CH 86

The sight that welcomed Gareth’s subordinates after rushing to him when they heard the whistle was a nightmare. Their boss’ appearance under their torches frightened even them, who had been thoroughly disciplined with multiple encounters with death. Crimson bled through Gareth’s torn clothes and his arms were tattered to the point that one couldn’t tell how many bites he had endured. His whole body was covered in blood and pieces of flesh.

Giggs almost forgot to breathe from the frightening scene before him. Although he had spent multiple years with Gareth, he had never seen anything like this before. He could see Gareth’s bloodshot eyes, exposed teeth, and the bloodlust surrounding his superior. Giggs raised his hand to signal everyone to stop moving. This situation was dangerous; there was a chance that Gareth might charge at them with his sword if anyone moved. Gareth was watching him as well as the rest of the men, but it was obvious to Giggs that he was not clear-headed.

At that moment, Gareth took a step forward. Giggs automatically drew his sword and took a defensive stance. ‘I’m going to die. This will be my last day,’ he thought as he unwittingly closed his eyes in fear. However, he couldn’t feel Gareth’s sword at his neck or hear him come any closer. Giggs cautiously opened his eyes and started doubting the sight before him.

“Giggs, lead the way,” Gareth ordered.

Tears instantly welled up in Giggs’ eyes. His lips trembled as he looked at the woman in Gareth’s arms. It was definitely Elena. Gareth stroked Elena’s head with bloodsoaked hands and shouted again, with a glint of madness in his eyes, “Everyone, lead the way back home!”

Gareth’s rumbling voice shook the forest.

* * *

The door to the hall opened with a loud bang and Gareth quickly entered, the blizzard following him in. Madel, who had nervously been waiting for news regarding her lord, shrieked in fright when she saw him.

“Bring water and towels! I’ll need some medicine as well!” Gareth shouted as he dashed up to the second floor, the cold wind following behind him. In his arms was Elena, who was wrapped in several thick coats.

“Come on! Move, you useless woman!” Giggs ended up yelling at Madel in the midst of the chaos.

* * *

As soon as Gareth laid Elena in bed, he dug through her coat and listened for a pulse again. He felt as if his heart had stopped on the way back home from the forest and could only feel it again once he was able to hear hers. The maids rushed in to light the fireplace and brought in several layers of blankets under Giggs’ instructions. Although Giggs was concerned about Elena, Gareth only let women enter the room as Elena’s breasts were exposed. He hugged Elena tightly to transfer his body heat to her while instructing the maids to lay the many blankets in front of the fireplace. Gareth could feel Elena’s freezing temperature, but couldn’t tell how long she had been in the snow. All he could do was be grateful for the feeble pulse he could hear.

When Madel arrived with hot water and towels, Gareth began to peel off Elena’s clothing one by one. Her terribly emaciated body was revealed once her clothes were removed from her blue, frozen skin.

Gareth’s vision became blurred with tears. ‘Dear God… I deserve to die. Why didn’t I realize anything was happening until she became like this? Why did I pretend not to know that she was getting so thin?!’ His heart ached as his breathing became ragged. He thought back to what Elena had said before leaving.

“I thought we already had a meaningful relationship, and that was why… that was why you kept holding me…”

The woman had relied on him as she had no one else to turn to, but he had simply given her the cold shoulder like the others. Gareth violently tore at his hair with his still bloodstained hands. The maids and the rest of his men watched from the door, unable to do anything. Madel and Giggs could only watch in agony with bated breaths.

Gareth soon wet a towel with the hot water and began to rub Elena’s frozen body desperately. Using the experience he gained from camping while wandering around the country, he tried his best to raise her temperature.

“Don’t die in front of me, Elena,” Gareth muttered as he rubbed Elena’s body. Madel soon approached to help, but he shook her off in annoyance.

‘I didn’t give her anything. I didn’t even call her my wife or promise her a child. I didn’t give her anything she wanted,’ Gareth agonized, then suddenly became plagued by what he had said a few nights ago.

“Did you push her?”