The Savior Who Bites My Neck (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Someone unknown continued knocking, even as this went on, as if pressing urgently.
“…Who is it?”
Elaina took a small breath and asked in a slightly trembling voice.
“Could you tell me your name?”
In response came a name she had never expected.
“It’s Schuler.”
“….”
“I am a guard knight of Prince Sinclair. I met you before at the Asweld household.”
…Ah.
It finally came back to her.
The young man with red hair who had helped her down from the carriage and adjusted her horse’s reins.
Elaina, now releasing her tension, cautiously opened the door.
“Hello, Miss Elaina.”
Schuler, standing at the door, bowed respectfully and spoke.
“I deeply apologize for arriving unannounced. I have been impolite. But there were urgent matters I needed to show you.”
“…There are things I need to see?”
“Please wait a moment.”
Schuler spoke briefly, then disappeared for a short while. Soon after, he returned carrying several large trunks, each neatly filled with an overwhelming variety of dresses and jewelry.
“If it is acceptable, may I come in?”
“Oh, yes. Please come in.”
At Elaina’s words, Schuler smiled gently in thanks and began moving the numerous trunks into the parlor without showing any sign of strain.
“Actually, I had hoped to deliver these sooner, but Prince Sinclair’s will was so firm.”
Prince Sinclair’s will was firm? Elaina frowned, as if puzzled.
“He ordered me to prepare as many varieties as possible, and above all, the most expensive and elaborately crafted dresses.”
“….”
“In the past few days, not a single renowned designer from Edenbell has been left out—they have all devoted themselves entirely to making dresses for Miss Elaina. The jewelers have done the same.”
So that was why there were so many dresses.
Frankly, it was astonishing. After all, her relationship with Sinclair was contractual; in a year’s time, they would be strangers.
She wore these clothes only to deceive the Emperor, who was watching her closely. Thus, Sinclair had no obligation to care so deeply.
“He gave the order most decisively.”
As if sensing Elaina’s thoughts, Schuler shrugged and continued.
“Not only the dresses and jewelry, but the wedding itself must have not the slightest deficiency. He said it must leave even the royal family and nobility speechless. And he threatened that if your family name is not honored, no one will be left untouched.”
“Ah, I…”
“Though it may sound outrageous, isn’t all of this ultimately Prince Sinclair’s doing?”
Though no one was listening, Schuler lowered his voice and whispered to Elaina’s ear, as if revealing a great secret.
“Therefore, Miss Elaina, please think nothing of it—just choose whichever dresses and jewelry you like. In truth, you will shine no matter what you choose. This is because Prince Sinclair himself described exactly what designs would suit you.”
“…Sinclair did?”
“Yes. But everything I just told you is confidential. I fear I might be severely scolded—especially for saying it’s all Prince Sinclair’s fault.”
Will you promise me?
At Schuler’s earnest plea, Elaina nodded slightly and smiled softly.
“Since the process of dressing is complicated, I’ve summoned a maid specializing in attire. She should arrive shortly. You may take your time choosing. If you need anything else, please feel free to ask.”
Could there really be anything else needed here? Even if they had brought an empress or queen, it would still be more than sufficient.
“I don’t believe there is anything else you require, but I understand the meaning. Since Prince Sinclair and the others have gone to such lengths, I shall do my best to choose carefully.”
At her warm tone, Schuler beamed.
“If you don’t mind, may I offer you tea? The journey here must have been tiring.”
“Oh, of course—it would be a great honor. But would it not be too much of an imposition…?”
“Please don’t say that. I shall bring the tea. Please sit comfortably on the sofa.”
Elaina limped away, briefly organizing the scattered trunks on the table and pushing them to one corner.
Then she left to prepare tea for Schuler. Fortunately, the thoughtful maid had already arranged a variety of pleasant teas.
But Elaina did not know that, at the very moment she turned, the box placed atop the old journal had fallen with a soft thud and opened.
Thus, Schuler saw the ring that Len had given her.
“I brought the tea most commonly enjoyed, since I wasn’t sure of your taste. I hope you find it agreeable.”
As Elaina placed the tray with the teacup on the table, she finally noticed Schuler staring at the fallen ring.
She was slightly flustered, yet she realized she hadn’t revealed anything that truly needed to be hidden.
She had merely been caught—by someone who knew nothing—holding on to a foolish, sentimental keepsake.
Yet Schuler’s expression as he gazed at the ring seemed strangely altered.
“Thank you very much for the tea, Miss Elaina. It is truly an honor.”
Only then did Schuler shift his gaze and smile.
Elaina slowly sat across from him and began repacking the trunks into the bag.
Schuler watched her intently, then spoke with extreme caution.
“It’s a very beautiful ring.”
“…Ah, yes. It is.”
“If you don’t mind, may I ask where this ring came from?”
Now that she thought about it, hadn’t Sinclair also shown interest in this ring?
Could Len have been connected to the royal family? Elaina narrowed her eyes slightly, then slowly opened her lips.
“I received it as a gift long ago. But if you’re asking where the ring itself originated, I cannot answer. I simply don’t know.”
“…Didn’t the person who gave it to you tell you?”
“No. I never heard anything about it.”
For a moment, Schuler’s expression grew subtle.
“I checked inside the ring for a seal, but no noble house of Edenbell bears such a mark.”
Yes. She had searched for it many times.
After the accident, she had worried that perhaps Len had been unable to find her.
Some longing is so powerful it blurs even resentment, making Elaina repeatedly do foolish things.
Now, it was all meaningless…
“….”
A heavy silence settled between Elaina and Schuler. Schuler looked as if he were deeply contemplating something, and so Elaina remained silent, waiting for his response.
Schuler spoke again only after a long while.
“You will not find that seal anywhere in Edenbell.”
“…What?”
“It is not from Edenbell. It belongs to another empire.”
…Another empire?
So Len had gone far away and never returned?
He hadn’t abandoned her?
Elaina’s blue eyes shimmered fiercely.
She had told herself countless times that this object had become meaningless…
“…But I cannot precisely recall which empire it was. I apologize.”
Now she understood, at least a little. Why Sinclair, of all people, had approached this insignificant woman.
“Someone he already knew… even someone who had given him his mother’s keepsake…”
The homeland of the late Empress.
The now-lost kingdom.
The distant empire—the very origin of the ring.
The royal seal.
But she could not speak of all of it. The reason was simple: Sinclair himself had never told her.
Yet the reason he had dropped this clue was equally simple: whenever he spoke of her, Sinclair’s face always carried a trace of sorrow.
And now, this woman wore the same expression.
Schuler knew his actions were wildly inappropriate, yet he thought quietly.
Perhaps Prince Sinclair Butler and Elaina Asweld were both trapped in the same past…
…each by the other’s absence.
“Oh, it seems the maid has arrived.”
The sound of a carriage outside and Schuler’s voice interrupted Elaina’s spiraling thoughts.
Finally regaining her composure, Elaina placed the bag containing the ring beneath the table, her face slightly flushed. Schuler quickly smiled and rose from his seat.
“The tea was delicious, Miss Elaina. And it was truly an honor. I shall take my leave now. I sincerely hope you find one of the dresses Prince Sinclair selected to your liking.”
As he had done when first arriving at the villa, Schuler bowed with exaggerated formality before Elaina.
Soon after, Schuler departed. As he had promised, the maid specializing in attire entered the parlor with a respectful bow.
Schuler’s concern proved unfounded. Every dress was beautiful, and the attendant, blushing, chattered endlessly.
They all suited Miss Elaina so perfectly, she could not even decide which was best.
Listening to explanations about the dresses, jewelry, shoes, makeup, and hairstyles left Elaina utterly distracted—but she was grateful.
If she was this busy, she would have no time to fall into thoughts of Len and wander through the past.
In any case, Elaina successfully chose her dress. Shortly after, another maid arrived.
She, too, visited that day and the next, staying at the villa and doing everything she could to make Elaina shine—caring for her skin, applying perfumed oils, performing the most labor-intensive tasks.
Yet even the day before the wedding, Sinclair did not come.
And finally, the wedding day arrived.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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