Chapter 14
Jed also sensed something strange.
When they reached a massive, towering tree large enough to hide the backs of two adults, Daniela finally stopped and leaned against it.
It would prevent attacks from behind—for now. But she didn’t know if that would be enough.
Hostile presences were closing in.
One, two, three…
Too many.
Daniela let out a bitter smile.
“I was wrong to think it wouldn’t be dangerous at all. I guess your nagging is only going to get worse now. You were right.”
Jed, who had already drawn his sword and was wearing a grim expression, replied,
“I’m glad… but not really. If we die here, I won’t even get the chance to nag you anymore.”
“True.”
Daniela answered in a tense voice and unconsciously reached for her waist,
as if her sword might still be there.
Of course, it was empty.
There was no reason to carry something useless.
She thought quickly.
There were six enemies, all seemingly well-trained.
At least there were no archers or spearmen. That was something.
Maybe Jed could handle three or four.
‘Can I deal with the rest?’
She reached a pessimistic conclusion.
Hand-to-hand combat was never her specialty, and even a little exertion made her whole body ache.
If this were her old body, she could have subdued that many opponents easily.
But her stamina had dropped to a ridiculous degree.
At best, she would only be able to defend herself while Jed fought.
Even that was uncertain.
And it wasn’t clear whether Jed could defeat them all.
In a narrow space, it might have been possible.
But in an open area like this, facing six skilled swordsmen at once was too much for him.
He was better at strategy and managing troops than direct combat.
Everything pointed toward the worst outcome.
Still, Jed spoke calmly.
“Let’s hold out as long as we can. The patrolling soldiers might come and help.”
“…”
Daniela couldn’t answer.
It was far too optimistic.
But she couldn’t give in to despair yet.
After surviving those horrible wars, she couldn’t end her life in a place like this.
Then the first attack came.
Jed blocked the assassin’s blade that was aimed at Daniela.
At the same time, Daniela kicked a second attacker in the abdomen.
The assassin staggered, then quickly regained his footing.
She bit her lip.
In the past, that blow would have knocked him unconscious.
But after months in bed, her body no longer moved as it once had.
Meanwhile, Jed thrust his sword into the first attacker’s neck.
It happened quickly, but it wasn’t easy.
Blood was flowing from his shoulder.
Five assassins remained.
On their side, only one person could fight properly—and he was already bleeding.
After just two exchanges, the assassins realized that Daniela could barely fight.
They changed priorities.
Now they focused their attacks on Jed instead of her.
Jed could hardly counterattack anymore.
He was barely managing to defend himself.
The numbers were overwhelming.
And more than anything, protecting Daniela limited his movements.
At that moment, Daniela saw a vision.
Jed, lying dead, killed by the assassins.
Like when she had once seen Esmerelda dying in a dream, the vision felt real.
She was certain.
At this rate, Jed would die.
Even without the vision, it was obvious.
There was no hope like this.
Her hands and feet turned cold.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She looked at him.
He was still alive.
Still fighting.
But anyone could see he was barely hanging on.
He couldn’t die here.
Daniela clung desperately to that thought.
Not like this.
Not now.
She had only just found peace.
She was about to reunite with the one she loved.
And yet—
Because of such a foolish mistake.
In a place like this.
But she couldn’t cling to false hope and let Jed die for her.
He was her adjutant.
But he wasn’t just that.
He was her friend.
Her comrade.
She had often thought that his loyalty and devotion were more than she deserved.
Only now did she realize how much those things had kept her alive.
Daniela stopped thinking.
And made her decision.
She suddenly threw herself forward, stepping between Jed and the assassins.
“Lady Daniela!! Stop!!”
Jed screamed.
A sword pierced Daniela’s abdomen.
In that opening, Jed killed another assassin.
He shouted in fury and fear,
“Don’t do something so dangerous when you’re unarmed!!”
Daniela gave a weak smile.
In this situation, a useless thought crossed her mind.
‘So this is the last nagging I’ll hear.’
The true target of the assassination was probably her alone.
Jed had never done anything to make himself a target.
If she was gone, he could escape.
The assassins wouldn’t chase him desperately after completing their mission.
Jed’s shouting sounded distant.
Her vision blurred.
Before she lost consciousness completely, she saw the assassins falling one by one.
A large man, wielding a sword with obvious fiery temperament, was cutting them down.
‘He’s always one step late…’
If you were going to come anyway, why not hurry?
Thinking that, Daniela finally relaxed and closed her eyes.
At least, her annoying adjutant—who followed her everywhere and nagged her nonstop, whom she had come to care for so deeply—would survive.
During the war against the monsters, Damian Keiler, the Grand Duke of Darhen, had fought alongside Daniela as a commander.
That evening, he was having a terrible time.
Not the worst possible night—but bad enough.
He had gone to see a play because it was popular and featured familiar people.
Instead, he had watched ignorant fools turn it into garbage.
Someone precious from his memories was being mocked like a clown.
Unable to contain his anger, he caused a scene and stormed out.
He walked aimlessly and found himself in a small forest.
As he stood there, trying to cool down in the chilly air and scent of grass,
he heard that name.
Without thinking, his body moved.
When he arrived, something that should never have happened was happening.
He ended it as quickly as he possibly could.
But Daniela Nark was already lying there, bleeding.
Her adjutant was frantically trying to stop the bleeding, half out of his mind.
Why was that fool in better shape than his own commander?
Damian felt irritated.
And angry.
Angry that Daniela had been hurt by such insignificant enemies.
Angry at himself for not realizing sooner, when he had been so close.
Normally, Damian vented his anger freely.
But now, he didn’t want to shout.
He didn’t want to fight.
He couldn’t do anything.
He stood there without moving until Daniela’s adjutant asked for help to carry her.
It was the worst evening.
Damian Keiler had not planned to join the allied forces at first.
But as the number of casualties grew, he had to choose.
Fight honorably.
Or stay in his castle and wait.
Rumors said he was stronger than Daniela Nark of Suri and Benjamin Rodinia of Krovih.
If someone like him stayed behind, it wouldn’t just hurt his reputation—
he would become a laughingstock.
Especially when Daniela and Benjamin were fighting on the front lines.
Still, Damian hesitated.
He knew something others didn’t.
He knew the witch would never reach his country.
He knew she would eventually die.
So there was no need to get involved.
He didn’t want to risk his life in something troublesome.
If he was unlucky, he might die in a war he would have won by doing nothing.
After a long time of hesitation, he went to the battlefield.
The reason he hesitated and the reason he stopped hesitating were the same.
He knew something no one else did.
He knew his family was responsible for this.
The witch’s old name, now forgotten by everyone, was—
Mane Keiler.
