SWS CH 39

Chapter 39

“Halara.”

When I arrived at the annex, Docep was waiting there.

The moment I saw him, a wave of relief washed over me from deep inside.

“Young Master!”

I walked toward him eagerly, and he tilted his head.

“What’s that look? Like you missed me.”

“I did.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I thought I’d only see you in the afterlife.”

I almost got killed by Helbern, after all.

“If you missed me that much, you should’ve stayed and eaten with me at the banquet hall instead of running around.”

“Oh, did you enjoy the meal? I heard you awakened to four stars! Why didn’t you tell me? You should’ve proudly announced, ‘I’m four stars now!’ in front of everyone!”

If Nikolai and Junel hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have even known he had awakened—let alone to four stars.

“Well, if I’d known you’d be that happy, I would’ve told you.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

It was just a small smile, but I found myself grinning widely too.

“Was the food good?”

“Of course it was. Who do you think made it?”

That’s a relief.

Even if I nearly fought for my life against Helbern, at least Docep enjoyed his meal.

“But why did you set the table and then run off?”

“My stomach suddenly hurt. I wasn’t feeling well.”

I didn’t mention the chase with Helbern. I didn’t want to ruin his mood.

“Hmm.”

Docep narrowed his eyes. I avoided his gaze.

“I’ll take you to the physician immediately.”

“What? No! I’m fine now!”

“No. You’re a member of this family now. You deserve proper care.”

He firmly held my shoulders.

It felt like a snake wrapping around me—my body moved according to his will.

“Ah! I’m really fine!”

“No. You have been making food for me since early morning. I should at least do this.”

My stomach was perfectly fine.

In fact, running around to avoid Helbern made me hungry.

I clung to him, but he stared at my face.

A strand of his long hair fell aside, revealing his previously hidden eye. Beneath thick lashes, his deep gaze scanned me.

I knew he was handsome—but lately, maybe because he’d lost weight, his features looked even sharper.

“Young Master.”

“Oh dear. You’re even sweating. It must hurt a lot.”

He brushed his hand across my forehead.

That wasn’t cold sweat—it was honest sweat from running for my life.

“So it’s true your stomach isn’t well. It’ll take time to reach the physician.”

“I’m really okay. I—I even went to the restroom.”

I can’t believe I had to say that, but I absolutely didn’t want to see the physician.

What if they did some unnecessary blood tests and discovered I was part demon or something? That’d be the end of me.

But Docep didn’t listen.

“It’s better if you stay still.”

His low voice brushed against my ear.

His hand slid slowly toward my waist.

My heart dropped—and suddenly, my body lifted.

And then his arms fully enclosed me.

His body was firm and solid, yet the way he held me was gentle and careful.

“W-why are you carrying me?!”

He’s not even fully recovered—what is he doing?!

“You won’t listen, so I have to carry you.”

“What are you doing? It’s embarrassing!”

“Embarrassing? You called me ‘honey’ in front of everyone before. Now you’re pretending to be shy?”

He tilted his head, teasing.

“That’s because calling you ‘Young Master’ in front of others sounded strange!”

“Alright, alright. I liked it. It sounded affectionate. There are three young masters here—but only one ‘honey.’ That’s me.”

“If I call you ‘honey’ again, will you put me down?”

I planned to say it once and run.

“No.”

He smirked.

Then he strode forward with long steps.

“Ahh!”

I really don’t know what’s gotten into him today.

****

“What a ridiculous sight.”

The late afternoon sun bathed the Duke’s garden in warm light. The scent of pink lilacs filled the air.

It was the Bloodymary family garden—a place where peace felt strangely out of place.

In one corner stood Nikolai, who had just left the sweaty training grounds to enjoy the flower-scented air.

Of all times, during the moment he was finally relaxing, he saw them at the end of the corridor.

“Please, put me down! What if someone sees us in the garden?”

“There’s no one else here. Stay still.”

Under the sunlight, Docep walked while carrying a woman in his arms.

Halara hit his chest lightly, but he ignored her and continued walking.

More precisely, she struggled to get down while he tested her reactions.

But in Nikolai’s eyes, they looked like a couple flirting and laughing.

When Halara pinched Docep’s chest, he let out a small laugh.

Nikolai mistook it for a blissful smile and spat out a curse.

“…Why do I have to watch this nonsense?”

He clenched his teeth as he watched.

Each breath he exhaled felt like something boiling inside.

“Shameless bastard.”

His gaze sharpened.

In the middle of the garden, that useless parasite who contributed nothing to the family was leisurely strolling.

The Docep Nikolai remembered was always causing trouble with a sword in hand.

But now, there was peace on that man’s face.

As he gently held her, like someone living in another world.

‘Is he feeling responsibility as a father since she’s carrying his child?’

Nikolai’s lips twisted.

A cold sneer.

He might barely qualify as an average knight even with training.

And yet someone bearing the family name wore such an expression.

“I want to smash that face right now.”

The bitter taste lingered on his tongue.

He tried to look away but turned back when he heard Halara laugh.

When she smiled, Docep naturally lowered his head toward her.

That sight filled Nikolai with unbearable disgust.

‘He’s neither a knight nor a man.’

He slowly stepped back into the shadows.

His fingers trembled.

As he clenched his fist to suppress his anger, the bones in his glove cracked.

He immediately went to the training grounds and selected a few reliable knights.

“Pick several skilled and swift knights and go to the border. If you encounter Holy Knights on the way, avoid them and reach Father as quickly as possible. Deliver this letter to him.”

It was another request for authority to expel Docep.

Last time, Helbern’s interference and the sudden appearance of Holy Knights had stopped it.

This time, he would succeed.

“Yes, sir!”

The knight left at once.

Nikolai planned to keep Helbern occupied in front of his room so he couldn’t interfere.

After the border battle, Helbern’s body should be weakened—easy enough to handle.

That’s what he thought.

“Haah… haah…”

Helbern slowly lifted his head.

The whites of his eyes were bloodshot and red.

The original gray was gone, replaced by dark crimson spreading through his irises.

Wherever his gaze fell, a red glow seemed to drip.

“Damn it…”

The Helbern muttering curses looked like a completely different being.

“…Helbern?”

How is it that not one of his brothers is normal?

***

Helbern regained his senses about an hour after drawing the sword.

His vision was stained red.

When sword energy whipped his entire body, he thought he would surely die.

‘Damn it! I haven’t even dated once!’

Standing at death’s edge, tears of frustration spilled out.

His eyes throbbed from burst blood vessels, but what hurt more was that even Docep had succeeded in a love marriage while he had not.

At the edge of his blood-red vision, Halara appeared.

The illusion of Halara stuck out her tongue mockingly.

‘That woman!’

He reached out to grab her—but his hand, fused with the sword, couldn’t reach.

Instead, unbearable pain shot through him.