Chapter 79

The Eclipse family truly lived up to its reputation of having protected the empire from monsters for hundreds of years.

At Nine’s single word, everyone from the servants to the knights began to move in perfect order.

Despite the chaotic situation, they calmly began to move, and it took them only an hour to complete all preparations.

It felt like I glimpsed a piece of the reason for their deep and long-standing pride.

Anyone seeing them would not be able to help but admire them.

“Nine, please be careful.”

I came out to the main gate and saw them off, who were preparing for the expedition.

In the tense and solemn atmosphere, I carefully expressed my worry to Nine.

Nine buried his cheek in my hand and replied.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon.”

Then he looked at me with soft eyes, hugged me tightly, and immediately left the castle.

I stood alone at the main gate, unable to feel the chilly wind, and endlessly watched their figures receding into the distance.

Since coming to the North, small monsters had appeared, so it wasn’t the first time I had seen them go out on a subjugation.

Thanks to that, the departure itself was a familiar sight, but the reason it felt unfamiliar was the difference in scale.

This was the first time I had seen so many knights go out for a subjugation since coming to the North. That must mean the situation on the ground was not good.

‘If so, there’s a good chance the subjugation will be prolonged.’

Worries kept pouring in. If the subjugation is long and Nine is away for a long time, I will be the highest decision-maker in the North.

‘Can I do well?’

Although I couldn’t know what the situation would turn out to be, since the possibility existed, I couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of worry.

Worry about Nine, besides myself? Of course, I couldn’t help but worry. There was a huge difference between the situation I was bracing for and the situation he had to brace for.

Just a few days ago, when I was almost crushed by a monster, I was truly terrified. But Nine was heading into such a situation, carrying the lives of others as well.

I thought it might be too greedy to hope that he wouldn’t get hurt in such a place.

‘He needs to be okay.’

A while ago, I could have been confident that Nine was the male protagonist of this world, so he wouldn’t die even if he was in danger, but now I couldn’t harbor such hope.

‘I’ve twisted the original story too much.’

So much has already changed, so wouldn’t Nine’s safety change too? I couldn’t be sure.

Still, in the original story I remembered, Nine didn’t suffer any major injuries.

I recalled that fact and believed that, as always, Nine would return safely from the subjugation this time too.

‘Nine is strong. It’s okay. He will be fine.’

So I decided to earnestly hope only for minimal damage to the Knights and the estate residents, and nothing else.

***

A few days passed since then.

During that time, I prayed, whether to the god who transmigrated me into this world or to the main god of the Paruel religion, whose baptism I received in my childhood.

However, despite my prayers, the monster subjugation in the Kardan Forest entered a long-term phase. I heard news that they had set up a base in a nearby village to respond.

‘Still, it seems like there are signs of it ending soon.’

I looked at the desk. A report and a letter sent by Nine were laid side by side on the desk.

“Phew…”

I looked down at the victory report and Nine’s letter on the desk and sighed in relief.

It wasn’t a situation where I could completely relax, but even this short news relieved my mind a little.

[…As the subjugation is prolonged, the damage is increasing, but there were no major causes for concern. The Knights are gradually learning the ropes, and the subjugation is proceeding very smoothly. It seems like we can finish up and return to the castle in about a week at the earliest.]

‘In a week.’

My gaze was fixed on that one sentence.

I was already starting to feel excited, as if Nine was already coming.

“If he leaves in a week, how long will it take to get here?”

At my sudden question, Norman, whom Nine had left behind to assist me, rubbed his eyes with a tired expression and replied.

“Even using the portal, it would take about three days since there will likely be injured people.”

“Then it will be exactly two weeks until I see him!”

As I gazed at Nine’s handwriting with a rising sense of anticipation,

Thump!

Norman dramatically placed a stack of documents, which he had finished reviewing on his own, on my desk and declared.

“Then I will sleep for that whole day.”

Norman’s complexion was so exhausted as he said that, I couldn’t help but nod.

And finally, on the very day Nine was scheduled to return.

Eclipse Ducal Castle was bustling with preparations to welcome back its master. Amidst the busy servants, I resolved on my own to let Nine, upon his return, get as much rest as possible.

‘I’ll make sure he rests well, even if I have to do all the paperwork for about a week!’

Just as I was thinking a thought that would make Norman gasp in horror.

The massive gate of the castle opened, and the Knights were seen walking in, greeted by the cheers and a shower of flowers from the residents of Iclea.

But…

“Kroel?”

Normally, in a case like this, Nine should be leading the Knights at the very front. But Kroel was in that position.

And most of all.

‘That carriage…’

A large carriage followed immediately behind Kroel.

‘…’

Was it just my imagination? A sense of unease struck me, but I deliberately averted my gaze and scanned the faces of the returning Knights.

Even though it was a procession returning after a victory, the Knights’ expressions were not bright.

‘Why…’

My heart, which had been beating rapidly with the joy of reunion until just a moment ago, began to pound anxiously for a different reason.

‘No. No way. It can’t be.’

I tried to deny it. Nine was the male protagonist of this world. No matter how much I twisted the original story, surely he wouldn’t…

However, the moment the castle gate closed and Kroel opened the carriage door, I couldn’t help but scream.

“Nine!”

There had been no report of him being injured, but Nine, who was stepping out of the carriage, had a thick bandage wrapped around his head. His face was also pale like that of a sick person.

My mind instantly went blank, and abandoning my dignity as the Duchess, I ran toward him and called out his name.

I felt that I wouldn’t be able to calm this anxious feeling without seeing his condition up close.

However, my running steps were soon forced to stop abruptly.

“Please descend.”

Nine, who had gotten out of the carriage, turned around and held out his hand. And a delicate woman’s hand was placed on his scarred hand.

“Thank you.”

The woman who lightly stepped down from the carriage with Nine’s escort was someone I knew well.

Despite her humble attire, she had long, silvery hair braided and flowing forward like moonlight.

With fresh green eyes that seemed to contain the blue of summer, she looked lightly around, as if the Duke’s castle was fascinating.

A fragile atmosphere felt from her light movements. An innocence that naturally awakened a protective instinct.

‘Iris Laurel.’

She was the female protagonist of this world.

‘This is unbelievable.’

The moment I saw her, my heart plummeted to the floor.

As if to mock me for my arrogant thought that I had twisted the original story, a sentence that announced the beginning of the original <White Plum Blossom at the End of Winter> came to my mind.

‘The wolf did not know that a bud that would make a white plum blossom bloom in the warmest period had arrived.’

The very first scene where the original story begins.

It was Nine bringing Iris to the Eclipse main castle after rescuing her.

‘Today was the day the original story was supposed to start.’

“Ugh.”

I grabbed my legs, which were giving way and threatening to make me collapse.

Her presence alone seized me with negative emotions like anxiety, depression, and jealousy.

‘No. It’s okay.’

But at the same time, I knew that this feeling, this thought, was extremely childish.

‘Nine said he loves me.’

Although the female protagonist of the original story had appeared, he already loved me.

‘So, it’s okay.’

I tried to calm my heart, which was churning with anxiety, and approached Nine.

I reached out my hand to his face, which was slightly damaged. I couldn’t tell if my lightly trembling hand was shaking from fear or from worry.

“Nine, what is going on? You said there was nothing to worry about, so why…”

At that moment.

Clap!

The hand I stretched out towards him was slapped away.

My hand, falling down limply, and his large-boned hand that had pushed me away, felt unreal.

Nine looked down at me and spat out in a cold voice.

“Lady Blueberry, why are you here?”