Free Web NovelChapter 21: Don’t Leave Me Again
**Morning**
As I woke up, I felt refreshed from the previous fights. I washed up and headed straight toward Aurielle’s room to check her condition.
"Good morning, young master."
As I passed through the hallways, many maids and guards greeted me with respectful bows.
"Seems like they already know about yesterday," I muttered under my breath, a faint smile appearing on my face.
The estate felt quieter than usual, yet there was a strange tension in the air, maybe they are worried what will happen next.
As I reached her room, I saw Aurora Valcrest still standing guard outside the door, sword in one hand and shield in the other.
Her long silver-white hair fell neatly over her armor, and her eyes glowed with a calm silver-blue light.
She wore black-silver knight armor engraved with thin glowing runes that pulsed softly with covenant energy, giving her an almost sacred presence under the dim corridor light.
"Master."
The moment I approached, she knelt in front of me without hesitation.
I smiled slightly. "Good. I’m satisfied with your performance."
"It is my duty, master. Anything for you."
She replied in a reverent tone, but something about it felt... overwhelming. Her devotion carried a strange intensity, almost unnatural, as if even loyalty itself had taken physical form around her.
"Cough..."
I lightly coughed to break the awkward atmosphere, then stepped inside.
Inside the room, Margaret was asleep on a chair, her head tilted slightly forward from exhaustion. Aurielle, however, still had not awakened.
I walked closer to her bed.
"Margaret, go and rest properly. I’ll take care of Aurielle," I said softly.
Margaret startled awake immediately, clearly caught off guard, but when she saw me, her expression eased.
"Don’t startle me like that, young master," she said with a tired but relieved tone.
I simply smiled.
She gave Aurielle one last worried glance before quietly leaving the room.
---
I sat beside Aurielle’s bed, my gaze lingering on her peaceful face.
"When will you wake up, darling..." I muttered softly.
Then I picked up a book Osric had given me and began reading. It contained information about Blackstone Highlands and its basic problems.
"So this territory has large reserves of blackstone... used to forge knight armor."
I raised my eyebrows slightly in surprise. No wonder Cedric’s noble were always trying to seize this land.
"The territory also doesn’t have a stable water source. Food is heavily dependent on farming, and there isn’t enough income to import supplies."
"Many bandits operate around the highlands, blocking merchants and weakening trade..."
I closed the book slowly.
"I’ll fix it one by one."
With that, I placed the book aside and closed my eyes for a short nap.
---
After a while—
"LUKE!!!"
A sharp, panicked voice suddenly pulled me awake.
I turned immediately toward Aurielle.
She was still asleep, but her expression was tense, her body slightly trembling as she muttered my name in her sleep.
"She’s having a nightmare..."
I quickly placed my hand on her cheek and spoke softly.
"I’m here, Aurielle. Don’t worry."
The moment my words left my mouth—
Her eyes suddenly snapped open.
And the moment she saw me in front of her, she immediately pulled me into a tight hug.
"Luke... thank god you’re safe..."
Her voice trembled with relief and panic mixed together. Before I could respond, she started kissing my face repeatedly, as if afraid I would disappear the next second.
"Don’t leave me again... promise me..."
"I won’t leave. I’m here, Aurielle," I said softly, patting her back.
Gradually, her shaking slowed. She leaned against my chest, breathing uneven but calming down.
Then she looked directly into my eyes.
I smiled and gently kissed her lips.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
After a minute, we slowly separated.
"Huff... huff..."
We both caught our breath, but she was far calmer now. She rested her head against my chest again, holding onto me tightly.
"What happened earlier?" she asked quietly.
Then she added, her voice turning slightly distant,
"I don’t remember anything after my fight with Roland..."
"I reached there... but Roland’s army was gone. It was like they had been disappeard," I said, watching her reaction closely.
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
Then panic slowly returned to her eyes.
"Luke... this is bad. Very bad."
She grabbed my clothes tightly.
"What is it?" I asked calmly, holding her steady. "I’m here. Just tell me."
She took a deep breath, trying to control herself.
"Roland Ashenford is a noble... and also the youngest son of Viscount Ashenford."
She met my gaze again, her expression heavy.
"And that silver knight who stopped my attack... also seems to be from the Ashenford family."
My expression slowly changed.
"So now two nobles, along with their armies... have disappeared inside our territory," she said, her voice trembling.
"And?"
I urged her gently.
She hesitated, gripping my hands tighter.
"As you know... we can’t kill nobles. They will claim we did. Even if they just disappeared."
"The Viscount can now openly launch a campaign against us... and wipe out our entire territory if he wants."
Silence fell between us for a moment.
The weight of it settled heavily in the room.
I gently held her trembling hands.
"Aurielle... no one can do anything to you or this territory as long as I’m alive."
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently.
"So don’t worry. If they come... they will regret it."
Her shaking slowly stopped. Her expression softened, though worry still lingered in her eyes.
Then I told her about my tour regarding the territory
She immediately began giving me a lecture in a frustrated tone.
"I already dealt with the water and food problems inside the territory," I said, showing her the Aqua Crystals and explaining the mana wheat seeds.
"Wow... I’ve seen these things before, but I was never able to afford them," she muttered in surprise.
Then she looked at me with warm, affectionate eyes.
"My husband is really a capable man... huhu."
My face turned slightly red as I scratched the back of my head.
Then I teased her back.
"Well, you already knew that... since you were the one begging me to stop in bed."
Her entire face turned bright red instantly.
Even her ears flushed as she remembered their first night.
"Shameless..." she muttered under her breath.
I ignored her reaction and continued.
"Also, I summoned a new subordinate."
"Aurora Valcrest, come inside." I called her in, but if someone was here and saw them, then they can see Aurielle face become cold and her eyes narrowed as she dangerously looked toward the Luke and door. and was muttering something in very low voice like she wants to kill someone. freёwebnovel.com
"Another woman..."
"...another woman..."
---
CREEK
The door opened and Aurora come inside, but then I heard Aurielle cold voice, "Husband don’t tell me that she is also send by your goddess of luck?"
Her voice seems different but while turning I replied as usual, "yes"
That single word was enough.
---
"YOU—!!"
Aurielle suddenly grabbed my neck and started shaking me violently.
"Am I your enemy?! Is that why she keeps sending women after my husband?!"
"Does she not want me to be happy?!"
"Stop—Aurielle—wait—!"
I hurriedly waved my one hand toward Aurora who was about to attack Aurielle, then trying to calm her down, but nothings is working , as her eyes become deep purple and she has lost it.
Auroro looked worriedly toward her master and the crazy women, who seems to his wife.
When Aurielle was not calming down, I finally used the move, that I have watched in my previous world, that every husband do.
SMOOCH.
I grabbed Aurielle firmly and kissed her while hugged her tight.
---
"...!"
The entire room went silent.
Her resistance weakened instantly.
Her grip loosened.
And slowly... she stopped shaking me.
"Mhmm..."
Her body relaxed as she melted into the kiss.
After a few minutes, I gently pulled back.
"Huff... huff..."
She gasped for air, slowly returning to normal. Her eyes regained their usual purple tone.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
"...yeah..." she muttered, slightly dazed.
But the moment she saw Aurora again—
She immediately clung to me like a cat guarding its territory.
I sighed.
"Aurielle... don’t behave like this. She guarded you all night. She’s also my loyal subordinate."
Aurora immediately knelt again.
But—
"Ouch!"
Aurielle suddenly bit my hand in frustration.
"So you’re taking her side now too..."
Her tone turned dangerously emotional again.
I exhaled slowly.
This was going to take a while.
---
After calming her down for a few more minutes, I finally explained Aurora’s Origin Skill.
"She has an A-Rank Origin Skill called Argent Covenant Authority."
I paused slightly, even I still found it unusual.
Her ability description was simple.
I repeated it slowly.
*"A vow is not spoken for meaning. It is spoken for consequence."*
---
[Chapter End]
