Save Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
Golden eyes, holding vertically slit pupils.
Those weren’t human eyes embedded in that terrifyingly gorgeous and beautiful face.
Wouldn’t the eyes of a predator setting out to hunt at midnight look exactly like that?
Its gleaming, menacing gaze, fixed on its target, was like a harpoon.
He tried not to show fear, but under the piercing golden eyes staring straight at him, the Emperor stammered.
“D-Duke Valroc.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What brings you here?”
At the Emperor’s question, Duke Valroc bowed slightly.
“I came because you summoned me.”
His reply and posture were courteous, and his faint smile was clearly sociable.
Yet, perhaps because of those unwavering golden eyes—
A chilling sensation down his spine refused to fade.
Slightly irritated at having been frightened even with the Duke bowing before him, the Emperor spoke again.
“I summoned my attendant…”
“Did you not summon me?”
Thud.
The young Duke lightly cut off the Emperor’s words, straightened his back, and took a long step forward.
As the short distance swiftly closed, the pressure bearing down on Ecliff grew even heavier.
“However, since the one who summoned me never arrived despite my waiting, I came to see you myself.”
“That…”
At the risk of rudeness.
Though the added words sounded like a whisper, they were deliberately loud enough for Ecliff to hear clearly.
Hearing the word “rudeness,” the Emperor’s heart sank inexplicably, and he quickly turned to the princess.
“Did you not see the princess?”
The beautiful princess who would absolve his sins.
His precious Bianca—the last remaining hope and certain salvation.
Even before reaching adulthood, she had surpassed her elder sisters, her name already appearing on negotiation tables.
At her coming-of-age ceremony, even the Archbishop, who was supposed to bestow blessings, gaped at Bianca and babbled nonsense like, “The one I’ve waited centuries for.”
Beauty that could bewitch even an Archbishop.
Truly extraordinary, wasn’t it?
And he had sent such a Bianca to Valroc.
Surely, some reaction was to be expected…
Ecliff asked the young Duke, whose smile had deepened further.
“Did you meet the princess?”
“I did.”
He met Bianca and remained this composed?
Seeing Duke Valroc’s refreshingly calm demeanor—utterly devoid of any slimy greed or obsession—Ecliff’s heart sank.
“What do you think? Do you like her? It may sound boastful, but my youngest princess resembles the late Empress exactly—she’s an extraordinary beauty. Since the age of fifteen, marriage proposals addressed to her have filled more than ten carts.”
“I see.”
“An incredible thing indeed. Among all the nobles of Termina, there isn’t a single one who hasn’t sent a proposal.”
Frustrated by the Duke’s indifferent attitude, the Emperor stepped closer to the young man, who was looking down at him with cool eyes.
“I’ve given that child to Valroc.”
“Does that mean the princess will henceforth have no further ties to this imperial household?”
“Of course! Absolutely. Once you sign the marriage contract, my youngest princess will become your wife and a member of House Valroc. I’ve already had her name thoroughly erased from the imperial registry.”
“…Already?”
“Yes. Isn’t that considerate?”
At Ecliff’s words, Duke Valroc suddenly burst into laughter.
Ha ha.
A clear, ringing laugh and a face blooming with joy.
Seeing such an unmistakably delighted expression, Ecliff’s trembling, which had been shaking him to his core, began to subside.
I’m saved.
I’m alive!
Someone seemed to shout triumphantly into his ear.
The dragon of Termina had accepted his offering with satisfaction!
After all, it was Bianca.
Who would refuse his youngest daughter, hailed as the empire’s greatest beauty?
As his tension eased, the Emperor felt overwhelmingly exhausted.
Should he send the Duke away and get some rest…?
With this rather carefree thought, the Emperor gave a light wave of his hand toward the Duke.
“You have a long journey ahead. Don’t linger—go on home.”
“But, Your Majesty, isn’t this odd? You arranged this marriage yourself to help us forget that unfortunate incident, didn’t you?”
“W-what’s odd about it?”
“The princess, who is to become Lady of ‘Valroc,’ arrived alone—without even a single handmaiden or guard.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Moreover, just now, when I inquired how she would travel to the Northern Territory, I learned she has no ceremonial escort accompanying her northward. Yet you say her name has already been erased from the imperial registry…?”
Each word from the Duke pierced deep into the Emperor’s chest like a sharp stab.
He had thought marriage impossible.
He’d believed it acceptable if, in exchange for the princess’s life, he could once again tighten Valroc’s leash.
But this Valroc before him calmly and rationally pointed out every detail, crushing even youthful impulsiveness.
They said the late Duke Sylas Valroc had been unnaturally cold and calculating—but this Gillian Valroc before him was even worse.
He’d taken as his bride the daughter of the man who killed his own father?
And now he was criticizing her treatment as inadequate?
What on earth…?
“How on earth am I supposed to take this?”
The Duke, scratching his chin lightly with long fingers, whispered with his smile completely gone.
“It seems as though you fully expected something unfortunate to befall Princess Bianca.”
“That’s absurd! Utterly absurd!”
Under that sharp gaze, his stomach clenched involuntarily.
Panicked at the thought that his true intentions had been exposed, he forgot all decorum and raised his voice sharply.
“It meant I was giving her to you completely! There will surely be capable maids and skilled knights in the North—she should surround herself with Northern people. Bianca is now the Lady of the North, after all.”
His face burned as he explained in such detail.
“The Lady of the North.”
“Exactly! That’s why I erased her from the registry.”
“Then shall we leave the fortress as it is? I quite liked hearing her called ‘the Lady of the North.’”
“…What? Leave the fortress…?”
Now he remembered—he’d been so overwhelmed by the young Duke that he’d momentarily blanked out.
Just moments ago, a tremendous roar had echoed from Rosevena Palace.
A massive cloud of dust had darkened the sky.
“Wait—could that sound just now have been…”
“Compared to what Your Majesty has demolished, it’s truly insignificant, isn’t it?”
“Duke!”
The Emperor’s voice, shrilly shouted in a crimson flush, trembled pitifully at the end.
“Remember this well.”
“…”
“That ‘Valroc’ considers destroying a single palace no trouble at all—and you’ll learn what we truly fight against.”
No sound escaped through the Emperor’s parted lips.
“The things beyond the ice wall don’t negotiate. They’d tear apart a lovely princess like her into shreds. Oh—wait, don’t you have no princesses left now?”
The young Duke Valroc left him with a cruel warning, all while wearing a smile.
“Valroc needs only one mistress—there won’t be a next chance.”
Having spoken, the Duke bowed slightly in farewell and turned away.
The moment Duke Valroc vanished completely from sight, the Emperor finally exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
“Huh…”
Golden eyes, gleaming with pupils slit like blades.
‘They’d tear her into shreds.’
At the Duke’s gentle whisper, he felt as if he’d been thrown before a beast baring sharp fangs.
“Huh… hah…”
Cold sweat dripped heavily, darkening the floor before his feet.
The main palace remained utterly empty—no one was there.
‘Shall I call the maids now, then?’
‘Which maids?’
‘The personal maids who will accompany your wife to the North. Even if we use warps, there’s still a distance to cover by carriage—it’s best to hurry.’
‘Surely… you meant we’d leave for the North today? I thought today was… oh.’
She must have clapped a hand over her mouth mid-sentence.
Bianca, trying to recall, couldn’t bear the despair and covered her face with her hands.
The Duke had come having received the marriage proposal—but Bianca had known nothing of it.
The Emperor, believing Bianca would die by the Duke’s hand, had given her no warning whatsoever.
Naturally, not a single preparation had been made for her journey north.
She’d known she was being abandoned—but to orchestrate her death so meticulously?
She’d never once expected paternal love from the Emperor.
But this…
This was too much.
“You went too far.”
At last, a frail complaint slipped through her clenched teeth.
She’d cried for so long already—yet her chest still heaved with fresh sobs.
Bianca let out a quiet sigh.
Her eyes felt hot and swollen.
She’d been crying heavily just moments ago.
Then, Duke Valroc had waited patiently until she calmed down.
Instead of offering hasty comfort, he simply watched over her in silence.
Only when she was gasping for breath, tears streaming uncontrollably, did he finally approach.
“I didn’t manage to prepare a handkerchief.”
Then, without hesitation, he untied his cravat and gently wiped her wet cheeks.
His touch was so tender that her tears didn’t stop—they only flowed more freely.
Even a stranger.
Even someone like me—the daughter of the man who murdered his father—
Is shown such kindness.
Following the heavy drops of her tears, deep resentment toward the Emperor and Crown Prince clouded her vision and churned in her mind.
‘If even the Duke treats me as a person…’
“Must be love.”
At the Duke’s unexpectedly playful remark, her welling tears abruptly stopped.
“How dare someone steal tears from my wife’s eyes? That’s unforgivable.”
“I must set an example so no one dares mistreat my wife again. Wouldn’t destroying a fortress serve as a clear warning?”
His whisper, though furrowed with a frown, was clearly laced with amusement.
That’s why she’d only half-listened at the time.
Her reply—“Of course”—had obviously been mere politeness.
Yet the Duke had truly demolished the palace!
“I’ll take Rosevena Palace. Clear the area so there are no unnecessary casualties.”
It had been exactly thirty minutes since he gave that order to his knight and disappeared.
Boom!!!
A vibration shook her entire body, and outside the carriage window, the world appeared hazy.
Once the dust settled and visibility returned, Rosevena Palace—perfectly intact just moments before—was now completely ruined.
“Do you feel a bit better now?”
Only then could Bianca fully understand the Duke’s words.
What he’d said wasn’t comfort or jest.
After the dust cleared, the Duke, meeting her astonished gaze once more, smiled and said it was time to go home.
“I should pay my respects to His Majesty before leaving.”
“I’ll be right back. Please wait just a moment.”
So even that promise to return quickly must have been sincere.
“Could you prepare some cool tea for me?”
Bianca straightened her posture and called for a handmaiden.
He was someone for whom destroying a palace or two was no trouble—but the weather was undeniably hot.
He must be feeling warm after all that rushing about.
The tea was prepared in the blink of an eye.
However, instead of serving it, the handmaiden hesitated slightly before speaking.
“We’re short on syrup—may I go fetch some quickly?”
“Go ahead.”
How long had it been since the handmaiden left with Bianca’s permission?
The carriage was already filled with a refreshing tea fragrance.
Bianca, savoring the scent that brushed past her nose, belatedly realized she’d overlooked the Duke’s tea preferences.
Knock knock.
Just then, a neat knock sounded—likely the handmaiden returning.
“Come in.”
Still gazing into the distance, Bianca spoke.
“What kind of tea does Your Grace enjoy? For next time—”
“I don’t particularly favor any.”
Bianca, who had naturally assumed it was the handmaiden, was thoroughly flustered by the Duke’s sudden voice.
“Your Grace?”
“I’m back.”
Amused by Bianca’s startled expression, the Duke gave a brief chuckle as he stepped into the carriage.
It was a carriage, after all—spacious as it might be.
Though it must have felt cramped for his tall frame, the Duke moved with such ease and grace that Bianca found herself momentarily spellbound, staring at him.
After taking a sip of tea, the Duke smiled almost habitually.
“Since we’re discussing preferences, may I ask you something? I’m curious about my wife’s tastes as well.”
“What kind of…?”
Leaning down, the Duke swiftly closed the distance and whispered into her ear.
“What are your preferences… in men?”
His cool breath grazing her earlobe was unbearably stimulating.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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