WOFSTF 18

Chapter 18

I wished he would just quietly leave, but Helbeorn seemed to have anger management issues as he glared at me again with eyes blazing with fury.

“Such true love cannot be permitted for Docheop!”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. We’re not in that kind of relationship.”

“Don’t make me laugh! I heard everything from the shopkeeper. That he went in and out of your house in the village in disguise.”

That’s really a misunderstanding too.

I couldn’t bring myself to say I didn’t know who he was, so I kept my mouth shut, and Helbeorn got angry.

“This won’t do. I’m against this marriage. I absolutely cannot stand to see that bastard happy, huh?”

“What?”

He suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Since I failed to chase that bastard away, you’ll have to disappear.”

“What? Where to!”

He grinned wickedly and pointed to the sky.

“You don’t mean the afterlife, do you?”

“Shut up and follow me!”

This crazy bastard!

I tried to break free with all my strength, but the difference in power was overwhelming.

Truly an awakened one of Bloodmere.

His forearms were so muscular they wouldn’t even bruise from pinching. Just when I thought I’d really be dragged away to die a dog’s death.

Whoosh-!

A small wind arose.

“Hm? What’s that?”

The moment Helbeorn stopped walking and turned around, Junel flew in and firmly grasped the hand that was holding me.

[Sword Bound.]

Whoooosh!

And it was instantaneous.

Helbeorn being sent flying.

With a dull sound, Helbeorn crashed into the wall and let out a choking noise.

I also sat down hard on the floor from the recoil.

“Urgh… What… is this.”

[What do you think it is. It’s the power of a spirit.]

Junel let out a proud laugh.

“You did that?”

When I asked quietly in a daze, Junel flew over cheerfully.

[I told you I’d show you. How much power this body has.]

I was so amazed I couldn’t close my mouth.

Was it because of the small body and cute face? Or because I hadn’t seen much activity in the original work? I hadn’t expected this level of power.

The opponent was Helbeorn.

Not just a simple knight, but an awakened one of Bloodmere.

Someone who had reached the level of Sword Master.

Yet that Helbeorn was sent flying in an instant.

[How about it. Can you believe this body’s words about protecting you now?]

“Completely.”

I believe it completely.

Even if the family were to be destroyed, I felt confident I could survive as long as Junel was with me.

For a moment, I was excitedly grinning face to face with Junel when a chilling voice was heard.

“Woman… what did you do to me?”

Eek.

Helbeorn, now in tatters, was shakily getting up.

“Ju, Junel. Even so, how could you use power against Helbeorn.”

[Wasn’t that bastard trying to drag you away? I said I’d protect you, so I naturally did what needed to be done.]

Should I be grateful for this or not?

“What kind of power is this? Woman! How did you do it! Cough!”

Helbeorn was shouting when he grabbed his own ribs. It seems his ribs were cracked.

He looked like he wouldn’t budge even if hit with a sledgehammer, yet his ribs were damaged. The power of spirits is no joke.

“I, I didn’t do it. What power could I possibly have? I was surprised too.”

I was still sitting on the floor, hugging myself.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. It was power that came from your body.”

“So how could I possibly…!”

“How would I know? You would know! Argh!”

Even while making pained sounds, Helbeorn walked toward me like a zombie.

“D, don’t come closer!”

“I need to find out exactly what that power was just now. It’s a power I’ve never seen or heard of.”

“What? I told you it wasn’t me!”

Helbeorn, who had approached before I knew it, looked down at me and grinned wickedly.

This won’t do.

“You’re making a mistake right now. To someone who will become your sister-in-law!”

“What? Sister-in-law?”

Helbeorn’s face immediately hardened.

“That’s right. If I become Prince Docheop’s wife, I’ll become your sister-in-law.”

Oh well, I don’t know anymore.

My change of stance was quick.

Now that I properly understood Junel’s power, I couldn’t escape from here anyway. Rather than living in anxiety as a descendant of an extinct family, it might be better to live here.

Junel would somehow handle the future destruction of the family.

Even if it were destroyed, wouldn’t Junel somehow save at least my life?

“You think I’ll just leave you alone?! You think I’ll watch you and Docheop being lovey-dovey in front of my eyes!”

“I don’t know if we’ll be lovey-dovey or not, but what will you do? The Duchess has already given her permission.”

“Damn it!”

Helbeorn extended his index and middle fingers threateningly as if to poke my eyes.

But those fingers were soon forcibly folded.

“Helbeorn.”

Through the door that Helbeorn had left wide open when he entered, Docheop came rushing in. He grabbed Helbeorn’s fingers with a rigidly hardened face as if to crush them.

“Argh!”

Though Docheop would be much weaker in terms of strength, perhaps weakened by the aftermath of Junel’s attack, Helbeorn’s wrist bent.

Meanwhile, Docheop’s face was unscathed. I had been secretly worried he might have been hit by Nikolai, but it seems they didn’t get into a physical fight. For now, I was relieved he was unharmed.

“You crazy bastard! Let go of this, huh?”

Who’s calling whom a bastard? Helbeorn, who had been rampaging like a madman, shouted roughly.

Docheop’s gaze alternately swept over me collapsed and Helbeorn.

“Even my patience has limits.”

“Brother my ass! I’m the one who’s hurt right now! My ribs are broken because of that woman!”

Helbeorn shouted in indignation, but there was no one to believe his words.

Of course. How could someone like me, who looks frail and powerless, possibly defeat an honorary knight like Helbeorn?

“Docheop! Properly explain to Nikolai…”

Just then, Francesca, who had followed Docheop in, saw me sitting on the floor and her face turned pale as a sheet.

“Good heavens!”

Francesca quickly rushed in and supported me.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“Stand up.”

“…Thank you.”

I had gotten up with her help in the confusion, but her expression as she looked at me was far from ordinary.

“Are you really alright? How did you fall?”

“Huh? I just tripped a little. I’m not hurt anywhere and I’m perfectly fine.”

“Ha.”

Even though Helbeorn was clearly the one who got hurt, Francesca’s eyes busily scanned over me.

While Francesca and I were doing this, Docheop and Helbeorn were still in a standoff.

“Let go of this!”

“Promise you’ll never touch her again.”

His voice was serious, but the pinky finger extended on his outstretched hand didn’t match this situation.

‘In the novel, Docheop was portrayed as an outcast… Were they brothers who had such childish fights?’

Looking at the extended finger, Helbeorn spewed curses without restraint.

“Are you really crazy? Why would I do something like that!?”

Helbeorn applied force and twisted to pull his hand free. But seeing his hand wouldn’t come loose, he frowned as if dumbfounded.

“Woman! What the hell did you do to me? This can’t be happening. I have no strength in my body!”

“How could I do anything to you? If anyone did something, it was you, Young Master. You tried to kill me, saying you’d prevent me from getting married!”

When I sniffled and acted like a frightened lamb, both Francesca and Docheop’s gazes simultaneously fixed on Helbeorn.

“You tried to kill her?”

Helbeorn, who had instantly become trash, widened his eyes like saucers.

“When, when did I? When did I try to kill you!”

“Helbeorn Bloodmere.”

Under Francesca’s murderous gaze, Helbeorn let out a gasp.

“Mother! Are you believing that commoner wench’s words right now? Really?!”

“Helbeorn, this time you’ve gone too far.”

“Wow, this is really unbelievable. You’re taking the side of that scoundrel instead of me right now? Really?”

“Be careful with your actions from now on.”

Helbeorn’s bulging eyes began to redden.

Francesca, who had been watching him, sharply turned her head away to avoid his gaze.

“The servants are watching, so let’s talk about this later.”

I held my breath and watched this situation unfold.

‘Something’s strange?’

Even if Helbeorn had threatened me, there was no reason for Francesca to take my side this much.

Moreover, I’m a commoner, and aren’t I the woman that Docheop, the family’s sore spot, brought after causing trouble?

Even if Helbeorn had tried to kill me, I thought she would have taken Helbeorn’s side if anything, not defended me.

In this family, Nikolai and Helbeorn’s positions are second only to the family head.

“Everyone go back. Helbeorn, you’re also forbidden from approaching Docheop or this child.”

“Mother!”

It was truly a strange occurrence.

***

“The parasite has increased the family he’ll leech off of here. He’s planning to turn the family into a complete mess.”

Nikolai, who had returned to his study, kept kicking the wall. The attitude of Docheop he had just encountered was truly a sight to behold.

“It may be difficult to understand, but I hope you’ll please understand.”

He had shamelessly demanded understanding,

“Brother.”

And even attached that disgusting word. At that moment, Nikolai, as if his reason had snapped, unleashed a 5-star skill. Francesca screamed for him to stop, but he thought it was already too late to turn back. He had thought one of Docheop’s arms might be severed.

“Instead, I’ll accept punishment for bringing shame to the family. Whatever it is. Gladly.”

“What kind of scheme is this bastard…!”

Docheop had waved his perfectly intact hand and then disappeared outside the room. His words were absurd, but even more amazing was that Docheop, a 1-star, had dodged a 5-star skill. He was always the guy who got hit by every attack he threw…

‘It must have been luck. He was just lucky.’

Having dismissed the thought like that, Nikolai hurriedly sat at his desk and pulled out parchment. The ink-dipped pen moved quickly.