Chapter 101
Clang! Clang! Grrr…!
A chilling bark echoed through the air.
The moment that made her grow fond of Herwin—the massive wild dog she had encountered at the facility—was now standing right in front of her.
Lucia, having returned to her eight-year-old self, trembled like a leaf at the sight of the threatening beast approaching her.
The dog, salivating and growling, lunged toward her.
Instinctively, she raised her arms to protect herself. But shortly after, a whine came from the dog.
Yelp! Yelp!
“Get away from Lucia!”
Young Herwin was standing in front of her, holding a wooden sword to defend her.
From there, everything unfolded just as she had seen it in her childhood memories. A tense standoff between Herwin and the dog ensued. Seizing a brief opening, Lucia threw a stone at the dog, allowing Herwin to defeat it.
As the dog slowly retreated, Herwin, panting heavily, came to stand beside Lucia.
“Lucia, are you alright?”
By this point, she should have burst into tears. But a strange sense of déjà vu left her staring blankly at Herwin.
“I told you not to go too deep. There are creatures here more dangerous than wild dogs.”
Herwin grumbled, inspecting her from head to toe. Despite having done all the hard work himself, he first checked on Lucia.
“Never go into the forest alone again, got it?”
“…Okay.”
Lucia finally nodded. Seeing Herwin’s expression soften, she unconsciously opened her mouth.
‘Was Herwin always like this?’
Now fully grown, seeing the scene of that day unfold vividly before her eyes felt surreal. More than that, in Herwin’s gaze, which cared for and protected her, she saw affection.
Even for a child, it wasn’t the kind of look friends normally give each other.
Herwin dusted off the dirt from her hands and the hem of her dress, ignoring his own disheveled state. Then he pulled a four-leaf clover from his pocket.
“And here, this.”
He handed it to her.
“I found it after you left.”
Lucia still kept that four-leaf clover. She had pressed it and coated it specially, placing it in her music box.
As she stared at the clover for a long moment, she looked up and saw Herwin’s dirt-smudged face brightening with a smile.
Biting her lower lip, memories of Herwin slowly resurfaced—the times they had shared.
“You… always protected me…”
From the first attack by the wild dog, when the other children bullied her, when she almost got hurt by a broken blade… and—
“Even today.”
She recalled how he had risked his own safety to run straight to her and save her from the orc.
Lucia, back in her child form, embraced young Herwin cautiously as he smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Herwin.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’m glad you’re by my side.”
“Then be honest with me.”
Opening her eyes, she looked at Herwin, who was in her arms. Young Herwin whispered something.
“I have always—”
His face turned pale, and his voice gradually faded.
But Lucia could hear every word clearly.
Her delicate eyelids fluttered, revealing her pale blue eyes.
Blinking away the blur, she surveyed her surroundings.
A strange ceiling and walls, luxurious items scattered around… It was a room she had never seen before.
Before she could wonder too much, her gaze landed on Herwin.
“Herwin…”
He held her right hand firmly, a look on his face that was both a smile and a cry, indescribable.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine… but where is this?”
It didn’t seem like much time had passed.
“It’s the palace. They made sure you had a safe place here until you regained consciousness.”
At the mention of the palace, she recalled the events of the day and quickly understood.
The orc incident happened because of her meddling at the palace. Without taking such measures, the matter would have escalated in many ways.
Nodding quietly to herself, she noticed something strange.
‘Why is it only Herwin here?’
Her older brother, friends, even her fiancé should have come looking for her. But for some reason, only Herwin was present.
Herwin seemed to read her thoughts and spoke first.
“They came by a while ago. Your brother, your friends, even your fiancé.”
Hearing the word “fiancé,” Lucia flinched. She suddenly remembered she had broken up with Bern.
The dream that had been fading returned clearly.
She recalled the young Herwin’s words:
‘I am always waiting for you.’
Carefully, she lifted herself up, and Herwin immediately supported her. She held onto his hand.
“Herwin, I need to tell you something.”
But speaking felt like something was stuck in her throat. Still, it was time to be brave.
“Actually, about Bern…”
“Lucia.”
Before she could finish, Herwin tenderly called her name. It was so sweet that she momentarily lost herself.
Seeing her dazed expression, he chuckled softly and fiddled with her hand.
“The marquis told me everything. That you broke up with him.”
“Ah…”
Lucia sighed, surprised that Bern had confessed the truth.
“After hearing that, I thought a lot. But I knew I had to say this first.”
Herwin’s cheeks flushed, and the atmosphere shifted.
Her fingers tingled, her heart raced, tension thick in the air. Then he spoke—
“I love you.”
A confession.
Unlike the first time, it felt completely different.
Before, she couldn’t believe him. She thought he had rushed the confession out of a childish fear of losing their friendship, mistaking it for love. But now, she could clearly see his sincerity.
His trembling voice, flushed face, and red eyes full of tension… she could see herself reflected in them.
“I have always loved you. Foolishly, I didn’t realize my feelings and hurt you, but I won’t do that anymore. It’s too late, but—”
Herwin knelt on one knee, holding her hand and gently pressing his lips to her hand.
“Will you marry me?”
Lucia’s throat went dry. Words failed her. All the pent-up love and struggles burst into tears.
Seeing tears in her clear eyes, Herwin panicked and clumsily rose from his kneeling position.
She held back her sobs and rubbed her eyes.
“Don’t cry…”
Then, a large, warm hand cupped her face. Looking up, she saw Herwin staring at her with sad yet tender eyes.
From his gaze, she could read so much—he seemed flustered by her tears, unsure how to react, and unsure what to say.
Realizing this was all because he was reading her cues, she smiled.
Lucia’s laughter broke through the tears, leaving Herwin stunned.
“Lucia…”
“…Yes.”
Before he could finish her name, she answered. Herwin’s eyes widened.
Lucia smiled through tears.
“Yes. Let’s get married.”
“…Really?”
Herwin’s disbelief made her laugh.
“You were the one who proposed, and now you act like this?”
Relaxed and happy, she lightly rested her hands on his back.
“This isn’t a dream, right?”
“Do you hope it is?”
“No! It can’t be! You really…”
Herwin stumbled over his words, and Lucia held his face.
Tears formed in Herwin’s eyes. Even with his face scrunched, he was still handsome.
Perhaps he didn’t want her to see him cry. His face flushed as he hurriedly tried to hide it, but Lucia pulled him closer.
Their lips met—soft, warm, tender.
Her tears ceased, and Herwin’s eyes widened.
After a moment, they parted. Lucia’s cheeks glowed like peaches, and she smiled blissfully.
“How is it? Not a dream, right?”
“…”
Herwin was silent. Surprised? Perhaps. Still, the silence lingered.
Lucia leaned closer. Just as their lips almost touched, a clicking sound came, and she was pushed backward.
Wide-eyed, she saw Herwin, now fully conscious, frowning as if holding back.
“Haa…”
“Her… Herwin?”
He came close, and she tensed, eyes shut tight. But the sensation was gone—only his warm breath teasing her neck.
“What are you planning?”
A murmured voice reached her. She peeked, seeing his fist trembling near her face.
She lifted her hand to his black hair, meeting his fiery red eyes.
Beyond his gaze, she saw a passionate desire.
Though startled, she stroked his head.
“Are you going to keep doing this?”
“What?”
“I’m holding back a lot right now. If you keep tempting me, I won’t be able to stop.”
Using the word “tempting” deliberately, she tried to test him. Their close contact had already reached the limit.
If she leaned closer, he wouldn’t be able to resist.
She rolled her eyes and toyed with his hair.
“…Who told you to hold back?”
Taking a step closer instead of retreating, he chuckled dryly.
“I never told you to.”
“You mean that?”
He was barely holding himself back. Lucia smiled provocatively.
“That’s my line to say.”
Despite her cute face, the expression was dangerously alluring to Herwin.
Herwin immediately grabbed her face and kissed her with passion.
More intense than she imagined, though he was still clumsy.
It was enough to set hearts racing. Their lips parted briefly.
As he leaned in again, she pushed him gently.
“Why?”
“Kisses aren’t done like that.”
This time, Lucia led. Their lips parted softly, tongues intertwining. Herwin’s hands lost direction.
Though inexperienced, Lucia guided him. Herwin quickly adapted, taking control.
With him leading, she found herself being consumed and gasped. After an intense kiss, they parted again.
Herwin brushed her face with satisfaction.
“Where did you learn that?”
Lucia’s reaction made him suspicious.
“…No way, the Marquis Casper?”
She said nothing, but avoiding his gaze confirmed it.
Veins popped on Herwin’s forehead.
“You learned to kiss from the Marquis?”
“…I didn’t expect it to end up like this with you.”
“Oh? Really?”
She tried to protest, but it didn’t work.
“Sad that our first kiss wasn’t mine, but it can’t be helped now.”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem too angry.
“But from now on, no other man can kiss you.”
Wait—was he angry?
Lucia, sweating nervously, tried to calm him with a pitiful look…
It backfired.
Until someone else arrived, she couldn’t escape Herwin.
