WOFSTF 19

Chapter 19

“It’s Nikolai.

I heard that the end of the war has been declared, Father.

However, a great calamity has befallen our family. As you expected, it’s about Docheop.”

Docheop caused trouble and got a woman pregnant.

But that woman is a commoner from the village.

In this situation, Mother intends to bring that woman into the family.

I know you are weary from guarding the front lines, but please return quickly and resolve this situation.

“Or give me the authority. I will expel Docheop from the family entirely…”

“Damn it.”

Nikolai irritably cut off the end of the parchment.

The last words were written emotionally out of the disappointment he had felt toward Docheop all this time. At times like this, he needed to think rationally. He knew well that if Father discovered he had acted emotionally, he might be the one cast out instead.

“Young Duke, the ink… Shall I bring out new parchment?”

Lord Nilson, his aide who had followed him, asked.

Only then did Nikolai properly examine the parchment. He hadn’t noticed while absorbed in the content, but looking again, everything from the handwriting to the ink splatters everywhere was a mess.

Seeing this, Nikolai mercilessly crumpled up the parchment.

Nilson tactfully took out new parchment and spread it before him. Then he asked.

“Where has Father reached by now?”

“My lord is beyond the Neutral Zone. Though he has achieved victory, he is still in standoff over reparations. He should arrive within a month at most.”

“A month? It’s too late to wait until then.”

“But there’s nothing we can do. His Imperial Majesty ordered our master to obtain the heart of Barcolonia…”

It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by just winning the war.

The problem was the spoils of war to be gained as the price of victory. Without them, he couldn’t return even if he cut off the heads of thousands of enemy soldiers.

But Nikolai had no intention of quietly watching Docheop and the commoner woman during that time.

Nikolai ground his molars. After grinding them, he wrote another letter to send to the Duke.

This time he didn’t erase the last sentence.

***

Between the ridges visible in the distance from the neutral zone where the Duke was waging war.

A sanctuary where moonlight poured through the collapsed ceiling.

A man with silver hair that sparkled like scattered stardust was leaning against the altar where the candles of rotten incense flickered.

He hadn’t slept for days and was holding his throbbing head as he asked the subordinate standing before him.

“What news of Lara?”

His voice resonated through the altar, clear like a god’s voice yet heavy.

At that sacred voice, the subordinate naturally knelt.

“We sent a messenger to Lady Hallara, but she did not respond. We considered sending someone directly, but the checkpoints have become strict due to the family head’s absence for the war, so we couldn’t enter the dominion.”

He bowed his head deeply, saying he was ashamed.

“So there’s no news of Lara?”

“I apologize, my lord. I will send someone to Bloodmere.”

The man called lord—master of souls—Johannes slowly rose and grasped the sacred object on the altar.

A metallic coldness traveled from his fingertips up his arm.

And crash—!

The metal object was hurled onto the stone floor.

The sacred object shattered into pieces in an instant.

The broken fragments scattered across the floor, glinting in the moonlight.

Johannes’s breathing became rough.

“I’m starting to worry.”

He climbed onto the altar and removed his vestments. The vestments that had once been pure white had deteriorated to an ashen color similar to the marble floor.

The silver cross around his neck, which had been hidden, was revealed. Its surface was already cracked and rusted. A faint reddish tint seeped through, as if stained with blood and ash rather than silver. It was closer to a cursed mark than a symbol of faith.

A brand stamped on a fallen angel who betrayed God.

“It seems I’ll have to go out and meet Lara myself.”

As he rose, his subordinate raised his voice.

“My lord! The time is not yet right. Though few, there are eyes wandering and watching in this area. Let me investigate once more…”

“Enough.”

Having said that, Johannes threw the vestments he had been holding to his subordinate.

And the next moment, Johannes’s sword pierced through the vestments. The man standing behind them groaned and collapsed. A new subordinate who had been waiting in the darkness hurriedly approached and knelt.

“Indeed, I prefer your blood over your voice.”

He wore a faint smile, then quickly rubbed his pale face with a pained expression.

“I trust you understood my words well. Because you’re my person. Isn’t that right?”

“Understood, my lord!”

“Thank you.”

Swoosh—!

With a slicing sound, what had been someone’s head fell.

Johannes swept across the blood-soaked floor and leisurely disappeared into the darkness.

***

Finally, I was alone with Docheop.

My mouth went dry because I didn’t know what to call the mercenary.

“Excuse me.”

Come to think of it, I had never properly addressed him.

‘Excuse me. Hey there.’

I had called him like this, so I didn’t even know his name…

Docheop turned his head.

I momentarily held my breath at the face visible through his hair that was swept back differently than usual.

A pale face.

Deep-set eyes and black pupils that seemed to hold stories.

His full lips looked redder than mine.

Unlike his face that looked like he had never suffered hardship, his exposed body was covered with scars everywhere. No wonder I couldn’t think of him as a pampered young master.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a young master?”

I had many questions I wanted to ask, but this was what I was most curious about.

Docheop knew I was Hallara. And since I was the person he spoke of spending a hot… night with, he couldn’t have forgotten.

“Did I need to tell you?”

Docheop asked.

It was clearly the same voice and tone as the mercenary from before, but knowing he was Docheop made it feel very different.

How should I put it.

He seemed arrogant?

Docheop now tied up his loosened shirt strings tightly without any hesitation. My back naturally straightened stiffly.

“You should have told me when you knew. At least when you knew I was looking for the young master.”

When I said I was looking for Docheop right in front of him, he could have told me then, but instead he brought me all the way here.

“You didn’t tell me either.”

Docheop immediately retorted.

“You even told Mother that you admired me, yet you didn’t even recognize me.”

It seemed Francesca had already told Docheop.

My face naturally flushed hot.

“That’s…”

Stay calm.

Don’t get flustered, just explain to him.

“I injured my head recently. That’s why I couldn’t remember.”

I pulled out the same cheat key I had used on Madam Michelle.

“When?”

“It must have been after meeting you, young master. I was bedridden for so long that I don’t remember the exact timing.”

“What range of memories did you lose?”

He seemed unconvinced.

“Bits and pieces. What I’m certain of is that I can’t remember your face, young master. That’s how this whole mess happened.”

“So you remember everything else, but only I’m missing from your memory?”

“No. There are many things I don’t remember. Including you, young master, and… that night as well.”

I’m dying to know what happened that night too.

But the novel glossed over that night without properly addressing it, so what am I supposed to do?

In my frustration, I continued with my questions.

“Young master, do you really intend to live with me?”

[Hallara, isn’t this already a decided matter? Don’t provoke him too much.]

Junel, who had been silenced earlier, had somehow landed on Docheop’s shoulder and was chattering away.

‘Still, I need to know the reason, don’t I?’

As I waited for his answer, he tilted his head at an angle.

“Why are you so certain I would refuse?”

“Because it’s obvious. We’re not meant to be married.”

“We spent a night together. A very deep and passionate night at that.”

That damn night!

“You said you don’t remember.”

When you can’t even remember!

When you completely blacked out!

There’s no way Docheop would know something that even I, as a reader, don’t know.

Then Docheop let out a hollow laugh and closed his eyes.

“You’re certain of that too.”

Oops.

“I, I thought that might be the case.”

“Too late, already.”

He opened his eyes. His pitch-black pupils looked down at me.

With each step he took closer, my heart pounded violently.

“Why, what, what’s too late?”

I stammered. There’s no reason to be scared of someone like Docheop, so why does he feel so imposing?

‘Is this really pre-awakening Docheop?’

In the novel, he was described as quiet and timid, pushed around by his parents and siblings. It was only in the latter part of the novel that he developed a sense of responsibility to protect his followers and his speech became somewhat rougher.

But right now, he seemed far from timid.

“Because it’s true that we spent a passionate night together.”

“Stop talking about that…!”

“I have a strong sense of responsibility, so I can’t pretend not to know when I do.”

“What if I said you don’t need to take responsibility?”

[A man should naturally take responsibility! Otherwise, I’ll tear off his lower parts!]

“I’m saying it’s too late for that.”

He came closer.

So close that I had to crane my neck up to see his face.

“Anything else to say? Anything related to me. Or not, that’s fine too.”

The only memory I have with him is of me making pancakes from the potatoes he peeled, which he then devoured like he was drinking them.

Ugh, as I was racking my brain, Docheop reached out toward me. His warm, large hand brushed over my hair. Startled by the natural skinship, I looked up to see a faint smile on his face.

“Then I’ll assume you’re staying here until your memory returns. I want to know in detail what happened that day and what transpired as well.”

“Do you really want to make me your wife for just that reason? Someone like me, a seductress?”