GTMDWH | Chapter 45

~Chapter 45~

‘Did I seriously call him Hardt…? I’ve lost it.’

While Johann was in the shower, Leah had accidentally dozed off.

In her dream, she relived the happy days she spent here with her husband and daughter.

Then, sensing someone near, she slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing Johann right in front of her, still lost in the dream, she instinctively called him by his old name.

He had his hair down and was wearing clothes similar to what he used to wear back then—it made her mistake him for her husband in that memory.

‘Still, even if I was dreaming, how could I say that out loud?’

Embarrassed that she called him “Hardt,”she couldn’t even look at him and rushed into her room.

Leaning against the door, she sighed.

“I’m crazy. Totally crazy.”

She sat there beating herself up for a while when—Knock knock knock.

“Sorry, but we need to head to Winster now.”

“…Ah, okay.”

Leah lightly slapped her cheeks a couple of times to compose herself and opened the door.

Johann didn’t mention anything, and just waited quietly as she packed.

Once she finished and picked up the large pouch of waterdrop flowers, he started walking ahead.

Before leaving, Leah turned to look at the cabin one last time.

‘Next time I come here… I’ll probably be really sick. Take care until then.’

On their way down the mountain, they stopped by to say goodbye to Alma and Raoul.

Alma was sad to see her go but gave her a strong hug before letting her leave.

‘If Alma finds out I came back only because I got sick… she’ll be really upset and heartbroken.’

Leah silently apologized in her heart and continued down the mountain with Johann.

They walked all the way to Winster in complete silence.

‘Things feel even more awkward now because of what happened earlier.’

They only started speaking once they arrived at the inn in Winster—but they were both just talking to Harry.

Johann took talkative Harry to a room and explained the plan.

“…So, Your Grace, you’ll teleport with Lady Leah to the duchy, and I’ll drive the mage and the flowers there by carriage?”

“Exactly. And take care of this, too.”

Johann handed Harry the pouch with the waterdrop flowers.

Technically, they could’ve taken the flowers with them using teleportation magic,but there was a risk the magic might damage them.

So they chose to transport them safely by carriage instead.

Thankfully, the pouch had preservation magic on it, so the flowers would stay fresh.

“Don’t worry about the mage or the flowers, Your Grace.”

Dorothe arrived around dinnertime.

Harry, being friendly and outgoing, hit it off with her immediately.

Leah was surprised to hear Dorothe had actually been camping in the forest.

“If I had known earlier, I would’ve invited you to stay with us! Wasn’t it cold and uncomfortable?”

“Nah. I’ve been living outdoors for almost 20 years, I’m used to it.”

Dorothe said casually while digging into her food.

After dinner, Leah and Johann stood up from the table.

“Sir Harry, we’ll head out first. Make sure she gets there safely.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Harry stood and bowed.

Dorothe, not knowing why they were leaving separately, would surely get a smooth explanation from Harry.

“Sir Harry, Dorothe. See you in the capital.”

“Of course, Lady Leah.”
“Yeah, see you there, Leah.”

And with that, Johann took Leah out of the inn.

He led her to a dark and quiet area on the outskirts where no one else was around.

“This should be far enough.”

Johann stopped and held out his hand to her.

‘Why is he holding out his hand all of a sudden?’

Leah stared at his hand in confusion.

“Well? Aren’t you going to take it?”

“…Oh.”

Right.

He meant for her to hold it so they could teleport.

Since she was moving so slowly, Johann got impatient and just grabbed her hand himself.

She was startled, like it was the first time she’d ever held a man’s hand.

“I’m not gonna bite.”

“That’s not it…”

Leah really didn’t want any physical contact with him while staying at the duchy.

No matter how angry or bitter she felt, just touching someone could weaken your heart.

Already shaken by earlier, holding his hand only made things worse.

His hand was big and rough, with calluses from sword training.

Even though he treated her coldly, his hand felt unexpectedly warm—kind, even.

‘And this is exactly why I didn’t even want to brush fingertips with him.’

She knew it was necessary for the magic, but that didn’t mean she liked it.

Johann took a healing stone in his other hand and started drawing a magic circle with his long index finger.

Leah couldn’t take her eyes off his hand—it was her first time seeing someone draw one in person.

‘Wow… I’ve never seen someone draw a magic circle before.’

After drawing the coordinates of the duchy into the circle, it lit up in white light and enveloped them before Leah even realized what was happening.

—

Teleporting for the first time made Leah stumble as soon as they landed.

Johann quickly caught her with his strong arm to keep her from falling.

She was completely stunned by how they had just instantly moved from Winster’s outskirts…and were now in an old-fashioned bedroom.

‘Did we really get to the Blumhardt mansion already? That fast?’

The long-distance teleportation made her feel dizzy and nauseous.

She didn’t even realize she was practically leaning into Johann’s arms.

“Feeling dizzy?”

“…A little. Let me stay like this for a bit.”

Back when Arthur was captain of the knights, he didn’t seem affected by long-distance teleporting.

Johann didn’t realize right away that Leah, unlike a trained soldier, was just a normal (though healthy) person.

He eventually figured it out as he waited for her to recover.

When she looked a little better, he helped her sit on the edge of the bed.

“…Sorry. I didn’t think it’d mess with me this much.”

Leah held her head, still feeling lightheaded.

She only started feeling better after drinking a warm cup of water.

“I didn’t think you’d get hit this hard by it.”

“Well, teleporting that far in an instant—guess it makes sense.”

Leah stood up from the bed.

“As I said earlier, until Harry and the others arrive, you’ll be staying here.”

Johann led her to the sitting room.

“Officially, you haven’t arrived at the mansion yet.”

“Right.”

“I’ll go get Raphaella. You sit here and rest.”

He nodded toward the sofa.

“She’s probably asleep, though?”

“Raphaella could sleep through an earthquake. She’ll be fine.”

Johann said, heading off with Samuel.

Luckily, Raphaella wasn’t asleep.

She was humming as she clung to her dad.

But when they reached Johann’s room, she jumped down and ran straight to Leah.

“Mommy!”
She threw herself into Leah’s arms with a joyful cry.

Clinging tightly, she didn’t let go for a long time.

And Leah didn’t either.

Samuel, moved by their emotional reunion, looked away and wiped a tear.

Leah’s eyes filled with tears too, just barely hanging on.

Johann stared at those tears.

For some reason, he couldn’t look away.

‘Why does she keep bothering me like this…?’

Still holding Raphaella in her arms, Leah slowly stood up.

“So… where should I sleep?”

“You and Raphaella can use my bed.”

“…Sorry, what?”

That felt wrong—kicking out the owner of the room?

“I could just sleep here on the sofa…”

“Then Raphaella would want to sleep there with you.”

“…And where will you sleep, then?”

“I can sleep anywhere. Don’t worry about me. Just catch up with your daughter.”

Before she could say anything else, he added he’d return to the room sometime around dawn and left with Samuel.

“Mom! Mom!”

“Yes, Rafi. I heard you were really sick.”

Still in a daze from Johann’s kindness, Leah snapped out of it at her daughter’s voice.

“I’m fine now! Daddy stayed with me every single day!”

“…Really?”

No one had told her that.

Had he seriously taken care of Raphaella all day, every day?

‘That cold man changed this much in such a short time…’

Leah glanced at the mark on Raphaella’s neck.

The goddess’s symbol was still there, just as dark as before.

‘So this isn’t enough after all… or maybe…’

She sighed softly and carried her daughter into Johann’s room.

Raphaella, excited to be in bed with her mom, bounced happily on the big mattress.

“Rafi, no jumping on Dad’s bed.”

Leah gently stopped her.

She changed into the pajamas Samuel brought and lay down beside her daughter.

Raphaella quietly snuggled against her mother’s chest.

“Rafi, Mommy’s really sorry.”

“Why?”

“For making you worry about me.”

“I’m okay now! You’re better!”

Even now, Raphaella was thinking of her mom’s feelings.

And that made Leah’s heart ache.

“Rafi, more than being a sweet girl, I want you to always be honest about your feelings with me.”

She gently stroked her daughter’s cheek.

“…Can I really say everything I want?”

“Of course.”

“What if what I say makes you sad?”

That was such a heartbreaking thing for a child to worry about.

“Not knowing how you feel would make me even sadder. Say everything, Rafi.”

“Really? Then I’ll say it all.”
“Good. Tell me everything.”

“Then… Mommy, don’t ever leave me again.”

Raphaella finally let it out.

‘So that’s what she’s been wanting to say…’

“Yes, sweetie.”
“I’m really sorry, Rafi. So, so sorry.”

Leah whispered, hugging her tightly.

‘I’m sorry… because I can’t keep that promise.’

Raphaella was so excited to have her mom back that she stayed up late chatting until she finally fell asleep.

Not long after, Leah dozed off too.

It had been a long, exhausting day—from the north all the way to the capital.