Chapter 77

The inside of the count’s castle instantly turned into a pandemonium.

Thud, thud.

A large, monstrous creature resembling a chameleon with an unnerving, rolling eye approached us.

A loud noise echoed with every step of the monster’s heavy feet on the ground.

‘Not even in Iclea, but a monster in the Viscounty of Pellona.’

My body froze at the unexpected situation.

I only knew that monsters existed in this world, but this was my first time actually facing one.

I was sure I had learned self-defense swordsmanship for a day like this, but nothing came to mind.

My fingertips began to tremble with fear.

“Kyaak!”

I wasn’t the only one terrified.

As the monster closed in, the Viscountess screamed in fear.

As if excited by the sound, the monster raised its front paw toward the Viscountess.

‘No!’

Only then did my body move.

I quickly grabbed Cornelia and the Viscountess by the wrist and ran in the opposite direction.

However, if I had been alone, it might have been different, but since the two people had never exercised in their lives, they were slow runners.

Realizing I couldn’t go any faster, I quickly changed my plan.

‘I have to at least buy them some time to escape.’

I shouted to the two people.

“Go first!”

But the monster’s speed was faster than I expected.

Facing the monster that was right in front of them, Cornelia and the Viscountess seemed too frightened to even think about running away.

The shadow of the monster’s front paw fell over our heads.

The moment I tried to quickly push the two noblewomen out of the shadow.

Swoosh!

Something shining whooshed past my head, slicing the monster in two.

Because I was close, the monster’s blood splattered on the front of my dress.

“Chacha!”

What had flown over my head was Nine’s sword.

The two noblewomen, upon spotting Nine, sighed in relief, gasping for the breath they had been holding.

Nine sheathed his sword, ran to me, and wrapped me in a tight embrace.

“Chacha, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. You saved me. Thank you.”

He didn’t seem reassured by my answer and repeatedly checked my condition.

Only after hearing the word “okay” from me three times in a row did Nine finally relax and speak to the Viscountess, who was still standing behind.

“All six monsters that appeared have been dealt with, but there might still be remaining individuals. Please quickly evacuate inside the castle.”

“S-six monsters?”

Cornelia and the Viscountess turned pale.

Though their steps faltered from shock, the two people steadily headed inside the castle.

‘Should I go in too?’

As I hesitated, watching the two people go inside, Nine took my hand.

“You don’t have to go in. It’s safest by my side, so stay here.”

With Nine by my side, my body, stiff with tension, quickly calmed down.

I tried to recall the original story’s content.

‘…There was definitely an incident where a large number of monsters appeared all over the empire. That it’s happening now.’

I regretted being blinded by immediate happiness, thinking that the original story had already twisted.

I forgot that even if the original story was twisted, there was a future possibility that wouldn’t change.

As I retraced my memory to recall anything, I soon trembled with helplessness.

‘Now the empire will suffer because of the monsters.’

Monsters will continue to appear, and many people, not only the complacent nobles but also commoners, who had become comfortable during the long peace, will suffer great damage.

But even though I knew this fact, I had no way to stop it. It was an incident that appeared in the original story, but the original story didn’t show why that situation occurred.

‘It was a romance fantasy, so the latter half focused on romance…!’

In the original story, the monster situation was merely a device to test the protagonist’s love. Because the detailed content wasn’t covered, I couldn’t know if this situation was resolved.

‘…It will be okay.’

It was very disappointing that I didn’t know the full story despite reading the original work, but still, the approaching future wasn’t just terrifying.

‘Because Nine is here.’

No matter how big and scary the monsters were, Nine was the Sword Master who had slain the most monsters on this continent.

Also, by his side were the Silver Wolf Knights, who are familiar with monsters.

I was in the safest place within this empire.

Realizing that fact, a sudden sadness washed over me.

‘Nine must have been fighting these kinds of monsters since he was much younger.’

To support and protect the Eclipse Ducal Family.

I felt so sad that such misfortune had befallen Nine’s innocent childhood.

I tightly held his hand, which was clutching mine, and gazed intently at the monster’s body split in two.

Though not right now, I also wanted to jump into this war and be of help. Then I should start with getting used to monsters…

‘Huh?’

Behind the monster, a dark silhouette was visible between the bushes.

Was it someone who hadn’t entered the castle yet, or someone who was injured and hiding in the bushes, unable to move?

As I considered various possibilities and tried to look closely, the silhouette was gone in an instant.

I blinked, staring at the figure that had disappeared so quickly.

‘Did I see wrong?’

***

It was exactly as I remembered from the original story.

At the time of the monster attack on the Viscounty of Pellona, monsters appeared throughout the entire empire.

The news was that everyone suffered great damage, except for the North, which was accustomed to monster appearances, and areas where the Imperial Knights could quickly fend them off because they were the Emperor’s direct domain.

Since the situation was like this, Nine and I completely withdrew our originally leisurely return plan and immediately used the portal to return to Iclea the next day.

“An official document from the Imperial Palace!”

When we returned to Iclea, the official document sent by the Imperial Palace regarding this situation had already arrived.

Nine quickly skimmed the contents of the document he received and handed it to me.

“It states to control information about the monster incident and prepare for monsters.”

As he said, the document contained exactly that. It was a natural choice for the Imperial Palace.

‘There’s no need to cause anxiety among the people by unnecessarily announcing it first.’

The problem was that only I knew that such preparation was insufficient.

If the original story proceeded as written, simultaneous outbreaks of monsters like this would continue.

‘Just in case, I need to prepare in advance so that the Eclipse Duchy and the Blueberry Count’s family can be safe.’

It was quick to arrive at the Eclipse Ducal Family’s castle via the portal.

‘I’m back.’

Looking up at the majestic castle, I realized that I felt the same sense of comfort as when I returned to the Blueberry Count’s family.

I was briefly surprised by my change, which I had only now noticed, but soon it felt natural.

It was because I reminded myself that Nine and I had become lovers and husband and wife, so this was now my home.

Despite the serious situation, I was so happy about this fact at the moment that I smiled sweetly.

Nine, wondering why I was smiling alone, tilted his head and gently tucked my side hair behind my ear.

I wrapped my arm around his and leaned my head on his shoulder.

“Why are you smiling? Did something good happen?”

“No, it’s nothing much. Just, I thought, ‘I’m back home.’”

At my words, Nine also smiled back at me. This was our home, where he and I were together.

“Chacha!”

As soon as I got out of the carriage, someone rushed into my arms.

“Adel, have you been well?”

I bent down and hugged the child who welcomed me.

The other servants who came out to greet us were also smiling, looking at me as if welcoming me back.

“You’re back.”

Even Roana was standing awkwardly alone at the entrance of the castle, wearing an uneasy expression.

I had to try not to laugh because the awkwardness and bashfulness she was trying to suppress were so visible.

I slowly looked around. The cool air on my cheek reminded me again that I had arrived in the North, and I recalled the day I first entered.

Nine, who didn’t escort me when I got out of the carriage, just coldly introduced me and left. The servants who watched their master’s mood.

Even the sight of the chilly hall where there was not a single blood relative to welcome the return of Nine, the lord of the family.

‘He’s loved now.’

Unlike back then, Nine loved me, and he was also loved by everyone.

By the servants and by his family.

I could see my figure reflected alongside Nine’s in their eyes.

Everyone was sincerely welcoming our return.