WMT | Chapter 14

Theodore rushed over and picked up the fallen Wiss.

He placed a hand under Wiss’s nose. Wiss was breathing.

Theodore felt relieved, but that feeling didn’t last long. Wiss was bleeding too much. His face was as pale as porcelain, as if it might shatter at any moment.

‘Cleric!’

He was about to run with Wiss in his arms but stopped. Wiss twisted his body in pain.

Then Wiss spat out blood.

Theodore frowned. Normally, a person who falls doesn’t cough up blood.

Wiss was bleeding from his nose and mouth, but there was no external injury.

‘A chronic illness?’

He recalled the first day he saw him. He was bleeding then too.

He couldn’t understand Wiss.

Why did he warn him of danger? Why did he follow him here?

If Wiss had sided with Riendell, he wouldn’t have tried to pull Theodore out of the banquet hall.

He couldn’t figure out how Wiss knew how to deal with the golems or that there was a sorcerer here.

But he followed Theodore, knowing it was dangerous.

He stayed by Theodore’s side, risking his life, even when given a chance to escape.

Theodore thought rationally.

Maybe Wiss hadn’t sided with Riendell, but he was still someone trying to use him.

But who risks their life for someone they’re trying to use?

Wiss opened his eyes when they were almost down the mountain.

“……Your Grace.”

The voice he heard again was unexpectedly weak. It was slightly nasal.

Wiss was indeed a fragile person, but his personality and physique didn’t quite match. Theodore thought his voice was cold and intimidating, sending chills down the listener’s spine.

“How long was I unconscious?”

“Not long.”

‘He doesn’t speak informally.’

Theodore didn’t show his disappointment and grabbed Wiss’s wrist. Wiss was about to touch the dried blood on his nose.

The puzzled look he gave was endearing.

“Don’t touch it. The bleeding hasn’t stopped for long. The mucous membranes might be weakened, so it’s best to be careful.”

“Are you alright, Your Grace?”

“Why did you do it?”

Theodore didn’t answer the question and instead asked one.

Even after thinking about it, he couldn’t solve the mystery. Wiss wouldn’t have followed him here out of concern for Theodore. Why did he throw himself into danger?

“How did you know it was golems that attacked? And that there was a sorcerer with a doll here?”

“My ancestor, King Wiss……”

Wiss stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. He looked slightly tired.

“……left records. I’ve enjoyed reading magical literature since I was young, and when I suddenly encountered this surprising situation today, I wondered if it was what I read in the books……. Historically, mages liked to hide themselves in forests and mountains, so I thought the hidden place might be the northern mountain.”

Theodore realized.

This person is clever.

“So you were really sure there was a sorcerer there. Why did you protect me?”

“……Because it was targeting you, Your Grace.”

“……”

Theodore stopped speaking. Wiss wasn’t lying.

He wasn’t someone who lied well. His blunt claims of love were cute but not trustworthy.

But now Wiss seemed flustered.

He seemed to feel that Theodore was asking an obvious question.

Of course, Wiss actually thought it was obvious. Who else could his purpose be other than Theodore?

Having saved him from such a crisis, he wasn’t going to let it slide if Theodore said something else.

Unaware of this, Theodore couldn’t help but be shaken.

‘Because I was the target, he grabbed me and ran away……’

“So you weren’t hurt?”

“Well, it’s manageable.”

Wiss responded nonchalantly.

He explained after seeing Theodore’s expression.

“If I had stayed there, I would have been beaten to death by the golems. It wouldn’t have been just me dying.”

It was also an action to save others.

Theodore opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.

This person is different from the rumors. He’s not someone who avoids responsibility for his own sake.

Perhaps Theodore had misunderstood him too.

Wiss was in danger because of him. Theodore knew who was behind the attack. It was his brother.

King Riendell of Palatine seemed to want to settle things before Theodore returned to Palatine. Wiss got caught up in his affairs and ended up bleeding.

‘I need to explain……’

Theodore, driven by an unknown emotion, opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

He needed to explain the situation he was in. It involved Wiss.

And it was also the reason he decided not to marry.

“This attack was aimed at me. His Majesty Riendell…… is a cautious person and often doubts his brother’s loyalty. Each time, he tests whether my life will remain intact, which is my misfortune.”

He had no intention of adding another person to his misfortune.

Saying he would marry someone he loved meant he wouldn’t marry anyone. The chances of a royal marrying someone they loved were nonexistent.

“Speaking like that makes him sound like the master of fate.”

Wiss said bitterly. Theodore couldn’t help but laugh at the indirect criticism of having no will to resist.

It’s not something to say about the king of that country in front of the duke, is it?

This person is truly unique. With such a fragile body and appearance, he’s strong. There’s nothing that matches his visible impression.

“Even if he’s not the master of fate, he’s still my brother.”

“……”

“With only two family members, shouldn’t I at least cherish him?”

Wiss looked completely unconvinced.

In truth, so did Theodore.

He couldn’t understand where these feelings came from. Family was important to him. Something not to betray, a promise to keep.

He felt that way since a time he couldn’t even remember, so it must be innate.

Yet, he never thought of having his own family. He believed it was right not to desire something he couldn’t protect.

‘But this person is strong.’

Theodore suddenly thought.

He wasn’t talking about the body but the character.

If he were to dream of a future with someone, wouldn’t it be impossible without someone like this?

“The person I love becomes endangered. Do you still like me?”

Theodore asked with a smile.

In an unexpected place, the resolve he had maintained until now cracked. It was strange.

Wiss, still in his arms, looked up at him.

The day had already darkened, and the mountain was dim. Even with the knight’s eyesight, he could only see the face of his companion and the path he was treading.

“……Do you still want me to be your family?”

The response was brief.

“Yes.”

It was an answer that seemed to pop out without much thought. Wiss was expected to be like that.

Theodore smiled again. And he sighed.

“In that case, I’m fine with it too.”

── .✦

Wiss thought.

‘Got him.’

This is why stubborn knights are a problem. They fall for you just because you saved their life once.

In fact, Wiss thought he might be in big trouble the moment he opened his eyes. It was because he remembered what he had said before he fainted.

The situation was urgent, so his usual way of speaking came out, but why didn’t that guy even show a surprised expression, making it impossible for anyone to feel out of place?

‘Was that the tone of someone in love?’

No.

‘At least I didn’t curse……’

He wasn’t sure if he should consider that fortunate.

But Theodore didn’t say much about it and instead shared his deep family history, which wasn’t even asked for.

Then he asked Wiss if he still liked him despite everything.

Of course, Wiss had only one answer.

“Yes.”

Theodore smiled, so Wiss smiled back.

‘Couldn’t be better.’

A smooth trust relationship was established.

It seemed they were now ready to negotiate with each other.

When they came down, the royal palace was as bright as day.

‘What’s going on now?’

Torches were hung on every wall, so there were no shadows on the ground. Soldiers running around with fireballs in their hands widened their eyes when they saw Theodore.

“Your Grace! Your Grace has returned!”

“……”

Wiss was bewildered. Was this really the Kingdom of Summer?

The prince had disappeared, but they were looking for the duke from another country first.

“Wiss? Oh my, were you with the duke?”

King Jeremiah came out to greet the duke and was startled to see Wiss belatedly.

“Yes.”

Wiss didn’t expect him to be looking for him.

Who knows what his feelings were, but he lacked the ability to find him in the first place.

“The duke protected you! How grateful!”

“Seems like it.”

Wiss casually dealt with the king, who was a step late in trying to have a tearful reunion. After being embraced and patted by the king, he asked once the king calmed down.

“Have the culprits been caught?”

“Y-yes. The Palatine army stepped in and detained them all. But……”

“Count Morre is among them, isn’t he?”

“That’s right! How did you know that……”

‘So they caught him.’

Unlike the Summer army, the Palatine army wasn’t sloppy.