Chapter 10
But my hands aren’t even that pretty.
“Actually, his hands might’ve been prettier.”
His bones were solid, sure, but those long fingers and fair skin suited the phrase “slender jade hands” more than any monster hunter’s hands should.
Still, something about it made me uneasy.
I glanced down at the hand that had touched his and casually rubbed it against the hem of my chemise.
It was almost an automatic reaction after hearing Beth’s words.
And only then did I realize.
“This makes me look like some damsel who was just groped by a pervert.”
But it was too late.
Beth had already seen me do it—and her voice began to quiver.
“I can’t take this. Why didn’t you just punch him?!”
“There wasn’t exactly an opportunity for that…”
To be fair, the situation in Beth’s mind and reality were quite different.
At the time, it really just seemed like he was sincerely worried about the wound on my hand.
“It’s not like he touched me with any weird intentions.”
But in Beth’s mind, I had long since turned into a poor lady being harassed by some crude thug.
She let out a defeated grumble.
“My lady, when you were still the young master, anyone who laid a hand on you got beat up right then and there.”
“…Beth.”
“And now here we are, and you let some guy just grab your hand and do who-knows-what to you.”
“You make it sound like I used to live like a barbarian.”
Well, it was true that as a child, I got into more than a few scuffles with the capital knights-in-training.
Even after growing up, if someone pissed me off, I’d kick them between the legs or tie them up for target practice.
“…Maybe I’ve actually matured since realizing I reincarnated?”
I found myself seriously reflecting on my past life.
Beth collapsed onto the bed and groaned dramatically.
“I don’t know anymore. This is just upsetting.”
I consoled her until late into the night, eventually falling asleep beside her.
Luckily, the room lived up to its reputation—at least the bed was soft enough to sleep well.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, there was a smooth, silky black snake slithering over my hand.
A dream, huh.
There was no way a snake this soft and handsome could be real.
“Did I just think a snake was handsome?”
Ridiculous. That’s how I knew it was a dream.
Off in the distance, misappropriated barrels of orc ale floated through the air.
From the open lids, a red liquid gushed out—like blood.
The barrels I salvaged earlier had cheese or sausages inside. This was weird.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
As I scanned my surroundings, the snake flicked its tongue mockingly.
The blood-like liquid gushed more violently, as if trying to frighten me.
“Sloppy.”
I saw blood once a month at minimum.
I even used to kick over the crybabies who’d faint at the sight during training.
When I stared at it with bored eyes, the snake’s golden eyes—slit vertically—glinted. And it annoyed me.
Was I really being mocked by a snake?
And a good-looking snake at that.
“Oh, you little—”
Smack. I reached out and slapped its flicking tongue.
It’s a dream anyway—what did I care if it bit me?
“……”
The snake blinked wide and shuddered its tail.
The strange vibration reminded me of someone laughing. It buzzed through my body.
Then, narrowing its pupils, the snake stared at me intently.
I couldn’t tell if it was surprised by what it saw in my eyes or amused by the unexpected situation.
Annoyance welled up again.
“What are you looking at.”
Just as I narrowed my eyes, about to discipline the rude snake—
Wait.
Wings suddenly burst from the snake’s back.
Large, leathery wings unfolded one by one, and it was quite the spectacle.
The more the wings grew, the bigger the snake became.
It got too large to rest on my hand and slowly floated into the air.
Then, flapping its wings rapidly, it flew into the sky.
It looked just like a…
“Imoogi?”
What’s that supposed to be, a dragon?
I thought I heard a voice scoffing in response.
“Ah.”
And then I woke up.
The pale sunlight of Saint Portu trickled over the soft bedding.
I quietly watched the sunlight for a moment, then shook Beth awake.
“Mm… Milady?”
“It’s late. Help me get ready.”
“Why? You don’t even have anything to do… you could sleep in.”
“Nothing to do, huh.”
Whether they acknowledged me or not, I had duties as the Duke’s bride.
“That way, if I get my head chopped off, I’ll at least have something to say in my defense.”
I needed to convince the emperor that I’d done my best.
Who knows—maybe he’ll let me live. Maybe my family would be spared.
“Not like I had a choice in any of this.”
Besides, I wanted to check out my surroundings anyway.
The more I knew, the better.
Even if I dodged the original death…
There was no guarantee things would go smoothly from here.
I was just a background extra who should’ve died—and even since arriving, things hadn’t gone well.
“What happened next in the original story?”
Since Reina survived, the male lead, Captain Istha, wouldn’t fall into darkness. That might alter future events.
Or maybe the Duke would come back and kick me out.
He didn’t reject Reina—but I wasn’t Reina.
“Might as well look around the territory and check on the people too.”
If the Duke ever decided to cast me out, I needed to make sure he couldn’t claim I had neglected my duties as Duchess.
I suddenly felt fully alert.
“Let’s do this.”
“Please don’t…”
Beth, still half-asleep, muttered without thinking. Like a habit: “Poor lady…”
I ignored her and gently patted her shoulder.
“Thanks. Get some rest, Beth.”
After finishing my preparations and leaving the room—leaving behind a sleepy Beth—
“Hm.”
A deep voice, familiar.
“Oh.”
I turned. There he was again. The monster hunter from the Duke’s estate.
You again.
Might as well call him the again monster hunter.
I looked at him with that thought in my eyes, and he just shrugged.
“Heading out already?”
At least his face wasn’t one I got tired of seeing.
His golden eyes sparkled through damp bangs, like he’d been touched by morning dew.
And that crooked smirk was still on his lips.
“And you?”
I stopped and stared at him.
What are you doing here?
My eyes said it all, and he shamelessly replied.
“I’m working.”
“This early? Hunting monsters?”
“Monsters don’t care if it’s day or night.”
“In the middle of the Duke’s estate?”
“Monsters don’t care about location either.”
“…Right.”
I was briefly stunned by his shameless lies.
There was definitely a reason the Duke’s monster hunter wasn’t out hunting monsters right now.
“Is he here to guard me?”
Thinking about it, that made sense.
“I’m still a candidate for Duchess, sent by the Emperor.”
Even if they looked down on me, they couldn’t risk something happening.
But assigning an official knight to protect me would mean formally acknowledging me. They hadn’t even given me a proper guest room.
“…Giving the task to a skilled monster hunter was the perfect in-between.”
Not that he was just skilled. I’d seen him fight with my own eyes.
He was more than capable of protecting a high-profile guest.
“I guess they are trying to keep an eye on me, at least.”
As I stared at him, feeling a bit conflicted, the man tilted his head.
His expression said, “Is there a problem?”
I lightly tapped his arm.
“…What is it?”
“Nothing. Just… you’re working hard, that’s all.”
He probably had no choice in coming here either—just following orders.
Even among knights, private escort duty was often seen as a demotion unless it was for someone very important.
“There were a few lazy bums who liked the easy job, but…”
He was an annoying man, sure—but having to ditch monster hunting for babysitting a noble lady?
It was a little pitiful.
Maybe that pity showed, because his shameless smile faltered a bit.
I patted his shoulder once more and started walking.
He followed naturally and asked,
“Why are you still here, anyway?”
“Because I’m the Duke’s bride?”
“The Duke doesn’t even know that.”
Why the hell are we already bickering first thing in the morning?
