TDSWM Chapter 45

Chapter  45

Something felt wrong.

Gerald’s expression as he turned sharply away from me was more than serious—it was downright murderous.

Should I slowly back away and run?

Maybe he couldn’t stay by Theodore’s side any longer, now that I’d been exposed as both an assassin sent by House Owen and a witch.

But then again—wouldn’t it be better to make him my ally in survival somehow, now that things had come to this?

Above all else, wasn’t Gerald the one who should protect Theodore to the end and embrace him with love? Yet, he turned out to be far more hardheaded and hot-blooded than I expected—a stubborn man who couldn’t hear the cries of the weak.

When frail “dogs” growled in fear, he took it as provocation and gladly drew his sword.

Even when a fluffy little five-year-old stood helplessly in front of that sharp blade, he dared to maintain a cold expression.

Fine then. If his empathy was so low, I’d have to start by changing how he treated people.

But then suddenly, I wondered—what was it Michael really wanted?

For both families to destroy each other so that he could sit on the throne?

If so, then was Michael the one pushing this world toward ruin?

No, surely a world doesn’t fall because of a single cause.

Sinclair had been a woman destined to die from the very first scene—but maybe she was actually the most important person to stop this destruction?

Or… was I sent here just to deliver that realization?

No. Perhaps I was meant to be a goddess of salvation, sent to rescue my Alfred.

If I didn’t kill Theodore, he wouldn’t become a demon, and naturally the empire wouldn’t fall.

That way, I could protect Alfred and Cordelia’s love as well.

Wait—Kang Joo-hee! This is no time for such thoughts. You’re in danger right now!

I had to stop Gerald from walking away.

That was the only way to secure Theodore’s future, my own future, Alfred’s love, and the future of this world. Yes—it was time to end this march.

Now a true march for the world and the children had to begin.

Somehow, I had to make Gerald into a solid rope for survival.

But why was this man leaving the fields behind and heading deeper into the woods?

Just then, a chilling wind blew across the beautiful meadow, where tiny white flowers swayed and bright orange lilies lifted their heads.

The fallen leaves on the ground whirled upward on the gusts.

The trees shook their unruly branches as though they might lash out and bind me, hoisting me into the air for execution.

The grass brushing against my legs, once soft, now felt harsher than nettles.

That’s when I realized. This was the demon realm!

Once upon a time, a place where magic and monsters coexisted.

In Emperor Julius’s day, demons and humans had lived together here.

But the current emperor, Heraes von Jaier, declared severance with the demon realm upon taking the throne—and unleashed a bloody massacre.

For a week, the slaughter continued until, in the end, everything containing the character for “demon” was erased from the Beatria Empire.

Of course, the books didn’t go into detail—after all, they weren’t the protagonists!

But one thing was certain: this place had been a killing field.

And here I was, strolling along so carelessly.

The vengeful spirits of monsters and demons unjustly slain might still linger here, waiting for prey. I recalled the demonic bird and crocodile I’d seen before.

What if, this time, a demon snake slithered from the brush to coil around me and swallow me whole?

Ugh—horrifying!

I needed someone to rely on.

Even if that someone was a cold-blooded, unempathetic, ill-mannered man.

Thud-thud-thud!

I ran at full speed toward Gerald, who was a hundred meters ahead.

The cold grass snagged at my ankles like specters of the demon realm.

The faster I ran, the more they stung, scraping at me. So I pushed my legs even harder.

I had to survive.

Just as the distance between us narrowed and I felt relief, my right foot caught on a tree stump.

Thunk!

“Oh, oh, oh, oh—?”

I went flying through the air, grabbed Gerald’s shoulder, and crashed into his back like a crushed tin can.

As my legs gave out and I began to slide down, Gerald quickly caught me.

“What are you doing?”

His brow furrowed sharply.

“Oh, um—I tripped while running.”

“…Haa.”

He looked down at me like I was a hopeless woman.

Come on—people trip sometimes! Why glare at me like a demon?

I tried wriggling free from his arms in a hurry.

From afar, it must have looked like we were kissing, my body tilted back in his embrace.

In my fluster, I accidentally smacked him in the face with my arm.

Smack!

“Ah! Oh no! What have I done?!”

Instead of apologizing, what slipped out was panic for my own life.

This man seemed like he’d kill a dog or cat without hesitation—what was I doing striking his face?

Was I about to die in his arms?

I looked up at him with trembling eyes.

He only sighed deeply again, then straightened my posture by supporting my back and waist.

“Thank you…”

I bowed my head shyly. But then, he turned back the way we’d come.

‘Going back already? We haven’t even gotten to the point yet!’

Then Gerald picked up his overcoat from the grass and tossed it at me.

I reflexively caught it.

“Button it properly.”

“Huh? Oh—yes!”

No wonder my back had felt cold—his coat must have slipped off while I was running.

Wait—does that mean Gerald touched my bare skin just now?

Oh no… I wanted to crawl into a hole.

I hurriedly turned away to put the coat on. But Gerald snatched it back again.

Really? Another outburst?

But instead of exploding, he simply brushed off the dirt and grass, then held it out to me again.

I was left speechless.

Was that kindness? Or criticism?

Likely criticism.

But I wasn’t in a position to argue, so I accepted it politely with both hands like a noblewoman and smiled.

His lips curved slightly upward—as if mocking me—but since he didn’t grab me by the neck, just smirked, I counted it as a blessing.

Even if I looked pathetic, I’d survive.

As I struggled with the buttons, which were far too tight, Gerald was already walking ahead.

Such an impatient man.

Weren’t we supposed to talk?

I hurried after him, fumbling with the buttons, my hands trembling.

Finally, he spoke.

“Did the emperor’s orders include killing me?”

I froze. I looked at him, but his eyes were calm, like still waters.

“No. Only Theodore.”

“I see. So you planned to win his heart and wait for the chance?”

“What?! No, never! That’s not it at all.”

“Then what?”

“I didn’t want him to suffer wounds like mine.”

“…!”

“I didn’t want him to feel what it’s like to be murdered by your own parents.”

“….”

“I swear—I have no intent to harm the young lord, not even a fingertip’s worth!”

Suddenly, he yanked my coat forward.

Our bodies pressed together.

I could feel his breath against the crown of my head.

“Ahh!”

I was too terrified even to beg for my life. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Terrion River.

Was he planning to drown me?

The memory of Michael holding me down, shoving my head into the bath, gripped me.

I clenched my eyes shut and bit my lip.

I couldn’t breathe.

[It was cold.

The moment my head was submerged, water rushed into my nose and mouth.

I clamped my lips shut, but water stung through my nose, making me cough.

That only forced more water down into me, trying to fill me with death.

Tears streamed down my face.

In the end, the water and my tears became indistinguishable.

I thought I would die drowned in my own tears.]

But nothing happened.

Right—I had claimed earlier that even if I were drowned, I wouldn’t die, hadn’t I?

Though maybe I’d been so scared I’d just blurted out nonsense—I couldn’t quite remember.

I cracked one eye open.

Gerald was unfastening my buttons.

“What?!”

On instinct, I raised my hand to slap him—but he caught my wrist and muttered dryly:

“Ridiculous. You can’t even fasten a button properly.”

I looked down. My buttons were mismatched, leaving the front a crooked mess like curtain pleats.

My face burned hot, all the way to my ears.

Gerald, having exposed the truth, stepped back with his hands clasped behind him and ordered like a drill instructor:

“Undo it, and fasten them correctly.”

“Yes, sir!”—that’s what it felt like I should say.

Embarrassed by such a silly mistake, I obediently began undoing the buttons.

But they were so tight—it was nearly impossible to unfasten them.

As I struggled, Gerald barked:

“Do you plan to spend all night like this? I’m sure Theodore would love to see it.”

That stung my pride.

“I can do it!”

What—was he saying I was worse than a five-year-old?

Anger surged, my voice ringing out loud.

‘Oh no—what are you doing, Kang Joo-hee?!’

I quickly bowed deeply.

“My apologies. I’ve been startled too much today. I’ll undo the buttons and present myself neatly at once.”

Turning away, I tried again, my fingers trembling with effort until they turned red.

The stubborn buttons resisted like rebellious teenagers.

Then Gerald turned me back to face him.

“What a troublesome woman.”

At last, he gripped my coat and bent over me.

The moment I met his emerald eyes, my heart lurched.

Emerald green—the color of eternal love.

It felt as if I were being pulled into the sea around a coral island, and my heart pounded wildly, like a mortar crushing grain.