The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 134

Page 13. Road to You
It was over.

The Coma that had plunged the empire into fear had vanished, and the curse that tormented Dillian for so long had disappeared.

And in my arms…

Thump, thump.

I could feel the strong heartbeat pounding through his chest pressed against mine.

I hugged Dillian tightly and called his name.

“Dillian.”

“Yes, Miss Ria.”

“Dillian.”

“Yes. I’m right here.”

I kept calling Dillian’s name.

Because I couldn’t believe this miracle, afraid it would vanish like a mirage.

Afraid that Dillian would disappear somewhere.

Maybe he sensed my feelings.

Dillian wrapped his arms firmly around my waist and lifted his upper body.

Then, he slowly patted my back.

That warm and kind touch almost made me burst into tears again.

I pressed my face into Dillian’s shoulder, trying to hold back the stinging feeling in my throat.

“……You’re not going anywhere now, right?”

“Where would I go? I haven’t even had the wedding ceremony with you yet.”

His big hand gently stroked my hair.

“And how could I leave when you love me so much? I’d worry you’d cry without me, so I can’t go anywhere.”

Wait, something sounded weird just now?

I lifted my head and glared at Dillian.

“Are you teasing me for being a crybaby?”

“I’m not teasing. It’s just the truth. See, you look like you’re about to cry again.”

“I’m not crying!”

I answered sharply, but honestly, I had teared up a little.

Dillian noticed and burst into laughter. His drowsy laughter tickled my ears.

“Miss Ria.”

“What?”

Suddenly, he leaned in and stole a kiss from my pouting lips.

The feeling of his lips pressing and then pulling away was vivid.

“Now you feel relieved, right?”

“Huh…….”

He did that to reassure me?

Liar.

“Weren’t you just satisfying your own selfishness, Dillian?”

Even after almost dying, Dillian was still Dillian.

To think he could be so shameless even in a moment like this.

He pressed my open mouth shut with his thumb.

“Miss Ria, you’ve gotten way too perceptive.”

No, this was obvious enough that even someone clueless could tell!

“Actually, calming you down was just an excuse. I thought I was going to die.”

“…….”

“Now it finally feels real.”

His voice was calm, but it reached me clearly.

The emotions Dillian had felt then.

How scared he had been, how shocked.

“I’m so glad I get to see you again, Miss Ria.”

It wasn’t fear of death — it was fear of never seeing me again.

Feeling like I might cry again, I hugged Dillian’s head as he leaned into me.

“……I’m glad you’re alive.”

As we held each other, lost in our own world—

“Ahem.”

A cough interrupted us.

I snapped back to my senses.

“I know it’s a happy moment, but look around you a little.”

Nathan coughed repeatedly and pointed behind us.

Turning my creaky neck around, I saw a swarm of people gathered like a hive of bees, and my mouth dropped open.

‘W-Why are they all looking, and why do their faces look like that?’

Each and every one of them had teary eyes and were covering their mouths.

Some hastily turned away when our eyes met.

Among the many identical expressions, there were two particularly distinct faces.

“I must endure. It’s a happy occasion. Endure…….”

Schumann was covering his eyes and muttering like he was chanting a spell,

And Cassis, who was sincerely admiring us, said,

“Beautiful.”

‘I-I’m ruined…….’

What had I done in front of everyone!

A wave of shame crashed over me.

I hastily pushed Dillian away and, with a blushing face, stumbled over my words.

“Ahem, is everyone okay? No one’s hurt, right?”

“We’re fine, but the duke you just shoved aside looks like he’s hurting.”

Dillian? Why Dillian……?

When I turned my head, I was shocked.

“Dillian?”

“Ugh…….”

Dillian groaned, clutching his side.

Through his white shirt, blood was seeping out.

‘What the heck, if you bring someone back to life, at least heal their injuries too! Don’t just bring them back and leave them bleeding!’

Grumbling internally, I reached out toward Dillian.

“Dillian, are you okay? I’ll heal you right now…….”

But my hand never reached him.

“You, you!”

Harris rushed in like the wind and hugged Dillian tightly.

My outstretched hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

“The curse is finally broken!”

Only now realizing that Dillian’s curse had been lifted, Harris was as happy as if it had happened to him.

“……Let go.”

“Ah, right. You said you were hurt. Let’s see. Oh dear.”

Harris quickly found the wound and used holy power to heal it.

Dillian’s body, which had always rejected holy power, now accepted it smoothly.

Proof that the curse was completely gone.

“It really works.”

Seeing Dillian’s completely healed side, Harris murmured in amazement, and then his face lit up.

“Dillian! The curse is really gone!”

Meanwhile, Dillian looked utterly dumbfounded.

Probably even less shocked if someone had robbed him blind.

“Who told you to heal me without permission?”

Dillian growled fiercely.

“Judging by that bad temper, you must be fine.”

“Get lost.”

Dillian growled at Harris like he was chewing him out, but Harris just laughed, drenched in joy.

I stepped back a little and smiled warmly as I watched them.

‘They bicker, but they really are close.’

I was so grateful that Harris had rushed straight to Dillian.

It showed just how much he cared for him.

And thanks to him, it was confirmed that Dillian’s curse was completely broken, making me feel like jumping for joy.

“Harris, could you check if Dillian has any other injuries?”

“Miss Ria…….”

“Trust me.”

Though Dillian called out to me pitifully, I left him in Harris’s hands.

Breaking away from the commotion, I headed for the corner.

The place where they were seemed almost like another world—quiet and serene.

“Aina. Dante…….”

“The kid’s okay.”

Aina held Dante out toward me.

I knelt down in front of Aina and reached toward Dante.

Though small, his chest rose and fell with every breath. His gentle breathing brushed against my nose.

The heartbeat under my palm thumped strongly.

“Ha…….”

Only then did a sigh of relief escape me.

“Dante, thank you for holding on.”

“Mmm.”

As I brushed aside the hair stuck to his forehead, Dante whimpered and squirmed.

Seeing him act like any other child brought a smile to my face.

As I gently petted Dante’s head, I asked carefully,

“Where’s Kkamangie?”

Aina shook her head.

“I see.”

So in the end, he went away. Sacrificing himself…

Lowering the hand that was petting Dante, I cupped his soft cheek.

And whispered sincerely,

To the presence that might still be there somewhere.

“Thank you. For protecting Dante.”

It was all thanks to you that we could come this far.

Thank you for protecting Dante from Coma and for giving us the chance to end it all.

I hope this feeling reaches you.

“Hahaha—”

Behind me, I heard someone laughing.

When I turned my head, I saw people laughing with the ruins in the background.

Though they were a mess of injuries, the smiles on their faces were full of happiness.

Watching them, I quietly smiled along.

At last, peace had come.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

The building, devastated by the battle with Coma, was no different from a ruin.

But in that hell, there was one place that remained intact.

“Here it is.”

When Schumann opened the large iron door, unconscious people were scattered messily across the floor.

They were the ones who had intended to participate in today’s auction, and also the main figures of the illusion Schumann had created.

“Mmph, mmph!”

Among them, there was one man who was still conscious, the auctioneer and person in charge of the event.

Schumann dragged the man over and presented him to Cassis with a bright smile.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, a gift.”

Although Manus, Cassis’s long-time enemy, had died, his faction remained strong.

This meant Cassis should use this man to completely wipe them out.

If it became known that the one running a major black market was the Empire’s Third Prince, it would all come crashing down.

Of course, Schumann wasn’t giving him away for free.

“In exchange, give us the rights to mine the magic ore.”

Give and take — that was how things worked.

“I’ll grant the Tower Master’s request.”

Cassis readily agreed.

It was a gift valuable enough for that.

He also intended to hold the nobles who had undermined the Empire’s order fully accountable.

Outside, the sounds of murmuring and hurried footsteps grew louder.

“What’s going on?”

The guards, rushing over after receiving reports of a terrorist attack, looked around the ruined surroundings and muttered in shock.

“What in the world happened here…?”

“Good timing.”

“Who— Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince?!”

Cassis waved his hand dismissively at the flustered guard captain and pointed behind him.

“Enough with the greetings. More importantly, arrest everyone inside who’s unconscious.”

“Yes, sir! As you command!”

Ria and Dillian slipped outside, avoiding the chaotic crowd busy cleaning up.

Sera, holding Nathan in her arms, and Kira, still on high alert, followed closely behind them.

“Miss! Your Highness!”

“Your Highness—!”

“My Lady!”

The moment they stepped outside, the Shatten Knights came running, calling Ria and Dillian’s names.

“Thank goodness. Everyone’s safe.”

Ria smiled brightly and waved to them.

Relief spread across the knights’ faces.

“If they find out Dillian’s curse is broken, everyone might faint.”

“If they faint, we’re leaving them behind.”

At Dillian’s indifferent reply, Ria chuckled softly and looked up when she felt his gaze on her cheek.

Their eyes met.

Dillian’s gaze had been fixed on her, as if he had been looking only at her for a long time.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because I’m happy.”

His softly curved lips inched closer to Ria.

“Nope. No kissing outside.”

Ria blocked his approaching face with her palm, mumbling with a flushed face.

“If you want to kiss, do it at home.”

“Home is okay?”

“Of course. It’s our home.”

“Our home….”

Muttering like a man who had lost his soul, Dillian covered his mouth.

Our home.

A home to live in together with Ria.

A home where they would spend their lives together.

The existence of a home, which had always been meaningless to him, now touched his heart for the first time.

“Why is your face like that? Are you hurt?”

“……No. I just really want to go.”

“Where? Home?”

“Yes. Our home.”

The words “our home” felt so warm and full of happiness as they left his mouth.

His chest trembled.

Dillian hid the trembling of his heart and smiled.

“Let’s go home. To our home.”

“You want to go that badly? Then let’s hurry.”

The two of them held hands and began walking, step by step.

Toward their warm and cozy home.