Your Majesty, I’m Not that Man - Chapter 8: Escape and Pursuit (5)

Before she could fully process it, Cassion was already dealing with the threat. However, the number of monsters was greater than expected. Even low-tier monsters could be a nuisance in large groups.

“…I’ll take care of this quickly.”

His tone was low and menacing. Standing near Levinia, Cassion finally unleashed the aura he had been suppressing. As his overwhelming presence flared, the monsters recoiled, growling as they instinctively backed away. But they weren’t retreating just yet. Despite having lost three of their pack, they showed no signs of fleeing.

“How dare they…”

Cassion’s eyes scanned Levinia’s battered body, quickly taking in the numerous injuries she had suffered. The monsters had clearly been toying with her like a cat tormenting its prey.

Her back wound had reopened, fresh blood staining her already torn clothing. As he pieced things together, Cassion realized why there hadn’t been any blood trails during the search—Levinia must have done her best to staunch the bleeding.

“Stay right there.”

Cassion’s voice softened as he whispered to her. His gaze never left the monsters, his movements measured as he positioned himself between Levinia and the pack.

Sensing his intent, the monsters split into two groups. One rushed at him to distract him, while the other lunged for Levinia, intent on dragging her back to their lair.

“Hiiiik!”

Before the monster could reach her, its body was cleaved in half. The same fate awaited those that attacked Cassion. Within moments, six monsters had been reduced to lifeless husks.

The remaining monsters froze, stunned by the sudden carnage. But Cassion didn’t give them the luxury of recovery. He leapt into the heart of their formation, cutting them down one by one with merciless efficiency.

“Ah… ah…”

Levinia, disoriented by the chaos, couldn’t make out exactly what was happening. The darkness obscured everything but the sound of tearing flesh and dying cries. Yet she knew—it was Cassion. He had come after her.

“Cassion himself…”

Why? Why had he come? Was it because she had betrayed his trust and run away? Did he want to kill her with his own hands?

Her body trembling from the cold and the fever wracking her, Levinia shakily rose to her feet. Though unsteady, she began to stagger away, desperate to escape.

“…Levinia?”

It took less than five minutes for Cassion to eliminate the monsters. He didn’t even bother wiping the blood from his sword as he turned to Levinia, only to see her staggering away in terror.

“Levinia…”

Though his heart sank, he quickly noticed the state she was in. Sweat poured down her face, and her body trembled violently. Her flushed face contrasted sharply with her purple-tinged fingernails—a clear sign of poisoning.

“Damn it! Did those bastards use poison?”

Or maybe one of the monsters he had just killed had venomous traits. Either way, it was clear Levinia wasn’t thinking clearly—she must have been hallucinating.

“Stay away! Leave me alone!” she screamed, her voice frantic as she saw him approaching.

“Levinia, it’s me!”

Desperate to calm her, Cassion threw his sword to the ground with a loud clatter. It was an unthinkable act for a swordsman, but there was no time to worry about that.

“Levinia… I won’t hurt you. I don’t know what kind of hallucinations you’re seeing, but—”

“Hallucinations?”

What nonsense was this? Levinia strained her blurry vision to focus on Cassion. In the dim light, his presence was more terrifying than reassuring. His glowing eyes pierced through the darkness, his tall frame casting an ominous shadow. The faint shimmer of his golden hair was all that confirmed his identity.

If not for the familiarity of his voice, Levinia might not have even realized it was him.

“Look at my hands,” Cassion said gently, holding them out. “They’re empty. I have nothing to harm you with.”

“Your entire body is a weapon, transcendent one!” she thought bitterly. Levinia, having read the original story, knew all too well how powerful Cassion was. As the strongest figure in the world, he could overpower even Albert’s allies combined.

Shaking her head slowly, Levinia cautiously took a step back. Her fear was clear in her trembling body and wide eyes, though Cassion could see far more than she could in the dark. Her expression was so full of terror that it kept him from approaching her rashly.

“Levinia…”

Cassion suppressed his overwhelming presence as much as he could, lowering his voice and softening his tone in an effort to calm her. But just as his aura subsided, something else emerged from the shadows.

“Damn it…”

More glowing eyes appeared in the darkness. A pack of wolves, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent, crept out from the forest. Though not as dangerous as high-level monsters, these wolves posed a deadly threat to Levinia in her weakened state.

If one of them got to her neck, it would be over in an instant.

“Levinia, there are wolves. Slowly… come this way,” Cassion instructed, his voice steady but urgent.

At the mention of wolves, Levinia’s head whipped around. She, too, spotted the dark silhouettes of the animals and froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Her body was at its limit. After running for what felt like an eternity, her strength was completely drained. Exhausted by fear after fear, Levinia collapsed to the ground, her legs giving out beneath her.

The wolves wasted no time, seizing the opportunity to lunge at her. Perhaps they thought that if they killed her, they could prevent Cassion from taking her away.

“Levinia!”

Cassion didn’t even have time to retrieve his sword from the ground. Channeling mana into his fist, he struck the first wolf that leapt at her, sending it flying. Wolves were particularly troublesome because of their pack-hunting tactics, even more so than low-tier monsters.

Ignoring the claws and fangs tearing at his arm and shoulder, Cassion positioned his body as a shield in front of Levinia.

Kwaaaaah!

A wolf snapped its jaws around Cassion’s arm, but its teeth couldn’t pierce his mana-hardened skin. Protected by his power, his body was tougher than steel. Without hesitation, Cassion grabbed the wolf’s throat, his iron grip crushing its windpipe with a sickening crack.

Throwing the limp body aside, he turned his attention to the remaining wolves, systematically dispatching them one by one. Within moments, the pack lay defeated, their lifeless bodies scattered around.

Levinia watched the entire scene unfold through her fading consciousness. She saw Cassion, taking the wolves’ attacks for her sake.

“Did… Cassion save me? …Why?”

Wasn’t he chasing her to kill her for betraying him and running away? She had assumed earlier that he killed the monsters to prevent them from taking his “prey.” But now he was willingly putting himself in harm’s way to protect her.

“Cassion…” she whispered, tears streaming down her face as her vision blurred further. Her body gave out, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

The few surviving wolves, tails tucked in fear, fled into the forest. Cassion turned to Levinia, panic setting in as he knelt beside her. Her body radiated feverish heat, her face flushed while her hands and nails showed the telltale signs of poisoning.

“Levinia!”

＊ ＊ ＊

Levinia found herself in a hazy, dull gray space. Despite the fever burning through her body and the icy chill she had suffered, this place felt comfortably warm.

“Ah… have I finally died?”

After all the torment, had it finally ended? It wasn’t the kind of death she had hoped for, and she still had so many regrets, but at the same time, she felt… done. Everything seemed so tedious, as though she was too exhausted to care anymore.

“What good is being the heir of the Duke’s family? All I ever wanted was to just be myself.”

Even if it felt like sour grapes, she told herself this over and over, as if it would make her believe it. What did self-deception matter? What harm was there in trying to console herself? After all, not everyone can be a winner.

“I just wanted to be acknowledged. Maybe I didn’t even want all of this… maybe I just wanted to feel loved.”

She wouldn’t go so far as to say she envied Albert, but deep down, she had hoped Cassion’s affection for her was real.

“If it’s love, it’s love. Who cares if it changes later? It doesn’t mean it wasn’t real at the time.”

Still, she couldn’t help but wish for love that wouldn’t fade.

“I don’t want something that will change. I want something genuine.”

She knew that feelings could change. But wasn’t it possible to nurture love, to tend to it and grow it into something steadfast? A love that wouldn’t waver, a love that endured?

“That’s what I want. Someone who will love me for who I am, without end.”

So, no—she couldn’t settle for anything less. Accepting fleeting affection would never be enough for her. Tears began streaming down her face as she thought about it.

“In the end, I’m going to die like this. What was the point of trying so hard?”

She had achieved nothing. She had never experienced the catharsis of truly accomplishing something meaningful. Her entire life had been consumed by endless effort, leaving her drained and discarded.

“No! I don’t want to die! Why is it always me? I haven’t even done anything yet!”

Her frustration boiled over. Everything in her life felt unfair—love, work, even simple rest. Nothing had ever come easily to her.

The closest she had come to peace was during her time at Cassion’s palace. There, she had been able to sleep as much as she wanted, laze around without anyone reprimanding her. Her days with Cassion were filled with leisure, and she could indulge in sweet desserts to her heart’s content.

Aside from her constant fear of Cassion’s affection turning cold, that month had been the happiest time of her life.

“How ridiculous.”

Realizing this, Levinia felt a wave of disbelief wash over her. She didn’t regret running away from Cassion’s palace—not one bit. What she regretted was that she had never been able to rest, not until everything fell apart.

She couldn’t forgive her father, who had wrung every ounce of effort out of her only to plan to marry her off to some official’s son. Nor could she forgive her mother, who had stood by and let it happen, blaming Levinia for everything. And Robert, who pretended to support her but ultimately sided with her father—she hated him too.

Albert? She resented him, but at least he had acted for her when things got dangerous. And then there was Cassion, who had shielded her from wolves at the cost of his own body.

“The only two people I can trust… aren’t even from the Wendell family.”

Levinia, who had lived her whole life for the benefit of the Wendell family—save for the past month—felt an overwhelming hatred for them. Especially since, if they hadn’t interfered, she might have succeeded in escaping.

“What’s the point of hating them now? But it’s not like I can control how I feel! If I could come back to life, I’d tear everything apart!”

There wasn’t even a need for some grand plan—her grandfather had already laid the groundwork for her to do so. The thought that she had been unable to use what he had left for her made her cry anew.

Tears of frustration spilled down her cheeks, hot and unstoppable. It had been so long since she had cried out of sheer anger.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Is she having a nightmare? Why does she keep crying?”

The return to the imperial palace had been swift, thanks to the mage accompanying them. Upon arrival, Cassion summoned priests and priestesses from the temple to treat Levinia. They were surprised to find traces of potion use on her wounds, but they quickly understood when they noticed the bracelet on her wrist—an artifact capable of storing items.

Levinia’s body bore countless small injuries from the monster’s attack. Holy magic was applied to heal her wounds, ensuring no scars would remain. The poison wasn’t particularly severe, and thanks to her mild resistance to it, the priests assured him that with a few days of rest, she would recover fully.

They administered medicine to lower her fever, but her chills were a different matter. The medicine already in her system would conflict with other remedies, so the priests had no choice but to leave that untreated.

Thus, Cassion took it upon himself to warm her. He climbed into the bed and held her close, sharing his body heat. Levinia, instinctively seeking warmth, burrowed into his embrace, making him smile.

“On that mountain… she called my name.”

While tracking her through the forest, Cassion had distinctly heard her voice.

“Ca…ssi…on…”

Her faint voice had reached him even amid the chaos. The situation had been dire, with her life hanging by a thread, yet in that moment of crisis, she had called for him. The thought filled Cassion with immeasurable joy.

“She thought of me… while I was drowning in my own doubts, teetering between heaven and hell. I should have focused all my attention on finding her.”

Regret gnawed at him. If only he had acted faster, Levinia wouldn’t have suffered so much.

“Why are you crying? Are you unaware that you’re safe beside me now? Your tears are tearing me apart.”

Levinia’s tears dampened his clothes, and Cassion gently patted her back in an attempt to soothe her. Her recovery would take a few days, during which she would likely suffer. The thought pained him deeply.

“…Don’t… know…”

Levinia’s soft murmur interrupted his thoughts. She was mumbling in her sleep, her words faint and fragmented. However, with his heightened senses, Cassion could make them out clearly without much effort.

“What kind of dream is she having…?”

Her tears continued as she spoke, and Cassion held her closer, hoping his warmth might reach her even in her dreams. He listened intently as her voice came again, this time more audible.

“…Changing affec…tions… no… I want… real love…”

Her words, though unclear, seemed to be about love and emotions. Cassion’s heart raced as he wondered if her dream was about him.

“…Can’t accept… I want…”

A pang of doubt struck him. Was her dream about Albert? Or someone else? Leaning in closer, Cassion focused on her words, his breath caught in anticipation.

“I want… someone who will always love me…”

Cassion froze. From the information he had gathered, Levinia had never been in love before. Even her relationship with Albert, her former fiancé, had been cold and formal.

“Does that mean… this dream is about me?”

Was she crying in her dream because she feared his feelings for her might change?

Cassion fell silent, his thoughts tangled. At first, he dismissed his musings as overthinking, but there were undeniable truths that pricked at his conscience. The most obvious of which was the existence of the forty concubines currently filling his harem.

“If I want to make Levinia my empress… I’ll need to get rid of the harem first.”

If Levinia had been crying because the harem weighed on her mind, then he felt deeply sorry. Thinking back, Levinia had made similar remarks before.

“If I were to become empress, I feel like I would have too many expectations for Your Majesty… and I would only end up disappointed. It’s better to…”

“Take a concubine’s position instead?” he had asked.

“If I don’t expect anything, it won’t hurt as much,” she had replied.

Now, Cassion treated Levinia with the utmost care and respect, but the idea that she had tried to avoid the empress position to shield herself from heartbreak gnawed at him. Perhaps, over time, Levinia had grown to expect more from him, even against her better judgment.

The thought filled Cassion with a peculiar hope.

“Could it be that Levinia has feelings for me, even if she doesn’t want to admit it?”

Her actions seemed to support the idea. She had called his name during a moment of life-threatening danger, and when he appeared, she had fainted in relief.

“She may not even realize it herself… but doesn’t she care for me?”

He couldn’t stop himself from considering the possibilities. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t have responded so passionately when they shared a bed. Levinia had been unlike anyone he had ever been with—offering him a sweetness and pleasure that had been utterly intoxicating.

Not only was she the most entrancing person he’d ever held, but their connection also felt far deeper than any fleeting affair. It was no one-sided infatuation on his part.

“Ugh…”

Cassion gritted his teeth, trying to control himself. He had to hold her close to warm her chilled body, but the sensation of her soft warmth against him was unbearable. Doing anything inappropriate to her now wouldn’t just make him a fool—it would make him the continent’s greatest scoundrel. He forced himself to stay in check.

“Levinia… my Levinia…”

He longed to whisper words of love, to promise her that he would cherish her forever. The determination he once had to “take her back on his terms” had vanished. Instead, he was consumed by a deeper, more desperate affection—an urge to love her so completely that even her shadow would be precious to him.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured, his voice low and tender. “From now on… I will be yours forever.”

Out of every man or woman he had ever met, Levinia was the only one he truly loved. The realization sent a shiver through him. Drawing her closer, he let her soft, comforting scent wash over him.

As he breathed her in, he felt at peace for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. With Levinia in his arms, he knew he would sleep soundly tonight.

＊ ＊ ＊

Albert was restless.

After Cassion rescued Levinia near the mountain peak, he had immediately returned to the imperial palace with her using teleportation magic alongside the mage. Concerned for her well-being, Albert had hurried back to the capital, but he was left in the dark about her condition.

Not only was he anxious about Levinia’s health, but he also needed her to corroborate the story that she had been abducted by assassins. Despite his urgency to see her, Cassion seemed intent on keeping her completely out of reach.

For five long hours, Albert waited at the imperial palace. Finally, one of the emperor’s attendants approached him. The attendant informed Albert that Levinia had been treated by the priests and was now resting, her condition improving.

“She is not in critical condition. With a few days’ rest, she should recover fully,” the attendant said, before giving Albert a pointed look that clearly suggested it was time for him to leave.

Levinia’s position in the palace as the emperor’s concubine made it inappropriate for her former fiancé to linger like this. It would only cause unnecessary gossip and harm Levinia’s reputation.

Reluctantly, Albert forced himself to leave the palace and returned to the Wendell estate.

When he arrived, he found that the Duke had ordered all the family’s knights and soldiers back home. No doubt the Duke had learned of Levinia’s whereabouts through Albert’s earlier account.

Albert burned with anger toward the Duke but knew he had no choice but to remain at the estate. Any news of Levinia’s recovery would be sent there first.

Though his father would normally greet him upon his return, the Duke was conspicuously absent. Albert guessed he had likely been detained by the Duke himself. Glancing toward his father’s quarters, Albert felt a wave of bitterness before turning away.

As humiliating as it was, there was little he could do.

He lacked the power to defy his father’s ambitions, and no matter how skilled a Swordmaster he was, he couldn’t climb the political ladder to the lofty position his father desired on his own.

All Albert had left was the will to protect the people he cared about. And right now, the person he most wanted to protect was Levinia. He felt it was his responsibility—she had lost what should have been hers because of his inaction.

“I’ll do my best, Levinia,” Albert vowed silently as he headed to his room. For now, he needed the Wendell name to ensure Levinia gained the freedom she deserved.