~Chapter 132~
Blink.
Elaine’s eyes slowly blinked open.
Her face showed surprise, as if she couldn’t believe she was dreaming.
Even that look was lovely.
“Of course, I can dream too, Elaine.”
Though, in truth, he didn’t really like dreaming.
“But when I do… it’s always the same kind of dream.”
“…What kind?”
Even while upset, Elaine’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Karl looked straight into her eyes, as if piercing them, and spoke.
“A dream where bad news comes to me as a child.”
“….”
“A dream where I hear my parents died outside the territory, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
It was just his unconscious replaying a real event over and over again, like a wound that wouldn’t heal.
The helplessness of that moment—impossible to put into words.
‘We’re so sorry, Young Lord.’
‘From now on, you must take the Duke’s seat.’
‘You must grow stronger.’
Dreams filled with words like those, as he faced his parents’ bodies lying side by side in their coffins.
‘If I had known it would end like that…’
Then maybe he wouldn’t have been so upset.
Maybe instead of sulking and keeping his distance, he would’ve gone and held their hands one more time.
Sometimes he even felt resentful toward them.
Yes, they loved and cherished him.
But truthfully, their love for each other was a little stronger than their love for their child.
Perhaps that’s why… even while standing beside them, he sometimes felt lonely.
At times when their attention toward him was pushed aside by their focus on each other, he even thought of them with a little bitterness.
‘If I had known it would end like that… I wouldn’t have let myself feel resentment at all.’
He would’ve said it out loud.
He would’ve demanded their love in return, just as much as he loved them.
And they would have given it—he knew that.
Because they were good people.
They just loved each other too much.
But none of it could ever be undone.
Even in his dreams, his parents always lay pale and lifeless.
That feeling—powerless, unable to do anything—was truly unbearable.
And the thought that he had made Elaine feel the same way? Even worse.
Which was why—
“That’s why… I had to come.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just can’t anymore.”
Heat burned in Karl’s throat.
It wasn’t hard to spit out the truth.
He had already revealed the kind of secret that would anger Elaine most.
So what was a little more truth now?
Still, when he spoke, his voice trembled slightly.
“I can’t stand things happening in places where my hands can’t reach.”
“….”
“If something happened to you, somewhere beyond my reach…”
Even the thought of her getting hurt, falling ill, or something worse—made his heart boil with pain.
He remembered that moment he woke up alone.
Elaine had said watching him unconscious was like a nightmare.
“But waking up and not seeing you there—that was my nightmare.”
“….”
“When Jeremy told me where you had gone, it felt like the ground disappeared under me.”
“Karl…”
“You went all alone, into that dangerous city, not knowing what could be waiting there.”
“Don’t forget—I grew up in that city. I know it better than anyone.”
“The situation now isn’t the same as when you left, Elaine.”
When he was young, he had been powerless.
He had lost everything without being able to lift a finger.
If something like that happened again…
‘If Elaine suffered in the capital like I once did…’
He could never forgive himself.
Better that he be hurt.
Better that he suffer.
Anything, rather than losing her.
“That’s why I followed you.”
“….”
“I want to do whatever I can.”
“….”
“I want to stay by your side.”
His burning words made Elaine blink slowly.
He could feel her overwhelmed by the sudden weight of his confession…
But he couldn’t stop.
“Even if you hate me for not listening. Even if you say I was reckless to follow you—I don’t care.”
“I didn’t say it like that…”
“If you want to stop me, then break my leg. Because I can’t stand watching you suffer alone.”
As he whispered, he leaned his forehead against hers.
Her scent filled him—the scent he had longed for the entire way here.
A soft fragrance of flowers, mixed with the sweetness of sugar.
Now, it clung to him as well.
Karl lowered his eyes, letting them droop like a pitiful, rain-soaked dog.
Because he knew the kind of expression that made Elaine waver.
“I don’t want to lose anything anymore. Especially not you.”
“….”
“Don’t leave me.”
“Karl…”
“And don’t tell me to leave either.”
His voice poured out, raw and trembling with truth.
“Let me stay here.”
“I…”
“I love you.”
“….”
“I love you, Elaine.”
At those words, Elaine’s eyes softened, and before she knew it, a quiet laugh slipped from her lips.
My forehead felt hot.
That big man was rubbing his forehead against mine like a sulking dog.
For a moment, I almost thought I could hear a kettle whistling, or a low grumbling sound in my ears.
‘…I must be seriously ill too.’
Karl’s eyes, right in front of me, were desperate.
I stared back at him… then slowly lifted my foot and measured the angle.
“…..”
“You told me to break it.”
I glanced at his solid shin, checking where I’d have to kick to make it break clean. Karl frowned, clearly ready to draw on his aura to block me.
“Even if you break it, I’ll still come with you. I’ll just drag my leg around and beg you to carry me because it hurts.”
“With that big body? Do you have no shame?”
“Then I’ll ask you to hold me instead.”
And with that, Karl pulled me into his arms, pressing down as if he wouldn’t let go.
“Ugh, you’re heavy…” I muttered under my breath, lowering my foot again. Then he suddenly added, as if remembering something:
“I don’t remember you slapping me… but I do remember something else.”
“What?”
“Before you left, you kissed me and ran away.”
…Of all things, he had to remember that?
“I didn’t run away.”
“And you almost proposed too, but didn’t.”
This man. Could it be he had already been awake back then?
“I didn’t stop halfway—I just decided to do it later.”
“That’s the same thing.”
Why did he only remember those parts?!
I glared with sharp eyes, but Karl only gave a weak, ruffled laugh. Somehow it looked so tired I couldn’t even scold him.
Instead, I just sighed and stroked his hair.
Karl let out a satisfied breath and called my name.
“Elaine.”
“What.”
“When this is over, will you propose to me—”
“Stop right there.”
He was about to plant a flag, the very one I’d worked so hard to avoid.
I slapped my hand over his mouth and broke it before it could stand.
“No. Not ‘after this is over’ or ‘when we go back.’ None of that. I’ll just do it now.”
“…The timing here isn’t really—”
“Marry me.”
“….”
“Let’s have three kids—no, I don’t think I can manage that. Then we’ll adopt. For the honeymoon, let’s go south. For the wedding… we’ll save as many resources as possible—ah, ow!”
Karl hugged me tight with a boyish laugh and whispered:
“I’d like the ceremony to be as grand as possible.”
“With all the shortages, how can you talk about a grand ceremony?”
“At least the dress. I want to put you in the best one. If it’s not fancy and beautiful enough, you’ll outshine it completely.”
What kind of lovesick nonsense was this?
I’d worried about a dress overshadowing me, never the other way around.
‘Shouldn’t he be worrying about my dress being buried under his face instead?’
“You know it’s useless to waste cloth like that when fabric’s already short.”
“I want it big, beautiful, and extravagant.”
“Did you even hear what I just said?”
“That way, it’ll be even more fun to take off later—”
“Hey! Shut it!”
This man was pushing the line again!
While I sputtered in shock, his hands were already tracing along my waist, as if picturing the dress’s outline.
I scratched my ear furiously, trying to ignore the ticklish warmth.
“…Fine. Whatever. But first we finish this mess.”
Since we’d come all the way to the capital, we had to uncover every scheme in one blow.
‘It’s not even that hard.’
The mastermind had already shown himself.
‘Who else but that bald Pope?’
Considering what happened with the Knight Captain, it wasn’t surprising—he’d always been shady.
As for why he did it? Probably some excuse like “To fight demons, we need the power of demons.”
‘So next, I’ll find a way into the Grand Temple, track down Captain Ista, and connect with the 3rd Division knights.’
With the original male lead at my side, there was nothing to be afraid of.
“Good. Let’s end this quickly.”
“Shall we?”
“Yeah. I want to get married as soon as possible.”
I hugged Karl back, burning with determination.
‘And there’s no way I’ll let my husband carry around some “weak and dying” label.’
That ill-fitting setting—I’d rip it off him completely.
…But of course, the world never moves as you want it to.
Rumble, rumble.
“You, go that way!”
“Yes, sir!”
“The rest of the 2nd Battalion, this way!”
Thud, thud, thud—
The pounding footsteps shook the ground as if a mansion were collapsing. Soldiers and the city guard rushed out.
“Root out the troublemakers!”
A booming voice shook the alleyways.
