Chapter 19: Return Home

I was startled by the loud thumping of my heart and felt a sudden fear as I tried to make sense of the situation.

The sensation of the Duke’s lips on my neck was still vivid. Instead of fading with time, the memory burned hotter, as if it had been branded onto my skin.

‘Get a grip, Yuria Graham! That man is someone who could take your head off!’

Thinking that snapped me back to my senses.

If I stayed like this, I’d get caught up in something I couldn’t handle!

Right now, I just wanted to check the reply from the carrier pigeon sent by the mercenary leader. All I could think about was how much I wanted the mercenaries to arrive quickly.

I wanted nothing to do with the ultimate villain Duke. I was determined to quietly distance myself from this novel.

Flap, flap. I heard the sound of wings and saw Maya holding out her hand to the sky in front of the tent. When she spotted me, she called out in an excited voice.

“Miss, it’s the carrier pigeon! The carrier pigeon!”

I pulled a small note from the bird’s ankle. The note said the mercenary leader would come to pick me up.

“Perfect timing.”

The mercenaries were expected to arrive in two days. While waiting for them, I stayed holed up in the tent as if I were dead. Using fatigue as an excuse, I only ate the meals Maya brought me and deliberately avoided the Duke.

Every time I saw him from afar, the memory of that incident would resurface, and my face would burn with embarrassment.

It was all because his lips had been too warm. Like a lingering scar, the memory made my neck tingle and heat up every time I thought about it. My heart would race, and my mind would go blank.

‘It’s only because he’s annoyingly handsome. This is just a natural biological reaction, nothing more, nothing less! I just need to stay focused tonight!’

Tonight was my last night in the war camp. I shook my head to scatter the heat rising in me.

“Ow, ow.”

“Look at how stiff your muscles are. What were you thinking, coming to the battlefield like this?”

“It hurts.”

“Of course it hurts.”

By the last night, my fragile body finally gave out, and I collapsed.

Maya, showing no mercy, made me lie face down on the bed and massaged me for over an hour. As the knots in my muscles loosened, drowsiness began to set in.

The thought of finally going home brought a sense of relief.

＊

Maya’s face softened into a smile as she massaged Yuria.

“Oh my, you said it hurt, but you’ve already fallen asleep.”

It was amazing how such a small body could hold so much energy.

Maya looked for a blanket to cover her mistress. Remembering that it was outside airing, she stepped out of the tent to retrieve it.

As soon as Maya left the tent, a dark shadow moved behind her. The shadow lingered outside before cautiously entering the tent. In its hands were a mink blanket and a fatigue recovery potion.

Xavier had been unable to stop thinking about Yuria Graham, who hadn’t shown her face outside the tent for two days. He wanted to properly explain what had happened under the Pose tree.

He wanted to express his gratitude for everything she’d done and clarify that the kiss had not been intentional.

Unable to meet her, the memory of what had happened under the tree grew even more vivid. No matter how hard he tried to shake it off, it wouldn’t go away.

The soft, white neck. The small, plump lips. The trembling, sky-blue eyes like glass beads. Even the faint heat that had risen between them…

If he was feeling this way, how much more shocked must the Baron’s daughter be that she stayed hidden in her tent? He was a little worried.

But how could he meet her?

‘She kept saying she was unwell. Is she asleep?’

Xavier’s eyes slowly scanned the inside of the tent.

The faint crackling of the small brazier on the central table cast flickering shadows over the bed. A towel, seemingly just used, hung over the side of the bed.

On the makeshift bed, which still carried the sweet scent of aroma oil, lay a small figure in a white nightgown, sprawled out as if dead to the world.

Xavier approached Yuria slowly.

“Ugh, cold.”

Yuria curled up her shoulders like a child.

Xavier unfolded the mink blanket and gently draped it over her.

As he pulled the blanket up to her neck, his hand hesitated. His gaze lingered near her face for a moment.

What a small woman.

Her honey-colored hair spilled slightly over her face, which was peaceful like a sleeping child. It was fascinating how her small, white face managed to hold all her features—eyes, nose, mouth.

She used to follow him around relentlessly, claiming to like him, but here in the battlefield, she worked tirelessly. With her noble hands, she cooked, washed dishes, and even did laundry. It was amazing to watch. And for some reason, it made a part of his chest feel uncomfortable.

And then, there was the matter of her putting a hole in his uniform out of anger. He’d never met a woman like her before.

“You said you’d forgotten about me, so why are you working so hard?”

“Mm…”

Yuria shifted in her sleep, her head rolling slightly as her bangs fell over her forehead.

“I’d really like to know what’s going on in your head.”

The question slipped out unintentionally. Surprisingly, he got a response.

“Keep your promise, Duke.”

Xavier’s hand, which had been brushing her bangs aside, froze midair.

Yuria furrowed her brows and spoke in a pitiful voice. But her next words made Xavier chuckle.

“Let me live a lazy life, please.”

“……”

What an amusing woman.

This was just a gift of apology, prompted by the startled look on her face under the tree.

Xavier stayed by her side for a while before placing the fatigue recovery potion on the table and leaving the tent.

＊

The next day, as promised, the mercenary group arrived at the camp.

I was so happy to see the bearded mercenary leader that I almost hugged the cheerful man as he stepped out of the carriage.

What made me even happier was the warmth I felt leaving the battlefield, unlike the coldness I’d felt upon arriving.

The kitchen volunteers and cooks came out to wave us off, and, perhaps out of courtesy, Xavier Auguste and his aides also stood to see us leave.

So he really wasn’t angry about the uniform, huh?

Thank goodness.

‘Safe travels. As the young lady mentioned, I hope to see you at the estate in a month. And thank you.’

The Duke’s parting words echoed in my ears.

To think that arrogant Duke would thank me. Was he feeling guilty about stealing my neck’s innocence?

Who had left the fatigue recovery potion and mink blanket last night? Maya said she hadn’t seen anyone.

Could it have been the Duke?

The absurd thought made me laugh bitterly.

Shaking off the fantasy, I looked at Maya, who was sitting in the front seat of the carriage. She was humming a cheerful tune.

“Maya, you seem really happy.”

“Of course! I’m so glad we’re going back so soon.”

“Yeah, me too.”

The carriage rattled, making my backside sore, but my heart felt light. Listening to the mercenaries’ war stories and chatting with Maya made the journey enjoyable.

After two full days of travel, we left the Bern Mountains and entered the Pins region.

Having lived in this book for two months, the familiar scenery was becoming comforting, and my heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

“Maya, let’s sleep in once we get home.”

“Yes!”

The sight of the Graham estate in the distance was incredibly welcoming.

“Oho, Yuria!”

As the carriage pulled up in front of the house, Baron Graham ran out barefoot and enveloped me in a tight hug. He looked even more haggard than I did after returning from the battlefield. His slightly hoarse voice trembled.

“Do you know how worried I was? Without your mother here? You left me with nothing but a pot of watery soup.”

“Father, what’s wrong? Where’s Mother?”

“Ah.”

It was the first time I’d seen my father so flustered.

“Well, uh…”

“Oh my, Yuria, you’re back?”

Out of nowhere, Mother appeared, her smile as warm as spring sunshine, and embraced me. She looked thinner than when I’d left, likely from worrying about her daughter on the battlefield. After welcoming me, she shot a glare at Father.

“Honey, did you forget I was in the garden?”

Father, wearing an expression that screamed ‘Why are you here?’ widened his eyes like saucers and quickly turned his head.

“Ahem, yes, I must’ve forgotten. I was in such a rush to finish my work. Yuria, I’m so glad you’re back safely.”

Father patted my back a few times before retreating into the house.

“Yuria, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No, Mother. But did you fall ill while I was gone?”

Mother looked thinner than when I’d left. Her hands, which held mine, were strangely covered in small scratches.

“How did you get these? Didn’t they hurt?”

“I got pricked by summer roses while tidying the garden.”

“You should’ve been more careful.”

“I’m fine.”

Mother smiled at me with her eyes and turned to Maya.

“Maya, you’ve worked hard too.”

“Oh, not at all, madam.”

“Oh, I’m hungry. Shall we eat first?”

The Baroness hurried the maids along. She seemed to have been looking forward to having a meal with me.

Seeing how much she enjoyed her food made me hungrier, and I ended up eating more than usual. My parents’ affection for each other seemed even stronger than before I’d left.

“Naomi, here’s some roast beef. Isn’t this your favorite?”

Father placed a piece of roast beef on Mother’s plate.

“Oh my, Doug, you remembered! Thank you.”

Blushing, Mother accepted it shyly.

“I’m so happy to have you by my side. I can’t tell you how much I—ugh.”

Suddenly, Father covered his face with his large hands.

“Oh my, Yuria, your father missed you terribly while you were gone.”

“Did he?”

Father buried his face in Mother’s shoulder, crying, while she smiled and gently patted his back.

“Honey, stop.”

“Yes, stop.”

What a heartwarming sight!

Father hastily wiped his tears with a napkin and, apologizing, piled roast beef and perfectly cooked pork onto my plate.

I took a bite of the glossy meat. The savory, sweet juices spread across my tongue.

“Delicious.”

“Yes, my daughter. Eat a lot!”

“Yes, Father!”

“Yuria, chew thoroughly.”

“Yes, Mother!”

This is what home feels like. It’s so nice.

＊

A month later, as in the original story, the war ended with Xavier Auguste’s victory.

The newspaper featured a photo of Xavier leading a grand victory parade through his duchy, right next to the Pins region.

“Hmm, it’s all unfolding as the novel said.”

A smile naturally spread across my face as I read the newspaper.

Soon, I’d be able to completely cut ties with the ultimate villain! If I succeeded, I’d treat myself to macarons at a café.

And exactly three days after the war ended, in the morning.

Just as I was finishing dessert and preparing to visit the Duke’s residence, an unexpected situation arose.

Contrary to my expectations, Xavier Auguste sent a luxurious carriage to my house.

When my parents heard that the Duke had sent a carriage, they dropped their forks and rushed out like the wind. Startled, I hurried after them, only to find an unbelievable sight waiting before me.

‘This is so absurd it’s making me angry.’

“Oh my, for the Duke to send such a splendid carriage for Yuria! And right after returning from the war!”

Overjoyed, Mother grabbed my hands and jumped up and down. Meanwhile, I felt like my sanity was slipping away.

“What is this?”

Why send this? I was going to visit him myself!

“Perhaps he’s proposing to you.”

“What?”

“Or maybe asking you on a date? Right, dear?”

“That… might be it?”

Father’s response was hesitant.

For a high-ranking noble to send a carriage to someone’s daughter was no small gesture. But since they couldn’t possibly accept the Duke as a son-in-law, my father’s reaction was understandably complicated.

At that moment, a familiar figure stepped out of the carriage and bowed to me.

“His Grace is waiting for you. Please, get in.”

He even sent his own aide, Rexton, personally.

What on earth is this man plotting?

This is terrifying.