Chapter 33

Glacia’s mind went blank as she saw Werner collapse suddenly. Why? She had heard it was just a bracelet that prevented the use of magic, but necrosis was spreading around his arm. When she examined his body with magic, she found clumps of magical energy forming throughout his body, starting from the heart meridian. It was just a bracelet to stop him from using magic, so why? The thought that it might be her fault weighed heavily on Glacia. Knowing that Werner wasn’t usually frail, she desperately began searching for the reason.

Was it the effect of the magic-sealing restraint? Or the cold northern temperature? Or extreme stress? Or maybe he had an illness and hadn’t taken his medicine while coming here? Glacia considered every possibility, but no matter which hypothesis she chose, it ultimately came back to her responsibility. She was the one who had put the restraint on Werner, brought him to the north, and forcibly kidnapped him, causing him stress.

Frantic, Glacia picked up Werner and removed the restraint, then looked for nearby guards.

“Medic! Where’s the medic?!”

The guards were shocked to see Werner collapse suddenly, but what surprised them even more was Glacia’s expression. She, who usually showed little emotion, was panting with a flushed face as she held Werner. Her voice was also unusually agitated.

“…For the sake of speed, you didn’t include non-combat personnel like medics, only combat troops.”

Only then did Glacia remember her mistake. She had wanted to meet Werner as quickly as possible, even a second sooner. That’s why she hadn’t included medics in the escort and had only selected personnel based on combat skills. If a conflict broke out, they could suppress it immediately. But that was the worst decision. Even if it meant meeting him a little later, she should have brought a medic. Her own greed and impatience had led to this situation.

Tears welled up in Glacia’s eyes, but she realized that her own sadness wasn’t important right now.

“How long will it take to get back to the mansion in the territory?”

“Roughly two days…”

“That’s enough.”

Glacia started running with Werner on her back. Gathering magic at her feet, she crossed the snowy field like a wild beast. Her speed, faster than most carriages, was to reduce the time it took to reach the territory. For the only man she had loved since she was six.

As she ran, Glacia remembered the day she first fell in love.

===================================================

‘Ugh, a child born between a human and a vampire… how ominous…’

‘The Duke is something else, taking a vampire as his wife and even having a child.’

‘And that daughter can’t even kill a bug, what a coward.’

‘I doubt she even inherited the proper blood.’

The humans on her father’s side whispered such things behind her back.

‘The Queen married a lowly human and even had a child…’

‘How can such a half-breed be the Queen’s child? I can’t accept it.’

‘She’s so weak, can she even take down a single monster?’

‘Hmph, she’s just a useless girl. The Queen will lose interest soon enough.’

These were the things the humans on her mother’s side said about her.

Of course, when her father and mother found out, they tore out the tongues and beheaded those who spoke such words. But I knew—I was a useless half-breed. I hadn’t properly inherited the warrior’s blood from my father or the vampire’s blood from my mother. I was just a mediocre half-breed. Accepting that fact, I always tried to live quietly, like a dead mouse.

On my birthday, my father and mother took me to the capital to throw a proper party and let me meet their comrades. But at the time, I was very withdrawn and just let myself be carried along in the rattling carriage.

When we arrived at the mansion in the capital, I didn’t say a word and just holed up in my room reading books. It seemed pointless for a half-breed like me to stand before people hailed as heroes. As I was halfway through a book, a loud commotion erupted outside. Thinking it was just the usual fights among those who loved combat, I tried to ignore it.

But then I heard the voices of the guards outside my door.

“…Sir, this area is off-limits. If you continue, we’ll have to report to the Duke and Madam…”

“Please, could you go somewhere else? The Duke will be furious.”

Curious, I went closer to the door to hear who the guards were talking to. The voice belonged to a young boy.

“Move if you don’t want to die.”

“But Lord Werner! If you continue, we’ll have to use force!”

Werner Alton—I had heard that name before. He was a comrade of my father and mother, a great sorcerer who had developed countless spells despite his young age. Some tower lords had even knelt before him, trying to recruit him, but he refused them all and became a court mage—a genius among geniuses.

“You? Against me? Hah, you guys are funny. Why don’t you go outside and be clowns? You’d make better money that way.”

“Sigh… Lord Werner, we’ve warned you.”

“Too bad. It would’ve been better if you’d just moved.”

With those words, Werner’s voice turned cold as he chanted a spell. Gone was the playful tone, replaced by a chilling, eerie voice.

“Ice, bind and imprison.”

About five seconds later, the doorknob turned. The Werner who appeared before me was nothing like I had imagined. A slight smirk on one side of his lips, clothes haphazardly thrown on, a robe draped carelessly over him. His long, messy black hair and blue eyes were far from the image I had of him. I had thought a mage would be more meticulous about his appearance and attire.

“Hey, are you Brother Melchior and Sister Melissa’s daughter? What was your name… Glaze Donut or something…”

“Yes, I am Glacia Winterheart, daughter of Duke Melchior Winterheart. It’s an honor to meet you, Lord Werner, the greatest sorcerer.”

When I greeted him properly, Werner yawned and waved his hand as if such formalities were unnecessary.

“Hey, it’s fine, it’s fine. No need for all that annoying etiquette. Just call me Werner.”

“But…”

“I hate that stuff. Etiquette, nobility, it’s all so annoying.”

Werner sat on a nearby desk and started reading the book I had been reading. The bookmark had fallen, so he had to find where I left off, but I couldn’t bring myself to complain about such a trivial matter.

“Man, this book is so boring. What kind of kid reads history books?”

“But it’s interesting.”

“Brother and Sister would never read something like this. I mean, have they ever read a book in their lives?”

It was true—my father and mother were far from bookish. My father’s study was always dusty, and my mother had gone to war instead of reading books during her pregnancy.

“Ah, look at me, getting sidetracked. Hey, hide me for a bit.”

“Are you being chased by someone?”

Who in the world would dare chase this person?

“Yeah, by some old hags and nagging brothers.”

“Huh?”

“Your mother and father, of course, and my other brothers and sisters are all out to get me.”

“Why would they…?”

I couldn’t understand. I had heard Lord Werner was close with all his comrades, and unlike a half-breed like me, he was talented and had an excellent character. So why were they all chasing him? It didn’t make sense.

“Ah, it’s not a big deal…”

“Okay.”

“There was a carriage accident on the way here, and some noble was insulting commoners, so I taught him a lesson, and now they’re all mad.”

Was he the type who couldn’t stand injustice and had disciplined a noble oppressing commoners? But even so, my father and mother wouldn’t be angry about that.

“Well, I burned the noble’s clothes and hung him on the city walls.”

“Wait, what?”

That seemed a bit excessive.

“Turns out he was related to the Empress. Now they’re all out to get me.”

I could sense it—the person before me wasn’t who I had imagined.

Then, heavy footsteps echoed, and Werner clicked his tongue.

“Tch, the old hag found me.”

The door opened, and there stood Lady Media with a sinister smile. The kind Lady Media who had played with me during her visit to the north now held a mace in one hand.

“What trouble have you caused now, Werner…”

“That guy was pissing me off!”

“Ah… really? Well, you’re really pissing me off right now…”

Lady Media strode toward us with her mace, and Werner, looking around, grabbed me and said:

“Don’t come any closer! If you do, this child’s life is over!”

That day, I played the role of a hostage for the first time.