<CHAPTER 79>
The Witness
Rek has returned.
“I’m back, Ehilie.”
Ehilie turned deathly pale when she saw him.
His handsome face had grown gaunt in just a few days, and his right arm was wrapped in bandages.
Rek forced a smile, as if trying not to worry her.
“How did you get hurt like this…?”
“It’s a minor injury, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Let me see.”
A faint stain of blood had seeped into the white bandage.
Just how badly was he injured?
With trembling fingers, Ehilie carefully unwrapped the bandage to check his wound.
A large scar carved into his pale forearm.
It wasn’t just a simple cut.
The mark of a sharp blade that had dug deep into his flesh was clearly visible.
“Th-this… how is this a minor injury…!”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
‘This isn’t the time to panic.’
Ehilie hurriedly stood and brought a medicine kit.
“I’ll treat it right away.”
As she took out disinfectant, bandages, and a potion good for wound recovery, Rek hesitated slightly.
“Ehilie, I don’t think that potion is necessary.”
“What? Why?”
“You made that with great effort, staying up day and night.”
“The ingredients are rare and hard to obtain.”
“It would be a waste to use it on a wound like this.”
“What are you saying! It’s not a waste at all.”
“You’re hurt like this… there’s nothing more important to me than you.”
Overcome with emotion, a tear that had been barely held back finally fell.
Rek looked troubled for a moment before extending his arm.
“Alright.”
“Ehilie, I’ll sit still and receive treatment, so please don’t cry.”
“You look beautiful even when you cry, but—”
Rek raised his uninjured hand and wiped the tears from Ehilie’s eyes.
Then he curled his lips into a mischievous smile.
“I’d rather be the one making you cry in bed.”
His sweet whisper set Ehilie’s face ablaze.
“W-what are you saying? Just sit still and get treated!”
***
Ehilie held onto Redemberg’s arm and poured disinfectant over the wound.
He normally wouldn’t even flinch at such pain.
But he deliberately twitched his fingers, pretending to be hurt.
“Does it… hurt?”
“Yes, a little.”
“It stings.”
As he spoke slowly on purpose, Ehilie paused and set the disinfectant down.
Then she gently held his hand with her small one.
The soft warmth of her skin made his grip tighten instinctively.
Even so, he handled her hand as carefully as if holding fragile glass, worried he might hurt her.
Even though he could hold her hand whenever he wanted now, it still felt thrilling and new.
“Stay like this for a moment, then I’ll continue.”
While Ehilie examined the wound with concern, Redemberg’s gaze, filled with desire, fixed on her pale fingers.
Slender, delicate, beautiful fingers.
The urge he had once felt while looking at them rose again.
He wanted to bite and swallow that small hand.
“Rek?”
As if sensing his gaze, Ehilie looked up.
Instead of answering, Redemberg pulled her hand toward his lips as if entranced.
Then he gently bit the tip of her index finger.
“W-what are you doing!”
Startled, Ehilie tried to pull her hand away.
But Redemberg did not release his prey.
Like savoring melting ice cream, he softly took her finger into his lips, then moved to the delicate joints.
The warmth and softness in his mouth, along with her small voice, was intoxicatingly sweet.
How could something be this sweet and fragrant?
The thought that he could now desire, taste, and hold this body whenever he wished overwhelmed him.
“Rek, s-stop now…”
With her cheeks flushed red, Ehilie did not push him away.
The sight of her quietly offering her fingers was unbearably lovely.
Kiss.
Redemberg pressed a deep kiss onto the back of her hand before slowly letting go.
His eyes, struggling to contain overflowing desire, were filled with lingering regret.
“Could you finish the treatment quickly?”
“At this rate, something other than my arm might start hurting.”
“Is this really the time to say that?”
Ehilie snapped at him and resumed treatment.
After finishing the disinfection, she picked up the potion.
The clear liquid infused with divine power seeped deep into the wound.
At the same time, Redemberg clenched his teeth.
He had expected it, but—
‘It hurts like hell.’
Pouring divine power into a wound inflicted by a Holy Sword.
It was like pouring molten metal into the wound.
Veins bulged violently along his neck and hand.
His hand trembled uncontrollably.
“Rek? Does it hurt a lot?”
“…I’m fine.”
He wasn’t fine.
But what could he do?
His wife was treating him.
She said nothing was more important than him, her eyes filled with tears.
If he refused treatment after seeing that, he wouldn’t deserve to be her husband.
“Maybe the medicine doesn’t suit you.”
“Your skin looks swollen.”
“Should I use something else?”
“No.”
“It hurts, but it seems very effective.”
It was effective.
Especially against demons.
If refined further, it could become a terrifying weapon capable of destroying most demons instantly.
Redemberg smiled despite the cold sweat.
Even now, Ehilie was beautiful.
Her worried expression and darting blue eyes were irresistibly lovely.
“A daughter would be nice.”
“What?”
Redemberg spoke seriously.
“If possible, I’d like a daughter who looks just like you.”
Redemberg was a greedy demon.
He didn’t want to share even a fragment of his wife’s love.
Even if it was with his own child.
But if it were a cute baby that resembled Ehilie—
He might be willing to yield just a tiny portion.
***
After the treatment, it was time to eat.
Ehilie prepared a special meal for the injured Rek.
Steak made from expensive beef, stew filled with nutritious ingredients, and pudding for sugar.
A splendid meal was set.
Yet Rek only stared at the table.
“What’s wrong? Rek.”
“Do you not have an appetite?”
“No.”
“It’s just that I’m already salivating at the thought of eating your cooking again.”
“But…”
Rek looked down at his arm with a regretful expression.
“I don’t have the strength to hold utensils.”
“Ah, right. It was your right hand.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it through.”
Ehilie pulled a chair closer and sat right beside him.
“I’ll feed you.”
“Say ah.”
“Ah—”
She blew on the stew to cool it before feeding him.
“How is it? Is it good?”
“Yes.”
“It tastes even better because you’re feeding me.”
“…It’s because the ingredients are good.”
After their affectionate meal ended,
Rek entered the bathroom but soon came back out looking troubled.
“Ehilie.”
“What is it?”
“It’s embarrassing, but… with my arm like this, it’s hard to wash myself.”
“Could you help me?”
“…What?”
Though surprised, Ehilie soon nodded.
“Alright.”
“Let’s go together.”
They were married after all.
‘I just need to make sure his wound doesn’t get worse.’
Ehilie rolled up her sleeves and headed to the bathroom.
“Thank you, Ehilie.”
Rek wrapped his healthy arm around her waist and whispered.
“I haven’t been able to wash properly for a while, so I feel quite uncomfortable.”
“Please wash me thoroughly.”
Despite her resolve, the bathroom door remained closed for quite some time.
***
At that same time, while Ehilie enjoyed her sweet reunion with her husband,
Clarisse trembled with anxiety deep within the Imperial Palace, in a special recovery chamber prepared for her.
“Saintess, I brought your meal—”
“Aaaah! G-get out! Get out! I told you no one is allowed in!”
Highly agitated, Clarisse threw objects at the maid and screamed hysterically.
She had no composure left to act as the graceful Saintess.
“I-I’m sorry…!”
After the maid left, Clarisse pulled the blanket over herself and tightly shut her eyes.
Even then, she could not forget.
The darkness that devoured everything.
And within it, the blood-red, terrifying eyes.
‘I definitely saw it.’
‘That man… he’s the Demon King!’
Even meeting his gaze made it hard to breathe.
The reason Clarisse had not been consumed by the darkness was because of a pendant blessed by the goddess.
“My child, this necklace will protect you.”
At the moment the darkness tried to devour her, the pendant shone and enveloped her in a red aura.
Believing in the goddess’s protection, Clarisse collapsed and pretended to faint.
Because of that, she saw and heard everything.
“…Why didn’t you kill anyone?”
“Because my wife doesn’t like men who kill people.”
Even the conversation between the hero and the Demon King.
