WLTIS | CHAPTER 90

~CHAPTER 90~

“Harvich.”

Tears gathered in the woman’s eyes as she met Harvich’s gaze.

Harvich released Tereo’s arm and pulled Lincia into his embrace.

It had been quite a while since he last held Lincia in his arms.

Her body felt cool, and she trembled slightly.

Feeling her like this made heat rise in his head.

She was clearly crying, but Lincia didn’t make a sound.

Seeing that stirred something dangerous inside him.

He wanted to kill Yulias right this moment.

No, if possible, he wanted to eliminate everything that threatened Lincia.

“Are you alright?”

His voice came out low and restrained, almost like a sigh.

Harvich slowly rubbed her back.

After a little while, Lincia loosened her grip on him.

Harvich stared at her endlessly, then gently wiped the tears clinging to her lashes.

“Are you hurt anywhere.”

The faint smell of blood from the carriage had been bothering him for a while.

She didn’t seem to have any visible wounds, but he couldn’t be sure.

“I’m fine.”

The calmer Lincia sounded, the more anxious Harvich felt.

He knew in his head that Yulias was the one who planned everything, and Lincia’s will had nothing to do with it.

She had run into his arms and cried the moment she saw him.

“Lincia, let’s go back.”

Why does my heart feel so uneasy?

Lincia opened her mouth, then shut it again.

Something was bothering her.

Seeing her hesitate, Harvich turned to follow her gaze.

At the end of it lay Tereo, sprawled on the ground.

“Did that man harm you?”

Lincia shook her head.

“No, he didn’t.”

Then why are you concerned about him?

He swallowed words he couldn’t bring himself to ask aloud.

It irritated him too much.

Harvich was the only one who knew Tereo had feelings for Lincia, and he understood he would need to handle those emotions himself.

“He helped me.”

“Does he concern you?”

Lincia’s eyes trembled subtly.

She hesitated, then nodded.

Harvich looked at Tereo with a cold gaze.

“I understand.”

He removed his outer coat and handed it to Lincia.

“He shouldn’t be seriously injured, so don’t worry.”

With that, Harvich stepped down from the carriage.

He even remembered to close the door behind him.

A knight knew how to fall properly, so dropping from this height wasn’t worth worrying about.

But if Tereo were seriously hurt, it wouldn’t be something Lincia would want to see.

He had actually wished the man would simply die, but after hearing he had helped Lincia, his thoughts shifted.

“Get up.”

“You didn’t injure yourself like an idiot, did you.”

At Harvich’s cold words, Tereo rose slowly.

“You’re too harsh. How can you be this cruel to me?”

I only helped Her Highness because she said she wanted to return to the Grand Duke’s estate…

Tereo grumbled dramatically, pretending to cry.

But Harvich had no patience to indulge his theatrics.

“What are you scheming.”

Harvich didn’t believe Yulias had kidnapped Lincia alone.

And the only man in the Grand Duke’s estate who might help him was Tereo.

“You helped Yulias kidnap Lincia.”

Tereo’s smile cracked at Harvich’s firm accusation.

“And now you say you helped her.”

Harvich knew it wasn’t easy to blame Tereo.

And he also knew Tereo had made the most rational decision available.

But still… his heart was in turmoil.

“Then what was I supposed to do?”

Harvich’s brows tightened at Tereo’s brazen attitude.

“I didn’t want to do anything against Her Highness’s wishes either, but what choice did I have? That was the best option I had.”

“That was your best.”

Harvich’s eyebrow twitched.

If Tereo had seen Lincia crying silently, he would never call it the best.

But Harvich had no intention of showing him that.

“If Her Highness had been a little less anxious, I would have just waited…”

Tereo muttered under his breath with a mocking tone.

“There’s no trust at all, you know.”

“You dare talk back after endangering your master.”

“Should I pay with my life then? I’m sure Her Highness would love that.”

“……”

“Well, at least I’ll stay in her memory forever.”

Considering Lincia’s gentle nature, she would surely remember a knight who died trying to help her.

Harvich should never have allowed such a frivolous man to serve as her escort.

A gentle breeze drifted by.

The faint smell of blood grew stronger.

“You killed someone.”

Lincia had cried herself to sleep.

When she woke again in the moving carriage, she felt a surge of fear.

“Wh… where…”

“We’re heading to the Grand Duke’s estate.”

The low voice belonged to someone familiar.

It was dark, and the sun had already set, so she couldn’t see Harvich’s face clearly.

But the cool, refreshing scent that always clung to him identified him more strongly than a fingerprint.

“I’m right beside you.”

Just knowing Harvich was beside her made Lincia’s tension melt away.

“…I didn’t run away of my own will.”

“Yes, I know. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

His voice was calm, but there was something uneasy about the tone.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me.”

Harvich gripped her hand tightly.

Anything she said would sound like an excuse.

And she still loved him too much to leave him.

“Hyu told me your answer.”

“…”

“I didn’t come to catch you. I came to find you.”

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she could finally see around her.

Lincia met Harvich’s crimson eyes.

He looked at her with a soft gaze.

“I want to hear it from you directly.”

Lincia realized what he wanted to hear.

She had said it before, but somehow it still made her blush.

“…I love you. I still love you.”

“I love you too.”

Harvich tightened his grip on her hand.

She could feel his heartbeat thumping through their joined hands.

“…Thank you.”

“I only did what I should.”

Lincia rested her head on his shoulder.

Only then did she realize they were alone in the carriage.

“Where is Anna?”

“In another carriage with Tereo.”

Lincia’s face darkened as she remembered Tereo.

She had pushed the thought aside because she didn’t want to think about him today.

“He wasn’t hurt, right?”

Harvich paused at the subjectless question.

“No.”

Lincia hesitated, then forced herself to speak.

“I don’t want him punished.”

Harvich didn’t respond at first.

“I know you don’t like him, but he still tried to help me.”

“Very well.”

Harvich tightened his hold on her hand.

“It will take time to reach the Grand Duke’s estate. Please sleep if you can.”

She wasn’t sleepy anymore, but something about his voice made her close her eyes anyway.