If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 64

Craaack—

At the sound that was akin to cracking thin ice, Dooha immediately threw herself backwards.

Thump.

The broken branch and the monster crashed to the floor along with a heavy sound.

Dooha wasn’t the type that would miss that opportunity.

She shot an arrow at the monster unhesitatingly.

It would have been a clean and accurate shot if it was as per usual.

But the werewolf that appeared in front of her, certainly wasn’t a normal monster.

It easily avoided the arrow that was flying toward its head and bared its teeth.

Grrrrrrrr.

Dooha retreated unknowingly at that low and threatening growl.

This one was different from the other monsters. It wasn’t an opponent that she could face by herself.

As Dooha quickly racked her brains, she recalled the brooch that Daniel had given her

“…Daniel? Can you hear me, Daniel?”

She tried calling his name just in case, but it didn’t work.

It seems that he has yet to regain his energy after exhausting himself.

“…Hah.”

Dooha slowly backed away and turned around.

She shouldn’t be showing her back to animals or monsters, but her current situation didn’t allow her to quibble about these.

She ran as fast as she could through the forest path which had darkened as night had fallen.

Boom, boom, boom.

With each step it took, the ground rumbled.

It felt as though her head would be ripped off at any moment, and that caused all the hairs on her body to stand on its ends.

Dooha gritted her teeth.

Would she still be safe if she kept running away like this?

All sorts of thoughts came to mind instantly as her life was in danger.

How did she end up like this?

What was she suffering for?

What would happen if she died here? Will the alliance be broken?

“Ugh—!”

Dooha almost fell down, and managed to get up with difficulty.

She felt its claws swiping at the top of her head.

For a moment, familiar faces flitted past her mind.

Layla, Margaret, the head maid, Daniel and—

Although he was a prick, he had a perfect face.

The duke, Leonhart.

At that moment, Dooha, who had been running as fast as she could, stopped.

“Aaaack—”

She let out a loud yell which seemed to rise from deep within her stomach.

The werewolf, which had been hot on her heels, paused in its place for a moment.

It seemed to be startled by its prey’s cry.

“Even if an arm of mine flies off here and now, it won’t be your food.”

Dooha constantly hurled Bashalian language towards the monster that was after her.

“Why? I have something that I want to ask that man. I can’t die until I’ve asked that.”

Dooha pointed her arrows straight at the werewolf.

Three arrows were simultaneously nocked on the bow.

“Bring it on, you b*stard.”

She’d completely removed the mask of an elegant duchess, and fighting spirit filled her golden eyes.

Gyaack—

The monster sprang up as though it could understand her words.

At the same time, three arrows were aimed at his head and mouth, but it was insufficient.

Two grazed past its head, and one was caught by its tooth and snapped into half before the arrow could enter its mouth

“Tsk.”

Dooha clicked her tongue and nocked another arrow on her bow.

Before the monster jumped again, she dashed past a wooden post.

The arrow was aimed straight for the forehead of the monster, which was in mid air.

Kuaahh—!

However, it managed to avoid the arrow easily again and swung its front claws.

”Heok!”

The monster’s foot kicked Dooha before it landed onto the floor, causing her to inhale sharply

She instantly flew a distance away and crumbled down helplessly after her back hit against a tree.

“Ugh…”

Dooha tried to inhale amidst the severe pain.

It felt like her back was burning.

But she didn’t have the time to register the pain.

It was because the monster pounced at her immediately.

It looked as though she was about to devour her whole.

He pushed his teeth in as if he was going to devour it whole.

However, Dooha wasn’t easily intimidated.

“Aacck!”

With a sharp yell, she swung a dagger that she had hidden in her sleeve.

The sharp blade finally tore the inside of its snout.

Whimper!

The monster backed away for the first time with a pained cry.

Dooha barely managed to get up and raised her dagger.

The hand that was holding the dagger kept trembling uncontrollably, but fear wasn’t within her eyes.

“Bring it on! I said bring it on—!”

At her vicious provocation, the monster didn’t pounce as easily as it did before.

He observed her with caution-filled eyes.

But that only lasted momentarily.

The monster seemed to have noticed that Dooha wasn’t in a condition to continue fighting properly, and used its other arm to strike her.

“Ugh!”

Dooha groaned.

She barely managed to avoid being crushed underfoot, but its claws brushed against her forearm.

Along with the hot and stinging pain, a hot sensation could be felt from the outer portion of her forearm.

The dark hem of her shirt quickly turned into a darker shade.

Gyaaah—!

When Dooha was distracted by her wound, the monster didn’t miss that opportunity.

It pounced at her with a howl.

…Is this the end?

Everything felt meaningless when she was on the verge of death.

Dooha stared at the monster with a blurry vision.

Whether it was in Bashal or in the Empire, it wasn’t completely accepted, and just ended in vain like that.

She still wanted to ask that man something, but she couldn’t do so.

‘I should’ve made up with him earlier.’

Dooha recalled the day she bid farewell to him after a fight over a small matter.

For some reason, her husband looked somewhat lonely during the last time she saw him before coming to Tochern Castle.

Well, no matter what, it’s fine now.

She closed her eyes quietly like a resigned person.

No, she was about to close them.

If it weren’t for the sudden warmth that enveloped her entire body.

Even that warmth was filled with familiarity.

As she buried herself within the warmth that enveloped her.

Clunk—!

A terrifying sound, like something was being crushed, resounded in her ears.

At the same time, she couldn’t hear the sound of the monster’s breathing anymore.

Dooha slowly raised her head.

“Hey, are you alright?”

Those clear eyes could be seen underneath the golden hair that was half-soaked in the blood of monsters.

Even though it was the most cool toned colour in the world, the corners of Dooha’s eyes heated up as soon as she spotted them.

“You…”

The duke, Leonhart, scanned Dooha’s appearance and raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you Daniel’s escort?”

Dooha barely managed to open her lips and answer his question.

“T—that’s right.”

“Then what are you doing in a place like this all by yourself?”

“That’s…”

Leonhart seemed to find her rather suspicious, as she was all by herself in such a remote place.

He pushed Dooha, who was halfway in his arms, away.

“Was it Daniel’s orders? To head this way?”

“This way?”

“This is the entrance to the valley. Didn’t you hear that the knights would be at this side?”

If it was near the valley, then it would be in the direction of the nest.

The direction she had unconsciously taken to escape just had to be towards the place that the duke was at.

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Dooha lowered her head.

“N—no. I’m just…”

Dooha tried to respond, but she had to hold back a groan.

Leonhart frowned and grabbed her arm.

“You’re injured. When did you get injured?”

“I was accidentally scratched while dealing with that. It’s nothing.”

Dooha tried to hide her wound by pointing to the decapitated monster’s corpse.

“That isn’t just a scratch.”

But Leonhart seemed unwilling to let her go.

After examining the wound for a while, he grabbed Dooha by the scruff of her neck and turned around.

“Duke?”

Bewildered, Dooha’s eyes widened as she grabbed the hand of the duke that was holding the scruff of her neck.

“The werewolf that attacked you was one that I didn’t manage to catch while chasing them. I’m responsible for your injury.”

“No, I’m fine! I’ll receive medical treatment after returning…”

“I just heard that your master has exhausted all of his energy. The monsters had suddenly attacked the rear. There won’t be anyone available to heal you when you return, as everyone’s busy taking care of him.”

Leonhart continued monotonously like he was giving a military report.

“Anyways, your master and Count Jive will be joining us in a short while. The spores of monsters of the surrounding area have been purged, so get treated and wait obediently at our side.”

“But…”

“The crime of wandering in and out of the battlefield without your master will be ascertained afterwards. Do you have any objections?”

He sounded determined, as though he wouldn’t allow a question in reply.

In the end, Dooha could only be dragged away by the duke meekly.

* * *

“My lord, he…”

Baron, who was waiting near the valley, frowned when he saw Dooha with the duke.

“Isn’t that the escort that Lord Daniel brought?”

“That’s right.”

“What is he doing here…”

However, Leonhart didn’t take any heed of his lieutenant’s disinclined reaction.

He nudged Dooha in Baron’s direction.

“Apparently, he was fighting with monsters nearby. He seems to be hurt, so tend to his injuries.”

“My lord…”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Leonhart looked at Dooha, who was standing beside him, and headed towards the other knights.

“Then, follow me in this direction. There are some amongst the knights that know how to tend to injuries.”

“Wait a minute.”

Dooha hesitated as she kept staring at the gradually retreating back of the duke.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just…”

This was clearly an opportunity.

It was a chance to inform the duke about the sinister plot without having to worry about interference from Count Jive or the wizard.

But she couldn’t easily mention it.

That’s right, Dooha was currently Daniel’s personal bodyguard, and not a duchess or anything.

There was no way a bodyguard could tell something like that to the duke brazenly.

But she had to convey those words to him.

“Erm, I have something to inform the Duke about.”

“Something to inform?”

“Yes, I must inform him. It’s something that’s really important.”

At the sight of Dooha’s desperate gaze, Baron nodded immediately.

“Alright. Get treated first. If you leave a wound caused by a monster unattended, it will worsen easily. I’ll allow you to meet the Duke when you’re done receiving treatment.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Dooha could only feel relief after receiving Baron’s promise that allowed her a meeting with the Duke.

Meanwhile, Baron tilted his head at the sight of Dooha’s visibly happy countenance.

What was it that Daniel’s escort had to inform the Duke about? On top of that, the way he turned joyful when he heard that he’d be able to meet the Duke again.

‘What a weird guy.’

Baron turned his head after being left with a short impression about Dooha.

In any case, all he had to do was follow the orders of his one and only lord.

* * *