Chapter 73

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A figure wearing a black cloak was approaching hastily. As if he had come in a hurry, he was dressed in sloppy leather armor, and an urgent tension was evident from his footsteps.

Victor, blowing in like the wind, came and stood in front of Amarion. He had an expression full of anger that didn’t suit him.

She was so embarrassed that she stuttered.

“Wh-What are you doing? You’re here, knowing what’s going to happen to Fidelburg while we’re both away…”

“Is that important now? Are you crazy enough to fight this monster alone?”

“It’s you who’s insane! You are the only person stronger than me. That’s why I told you to come up only when I’m dead!”

“What are you talking about?! Have you completely forgotten that I am your husband? ‘Those who have families go back’, after saying that, you-”

Thud.

The monster hit the floor with its tail. They both froze and stared at the monster stiffly.

Fortunately, it didn’t appear to have woken up.

Amarion whispered,

“…Let’s talk quietly. We don’t know what kind of chaos it will cause when it wakes up.”

“I agree.”

Victor sat down next to Amarion.

She stared at him as he dusted off his cloak.

He would have come up here anyway. As for what purpose she gave such instructions, he knew for sure.

Victor spoke abruptly, biting his lip.

“Don’t worry about Fidelburg. I put knights on the wall and ordered that all catapults and iron nets be brought out. I have done everything I could do.”

“I know.”

Amarion mumbled.

Although he may be cruel, he was not an irresponsible Lord. Even if she hadn’t ordered it, he would have taken appropriate measures.

Victor was noticeably relieved by her milder-than-expected reaction. He gestured to the monster.

“…Do you know what it is?”

“It’s a Basilisk. Maybe.”

“Basilisk? Isn’t that a snake the size of a human forearm?”

Basilisks were monsters that were born when Griffins incubated Serpent eggs. They were poisonous and could magically harden parts of their enemies body when they made eye contact. They were quite vicious, and ate all the chickens and snakes it came across.

But it was never dangerous, just an annoying serpent.

“It seems that a Serpent’s egg was incubated by Griffin. The number of Griffins was so great, so they must have thought that it was their egg. So, the change happened and…”

“So that’s how it was born.”

Victor ended her explanation for her.

That was the only reason why monsters outside of the norm were born.

If it was a Serpent and a Griffin’s child, it made sense why the monsters on the mountain ran away. Since this huge Basilisk made a nest in a place like this, it was a threat. It was a miracle that it had not yet attacked Fidelburg.

They agreed to wait for the monster to wake up. Victor took off his thick cloak and sat down on it.

Silence fell over them. After their reunion, they couldn’t talk properly for a few days, then they started arguing and sat quietly like this… it was awkward. Come to think of it, she didn’t have any questions to ask other than about the letter.

They opened their mouths at the same time.

“You-”

“Mari-”

Amarion shut her mouth. So did Victor.

He said.

“…Speak first.”

Amarion grabbed her sword handle. A question popped out all of the sudden.

“We have to close our eyes and fight, will you be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a Basilisk. I don’t know how strong its magic is, so we have to close our eyes and fight. But you….”

He must have bad memories of fighting with his eyes closed.

Victor seemed to understand what she meant. There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“Did you hear about my brother?”

“Yes.”

“I should have told you myself. I’m sorry for hiding it from you… No, I hid everything about me.”

Victor suddenly turned to Amarion. He had a troubled expression.

“I don’t know what you may have heard about me during this journey, but it must not have been good.”

“Victor…”

“I have always deceived you. Hiding my true self and pretending to be just, I tried to cover your eyes and ears. I… I was so foolish out of fear that you would leave.”

Victor wiped his face with one hand.

“Actually, I am not perfect at all. I’m neither a gentleman nor a knight. I have a rather rough personality…”

“I know that.”

Amarion replied in a small voice.

“The day you arrived, I heard you scolding the knights in the conference room.”

Victor flinched. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“You heard me?”

“I have good ears.”

“…I usually speak more kindly than that, but when I saw the report you wrote, I got angry… D*mn, these are all excuses.”

Victor bit his lip.

Amarion glanced at him.

Just as before she left for subjugation, he didn’t seem to know what to say to her. Like a child caught doing wrong, he muttered in a hoarse voice.

“Yes, that’s what I do. Brutal and helpless, not suited for a wonderful woman like you.”

“…”

“Do you hate me now?”

Amarion stared at him quietly.

His eyes trembled slightly with anxiety. Oddly enough, she had the same concerns as he did a while ago. It didn’t suit him.

She continued to suffer at the thought that he didn’t like her anymore.

Her heart moved before her mind. She reached out and grabbed his hand. His skin, which had not been touched in a long time, was cold.

She confessed.

“I thought of you the entire time I’ve been here.”

Victor shook his head. Golden eyes filled with surprise, hope, and passion looked at her.

In the midst of everything, a low-pitched voice whispered.

“What did you think?”

“I thought that I don’t know you well.”

Amarion put on a small smile.

“I saw your true self for the first time and was disappointed. I suffered because of you, and I was also afraid because the person I admired was not the person I knew. But this is your land, and everyone tells your story. What happened on the battlefield, the reason why the vassals were executed, and what happened to your brother.”

“…”

“So I understand you a little bit.”

The wind blew bitterly through the cave. The giant beast was still sleeping, and the cave floor was rough and cold. This was not the place to have such a conversation. But Victor spoke in a suppressed voice, as if he were reciting a love poem.

“I regret bringing you here.”

“Why?”

“If you were in the Capital, I think you would have kept believing that I was the perfect gentleman.”

Amarion laughed openly.

“Aren’t you too trusting of your people? It wasn’t just gossip I heard here.”

“But they fear me.”

“Even if you did that, I would be afraid after I heard the Lord captured and killed dozens of vassals.”

Victor bit his lip. His trembling golden eyes were still looking at her.

She spoke frankly.

“I certainly do not like your cruelty. I am a knight.”

“…”

“But you are very precious to me.”

She looked straight into his eyes. Courage swelled up in her heart, though she didn’t know where it came from.

“So, I want to be by your side. There will be arguments, and there will be situations where we clash, but little by little we will adjust and change…”

“Marion.”

“…We are a married couple, right?”

Victor’s eyes dimmed. For a moment, she thought he might cry. But he just bowed his head and listened.

“You are too good for me.”

He kissed the back of her hand briefly.

At the same time, the monster began to wriggle. Its breathing changed and moved its heavy body slowly.

They let go of each other’s hands and picked up their swords.

She begged him.

“Don’t die. There are so many stories I want to hear.”

She heard a faint laugh.

“I won’t die for anything other than you.”

With a ghastly sound, the Basilisk raised his huge head.

Amarion closed her eyes.

Just before the monster moved, they jumped towards it.

***

Kofi shop updated till chapter 81.