CH 60.2

10. Withered flower

The man who had finished off the huge monster at once took a step closer.

“Are you a northerner? What village are you from?”

She looked away from the dead monster, then carefully straightened her back and looked up at the man talking to her.

“At this time, the forest is no place for a woman like you. If you don’t intend to become monster food, return to the village right away.”

As she was about to say thank you for saving her, she lowered her head as she felt her stomach suddenly twist. Something churned in her stomach.

Seeing her actions, the man squinted at her.

“I didn’t expect you to say thank you, but you don’t have to throw up upon seeing my face…”

That is… not it…. The smell of blood… is too strong. Thank you for saving me.

She quickly realized she had been rude and rubbed her mouth with her sleeve. He saved her according to his words. Instead of thanking him, she even did this— anyone would have been offended. But the smell of blood was too strong, so she covered her mouth again.

The sound of the man’s footsteps sounded again. When she saw that he was about to leave, she hurriedly grabbed at the man. He glanced at her hands.

“What?”

“That … Help me get out of this forest. I lost everyone in my group, and I can’t find my way alone. Please.”

Embarrassed, she clung to him, gripping his clothes even tighter. In the dark forest, not even the moonlight could be seen. It was impossible for her to get out of this forest alone.

“If you’re not scared of me, I can do that.”

The man sighed softly and moved his legs again, but he kept his speed slow enough to let her grip his clothes.

Approaching the Grand Duke’s castle, she patted her chest. After catching her nervous breath several times, she opened her eyes wide as she looked at his chest area. Wounds were visible through the gap in the man’s torn clothes. The wounds he suffered while saving her.

“I won’t die from this, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. It will be better tomorrow.”

The man obediently responded to her silent question. Despite him saying he didn’t need treatment, she made him stand still. The man only glanced at her now and then, but didn’t say much until she wiped the blood clean and applied medicine.

“That’s enough.”

She looked out the window, tying the bandages one last time. The snow was falling ferociously. From the time she entered the North, her schedule was continuously delayed due to the severe cold, and she lost her entire party.

“Excuse me, but can I ask you to take care of me here until the snow stops?”

“Until the snow stops. After that, leave this castle.”

They made an implicit promise. To stay for a while, blaming the harsh weather, so no one would die if they went out.

After that, their cohabitation began.

The winter that year was exceptionally rough and harsh. Thanks to this, the departure of the messenger who had to contact her family was delayed day by day. She started to be attracted to the man who took care of her from time to time contrary to his cold appearance. The longer she stayed in the Grand Duke’s castle, the more time they spent together, and the two naturally grew closer.

So the two stayed together, sharing each other’s body temperature until the snowstorm died down. And, somehow, they fell deeply in love.

She was happy. Every moment she spent with the man, she completely forgot about her home. She completely forgot the fact that her family would be waiting for her, and that the marriage with the fiance her family chose would be waiting for her when she returned.

* * *

It was well over two months that she had been in the Grand Duke’s castle, following Daymond, who had helped her out of danger in the forest. Not just the blizzard, the snow had stopped for a long time, and the season when the wind would recede was approaching.

From the morning she woke up, her body felt strangely heavy.

Did I eat something wrong?

She had been fine until yesterday. She tapped her chest with her hand, wondering if it was a bloated stomach. Then, nausea burst out.

After the long throbbing, she hastily spread her palms. Her fingers stiffened as she counted the days.

I didn’t have it. I didn’t have my moon cycle.

She skipped the moon cycle that should have started a fortnight ago. She may be ignorant about sexuality, but it wasn’t like she had no sexual knowledge.

Pregnancy. The thought that she might have a child made her complexion darken.