Chapter 5
The stunned guard stood there with his mouth hanging open.
Lucy was just as shocked.
He’s really this bluntly rude?
Well, to be fair, he was the type who treated everyone except the heroine terribly.
But experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
…Still.
Even she thought the situation looked suspicious.
So why is he helping me?
Knowing how awful the male lead’s personality was only made her more uneasy.
Lucy tightened her fists nervously.
“Hmm.”
A low chuckle rumbled from within the armor.
Then Edward slowly tilted his helmet toward the guard.
For a brief moment, the motion looked oddly innocent for someone of his size.
“You’re young.”
“P-Pardon? Yes! I only enlisted recently—”
“And your ears are already clogged at your age?”
“…”
“How pitiful.”
Edward casually rested a hand on the sword hanging at his waist.
“Shall I open them for you myself?”
He sounded genuinely sincere.
“As the Dragon Incarnation himself.”
“…”
“You should consider it an honor for your family.”
He even managed to sound completely narcissistic while threatening him.
Shing.
The slender blade slowly slid from its scabbard.
“H-Hii!”
The horrified guard hiccupped and stumbled backward.
Lucy stared in amazement.
So that’s what our male lead’s horrible personality is good for…
Using it against other people.
Go! Beat him up!
Not that Edward needed cheering.
A mere temple guard…
Versus the continent’s only Dragon Incarnation, Duke, Savior, and countless other ridiculous titles.
The winner had been decided before the fight even began.
“I-I apologize for my disrespect…”
“As long as you understand.”
“…”
“Go have your hearing checked immediately.”
“…I… I’ll remember that.”
With his eyes lowered, the guard retreated at astonishing speed before disappearing entirely.
“Hm.”
Sounding satisfied, Edward began walking away.
Still quietly cradled in his arms, Lucy secretly glanced up at him.
Only to meet his crimson eyes directly.
Whoa…
She hurriedly looked away, cold sweat trickling down her back.
If she stared any longer…
He might decide to grant her the honor of personally gouging out her eyes next.
I don’t know why he’s helping me…
But if I stay quiet… pretend I’m just decoration… maybe I can escape later…
“Your name.”
“…”
There went that plan.
“…Me?”
“Do I need to ask twice?”
“Lucy! Luciana!”
She answered as quickly as she could.
“Hm.”
The satisfied hum that came from inside the armor reminded her of a contented cat.
A cat?
It was an absurd comparison for someone this enormous.
Yet somehow, it was the first thing that came to mind.
“Why were you there?”
“Well…”
“It doesn’t really matter.”
…What doesn’t matter?
Because you’re going to kill me or hand me back to the temple anyway?
Lucy couldn’t make sense of the conversation.
He saved me just now…
But who knew what would happen if she upset him?
This is the guy who’s only kind to the heroine. Everyone else gets treated like dirt.
Ironically, in the original story, he barely even got to spend time with the heroine.
He just had a terrible personality.
How annoying must my existence be to someone like him?
One wrong answer…
And she’d be on her way to the afterlife.
Think, Lucy.
Think!
While she desperately tried to hold onto both her fading consciousness and her nearly exhausted stamina…
Edward quietly studied the little mouse trapped in his arms.
In truth…
He was in an exceptionally good mood.
How long has it been since I felt this refreshed?
His pounding headache had vanished.
The violent power raging inside him had calmed.
Even his mood had become noticeably more relaxed.
Normally…
He would’ve simply punched that guard aside.
Instead, he’d generously offered to “fix” the man’s hearing himself before sending him away.
What exactly is she?
The temple had rung the emergency bell.
They were searching desperately enough to mobilize everyone.
She had clearly escaped at great risk.
And above all…
The feeling whenever she touched him.
She must be a very important test subject.
Narrowing his eyes behind the helmet, Edward tightened the hand supporting Lucy’s waist.
“Hic!”
“…”
The tiny woman let out a startled hiccup before hurriedly looking up at him.
Her dark eyes sparkled strangely.
“…Y-You’re Duke Edward, aren’t you?”
“…”
“The Empire’s only Golden Dragon Incarnation… the slayer of monsters… humanity’s savior…”
“And?”
“I’ve come to bring you good news.”
It sounded suspiciously like something a cult recruiter would say.
But Lucy had thought it through.
Survive first.
Flatter him as much as possible.
If the male lead abandoned her, she’d inevitably be recaptured by the temple.
But she also couldn’t let him hand her back himself.
That left only one option.
Take the initiative.
She had to convince him to keep her with him somehow.
I’m not asking for much.
At least…
Until they left temple territory.
Even better if he took her beyond the capital.
The Duke’s estate is in the North…
If I can tag along all the way there…
I’ll finally be outside the temple’s influence.
The moment she realized that…
Her survival instincts accelerated into overdrive.
“Lately… you’ve been suffering from headaches and body aches, haven’t you?”
“Hm.”
“When you receive purification, instead of calming down, your corrupted energy only becomes more violent…”
“Hmm.”
“And because of that, you’ve been taking your frustration out on everyone like a complete—”
Lucy hurriedly corrected herself.
“—rather… short-tempered person.”
“Hmmm.”
Forcing a bright smile, Lucy looked up at him.
“You’ve come to exactly the right person.”
“I wasn’t the one looking for you.”
“This must be fate.”
She grinned.
“Because I know the answer. Hoho!”
The more she talked…
The more she felt like one of those fraudulent salespeople trying to sell miracle healing mats.
But she’d already started.
Backing out now would only make her seem more suspicious.
“Parasite. You really didn’t steal the bread?”
“Of course not. Have you ever seen such an honest parasite?”
“Hmm…”
“You’ve been under a lot of stress lately, haven’t you? Would you like a massage?”
Lucy remembered her days in the shelter.
If she was going to bluff…
She had to bluff all the way.
If she’d ever been caught stealing food rations…
She would’ve been beaten half to death and thrown out.
“There. I covered for you, so hurry and eat.”
“Thanks, Sis…”
“If you’re grateful, pray that my sisters come home safely.”
She remembered secretly sharing the stolen food with children who had been in situations just like hers.
Not the time for that memory.
Shaking away thoughts of her previous life, Lucy deliberately put on an overly confident smile.
Holding onto the last thread of consciousness keeping her upright, she declared,
“It seems… you still haven’t found your destined benefactor.”
“My benefactor?”
“The one who will lovingly care for Your Grace against those who oppose you…”
“…”
“…comfort you while sacrificing their own sleep…”
“…”
“In short…”
She puffed out her chest proudly.
“Your other half.”
“Your other half?”
“Yes! As expected of Your Grace! You understood immediately—”
“So you’re describing someone without a mate as merely half-complete.”
If he hadn’t been wearing a helmet…
She was certain he’d be smirking.
I’m so dead.
But she couldn’t retreat now.
“Hohoho! But don’t worry! I’ll help you find your true mate—”
“My mate has already been decided.”
There it was.
My lifeline!
Lucy drew in a deep breath and declared boldly,
“Master… that woman’s a fake!”
Edward paused.
Lucy nodded vigorously.
Then, as though she completely understood his situation, she lightly patted his armored arm.
“You believe it’s Miss Sepina, don’t you?”
“…”
“But even after receiving her purification, you never truly felt relieved, did you?”
“…”
“That’s right. The temple keeps insisting Miss Sepina is your true mate…”
She smiled confidently.
“But in reality—”
“What did you just say?”
“Hm?”
“It’s shocking, I know. Miss Sepina is a fake—”
“Before that.”
“…Huh?”
Lucy blinked.
Before that…?
What did I say…?
“…Master… that woman’s a fake?”
“‘Master.'”
The crimson eyes visible through the gaps in his helmet curved pleasantly.
He sounded amused.
“So…”
His grip around her tightened just a little.
“Does that mean you belong to me now?”
