.
What if I asked him to risk his life?
“Would you still do it… if I asked you to die in my place?”
Instead of answering, Hernan gave a faint smile—like someone who didn’t fear death at all.
“Linzel. Do you know I’m called the War Demon?”
I nodded slightly.
“I’ve been on countless battlefields. Since I was young, I’ve always faced death. I’ve always thought I might die tomorrow.”
“Your Highness…”
“That should be enough of an answer.”
I nodded again. I understood what he meant.
I would die for you.
I couldn’t believe it. We had only known each other for a few days.
How could he feel that way?
Was it because he was used to war? Because death was familiar?
Or… something else?
“Your Highness… have you come to like me that much?”
“….”
Instead of answering, he tilted his head.
His crimson eyes, like the sunset, drew closer.
I felt like I was in heaven again.
Soon, his breath brushed against my skin—hot enough to send shivers down my spine.
W-was this a kiss?
I instinctively closed my eyes.
I was ready.
My heart raced. I imagined how warm his lips would be.
But no matter how long I waited… nothing happened.
Why…?
I even puckered my lips slightly, just in case he couldn’t find them.
Then I heard his voice.
“There’s an eyelash on your face.”
…What?
I opened my eyes. He was carefully looking at my cheek.
“I can’t ignore things that bother me. If I interrupted our conversation, I apologize.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
All that—for an eyelash?
Disappointment washed over me.
“…Why…?!”
“Hm?”
I shouted, completely sincere.
“Why didn’t you kiss me?!”
That was definitely the moment!
“I thought you were answering my question with a kiss!”
Hernan, who had been confused, suddenly burst out laughing.
“Hahaha.”
It was the first time I’d seen him laugh.
His upturned lips and softened eyes were beautiful.
He was actually more attractive when he smiled than when he was expressionless—a secret few would know.
Who else had ever seen him laugh like this?
Did anyone even exist?
My disappointment quickly turned into excitement.
Hernan, still smiling, said:
“Next time.”
As if he hadn’t been opposed to it.
“Don’t encourage me.”
“….”
“You won’t be able to handle it.”
He exhaled slowly, his breath still warm.
After putting Linzel into the carriage, Hernan returned to his office, deep in thought.
Linzel is too frail.
She looked so weak and thin that it wouldn’t be strange if she were seriously ill.
If she weren’t so bright, if her complexion were darker, he might have suspected she was being mistreated.
Though she didn’t give off any negative aura…
It wouldn’t hurt to investigate the duke’s household.
Once Gakt, who had escorted her, returned, he would order him to look into it.
Leaning back in his chair, Hernan tapped his fingers.
He replayed the day’s events.
When he saw Linzel talking to Ishar, his chest tightened.
He didn’t want to hear their conversation.
He didn’t want to see her looking at Ishar.
So he covered her view with his hand—without thinking.
When Ishar looked like he was about to catch her as she fell, Hernan quickly left with her.
So Ishar wouldn’t even get the chance to speak to her.
Ishar was kind to almost everyone.
It was natural he’d be kind to Linzel too.
But then why… did it bother him so much?
In the garden, under the sunset, Linzel had looked breathtaking.
His heart didn’t ache—it fluttered.
She had said, “The face is a mirror of the heart.”
Had she seen the feelings reflected on his face?
He hoped she had.
Because he wasn’t good at expressing them.
Then he remembered her question:
“Would you die in my place?”
It should have been a difficult question.
Yet somehow, his lips had moved on their own.
He had answered yes.
Even he was surprised.
Was it because he liked her that much already?
Could feelings grow this fast?
Love had always felt like something distant to him…
Then her other question echoed in his mind:
“Do you like me enough to risk your life?”
“…Maybe I do.”
The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door to his office.
