Chapter 58
“Sir Derwin.”
“…….”
“Sir Derwin.”
“Ah.”
Derwin snapped out of his thoughts at the touch on his shoulder. His eyes focused, and he saw Pirne’s usual indifferent expression.
“What did you say?”
“It’s time for Her Highness the princess to attend her meal.”
Has it already come to that? It felt like she had only just gone in to rest after lunch.
Unlike usual, fatigue was written all over Derwin’s face. It wasn’t physical exhaustion—it was the evidence of his mind being drained elsewhere, to the point he didn’t even notice the passage of time.
With a dark expression, Derwin rose from his seat.
“…ugh.”
Just a few steps after standing, a sudden, intense pain surged through his chest, and Derwin clutched at it.
“Are you all right?”
Even Pirne’s usually expressionless face showed concern. Despite years of serving and protecting Derwin, this was the first time she had seen him cry out in pain.
“I’m… ugh,”
Derwin could not continue speaking as the persistent pain struck again.
What on earth was this?
It felt strange. His chest burned, then a sharp, fleeting sting like being struck all over his body. It was as if something piercing pricked him here and there, or like being struck by lightning—unpleasantly jolting.
One thing was certain: this wasn’t a pain caused by physical illness. When one is injured in battle or eats something bad, one can usually identify the exact pain. But this was different.
It wasn’t unbearable, nor the kind of extreme agony that makes you feel you’re about to die. It was a sensation that seemed to come not from the body, but from the soul. An inexplicable feeling.
After a few minutes, Derwin was able to stand properly again. The pain continued intermittently but seemed manageable for daily life. Still, whenever the sharp stabs of pain appeared, his whole body flinched.
“Apparently, bonded partners can partially share strong emotions when they’re within a certain distance. Even in a polymorphed state, some of it can be felt.”
“Does that mean the lady… can feel my emotions?”
“No. I’m a hatchling, so I can’t. But as a true dragon, you would feel it… don’t you feel anything?”
The conversation he had with Chanellica passed through his mind.
“If I must feel the lady’s emotions… then I’m definitely not a Dragon Lord.”
“It could also be related to your memory loss. And we’re not sure how strong the emotions are.”
The conversation always ended with “Dragon Lord,” so it wasn’t entirely pleasant. Yet Derwin strangely remembered her words: that bonded partners could partially share strong emotions.
It had already been three days since leaving the Campton Kingdom for the Larta Kingdom. Four more days remained before they could return. And today, Chanellica had planned to go to the outskirts with Stern.
“Ugh.”
Another wave of excruciating pain coursed through Derwin’s body.
Could it really be… that?
Along with the pain, unease surged. Unlike usual, he couldn’t think calmly or rationally.
Lady Chanellica… has something happened?
“Have you kept me waiting… Sir Derwin?”
Princess Lydia appeared while Derwin was still confused.
This was the first time Lydia had spoken to Derwin during this Larta Kingdom trip. Since the engagement announcement, she had barely exchanged words with him or Chanellica. She didn’t want to, yet she also didn’t want to remove him from his duty as a guard, so she kept him at a distance.
But now, she had no choice. They had to attend the evening banquet, and in a foreign land, she couldn’t leave without her guard.
And yet Derwin hadn’t appeared. After waiting for a while, Lydia came to him, leaving the guard Pirne behind to escort her. As expected, Derwin stood in the room with a pained expression.
“Sir! Are you hurt?”
Derwin’s face had turned pale as chalk. Lydia had never seen him like this. It was different from when he resigned as captain of the Kaisel Knights. Then, his face was filled with despair. Now, he looked like he might lose his mind from anxiety.
This calm man… anxious?
“No.”
“No? Your face says otherwise.”
“Your Highness.”
Derwin’s voice dropped heavily, as if weighed down by thousands of weights. Lydia felt a chill run down her arm.
“I have a request.”
A bead of cold sweat ran down Derwin’s forehead.
“Please allow your Highness’ guard, Derwin Kartel, to return to the Campton Kingdom. No— I will return.”
Not only did he display an uncharacteristic anxious expression, but he was now announcing that he would abandon his duty. It was no longer a request. His eyes, swirling with anxiety, revealed an unwavering determination.
Lydia tried to mask her shock.
“Sir, you realize that you’re abroad. You know the consequences of a guard abandoning a royal abroad, don’t you?”
“I understand. I will accept any punishment afterward.”
“…If the king finds out, your dismissal is guaranteed, and your title and property may be confiscated.”
“I will bear it all.”
Lydia realized that nothing she said would deter him. His resolve was firmer than ever.
“Why do you insist on returning?”
“…Something has happened at home.”
“Home…” Derwin said it that way, but Lydia already knew he meant Chanellica’s safety. Still, she feigned ignorance, her expression showing disbelief.
“You’ve been gone for only three days. Surely it isn’t just that you can’t bear to be apart from your fiancée?”
“…….”
“If you can’t endure that, how will you continue this work?”
“Your Highness, I feel I will regret it for life if I do not go now.”
Derwin’s desperation overflowed. No one had told him Chanellica was in danger, but the strange sensations in his body spoke for themselves. He was now certain: if he didn’t find her now, it would be too late.
“No.”
Lydia did not give permission. But Derwin didn’t care.
“I apologize. I will accept any punishment for disobedience.”
Though he said it, he did not look sorry. His soul seemed already racing toward the Campton Kingdom.
Those eyes… no matter what I say, he’ll go.
Lydia swallowed a sigh. At that level of resolve, there was no stopping him.
“…Your absence won’t put me in danger. I’ll keep it from my brother. Go—but make sure this never happens again.”
“Thank you.”
With a crisp salute, Derwin mounted his horse and galloped toward the Campton Kingdom with all his strength, leaving Lydia behind for the evening banquet.
“He didn’t come?”
An emergency was declared at the Kartel estate. Derwin, the master, had returned in the middle of the night, far earlier than scheduled.
But his condition was unusual. His normally radiant face was filled with panic, and his complexion was ghostly pale. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot to the point of being grotesque.
When asked why he had abandoned his guard duty, Derwin’s simple answer—“I just came”—shocked the servants.
But their reaction didn’t matter. Having ridden from the Larta Kingdom without rest, Derwin was at a loss for what to do.
Chanellica had left early yesterday morning. Now it was nearly midnight the next day. For two full days, the estate had received no word from her. The whereabouts of Ferdin, sent to monitor her, were also unknown.
“Damn it!”
A curse of fear echoed down the halls, startling the servants.
How… how can I find her?
Derwin’s anxiety left his mind blank. Meanwhile, the strange pain that had started yesterday continued without pause.
Standing in the hall, Derwin made a resolute decision and stormed out of the front door.
“Master, where are you going?”
“I have to find a clue. I’m going to the palace.”
“The palace?! If anyone finds out you abandoned your guard duty…”
Already mounted, Derwin did not hear the servants. To find Chanellica, he had to investigate Stern.
I’ll at least have to go to Stern’s office.
Stern spent most of his time in the Kaisel Knight headquarters, in the captain’s office.
Late at night, Derwin raced toward the palace. When he finally arrived, he saw a strange sight.
