When the large prey he was eyeing got pushed out of sight, the crocodile’s eyes darted around and then fixed on Clodel. She had fallen to the ground amidst the collapsed remains of the poorly constructed wooden platform they had been standing on.
The crocodile snapped her up in an instant.
“Ah!”
Even with boots on, her petite legs were no match for the beast’s grip. Clenching its prey, the crocodile turned, heading back towards its swampy home with her in its jaws.
Witnessing this scene, Kyan’s vision momentarily blurred as rage boiled up inside him, feeling like his heart would burst.
“No!”
He swiftly drew his sword and charged at the crocodile.
“Cover me, everyone!”
But no one heeded his command. In the chaos, everyone seemed too panicked, rushing towards the tents set up for rest, screaming and fleeing in the opposite direction.
Crunch.
Kyan followed the crocodile, jumping onto its back, and plunged his sword accurately into the back of its head, right between the eyes.
Blood spurted from the crocodile’s head.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Kyan repeatedly stabbed the beast.
Finally, the crocodile, which had resisted his onslaught, collapsed limply to the side.
“….Huff, huff.”
Automatically shaking off the blood and muck from his sword, Kyan turned towards Clodel.
Her condition was dreadful.
Dragged for about twenty meters by the crocodile, she was in a terrible state, her body scraped and torn like a rag.
Yet, the crocodile’s jaws were not wide enough to consume her completely. Grinding his teeth, Kyan pried open the jaws of the dead creature.
“…….”
He closed his eyes tightly.
The leg that the crocodile had fiercely bitten and dragged was shredded, with some bones exposed.
The soft deer leather boots she wore were no protection.
Shocked, Kyan was at a loss when people who had fled in the opposite direction earlier crowded around, seemingly to spectate.
“How fortunate!”
Someone among them commented.
‘Fortunate? Fortunate, really?’
In his shock, Kyan barely registered the murmuring around him.
“Fortunate that it was a Bermonte that got bitten. A great relief indeed!”
Fortunate?
“Blessed by the heavens. It’s fortunate.”
Fortunate, this situation?
“Thankful that the Lord is safe…”
Wham.
Kyan, filled with rage, punched someone nearby who was droning on about their good fortune.
Silence fell suddenly, and Kyan’s angry voice cut through.
“Bring a stretcher.”
The eagerly awaited crocodile hunt, occurring only once every three years, ended in disaster.
The crocodile was a demonic creature.
Though cumbersome to catch, it yielded plenty of meat and its uniquely patterned, beautiful hide was highly useful.
The crocodile hunt was a significant event in the Temnes territory, boosting the men’s pride and filling the ladies with vanity and anticipation for the luxurious goods to be made later.
But now, it had disastrously ended with the newlywed Bermonte bride being attacked by a crocodile during the Lord’s opening speech.
“Oh, typical of a Bermonte to ruin the hunting event.”
“How lucky the Lord wasn’t the one bitten!”
“Bermonte bitten by a crocodile. Even the crocodile thinks a Bermonte is fit to eat. Hahaha.”
“Come to think of it, with that red hair, she’s perfect bait for hunting. Stands out and everything.”
Outside the castle, the incident became the talk of the town.
However, the atmosphere inside the castle was different.
The Lord, who had previously humiliated his Lady in front of the servants, was now personally attending to Clodel’s care.
Inside Clodel’s room, Hanna, looking distraught with her face and arms bandaged, wept as she held Clodel’s hand to her cheek.
“My lady, oh…”
Hanna had been the first to rush to Clodel’s aid when she was dragged away by the crocodile.
Bravely, Hanna had kicked at the crocodile that clamped onto Clodel’s leg, but it was futile.
Kyan, with a hardened expression, consulted the doctor. The doctor, innocent of any wrongdoing, found it dreadful to relay Clodel’s condition directly to Kyan, who emanated a menacing aura.
“The wounds on her body might look extensive and severe, but they’re mostly superficial. There are no other serious injuries, like stabbings.”
“What about her leg?”
Yes, the leg was the crux of the issue.
“We’ve stitched together the torn muscles and skin with the help of an assistant…”
“Just get to the point.”
Kyan’s heart felt as shredded as Clodel’s leg, treated by the doctor. But having rescued her himself, Kyan already knew the state of her leg, so the doctor swallowed his fear.
“We’ve done all we can. Now, we must be careful to prevent infection. If necrosis sets in and the skin or muscles start to decay, additional surgery to remove those parts will be necessary.”
“No! That can’t happen to my lady!”
Hanna’s wails grew louder at the doctor’s words.
“…Walking might be difficult for her now.”
“I see.”
Kyan responded emotionlessly.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, yes.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
