The Role of Grand Duchess - Chapter 13

Something I had never considered before surfaced in this urgent situation.

Love?

Is this maddening, storm-like emotion love? Do I… love that woman?

I had already felt it with my whole body, but the true name of the emotion I couldn’t identify ironically flowed from the mouth of my enemy, whom I wanted to tear to shreds.

So that’s it. I… love that woman. My fake Grand Duchess.

I am in love with her.

At the same moment of realization, a black and brilliant light erupted from Caelus’s body. Cantus, not missing the opportunity, quickly soared back into the air.

Meanwhile, the knights who had been chasing Caelus arrived and surrounded their lord, who was in an unknown situation. Their confused eyes darted back and forth between Grand Duke Caelus, engulfed in the dark light, and the Grand Duchess, slung over the enemy’s shoulder as he disappeared into the distance.

“Shouldn’t we save the Grand Duchess?”

At one knight’s question, the other knights guarding Caelus nodded. But just as a few of them were about to move, the light surrounding Caelus faded, and a clear voice was heard.

“No. I will save the Grand Duchess.”

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

“What on earth is going on?”

Trustworthy voices filled with concern.

Caelus’s shining, watery blue eyes turned to the knights who followed him.

He felt strange. But he could definitely feel it. The fog that had been blocking his mind had completely lifted. Was this the curse that Count Roang had said plagued him his entire life? Had it… disappeared?

At the same moment he became aware of his love for Eileen, the curse was broken. The desperate shackle that had held him captive his entire life had finally shattered.

His whole body, especially his head, felt as light as if it could fly away. Things he hadn’t remembered, things he hadn’t been aware of, were etched into his brain, vivid and clear.

Yes. Now he could see clearly.

Their loyalty, their passion, and their concern for him.

A smile naturally formed, and his heart grew warm.

“I’m fine. I’m more clear-headed than ever. And… thank you.”

“Huh?”

“Ehh?”

The knights couldn’t believe their ears. Did their lord just say thank you?

“Now I must save my Grand Duchess. I’m counting on you. My knights.”

“…!”

“Ehh, th-that…”

He said he was counting on us? What on earth is going on?

But there was no time to think longer and be surprised. They now had the enormous task of rescuing the Grand Duchess.

Without another word, Caelus launched himself into the air. The knights, filled with emotion and surprise at their lord’s sudden change, immediately followed. The overwhelming joy and bewilderment they felt were conveyed to Caelus, who pushed off the ground with a faint smile on his face. But when he thought of Eileen, who had been captured by the black magician, his face hardened terribly. A palpable murderous intent rose from his body like a heat haze.

“There!”

One of the knights, running as hard as he could to keep pace with Caelus, raised his hand and pointed in one direction. Cantus, unable to even conceal himself due to the depletion of his magic power, and Eileen, once again slung over his shoulder like baggage, were getting closer and closer.

The murderous intent of Caelus and the knights, bearing down menacingly from behind, made his skin tingle all over. With his injured body and the constant use of magic, his stamina was already at its limit, and it was impossible to shake them off.

Cantus decided to use a hostage situation once again. But this time, it wasn’t just a hostage situation.

Since he was going to die anyway, he would drag them all down with him.

Cantus stopped and once again pressed the blade of magic against Eileen’s neck. As the tip of the sharp blade touched her delicate skin, bright red blood trickled down.

“If you come any closer, I’ll cut her throat right here.”

Black madness swirled in Cantus’s eyes as he squeezed out the last of his magic.

In the suffocating silence, Caelus only saw Eileen, who was slumped over as if dead.

He could tell she wasn’t dead because her chest was rising and falling slightly, but just the fact that she was in that bastard’s grasp made extreme anger boil within him.

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Eileen, who had regained consciousness from the stinging pain in her neck, groaned softly.

“Eileen!”

“Shh. I told you to stay still. Do you want to see this woman die?”

“What do you want? My life?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Heh heh.”

Cantus smiled bitterly and recited the self-destruction spell in his mind.

Caelus, sensing something ominous in the way the black magician’s lips were moving, launched himself forward without another thought. At the same time, a tearing scream erupted from Cantus’s mouth.

“In the name of me, the black magician Cantus! Destroy me and everything of my enemies! Darkfire-!”

Swoosh-!

The blood-soaked blade cut through the air, and a bright red line appeared on Cantus’s neck. The black magician’s head slowly slid off and rolled onto the dirt floor. But with the spell already activated, the entire body that had lost its head was engulfed in black flames.

“Aaaaaah-!”

The trajectory of the sword that flashed before her eyes, followed by the chillingly hot flames felt from behind. At the same time as a scream filled with terror erupted from Eileen’s mouth, Caelus hugged her body and rolled across the ground.

The flames that had clung to Eileen’s back clung to Caelus’s arms as if they were living creatures.

“Kuh-!”

Despite the terrible pain that felt like it was tearing his arms to pieces, Caelus hugged Eileen’s small body even tighter, got up, and started running. The body that had lost its head was swelling larger and larger.

“Everyone, run! Get as far away from that thing as possible! Take cover!”

At the urgent cry, the knights also began to run madly in all directions. And finally, the body of the black magician Cantus, which had swollen like a ball, exploded with a bang-!

“Kuaaagh-!”

The knights were fortunate enough to take cover behind trees or rocks. But one knight who failed to escape and was caught in the explosion was directly hit by the venomous blood and collapsed.

“Eden!”

“Kheuugh!”

“Where is the lord? Find the lord!”

The place where the explosion had passed. The knights, having lost a comrade and filled with venom in their eyes, moved. Caelus was the strongest and fastest among them, but he was holding the Grand Duchess, not alone. Moreover, he had flames on his arms, so they couldn’t help but worry.

Sure enough, they saw a figure collapsed not far away.

“Lord!”

“Your Highness! Oh, heavens!”

The bright red blood that had flowed out between the melted armor created a puddle under Caelus’s prone body. A knight hurriedly took out a hemostatic agent he was carrying and sprinkled it on Caelus’s ruined back, then checked his condition.

The knight breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that he was breathing, however faintly.

“We must get the lord to safety!”

“Hurry!”

As they quickly and carefully lifted Caelus up, Eileen’s figure was revealed underneath, untouched by even a single drop of poison. She seemed fine except for her back being red and burned, but she was still unconscious.

The knights’ eyes reddened at the sight of their lord’s miserable appearance, having desperately protected his wife by offering his back.

***

When she opened her eyes, she saw the scenery of an unfamiliar room. Eileen, who was lying face down on the bed and blinking slowly, thought for a moment, ‘Was I dreaming?’ But it wasn’t a dream. The vivid pain in her back was shouting that all those moments were real.

“Cael… us…”

Was he alright?

The acrid smell of burning flesh still seemed to linger at the tip of her nose. The suppressed groans of the man, and the bursting pulse felt from the hot body that had desperately hidden and protected her even as he collapsed, unable to overcome the pain, were vivid.

Eileen struggled to sit up. Then, the young maid who was guarding her side was startled and shouted.

“The Grand Duchess has awakened!”

No sooner had the cry ended than the door opened and the doctor and Count Roang, who had been waiting outside, entered.

The maid, who still looked very young, quickly supported the staggering Eileen.

“Are you alright?”

“How is the Grand Duke?”

“…First, receive treatment, and then we can go to His Highness together.”

Count Roang’s expression was dark. From that alone, Eileen could see at a glance what Caelus’s condition must be, and her eyes grew hot.

“No, now, right now… If I go…”

“It’s not possible. The Grand Duchess is also a patient. Fortunately, His Highness embraced you before the flames of magic could even touch you, so the injury is not deep. So please receive treatment first. You must get better first so that you can nurse the Grand Duke.”

“…Yes.”

In the end, Eileen, defeated by Count Roang, obediently received treatment. She couldn’t show Caelus, who had been injured while protecting her from harm, a sick appearance.

And as Count Roang had said, she didn’t have any particularly large injuries. Her back was slightly sore, and she had a few scratches on her hands from rolling on the ground, that was all.

Thanks to this, Eileen, who had quickly finished her treatment, looked at Count Roang, who was standing next to her, with desperate eyes.

“It’s done now, right? So please take me to His Highness quickly. Okay?”

“…I understand.”

The desperation filling the face of a woman in love. So that was what had melted the frozen heart of their lord.

It felt as if the fact that she already knew had been proven by Eileen’s face and actions, and her heart was inexplicably filled with emotion. What she had once said in passing, that the Grand Duchess was the benefactor of all the knights under Caelus, had truly become the truth.

“Here it is.”

When the door opened, a pungent odor and a smoky smell mixed with medicine stung her nose. But Eileen’s expression did not change as she ran towards Caelus, who was lying face down on the bed.

Looking closely, there was no undamaged place on his back, which was covered with medicinal herbs. Bandages were wrapped around both arms, all the way to the fingertips.

Tears instantly welled up in her large eyes. Count Roang, who had been looking at her for a moment, quietly closed the door and left. Right now, Eileen seemed to be more necessary to their lord than he was.

The room, now with only the two of them, was silent. Eileen, sitting silently on the edge of the bed, gently stroked Caelus’s hand, which was wrapped in bandages.

“Because of me…”

How much pain must he be in?

It was a great injury that couldn’t even be compared to the wound on her back. Not only that, but even on the bare skin that had not been treated, there were old scars from past battles all over.

In the end, the tears that had been welling up in her large eyes finally fell.

Dark tear stains were added to the white bandage, which was stained with blood.

“Why are you crying?”

“G-Grand Duke?”

“Hoo, my head hurts.”

“I’ll call a doctor.”

“No. Rather, it would be better if you touched my forehead. Khuh, it would be.”

“Yes?”

Eileen’s wet eyes widened at the unexpected words. But Caelus had a calm expression. Looking at Eileen’s face, which was stained with tears, he murmured quietly.

“I had a dream. A very long dream.”

“A dream?”

“The touch that stroked my small forehead, burning with fever… It’s so vivid. So much so that I want to feel it again.”

Ah.

He had a dream of his mother from his childhood.

Eileen moved her hand without a word. As she carefully removed and arranged the black hair that was stuck to his forehead due to sweat, the fingertips that stroked his smooth forehead trembled. As she placed her hand on his firm and soft forehead, which felt warm, Caelus, who was looking at her while lying face down, smiled and closed his eyes.

Then, as if asking for more, the forehead that touched her palm moved slightly. Looking down at the man who was pouting with a pleasant smile, Eileen willingly moved her hand as he wanted.

Moving her fingers, stroking the pulsating blood vessels at the edge of his forehead, she lightly tapped his thick eyebrows.

The curves of his face, which seemed to have been carefully carved by the best craftsman of the time, were simply admirable. Without even realizing it, her fingertips moved along the sharp bridge of his nose.

Then, Caelus’s eyes flashed open. At the same time, something hot and soft was pressed firmly against her palm.

As if stamping a seal in the middle of her small palm.

The heat that had risen in her palm in an instant burst forth like a flood, spreading in streams throughout her body. Her face flushed, and her lower abdomen vibrated.

The familiar heat that filled the watery blue eyes that were staring intently at her was whispering to Eileen.

I want you.

The beautiful watery blue eyes were ensnaring and drawing in all of Eileen’s senses. So it was only natural that she was drawn to Caelus as if possessed.

The moment warm breath squeezed out from between the small, plump lips that had come within inches, Caelus’s body moved like lightning.

Before she could even grasp what was happening, Eileen’s body landed on Caelus’s, who was sitting on the bed. He tightly embraced the woman’s slender torso with his arms, wrapped in bandages, and their flushed faces met.

As if it were natural, a soft tongue pushed through the gap in her parted lips.

A hot, viscous piece of flesh burrowed in, thoroughly exploring the woman’s mouth, which smelled sweetly fragrant. His tongue, savoring the smooth mucous membrane and the delicate bumps of her palate, wrapped around a small, twitching piece of flesh.

As if they had been one from the start, their saliva flooded between the mingled small pieces of flesh.