The Reward for Saving The World is a Husband - Chapter 9
The space was indeed vast enough to accommodate a body as large as a mountain, as they say, but the owner occupying it was not a dragon.
In the middle of the expansive area, a human figure lay sprawled out as if it were their own home.
Elias took steps towards the figure.
Dragons, being naturally adept at magic, could transform into human forms for rest, he speculated.
So, he approached cautiously.
But it was a doll-like woman. Her face, packed with delicate features, was, with a bit of exaggeration, about the size of his fist.
The corners of her closed eyes seemed slightly wet. Distracted by her captivating face, it took Elias a while to realize her black clothing was soaked with blood.
He woke her to ask about her circumstances and was then met with eyes like suns beneath slowly opening eyelids.
At that moment, he was enveloped in a strange turmoil.
The direct gaze struck his heart sharply, a thrill akin to fear piercing his soul as if he was gliding wingless over a thousand-foot cliff.
His instincts, which had protected him from numerous threats to his life, warned him.
He should not get involved with this woman. To cling to life, even if miserably, he should leave this place immediately.
Yet, ultimately, he couldn’t take a step back.
Far from leaving the suspicious woman, he went against Beric’s wishes and brought her to his castle.
‘What exactly is her identity?’
He thought he should inquire with the mage tower about the existence of magic that allows one to conjure objects out of thin air or create illusions.
As for the other actions…
‘Yes! I’m proposing!’
Recalling the woman who had said this with a bright smile, Elias sighed deeply once more and rubbed his face.
“Will you do it with me?”
Did she even know what she was asking?
Apart from her suspicious abilities, it was clear she had been abused.
As evidenced by her painfully thin body, she seemed to have been deprived of proper food for a long time and had sustained injuries that could have been fatal.
If, in addition to that, she had been subjected to sexual harassment…
“Your Highness!”
The door burst open with a knock, and it was the lieutenant, Callen, who entered.
“What is it?”
“Lord Beric is threatening the knights, demanding to meet the woman himself.”
“What…?”
Why had Beric, who complained about the dreariness of the earldom and left for a nearby domain, suddenly stormed in?
Before fully grasping his mood, Elias found himself already moving.
‘He might even propose to her.’
That one thought filled his mind.
Just as she had attempted to seduce him, it was obvious how Beric would react if she tried the same with him.
“Damn it.”
By the time he regained his senses, he was already in front of the room where the woman was confined.
* * *
How long had it been since I began cultivating mana?
The commotion in the hallway disrupted my concentration. I hadn’t expected complete solitude in a place not of my own devising.
‘This is still manageable.’
A quick manipulation of mana to assess my condition revealed significant recovery.
‘Far from perfect, but…’
Moving around wouldn’t likely reopen my wounds.
Having eaten warm food in a conducive environment, my body’s healing functions must have been activated several-fold.
After assessing, I shifted my attention to the unfolding situation beyond the door.
“If you don’t step aside now, be prepared to lose an arm.”
The voice, full of annoyance, reminded me of someone.
‘Will you do it with me?’
Did she even know what she was asking?
Apart from her suspicious abilities, it was clear she had been abused.
As evidenced by her painfully thin body, she seemed to have been deprived of proper food for a long time and had sustained injuries that could have been fatal.
If, in addition to that, she had been subjected to sexual harassment…
“Your Highness!”
The door burst open with a knock, and it was the lieutenant, Callen, who entered.
“What is it?”
“Lord Beric is threatening the knights, demanding to meet the woman himself.”
“What…?”
Why had Beric, who complained about the dreariness of the earldom and left for a nearby domain, suddenly stormed in?
Before fully grasping his mood, Elias found himself already moving.
‘He might even propose to her.’
That one thought filled his mind.
Just as she had attempted to seduce him, it was obvious how Beric would react if she tried the same with him.
“Damn it.”
By the time he regained his senses, he was already in front of the room where the woman was confined.