WLTIS | CHAPTER 46

Chapter 46

***

The carriage stopped on Aplenta Street late in the evening.

They were close to the Grand Duke’s castle.

However, the reason for stopping here to rest was because of Lincia.

Fortunately, due to Hue’s meticulous nature, there was a midway station here as well.

There were many stations along the planned route.

Lincia worried that people might have been unfairly driven out to secure the houses.

Hue spoke with a sigh.

“The Grand Duchy has issued a curfew, and people fearing starvation left their homes to escape to other territories, leaving empty houses.”

Hue said he had managed them so they could return.

So that people could come back when the area became habitable.

Harvich opened his eyes immediately as soon as the carriage stopped.

On the way back to the Grand Duke’s castle, he begged that Lincia at least try to sleep.

He had refused her earlier requests to sleep together, yet now he demanded her hand.

“Have we arrived?”

The man spoke drowsily, but Lincia knew how his voice softened when he awoke.

“……You weren’t asleep?”

“…….”

Harvich did not answer.

He lowered his gaze as if avoiding her eyes.

“I was afraid you would disappear.”

There was a hint of worry in Harvich’s voice.

From his soft tone to his gaze, Lincia recalled the battles at the training ground, and her heart sank.

“……What scheme is this now?”

“What do you mean?”

“You treat me so kindly, then……”

Lincia’s voice trembled.

Recalling the despair she felt then, she could hardly breathe.

“There is no scheme. Then as now, I am only doing what must be done.”

Harvich looked at Lincia with concerned eyes, but she felt like screaming.

“The ‘what must be done’ means taking me to the Grand Duke’s castle? And the marital chamber too? Are we even married?”

“Do not get angry.”

“Why! Why must I not even be allowed to get angry!”

Lincia pushed Harvich’s shoulder.

“Your body may heat up. You are not breathing properly even now.”

Harvich said this, reaching out, but Lincia struck his hand away.

“Why, why are you like this, Grand Duke? I—”

“…….”

“I am scared of you.”

A sigh escaped from Harvich’s lips.

Lincia felt an irresistible urge to escape the space.

She desperately reached for the carriage door, but it rattled and would not open.

Her heart pounded so hard she could hear nothing else.

She heard faint warnings from the man about danger, but she was not in her right mind.

Do not sigh in front of me.

Before disappointing Lincia, he always did that.

The sighs and slow words that followed would always stir her heart.

She could not even imagine what he would say next.

Lincia no longer wanted to be hurt by him.

After struggling with the door, it suddenly opened.

Lincia clutched a chair and gasped for breath.

Harvich pulled her into his arms.

His heart felt as if it had dropped.

Though the door had opened, Harvich could not shake the thought that she might fall.

Lincia’s words about fear made no sense to him.

What had he done to warrant such a word?

Had she ever called him scary when punching Seton?

Now, all he had done was worry about her.

Harvich felt increasingly that Lincia was difficult to handle.

Lincia was in his arms.

Instead of being startled by the suddenly opened door, she calmed her breath, which made him furious.

“I told you it was dangerous!”

“……Why are you shouting?”

Harvich held her, fearing she would jump outside.

“Let me go!”

Her weak voice made him grip tighter without realizing it.

He felt the gentle curves under his arms.

He could feel the child inside her clearly.

It was a sharp sensation.

“Please let go……”

Lincia pleaded, tears in her voice.

Harvich flinched.

He knew that recently he had ignored everything she had said.

Yet he could not let her go.

He could not risk losing her from his arms.

He could not meet her fearful eyes, or he would collapse.

He buried his head in her shoulder.

Where had he gone wrong?

Perhaps he was thrown into a cruel nightmare.

Since meeting Lincia at the training ground, everything had felt wrong.

Harvich knew he had broken his promise that day, but he did not think the conversation was entirely his fault.

And he was hurt when he realized she had fled.

Why you……

But on her trembling shoulder, thoughts could not last long.

What good would it do now?

Lincia said she was scared.

Lincia was crying because of him.

Harvich slowly spoke.

“I was wrong.”

He did not actually want to apologize.

What emotions and intentions had he chosen to love her with?

“……So do not be scared.”

Yet he hoped Lincia would not be scared of him.

***

A selfish man.

Lincia thought Harvich was ruthless at his low, quiet words.

He had refused to let her go repeatedly.

Recently, he had ignored everything she said.

Why was he pleading so desperately?

She realized that in a relationship, the one who loses is always the one who loves more.

Even a small hint of pity made her want to obey him.

The day Lincia would “win” in this relationship seemed far away.

“…….”

After a short silence, Lincia sighed.

“Alright.”

It was a declaration of defeat.

Harvich finally relaxed his grip on her.

They sat facing each other.

“……Shall we try to lift our spirits?”

Lincia honestly did not want to wander outside in this state.

Especially carrying a man who had barely slept for five days.

But if she rejected him, he would ask if it was because she was scared of him, failing to read the mood.

Harvich did not seem sane.

His rising lips, the emotion in his eyes……

Why did he look at her as if seeing someone he loved?

“Do you dislike it?”

“……Do as you wish.”