DSMBL Chapter 75

Chapter 075

It was a terrible pain. His side had been torn open. Even so, he managed to cut down two monsters.

Cassius was a man used to such pain. He had people and land to protect. He couldn’t afford to fall.

Even as the knights dragged him away, he worried only about the other monsters that had escaped. At that moment, nothing else mattered.

But then he saw Charlotte.

Warm and kind, like a spring breeze.

The moment he met Charlotte’s eyes, he felt his strength drain away, as if he were collapsing from exhaustion.

The fierce energy he had, like a wild wolf, calmed.

And then—

“Charlotte!!”

Holy power began to fill Cassius’s body.

“Haah!”

Cassius caught Charlotte as she gasped for breath. The wound that had been draining her life force started to close.

Holding her by the shoulders, he pulled her away from him.

Only then did he feel like he had fully regained his senses.

“What are you doing!”

She must have used far more holy power than when she treated Theo.

The proof was that Charlotte’s consciousness was fading.

“…You act on your own too…”

Charlotte mumbled. Then, all at once, she collapsed, nose bleeding.

Cassius caught her as she fell like a dead leaf. Miller rushed over as he saw Cassius sinking to the ground.

“Your Grace!”

“Did you call the Duchess here?”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Your insides were almost spilling out. Your bones were broken…”

Miller choked up as he spoke.

“Your Grace, I don’t regret it at all.”

Cassius tightly closed his eyes.

There was no one to blame. It was all his own fault. He should never have been injured.

If he knew the weight he carried, he should have valued himself above all.

But once he realized it was a distracting tactic, he became anxious, rushed, and let his guard down.

That’s how he exposed his side. It was a mistake he wouldn’t normally make.

Cassius hugged Charlotte tighter.

“…Take care of the Duchess.”

He swallowed roughly.

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Cassius quickly gathered his torn clothes and left the tent.

The head maid was waiting outside.

“Take Charlotte back to the castle immediately.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The head maid bowed.

Cassius sighed. His feet wouldn’t move easily, and he was reluctant to leave Charlotte behind. He clenched his teeth.

“Never again… I will never let Charlotte be involved in something like this again…”

“No.”

The head maid spoke coldly.

“I will bring the Duchess back no matter how many times it takes.”

“Lady Chasey!”

“The Duchess would wish for it too!”

The head maid’s voice shook. Tears ran down her wrinkled face.

Cassius bit his lip without realizing it.

She had lived her whole life in the Duchy of Istheria.

He couldn’t ignore her words.

“If Your Grace falls, Istheria will fall. If the North falls, the Empire will fall.”

Everyone knew this, but it struck Cassius harder than anything at that moment.

“So I will keep raising you up, no matter what. The Duchess would do the same.”

Cassius tightly closed his eyes again.

The head maid murmured with a trembling voice,

“…So please, don’t get hurt, Your Grace.”

It was a polite threat—and a desperate plea.

Cassius couldn’t say anything more. He turned away silently.

The head maid, tears in her eyes, quickly returned inside the tent.

Miller was providing care to Charlotte.

“How is the Duchess?”

“She’s exhausted. She’ll need to stay in bed for a while.”

“…Did it have any major effects?”

“I don’t know yet, Madam. We’ll have to watch her carefully.”

The head maid bit her lips anxiously.

She had pretended to be strong in front of Cassius, but she knew how serious it was.

Every time, Charlotte was risking her life.

No one could say how much time she had left.

“…I will carry the Duchess myself.”

“But…”

“Let me at least do that. Prepare medicine, and if possible, administer injections. Do everything you can.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Miller answered heavily.

***

Meanwhile, the news of Charlotte collapsing and the victory reached the ladies of the Duke’s household at the same time.

Dropping everything, the noble ladies rushed outside.

They ran to the training grounds where people had gathered.

“My dear!”

“Heavens, why are you here!”

“The Duchess… she’s hurt?”

While others tearfully reunited, Giverny sighed.

Thankfully, because of the snow beast’s help, there weren’t many casualties.

But the snow beasts had suffered great losses.

Without proper weapons and armor, they had fought with their bare bodies.

After getting reports from the knights, Giverny sought out Cassius.

Cassius was also receiving reports.

Their eyes met.

Cassius motioned toward a quieter area.

Giverny followed.

“I heard you were hurt, Your Grace.”

“…It wasn’t my blood. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. It seems the gods were protecting you.”

Cassius gave a bitter smile.

It wasn’t the gods who took care of him—it was Charlotte.

For the first time, he wanted to throw away all his duties as a duke.

That was how he felt when he saw Charlotte collapse.

Cassius ran a hand over his face, troubled.

‘How much time does Charlotte have left?’

He already knew she used up a lot of her life force to heal Theo.

And this time, she must have used even more.

Cassius knew his own injuries better than anyone.

They were not wounds that could be healed so easily.

Charlotte had poured all of herself into creating that miracle.

Even now, his heart felt heavy.

“…I see. Do the snow beasts have any way to treat their wounds?”

“…They don’t really have proper medical treatment. But they do have shamans.”

Cassius frowned.

“So… they don’t treat injuries?”

“They believe the gods will take care of them.”

“To them, even death is part of that care.”

“Hmph.”

Cassius rubbed his eyes and sighed.

“If we had given them weapons sooner, would the outcome have been better?”

“…Probably not.

It would’ve taken time to make the weapons and even more time for them to learn how to use them…”

Cassius clicked his tongue.

Then we should’ve moved faster.

His hesitation might have caused this damage.

He couldn’t just trust nature and the gods like the snow beasts did.

The injured had to be treated quickly.

There would be a next time.

Cassius calmly assessed the situation and gave his orders.

“…We need to act fast.”

“Pick trustworthy blacksmiths and send them to the snow beasts.”

“Also, choose skilled military doctors and take them along.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Move now. I’m counting on you.”

“It’s no trouble, Your Grace. I’ll go right away.”

Giverny bowed her head.

Once again, Cassius had brought them victory.

If not for his sharp strategy, they wouldn’t have found the enemy,

And many innocent people would have been hurt.

He had stopped it all.

Cassius was still the hero of the North.

Giverny bowed deeply toward Cassius’s fading figure.

As long as he existed, the North would not fall.