The Savior Who Bites My Neck (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10

Melvin might as well have been half-delirious.

“Hah…….”

Melvin’s face bore unmistakable signs of exhaustion—he hadn’t slept a wink, his eyes wide open through the night. His eyelids were bloodshot, and dark circles beneath them looked as if he’d smeared ash over his skin.

Of course, it was because of Elaina.

‘This damned girl……!’

The previous night.

The coachman, arriving in a state of utter panic, delivered news that had never crossed Melvin’s mind—news that had no place in his plans.

[So…… Elaina ran away……?]

It was unbelievable. Of course, Melvin hadn’t expected Elaina to submit meekly to capture. He’d prepared meticulously—nails hammered into the windows, carriage doors that could only be opened from the outside, and so on.

But run away?

[How could this possibly happen!? I told you over and over again—even if you faint, even if you die, you must not open the door until we reach Duke Hank’s estate!] [I did not open the door!]

The coachman, his clothes caked in dirt and his hair wildly disheveled, replied with a trembling voice.

[It was Sinclair Butler…… that mad brute crashed into my carriage!]

As he spoke, the coachman added that had his own escape not been swift, he too would have been captured and killed.

But Melvin did not believe this.

Sinclair had deliberately let the coachman go.

To return and deliver every detail of this news to Melvin.

“Damn it…….”

This was an outcome he had never anticipated. Even Sinclair, reckless as he was, wouldn’t go this far.

What Melvin feared now was not merely Sinclair himself—but Duke Hank and his faction.

These were the men centered around Hester, the Crown Prince, Sinclair’s half-brother, who was rapidly consolidating power as the next emperor.

‘This was my only chance to win Duke Hank’s favor……!’

Elaina’s disappearance alone was enough to make him faint—but that the man who took her was none other than Sinclair Butler! Melvin’s expression was one of impending collapse.

This incident brought him nothing but ruin. He would lose the trust of Duke Hank and Hester, and despite not understanding why he clung so desperately to Elaina, he had now earned Sinclair Butler’s hatred.

If things continued this way, everything would be over. His long-held dream—to cling to Duke Hank’s circle, to gain wealth and advantage—was now shattered beyond repair.

……But even then, Melvin knew nothing.

That an even greater thunderbolt was about to strike.

[This is the timeline separator]

And the event occurred precisely at noon.

In stark contrast to the opulent, spacious study, Melvin’s face seated at the table held not a single glimmer of light.

He had sent a desperate letter to Duke Hank’s estate as soon as dawn broke, but no reply came, no matter how long he waited.

With no resolution in sight, Melvin endured hours that felt like hell.

“…….”

Melvin’s usually sharp eyes, now dull and vacant, stared at a teacup grown cold. He could not fathom how to overcome this situation, so he simply gazed at it, lost in thought.

“L-Lord……”

“…….”

“I have…… something to say……”

“…….”

“Ah, aah!”

The maid, who had cautiously opened the door and begun to speak, suddenly screamed. The teacup had struck her forehead squarely.

“I told you—no one is to enter!”

The maid, her forehead split open, stood helplessly as blood dripped down.

“Get out! Get out right now!”

“But…… I came because you really should come out……”

At the maid’s choked words, Melvin finally paused.

“T-The Crown Prince Sinclair has arrived……”

“What……?”

“He’s come with his escort of knights and soldiers……”

Instantly, Melvin’s face turned as blue as a corpse long dead.

“Darling!”

Not long after, Melissa’s urgent voice rang out. Then came Layla’s trembling cry: “Father, Father!” Only then did Melvin realize something was terribly wrong.

Shaking with panic and pale as death, Melvin leapt from his seat and sprinted toward the source of their voices.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Huff…… huff……”

Melvin stopped where the mansion’s entrance lay.

There stood the terrified mother and daughter, soldiers as the maid had described, and a carriage whose occupant was unknown.

And there stood Sinclair Butler himself.

He wore an unnervingly calm expression, a sinister smile curling at his lips.

“The weather is quite fine today, Melvin Asweld.”

“…….”

“Don’t you agree?”

No answer came. Melvin, thoroughly terrified, stared back at Sinclair with a rigid, frozen face.

“It could almost be called the perfect day for an execution.”

At Sinclair’s words, the two women flinched and hid behind Melvin.

“You can’t hide your way out of this.”

Sinclair stared at them for a long moment, then burst into laughter—as if he found it utterly delightful.

“I’m not such a virtuous man as to show mercy to accomplices.”

“C-Accomplices? I’m sorry, but we have no idea what you mean……”

Melissa stammered, trying to deny everything.

“Melvin Asweld, Melissa Asweld, and your daughter, Layla Asweld.”

Sinclair began in a deep, deliberate tone.

“All members of the Asweld family, except Elaina Asweld, must pay the proper price for inciting the kidnapping of the Crown Princess and attempting to sell her like merchandise.”

“The Crown Princess?! Elaina was never the Crown Princess!”

It was Melvin who spoke up, bravely confronting Sinclair.

His courage was not born only of the desire to protect his family.

The difference between inciting the kidnapping of Elaina Asweld and inciting the kidnapping of the Crown Princess was enormous.

The former carried no serious consequences; the latter, in the worst case, could mean execution.

“You’re not so young that you’ve forgotten, Melvin Asweld.”

But Sinclair mocked him in reply.

“Have you forgotten I visited that day?”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten. But that day, Your Highness merely brought a proposal of marriage……!”

“Did you really?”

Sinclair withdrew from his robe a document.

Precisely speaking—it was a marriage contract.

The document bore the Emperor’s official seal and the signatures of both parties.

At the bottom, a date was inscribed.

The very day Sinclair had visited.

‘Trap……!’

Suddenly, the words Sinclair had spoken to him during that visit echoed in Melvin’s ear.

[Would you mind stepping out for a moment?]

‘It was a trap—from the beginning!’

[The owner of this proposal is Elaina Asweld, not you.]

‘He deliberately drove me away—to corner me like this……!’

[Get out. Now.]

“Eyes aren’t just holes torn in skin for lack of skin, Melvin.”

“…….”

“They’re meant to see.”

Sinclair smiled as he thrust the marriage contract right under Melvin’s nose.

“Merely because the ceremony was never performed doesn’t mean Elaina ceased to be the Crown Princess from that day. Even a fool should understand this much by now. Understand precisely what situation you’re in.”

Melvin’s clenched fist trembled violently. There was no hope left. He had never imagined he’d be Sinclair’s second victim in broad daylight.

‘No… not like this… not so easily……’

Melvin bit his lip hard.

“Well then, give me an answer that pleases me.”

“Do you have… concrete evidence?”

Melvin’s voice, barely a whisper, made Sinclair frown slightly.

“This marriage contract… forgive me, but isn’t it rather flimsy as evidence?”

“Flimsy?”

Sinclair laughed.

“Even if the Emperor pre-stamped the contract, that doesn’t prove Elaina and the Crown Prince actually swore their vows that day……”

Melvin spoke in a shrill, terrified squeak, like a mouse stepped on.

“And dates can be forged anytime. I’m not saying I distrust the Crown Prince’s word—I’m merely stating this objectively.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. In fact, I knew nothing of this. I merely sought a compassionate soul to care for my sick daughter. The money Duke Hank promised me was merely a dowry. I am truly wronged……”

Before Melvin could finish, Sinclair began laughing like a madman—as if watching a hilarious farce.

“What a fascinating story. You’d have been a far greater success as a writer. Quite talented.”

“…….”

“And you said the evidence was flimsy, Melvin.”

Sinclair stepped forward without hesitation. Melvin, without realizing it, retreated backward. Melissa and Layla did the same.

But their futile escape ended quickly. Soldiers surrounded the family, forcing them to stand still.

“I have no evidence—but I have witnesses.”

Sinclair leaned in, his face twisted with mockery.

“To be precise—witnesses and perpetrators.”

No sooner had he spoken than the door of the carriage behind them opened.

The person who stepped out was someone Melvin had never imagined.

Elaina Asweld.

His own youngest daughter—the very one he’d tried to sell.

“Father.”

Melvin’s eyes, filled with Elaina, trembled violently.

What was he even trying to say here? He desperately tried to read her expression, but her subtle emotions were utterly unreadable.

“Why are you lying?”

“W-What?”

“I clearly told you—I and His Highness swore our vows that very day.”

Elaina looked at Melvin as if he were incomprehensible.

“I heard it directly from the imperial palace. And I personally saw the marriage contract with my own eyes, bearing both our signatures.”

Schuler, who had opened the carriage door, smiled warmly and added,

“But it’s rather strange that your father, Melvin, claims to have known nothing of this. Is there any reason Elaina would lie?”

“Slander! Slander!”

Cornered, Melvin shouted in furious rage—though, of course, he dared to do so only because Schuler was of lower rank.

“It’s all a lie to side with Elaina! Damn it……!”

“Evidence.”

Elaina looked straight at her father.

“Do you have any evidence?”

“W-What?”

“Evidence that I’m lying to you.”

“Melissa and Layla are witnesses! How dare you even suggest such madness……!”

“But Father, aren’t those witnesses far too flimsy?”

“…….”

“Besides, you, Melissa, and Layla are already criminals—or at least suspected of being so. But there is no such absurd law in all of Edenbell that allows suspects to serve as witnesses.”

Isn’t that unfortunate? Elaina smiled.