For the heart - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 8

“Duke Montregger….”

The training grounds fell silent in an instant.

At Cassian’s sudden action, both the Emperor and Empress watched his movements without a word.

Lillien’s face, which had been flustered, was turning red with anger as he drew closer to Nina.

Cassian approached Nina, furrowing his brow as he knelt beside her. Then he gently cupped her cheeks with both hands.

At that careful gesture, everyone gathered held their breath.

Nina’s golden eyebrows, cast long beneath her closed eyes, trembled faintly.

Soon, Cassian watched as tears that had seeped out lightly dampened those eyebrows.

Whether from pain or sorrow, he couldn’t tell, but it was clear she was someone who didn’t even know how to cry properly.

He frowned as he looked at her roughly torn chest area.

Moving his hand over it and taking a deep breath, her ribs aligned and newly formed muscle and skin began to cover the wounds.

“Mmm….”

Though she didn’t open her eyes, a faint moan escaped from Nina.

Through her clothes that had been shredded to rags by Baraguz’s sharp claws, her pale skin and curves were visible where the wounds had healed.

Cassian removed his outer garment to wrap around Nina’s body and carefully lifted her into his arms.

The weight he felt was so light it was like lifting a fragile small animal.

And he briefly pressed his cheek gently against Nina’s cheek.

Even though he had channeled healing power into her, her body temperature was far too low.

“How dare you do such a thing to Her Highness the Princess!”

Just then, Vice-Captain Bern, who had been watching the healing from afar, rushed forward and pointed his sword at Cassian.

For some reason, Bern’s face was flushed red with anger.

Cassian looked at him quietly and opened his mouth.

“…I’ve only healed the surface wounds. She’s too damaged and needs several more hours of healing. If her body temperature keeps dropping, the healing won’t work properly.”

The voice flowing from the man was firm yet clear. Though it was clearly respectful speech, there was an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

It certainly wasn’t just because of his physique, which seemed larger and more solid than Bern, the vice-captain.

Those red eyes that seemed to be looking down at him even though they were facing each other.

It must be because of the natural ruler’s gaze reflected in those eyes.

Only after Bern had sorted through those strange qualities the man exuded in his mind did he realize this was Montregger’s First Prince, who had been brought as a hostage yesterday.

It was surprising that he was a Healer, that he hadn’t died even after healing Nina, and that he had managed to heal her mangled body in such a short time.

Moreover, the Captain had clearly seemed to lose consciousness.

He had never seen a Healer who could heal Nina in this manner.

Even though it was fortunate for her, he felt terribly disgusted.

“Your Highness!!!”

Just then, a booming voice echoed through the arena.

Someone was charging toward them like a buffalo.

“Oh my! Oh my! Our Princess, what on earth happened!”

It was Nina’s wet nurse, Tila.

* * *

The beginning was always bright.

In the Imperial Palace garden bathed in sunlight, Arsed’s national flower, the blue and lush Selenia, was in full bloom.

At the outdoor party venue, tables were set long with sweet foods that Lillien loved, and the laughter of young Lillien, dressed in a fluttering yellow dress that looked like it was made from hundreds of overlapping dragonfly wings, burst forth continuously.

Nina watched that peaceful and happy scene from a distance, holding her wet nurse Tila’s hand.

“They said twins have the same birthday…. When can I have a birthday party, Tila?”

“We’ll have a secret party tonight too, Princess Nina.”

“A secret party?”

“Yes. A secret party that only Your Highness and I know about. It will be very exciting, so you can look forward to it.”

At that moment, Nina could see how much her eyes sparkled by looking into Tila’s eyes.

She could see her own expectant gaze reflected in those jet-black pupils.

And even the pity that filled Tila’s face.

“Tila, will I wear a party hat like that too?”

“Hmm…. Instead of a party hat, I’ll put something even better on you!”

Six-year-old Nina wanted the colorful party hat decorated with colored threads that Lillien was wearing more than all the gifts piled around her.

The one their mother had made.

‘It’s my birthday too….’

Nina knew the gifts weren’t for her, so she just watched with envious eyes.

Her blue eyes never left the small jewels strung together at the tip of the hat, fluttering on even more colorful threads.

It would have been better if the hat that Lillien had carelessly thrown off while absorbed in unwrapping presents hadn’t caught Nina’s eye, but God revealed Nina’s fate to the young girl in a cruelly harsh way.

She had only wanted to try it on just once.

The moment she let go of Tila’s hand as if enchanted and entered the party venue, the sky above the Imperial Palace Gardens tore open with a crack, and a giant monster fell down.

The Imperial Palace was located in an area where monsters rarely appeared and was a place where protective barriers were always maintained, but this was the first time that barrier had been breached.

And by Baraguz, said to be the most ferocious of all monsters.

“Screeech―!”

“Kyaaaah―!”

“It’s Baraguz! Protect Her Highness!”

Baraguz was a demon beast that devoured human hearts.

With long, sharp blade-like claws, it would instantly rip out hearts and bring them to its mouth, and what it liked most were young hearts.

Baraguz twitched its nose, sniffing for human scent.

And soon, its pitch-black eyes that looked like large protruding marbles turned toward young Lillien, who was wearing bright-colored clothes.

“Ah, aah….”

“Screeeeech―!”

At the sight of the monster charging toward her with a terrifying shriek that sounded like scraping metal, Lillien froze in place.

Nina also watched from right behind her, but couldn’t move a single step.

It was the most chilling terror she had ever faced in her six years of life.

Swoosh―!

The moment that terrifying hand, gleaming in the sunlight, reached toward Lillien’s heart,

“Lillien!”

The Emperor, who had come running with a pale face, grabbed Nina by the back of the neck from behind Lillien and pulled her forward.

He positioned her small body like a shield in front of Lillien to block Baraguz.

“Huk―!”

Nina, who took Baraguz’s attack in Lillien’s place, couldn’t even let out a proper scream.

‘Please, save me… It hurts so much…’

It was the first time she had experienced such terrible pain.

It was too cruel for a mere six-year-old child to endure.

Baraguz was finally dealt with by the knights who appeared to subdue the monster, and Nina collapsed headfirst into the garden.

“Lillien! Are you alright?!”

“Oh, my daughter. How shocked you must be by this terrible scene! What are you all doing?! Quickly call the palace physician and take the Princess inside!”

Nina listened to her father’s voice and the attendants’ bustling footsteps while lying face down on the grass.

The only Princess they took inside was Lillien.

‘I’m really in pain too…’

After a moment, the Emperor’s calm voice could be heard.

“Bring a Healer over here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

He flipped her small body over with his foot and asked with a furrowed brow.

“Are you in pain, Nina?”

“…”

“It’s a bit early, but you’ll have to get used to it now. Protecting the Arsed Empire like today is your role and the reason for your existence.”

“…”

“Don’t forget that protecting Lillien is the same as protecting the Arsed Empire.”

Nina knew this was a dream.

Whenever she was about to forget, it would appear in her dreams once in a while, constantly reminding her of who she was and how she should live.

And this dream would only end when she saw it through to the finish.

But this time, the dream wouldn’t end.

‘I hate it. I hate it all.’

Then, a large shadow pushed away her father, who had been looking down at his suffering young daughter with indifferent eyes.

Though her blurry vision could only make out a dark figure and she couldn’t tell who it was, the shadow knelt beside her, placed a hand over her torn chest, and poured warm healing power into her.

It felt like hot blood was rushing powerfully through her entire body.

For the first time, she felt like she could breathe properly.

Nina seemed to know who this faceless person was.

The person who could heal her without her having to hold hands and steal their healing power.

In the warmth that spread like a fantasy, Nina was drifting between her six-year-old self and her current self.

The fear of Baraguz did not easily disappear, and for the first time, she desperately wanted to cling to someone else.

‘I’ll do anything you want. Please, take me away from here.’

The moment tears streamed down the corners of her eyes, Nina completely lost consciousness.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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