Chapter 18
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Elvira was now running a tavern in the borderlands.
A burly, dark–skinned blacksmith tossed a silver coin to the server. “Same as always–three bottles of whiskey. My wife loves the stuff.”
On the first floor, men and women lounged around casually, chatting over their drinks.
“Elva, has your husband come back yet? It’s been, what, nearly a month? Could something have happened to him?”
“I’m telling you, you’ve got such fair skin and those pretty eyes–sure, you’re not the most stunning beauty, but you could easily find a stable husband. Your father and husband are never around. Have you really never thought about remarrying?”
“Yeah, if something has happened to him, wouldn’t it be better to have someone to rely on? Better than living like a widow, right?”
Their teasing was light–hearted, but there was sincerity in their words.
One of the older women was a matchmaker who had been coming to the tavern for days. A minor official had taken a liking to Elva or Elvira, and the
woman was hoping to arrange a match.
Elvira instinctively reached up and touched the disguise mask on her face. Feeling it still in place, she instantly relaxed and refused without hesitation.
“No need, I-”
Before she could finish, the tavern door swung open. A tall, broad–shouldered man dressed in black strode in, radiating an intimidating aura.
“No need. She doesn’t need anyone else. I’m all she needs.”
Vespid–the codename Vesper used as a mercenary–was just as cold and dangerous as his voice. The entire tavern fell into stunned silence.
People exchanged uneasy glances, whispering internally: “Wasn’t this Vespid guy kind of unremarkable before? Why do his eyes look so terrifying now?”
Still, no one questioned it. Mercenaries lived dangerous lives, and it was no surprise that he carried a presence ordinary folk lacked.
Vesper’s expression stayed icy as he wrapped an arm around Elvira’s waist and led her toward the back room.
“Ugh…”
As soon as they stepped inside, he couldn’t hold back a muffled groan and collapsed against her.
“Elvira… it hurts so much.”
This time, he used his real voice–cool, clear, and strikingly beautiful.
Though his tone remained flat, as if pain could never touch him, Elvira knew he wasn’t as emotionless as he seemed.
She immediately caught him in her arms and began tearing at his clothes with practiced urgency.
Layer by layer, his garments came off, revealing a lean, muscular torso.
His skin was pale from being constantly covered, and while his muscles were well–defined, they were marred by countless scars–old and new–forming
a grotesque tapestry.
A fresh wound sliced across his abdomen, deep and jagged, the flesh mangled and bloodied.
At the sight of it, Elvira couldn’t hold back her tears.
They spilled down her cheeks in heavy drops, unstoppable.
“Vesper, are you out of your mind? You’re in this much pain and didn’t even use medicine? Just let it rot like this? Are you that unafraid of death?”
Vesper leaned his forehead against hers, meeting her gaze. “I just wanted to get back to you as quickly as possible.”
Hearing that, Elvira broke down completely, her sobs growing more intense.
She rushed to grab the best anti–inflammatory ointment. After disinfecting the wound with alcohol, she gently applied the medicine and carefully bandaged him up.
Only after thoroughly inspecting him and confirming there were no other injuries did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“I’m here waiting for you. I won’t run. And besides, our son is here too. You don’t have to rush like that. We just want
Chapter 18
you
safe.”
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Elvira held Vesper tightly. Only when she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat did her own heart finally settle.
Vesper wrapped his arms around her in return and patted her back reassuringly.
After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke–his voice hesitant, carrying a weight neither of them wanted to face.
“Elvira… he came looking for you. I got hurt this badly trying to avoid him. I won’t take on any more missions from now on. I’m staying with you and Julius–for good. I’ll protect both of you.”
Chapter 18
