Chapter 13
12
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The boy shielded Grace, almost to an apologetic degree. Even as they tumbled and rolled in a mess, he clung to her so tightly that Grace didn't lose consciousness.
Before long, the spinning world stopped. She rose to her feet with all her strength. But Andrew was limp. Grace quickly checked his pulse.
Please, please.
"Ha..."
The moment she felt a clear pulse at her fingertips, a long sigh escaped her lips. But her relief was short-lived.
Krrr.
The hair on her body stood on end at the murderous growl of a beast behind her. Grace held her breath and turned around. The beast's eyes gleamed eerily between the black silhouettes of the gaunt trees.
Grace quickly rose to her feet and faced it. Cold sweat ran down her spine.
Then, along with the sound of someone coming down the slope, a shout was heard.
"Get back!!!"
As she took a step back, it took a step closer. Under the moonlight, its ferocious teeth looked as if they would tear her apart at any moment. There was still some distance, but it would be nothing for a four-legged beast.
She felt Andrew's body at her heels. If she retreated, the boy would surely die.
Grace glanced at her weapons. She couldn't find her sword, but she saw arrows instead. She slowly lowered her body, watching the werewolf. The beast also lowered its body.
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst, and her breath grew rough. Grace quickly picked up the bow and arrow and rose to her feet. Then, recalling her teacher's teachings, she nocked the arrow to the bowstring with lightning speed.
The moment her arrow was aimed at the werewolf, it ran. She wanted to release the string at the Magical beasts that was getting closer every second, but Grace gritted her teeth and endured.
Her teacher's voice echoed in her head.
'Hunting is about timing.'
A little more.
Come a little closer.
And finally, the moment it came within range, Grace's arrow flew through the air.
The arrow hit the beast's front leg, but it was not enough to kill the huge werewolf. The Magical beasts, writhing in pain, charged ferociously as if angered.
Even as she watched, Grace calmly nocked the next arrow. The beast's sharp teeth were close at hand, but she did not retreat. There was nowhere to go. This time, she aimed for its neck.
With less than 3m between them, Grace fired her second arrow. Unfortunately, the arrow hit the beast's back instead of its neck.
Grace didn't give up and nocked another arrow. But her right arm trembled as she tried to pull the tough string in succession. The werewolf's stench carried on the wind seemed to numb her nose. The sound of the beast's hooves pounding on the dry ground grew frighteningly close. As death inevitably came to mind, the charred carriage of her parents flickered like a hallucination.
'No, get a grip!'
Even so, she couldn't stop her right hand from visibly trembling. Just as despair surged through her, wondering if she should release the string now, a warmth like a lie was felt, and a very large and solid body overlapped from behind. A large hand covered her right hand, which was barely pulling the string, and pulled the string that she couldn't pull enough.
The hallucination of the charred carriage disappeared, and she saw the nape of the leaping beast aligning in a straight line with the arrowhead. Grace shouted quickly.
"Release!"
Walter trusted Grace's aim and released the string.
Whoosh!
The arrow shot by the two flew like lightning and pierced through the werewolf's open mouth. The Magical beasts's heavy body crashed right in front of them, and Walter blocked Grace with his body.
The breath she had been holding burst out. After catching her breath for a long time, she raised her head, and Walter was looking down at her. Behind him, the bright yellow moon revealed its subtle presence, but Grace couldn't take her eyes off the man who was staring down at her.
He was silent for a moment with an expression that she couldn't understand at all, then turned her around without a word. Then, he pressed her back with his hand and took it off.
"……?"
"Fortunately, it seems the gargoyle's claws only pierced the cloak."
Then, without giving her a chance to answer, he rolled up the sleeve of her left arm. There was blood on her forearm where the tough string had passed.
Grace saw her wound and remembered Andrew. She hurriedly turned around, and two knights who had followed Walter were examining Andrew.
"Hey, wake up!"
Unlike the harsh words, the hand supporting his comrade was careful.
"Is he all right?"
Grace quickly approached and asked, and Sirius, who had retrieved his brother's arrow, replied.
"Don't worry. This is nothing."
"He lost consciousness..."
"Thank you."
"……."
The moment the werewolf appeared, Sirius sensed his brother's death. If Grace had retreated, Andrew would have died.
But surprisingly, Grace did not retreat. She stood as if protecting Andrew, and faced the Magical beasts, several times her size, with arrows. Even seasoned knights would feel their legs go numb when facing the huge Magical beasts that was approaching every second, but the slender princess stood her ground and shot her bow at the right time.
Many knights saw it. No one doubted whether Taylor's princess knew how to handle a bow. The important thing was that she protected Andrew and killed the werewolf.
Sirius bowed politely to Grace again, then carried Andrew on his back. It would be a problem for the princess to climb this slope as well, but Sirius glanced at the person standing behind her and thought.
He'll take care of it.
Meanwhile, Grace was worried about the limp Andrew, but was also caught up in the realistic concern of how to get up. As if sensing her concern, a low voice was heard from behind.
"Can you get up?"
The wind was blocked just by Walter standing behind her. Grace bit her lip and let out a small sigh. What should she do, she wondered, when the moonlight shone on Andrew's back as he was carried by his brother. At that moment, Grace made a very small decision.
Meanwhile, Walter, who was wondering how to take the princess, who had no major injuries but was sure to have bruises all over her body, suddenly stopped. Grace turned around and slightly opened her arms towards him as if asking to be hugged.
"……."
Walter narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, and Grace bit her lip for a moment and said softly.
"You said you wouldn't just 'pretend' to do anything."
She must have been planning this for a very long time. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to ask for something like this so casually.
Walter shook his head slightly, but eventually lowered his body. Slender arms wrapped around his neck without hesitation. Walter held his breath for a moment at the close distance and supported Grace's thighs with his left forearm. A warm warmth was transmitted from their touching bodies.
"Hold on tight."
"Thank you."
It felt like goosebumps were rising at the whisper that flowed into his ear. Walter calmed his restless heart and began to climb the rugged slope as easily as if it were flat ground. The wind blowing from above whipped his face sharply, but his strong body did not waver in the slightest.
Grace stared down at the receding slope in Walter's arms. It was a dizzying situation, but she just felt comfortable. It was because she was sure that this man would never let her go.
She slowly turned her head and looked above the slope.
Five hundred knights, who had faced death for ten years and become the strongest in the empire, were looking at her. Needless to say, their eyes were filled with respect and goodwill towards the valiant princess.
This wasn't part of the plan, but...
Grace turned her head and covered her face. Her pink lips slowly rose upwards.
＊ ＊ ＊
The news that Duke Richmond, Walter Richmond, was returning was delivered to the Duke's castle. A roar erupted from the Duke's lavish office.
"Are you saying you failed again!!!"
A middle-aged gentleman with an impressive upturned mustache slammed the desk several times as if his anger had not subsided.
"How many assassins have we sent in the last ten years?! How much money have we spent on those guys' lives...!"
As he failed to calm his red face, a woman who had been drinking tea on one side clicked her tongue and rose from her seat.
"Honey, stop it. It's not over yet."
"The dukedom will only come back to this Henry Marquis Rinko if that guy is gone!!! But he won't die!!! How can I stay still?!"
"The Duke was thirteen when he went to the Wall of Death with the knights. It's been ten years since then."
"……."
"The etiquette, common sense, and dignity that a duke should have in aristocratic society."
The woman emphasized each word. Then she shrugged and smoothed her hair with one hand.
"He hasn't learned any of them properly. He hasn't even shown his face in society. He's just been struggling to survive every day, who's left by his side?"
Marquis Henry Rinko listened to his wife's words and his eyes twinkled.
"That's right..."
"So even if the Duke returns, who will give him strength? Except for the knights who only know how to wield a sword, he has no power. The important thing is, who is the true owner who protected this Richmond Duke's castle?"
