CHAPTER 137: HIS FIRST LOVE

"Ah..." Kevin jolted, consciousness returning to him as he looked around.

He was...sitting somewhere in the open.

Through the clotted blood, he made out his surroundings and was baffled to find himself seated somewhere entirely different.

He was no longer in the forest, surrounded by lush green trees and the dark miasma of that corrupted bastard who’d been inches away from killing his—

"Natalie!" He rose to his feet, only to collapse to his knees, his body refusing to respond.

His head snapped around, trying to find his friend. "NATALIE!!" he cried, his voice scraping against his throat, burning him.

His body trembled, tears welling in his eyes at the worst possibility.

He had died.

His friends...they wouldn’t be spared.

No. No. No. No. No. No, no, no, NOOOOO!

"Calm down, child." A voice suddenly snapped him out of his breakdown.

He looked up. The brilliance was blinding. He couldn’t look directly at the figure standing before him.

Yet he could tell this being wasn’t here to harm him. Kevin just knew.

"W-Who are you? Can you save Natalie? S-She is my friend and someone is trying to—I-I..." He raised his trembling hands, trying to point back at something behind him, but panic had nearly made him forget he wasn’t in the forest anymore.

The other calmly repeated, "Calm down and listen to me, child. I can send you back to the place you came from, and I will give you the strength to protect them. However, in return, you must promise me someth—"

"Anything." Kevin said immediately, dropping his head at the man’s feet. "If I can kill that motherfucking bastard, I will do anything."

His rage was palpable, his aura leaking like a shadow formed by a glaring sun.

Suddenly, Kevin felt his body burning. The wounds on his body began to hiss, producing smoke as they healed.

Every cut and bruise he received from the corrupted human...every single injury was reversed by the brilliant light radiating from the unknown being.

A surge of strength seeped into his skin as the being spoke, "I am granting you my blessing. No one will know what you’ve seen or heard here. Even if someone investigates your memories, they won’t find this."

Warm hands rested on Kevin’s shoulders before the boy heard a whisper beside his left ear,

"Gain his trust. Become his friend. And when I tell you..." the voice grew dangerously close, "bring me his head."

....

"Haah..." It was late at night.

Emma was given a room next to William’s.

Lavender and her father had left earlier, the former too enraged to even breathe in the same space as Emma.

Despite the past connection between William and that girl, Emma didn’t mind the animosity.

Whoever lays an unhealthy gaze on her man needs to be shown their place.

And Emma had done what was necessary.

"Hmm, you’re sleeping now, right?" she asked the little one lying beside her on the bed.

Nana had been oddly reluctant to go to sleep. Strange how a child could fall asleep at any hour of the day but not when it was actually time.

Hearing Emma’s voice, Nana didn’t react.

Her lips were parted, and the girl slept soundly.

Emma smiled fondly at the little one before planting a soft kiss on her forehead and getting off the bed.

Opening the window, she bathed in the silvery glow of the moon.

Then she heard it—

DHAK

Looking down, she saw the man of the house splitting logs in the back garden.

Just as her gaze fell on him, he paused and turned toward her.

For a moment, Emma froze, her heart trembling at the sight.

Count Delimore was like a predator. His senses were so sharp that even an innocent gaze could disturb him.

His eyes narrowed at her for a moment before the spell broke, and Emma exhaled.

’Seriously, he deserves the title of Sentinel of the East.’

The man waved at her with a bright smile, as if he hadn’t been glaring at her like an eagle a second ago.

Emma nodded in return when suddenly—

"Can’t sleep?"

"Eiik!" She yelped, jumping back at the unexpected voice beside her.

She hadn’t noticed William had entered her room and stood right next to her.

William chuckled. "That’s the first time I’ve seen you so frightened."

Emma glared at him before stepping forward and pressing her heel onto his toes. "Were you saying something?"

William kept his smile. "I said, I love that expression you just made. You sounded adorable."

Emma narrowed her eyes, but the way her ear tips reddened betrayed her true feelings.

"William! Come help your old man," the Count called, making William sigh.

He glanced at Emma. "Wanna come down with me?"

Emma looked at Nana once more before nodding. "Sure."

William suddenly scooped her into his arms and stepped through the window, using his long legs to cross before he descended slowly to the ground.

Emma flushed, embarrassed to be carried like that in front of his father, but she could only fidget in his arms.

Carter chuckled. "You really know how to treat a lady. I’m proud of you, son." The man beamed, flicking his cigar as he patted William with his other hand.

William chuckled, lowering Emma to the ground before asking, "You know there are people who can do this for you, right?"

Being the Count, there were more than a dozen servants at his disposal, and yet...

Carter turned toward the small heap of split logs he’d made. "It helps me think and remain grounded, son. I served the military for ten long years, but during my early days, I was just an extra guy they kept around for convenience. And one of the major tasks they gave me..." he pointed at the axe.

Emma’s curiosity sparked. "Were you patriotic? Is that why you joined the forces?"

Carter chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint you, young lady, but that wasn’t the reason." Taking another puff, he continued, "I suffered from a serious problem—anger. I used to get irritated at everything. I argued with anyone who tried to teach me and retaliated whenever someone corrected me."

Shaking his head, he added, "Things got out of hand when I burned my entire orphanage in a fit of rage."

Emma was stunned.

Judging by William’s expression, he already knew—and naturally so.

Carter went on, "But one day, everything changed. All the things I’d done suddenly appeared as mistakes."

Emma blinked. "What happened for you to change so suddenly?"

Carter smiled. "I fell in love."

William lowered his head, a knowing smile tugging his lips.

Emma glanced at him, and that smile told her exactly who had changed the Count.

Carter continued, "The day I hurt her, I realized how low I’d sunk. So I asked her to give me time, to wait for me...that I would return as a better man. And that’s when I joined the only place that beat me every time I showed my fangs. They broke me when I broke rules, and they punished me whenever I lacked discipline."

Taking a deep breath, he added, "The military made me a man...a man worthy of my love, my wife."

A brief but comfortable silence descended upon them before someone broke it.

Emma smiled softly. "That...sounds quite romantic."

Carter smiled back. He was happy to share a story involving his first love.

He loved talking about her, but with Aleda at home, opportunities were scarce.

His first crush. His first girlfriend. His first wife.

Anatasia.

"That reminds me, William," Carter said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You still haven’t met Emma’s father, have you?"

William sighed and shook his head. "We got together recently and didn’t have time to return home...well, until now."

"You should’ve visited her parents first, then."

William smiled and looked at Emma. "That’s the plan. Tomorrow, I’m going to meet her father...and ask for his permission to have his daughter."

Emma looked at him, her heart racing.

It was her first time falling in love and bringing someone to meet her father.

Naturally, she was nervous.

But she believed everything would go fine...hopefully.

°°°°°°°°°

[Next morning]

"Are you really sure about this?" Early in the morning, as William got ready in his room, Emma asked the boy.

The blond one had a smile on his face as he confidently nodded, "Did I ever appear hesitant?"

Nana was currently sitting on William’s bed, sipping what seemed like strawberry milk. With her legs dangling, she kept glancing between her big brother and sister.

Emma sighed, "I mean, I have already sent a letter to my father explaining the situation. You don’t have to leave your father’s side right after you return."

William paused mid-button and asked, "Emma...is there a problem in our meeting?" He turned towards her, his expression signified confusion rather than frustration.

He was actually curious if there was a reason why Emma didn’t want him to meet her father.

However, "No, nothing like that. I am just...a little worried."

William hummed, his focus solely on the girl now.

Emma crossed her arms, her head hanging low a little as she said, "My father might be the Master of the East Wing, when it comes to me he becomes a little over protective."

William asked hesitantly, "You fear he might reject me?"

Emma shook her head, "No, he won’t. Never. He just wants me to be happy and he trusts my judgement society I like you I know he would too "

William inched closer to the girl, his hand cupping her left cheek we he asked, "Are you worried because of my past we my connection to the Curse?"

Emma heaved a sigh, "I don’t know, maybe I am just panicking needlessly."

William smiled at the girl before he assured her, "Whatever happens, I assure you I will get his permission to have you."

••••••••••

A/N:- Thanks for reading.