Chapter 40
If he lost consciousness now, he would be completely devoured by the sword.
But Helbern refused to let that happen.
If I turn into a piece of metal, how am I supposed to hold hands with my future lover?!
What about a warm embrace?
What about a kiss of love?!
He couldn’t become some lifeless sword that couldn’t even feel the warmth of a lover.
“AAARGH!”
Standing at the edge of being completely consumed, Helbern miraculously opened his eyes.
“Haa… haa…”
The pain remained, but the hand that had nearly been devoured returned to normal, still gripping the crimson sword.
He couldn’t feel it—but his fingers moved from thumb to pinky according to his will.
“…I can use my hand…”
A faint smile spread across his face, and a tear fell.
He survived.
“…Helbern?”
Standing before the newly reborn Helbern was his older brother, Nikolai.
Nikolai looked him over as if staring at a monster, then swallowed hard.
“I didn’t think you’d be in this condition. Can a few Holy Knights really injure a Sword Master this badly?”
He muttered seriously, covering his mouth.
“It doesn’t look like you’ve recovered yet. Go inside and rest.”
Nikolai was secretly relieved at Helbern’s poor condition. The knights had just left through the gates, so even Helbern—fast as he was—would have difficulty chasing them.
“Brother, I think something’s wrong with me.”
As Nikolai turned away, Helbern spoke in a rough voice.
Nikolai turned back.
“It’s said Holy Knights use strange techniques. It must have strained your body.”
“That woman. The woman that delinquent brought here—she’s still in this house, right?”
At the sudden mention of Halara, Nikolai’s face stiffened. Had Helbern already heard about the letter?
“Why are you looking for her?”
“I have business with her.”
“What kind of business? Why did you even chase after Nilsen because of her?”
Nikolai’s face hardened.
He had already heard from Nilsen that Helbern had interfered before, and he had wanted to confront him. But he had been busy sending more knights, so he let it go.
Now that Helbern brought it up first, he couldn’t ignore it.
“She has some strange power. She blasted me away with it. That’s how my ribs got damaged.”
“She blasted you?”
Nikolai pictured Halara.
Small, slender, big-eyed.
Pretty, but otherwise unremarkable.
“It was a sensation I’ve never felt before. Didn’t you sense it?”
“No.”
“It’s real!”
If such an energy existed, Nikolai—who was an even greater knight than Helbern—would have sensed it first.
But he hadn’t.
“Helbern, have you been drinking lately?”
“What nonsense? Do I look like some delinquent? Why would I drink and lose muscle?”
“Then get some rest. Training blindly doesn’t improve swordsmanship.”
“I’m not crazy! I almost died because of that woman!”
No one believed him. Helbern felt suffocated with frustration.
“This won’t do. I’ll go to her and ask how this sword—”
“Stop.”
Nikolai grabbed Helbern as he tried to leave.
“I said go rest.”
His grip was crushing—an order, not a suggestion.
Normally, Helbern, being physically weaker, would have been overpowered.
But—
“Huh? That didn’t hurt at all?”
Helbern easily shook off Nikolai’s hand.
“Whoa. Did I just beat you?”
“Helbern.”
“Seriously, what is this? Did I level up or something?!”
Nikolai tried to block him again, but Helbern shrugged him off once more.
“What did you do?”
“Do what?”
“Helbern… you didn’t take some kind of forbidden enhancement drug, did you?”
Nikolai’s face turned cold.
“What nonsense!!”
***
Why do the brothers take turns making my life difficult?
I walked back to the annex, breathing heavily.
In the battle between me and Docep, I won.
In the end, I blew air into his ear—his weak spot—and escaped from his arms while he was distracted.
I don’t know if he was worried about me or teasing me, but I was glad I avoided seeing the physician.
He’s already that strong. Do I really need to awaken him further?
When he carried me, his body felt like solid stone.
If he awakened to seven stars, how strong would he become?
“Still… I need to find a way.”
We need that power to prevent destruction.
I gave the Blood Sword to Helbern, so I have to find something even better for Docep.
He said he would start training again now that his body has mostly recovered.
“Madam, are you alright? You look pale.”
As soon as I entered the annex, May hurried over.
“May, I missed you.”
“Was your stomach hurting badly? Should I call a physician?”
“No! Absolutely don’t call one. I’ll be fine after resting.”
She studied my face worriedly, then nodded.
“The food you prepared was enjoyed very much by the Duchess and the young master.”
“That’s good. What about the atmosphere?”
“Well… the young master left early, but he finished all his food. When we took away the empty plates, the dishwashing maid even asked if we’d washed them in advance.”
That meant the banquet ended well.
Before I ran away, Docep had said this to me:
“Don’t overdo it. If you collapse, I’ll make you live in the physician’s room.”
I don’t know if that was concern or a threat, but lately he’s been overly protective.
Does he really think I’m pushing myself?
I am pretty small, I guess.
From Docep’s tall perspective, I probably look like a tiny child.
And I have zero visible muscle.
Even to me, Halara without heavy makeup looks like she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
Even though inside I’m a tough ajumma who can handle making a hundred heads of kimchi.
Also, Junel had disappeared again.
I’m guessing he went to retrieve the Blood Sword.
Since I didn’t say I’d take it back from Helbern, he must have taken matters into his own hands.
Still, if Junel went, Helbern should be fine.
I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed—but I felt at ease.
“Madam!”
The maids gathered around me.
“What was that pasta you made for lunch?”
“It was so delicious! I usually pick vegetables out of stew, but I ate everything today! If vegetables taste like that, I’ll eat them every day!”
It seemed the japchae-style pasta was a hit.
“Please make it again!”
“Of course.”
Next time, I planned to research glass noodles and make the real version.
But then a shadow passed behind them.
Francesca appeared in a black dress.
“Duchess…?”
“What were you just promising to make for whom?”
The maids immediately bowed deeply.
May lowered her head, so I followed suit.
Francesca stopped me.
“There’s no need for that greeting. From now on, don’t bend at the waist. Your stomach must hurt.”
“My stomach?”
It was strange logic—that bowing would hurt my stomach.
Instead of answering that, she asked:
“I heard you prepared meals for these maids. Is that true?”
Gasp.
The maids sucked in their breath.
They probably thought it lowered my status to cook for servants.
“Yes. I made it.”
I wasn’t ashamed. I don’t see them as beneath me.
“We’re sorry, Madam!”
“We committed a grave offense! Please forgive us!”
May stepped forward, apologizing.
“I told them not to touch anything, but I insisted on using the kitchen. Sharing good food makes it taste twice as good.”
“I didn’t bring you here to prepare meals for maids.”
Francesca said sternly.
“Please forgive us, Madam! We won’t ask the young madam to cook again!”
“No. Let me cook. If I hadn’t entered this family, I would’ve opened a small food business. Cooking is my only joy. Please allow me to cook freely for those I wish.”
I didn’t come here to live like a doll.
I’ll work hard for Docep—but I need healing time too.
Francesca’s expression didn’t change.
For a moment, it seemed like she might slap me with a plate of pasta for daring to cook for maids.
Then she spoke.
“There is one condition.”
She made an unexpected proposal.
“Teach me how to cook as well.”
