WDHTMU | CHAPTER 21

Chapter 21

Marsha’s house was very small. 

It felt cramped even when just two women lived there. 

It was chaotic now, with two grown men inside.

“I sincerely apologise,” 

Urian bowed his head.

“I never thought that you would be the one to save Dio.” I had no idea.”

Marsha also didn’t know that this man knew Claudio.

“So, you say you are comrades with this man?”

“Yes. We currently serve the Gloria Duke….”

Urian looked up briefly, glancing at Claudio as he finished his sentence.

“We are together with Dio.”

‘…I expected as much.’

Marsha glanced at Dio sitting beside her.

“He’s an impressive person.”

“It’s not me who’s impressive, but the one I serve.”

Claudio raised his eyebrow.

“The duke’s family wouldn’t just hire anyone.”

“Well, I’m not just anyone.”

He narrowed his sharp eyes. 

The sunlight shining on his handsome face made it look like jewels sparkling.

Blushing lightly on her cheeks, Marsha quickly looked away.

‘Those wounds must hurt a lot, yet he smiles so easily.’

No, that face isn’t handsome; it’s annoying.

Marsha calmed her trembling heart with that thought.

‘Wait, did he just throw a stone at his comrade?’

Perhaps his face was hidden by the robe, leading Urian to believe he was a stranger.

As Marsha puzzled over it, Urian hesitantly spoke again.

“I’m sorry. Although I was certain that nobody lived here, I was concerned that someone might be alive and that this might be connected to a crime.

Marsha winced in silence. 

Urian didn’t notice, but Claudio, sitting beside her, did.

Marsha became tense. 

The “crime” Urian meant was probably illegal smuggling or something like that…

‘Illegal migration is also a crime…’

That’s why she had been living carefully and hidden.

Then Urian asked with a kind face,
“Did you move here from another village? Or from another territory…?”

Marsha would soon be exposed for her mistake.

“What should I respond with?”

At that moment, she pressed her fingertip against her thigh.

“What difference does it make?”

Claudio twisted his lips and asked.

“Well… sometimes paperwork is missing. I wanted to help you register again…”

“No need.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said there’s no need.”

Urian’s eyes grew wide in surprise. 

Most lords worked hard on population surveys and management to collect taxes.

Of course, Gloria Duke’s family was also active in tax collection. 

But they had another reason for strict population control: public safety. 

That’s why this border area received special attention.

‘And the person who gave that order is the duke himself.’

Also, registering wouldn’t suddenly bring a flood of overdue taxes. So why did Claudio say to leave it be…?

‘Is this person possibly an illegal resident?’

Urian’s eyes sparkled as he found the answer.

“No need to get worked up about something small.”

Claudio made that clear.

‘I don’t know why you’re defending her so much.’

Urian nodded.

“That’s right.”

Marsha’s finger, which had been pressing her thigh, went limp.

‘What? They’re just letting it go like that?’

She glanced at Claudio.

‘Does he think it’s not a big problem, or does he just know everything and is pretending not to?’

At that moment, Claudio’s gaze shifted toward Marsha. 

His eyes curved gently.

“!”

Startled, Marsha quickly looked away, feeling like she’d been caught sneaking a look.

“Anyway, I’m truly sorry for causing your injuries. If I had only revealed that I work for the duke’s family, none of this would have happened…”

Urian’s clean face showed shame, self-blame, and deep apology.

‘Well, even if he had, I probably wouldn’t have believed him…’

‘Even if he had said that, I probably wouldn’t have believed him…’

Masha thought she still suspected the attacker was only pretending to be from the Duke’s household.

Urian’s appearance was downright that of a stranger.

‘Anyway, if Dio hadn’t come looking for me, something terrible might have happened.’

Marsha stood up and said,
“My wounds are one thing, but that guy…”

Unsure how to refer to Urian, she covered him with her palm and frowned.

“Ah. My name is Urian Sel…”

At that moment, Urian felt a chilling hostility.

‘What’s that?’

Surprised, he turned toward where the hostility came from. 

Claudio gave him a challenging look, as if daring him to speak.

“…ler.”

“Seller?”

Masha repeated the unusual last name. 

Urian forced a bitter smile, feeling disappointed that the prestigious Seltos family name had been shortened to “Seller.”

“Yes. You can just call me Urian.”

Marsha nodded.
“Urian’s wounds are worse.”

“So no need to apologize?”

Claudio said, as if Marsha were talking nonsense.

“No, I mean I think we can stop talking about this now.”

Marsha sighed and gave Claudio a sharp look, then went to get a basket from the kitchen shelf.

“It’s best to treat the wounds.”

She took out clothes and medicine from the basket. 

As Marsha seemed ready to treat them, Claudio interrupted again.

“Leave it. That guy will treat himself.”

“What? How can he treat himself when it’s not even visible?”

Marsha put her hands on her waist and tilted her head skeptically.

At that moment, Yurian, watching the two nervously, said,

“Oh, it’s okay. I’m used to basic first aid.”

“Then I’ll bring you a mirror.”

Claudio shook his head gently like a spring breeze.

“No need to be so kind.”

“What’s so kind about finding a mirror?”

“That’s already too much kindness. If it were me, I’d hit that guy’s head with the mirror.”

Claudio said without blinking, cruelly. 

Urian smiled awkwardly and uttered…

“Y-Yes. You have been extremely thoughtful.

 “But…”

“Marsha.”

Claudio called her name.

Marsha stared at him, mouth slightly open, wondering what strange thing he would say next…

“Could you step outside for a moment?”

“…”

Caught off guard by the request, Marsha’s eyes widened a bit.

“I need to discuss some work. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I think hearing heavy matters might just worry you unnecessarily.”

Claudio smiled gently.

“It’ll be really quick.”

With him saying that, what could she do? Marsha finally nodded.

‘Hopefully, he’s not talking about me.’

Standing by the front door, Marsha glanced back with suspicion.

‘Maybe he’s pretending to look out for me but is planning to arrest me later.’

But would someone that big go through such trouble to capture her?

‘I am a lawbreaker, but not so dangerous that people serving the Duke of Gloria would step in like this.’

Calming herself, Marsha left the house and walked through the familiar front yard, thinking,
‘…So that man will leave soon too.’

She had wondered when he’d leave. 

He arrived unexpectedly, and he was departing equally unexpectedly. 

Marsha walked a short distance and turned around once more. A tiny home, but not too tiny for her to live in by herself.

‘Will it look more spacious once he’s gone?’

At that moment, the image of Claudio in the forest popped into her mind.

[Come here.]

He had scared her so badly. 

Why did he have to show up right then? 

Because of that moment, her heart fluttered.

‘We probably won’t meet again.’

She didn’t know how long the Duke of Gloria would stay at the villa, but even if he stayed there for life, Marsha wouldn’t meet Claudio again. 

Serving under the Duke of Gloria was a great honour, but Marsha was an illegal resident, not even an ordinary commoner.

‘You will live in a shining place like you always have, and I will keep hiding.’

Had she grown attached during that time? 

Or was she suddenly feeling sorry for herself? 

Marsha forced herself to ignore the aching feeling in her chest.

Such feelings are like passing winds.

 If you endure them briefly, they disappear without a trace.

There’s no reason to get lost in fleeting emotions.

‘I won’t smile while seeing him off.’

Not because he would be missed. 

They didn’t have that kind of relationship.

‘But maybe I can at least tell him not to get hurt anymore.’

Marsha gave a bitter smile and looked around. 

The scenery felt strangely unfamiliar today.

How long had she been standing there, dazed…?

“Whaaat?!”

A scream echoed. 

Startled, Marsha flinched.

‘W-What’s happening all of a sudden?’