Chapter 3 : The Echoes of a War Hero and a Wandering Wife
Chapter 3
The male lead was a renowned figure in this world—an individual so well-known that even the faintest connection between two bits of information would suffice to recognize him.
Feigning ignorance, Dain began recounting common knowledge that any average village housewife would likely have heard:
“They say the new Duke of Kenwolf has returned victorious from the final battle that ended the war.”
“…”
“They say he’s a striking man with jet-black hair and eyes as dark as night. Even a married woman from a remote village has heard as much.”
He arched a brow. “You recognized me with just that? What a perceptive housewife you are.”
“Why, thank you, my lord Duke. It’s the first compliment I’ve ever received from a noble. Truly, where there is sorrow, joy must follow.”
With a face full of mock gratitude, Dain struck a gallant pose—as if she were a knight receiving a medal from the Emperor himself. The exaggerated, awkward gesture drew a soft chuckle from the man.
‘Ah… what a beautiful smile.’
Though he turned away in an attempt to hide it, Dain had already caught a glimpse of that dazzling smile—more breathtaking than any illustration she had ever drawn.
‘He’s even more mesmerizing than the cover art I made.’
As Dain was reliving the mental image of her drawing, he began building a small campfire. Crimson flames roared to life, swallowing the lake’s morning mist.
“Thank you. And, here.”
She offered him food she had brought from the inn, but he shook his head, the disinterest plain on his face.
While Dain nibbled on the damp bread alone in silence, he suddenly spoke.
“You don’t need to be a married man to know what it means to be tired of fighting. Whether you win or lose… there comes a time you simply want to stop rolling in the mud of war. Isn’t it the same?”
He had just returned from the battlefield, after leading the final charge that ended a devastating war.
With a mouth full of bread, Dain gave a gentle nod.
“Then allow me to thank you. The only reason I can sit here eating this bread in peace, while my husband lounges about so much that he found the time to cheat on me, is because of your sacrifices on the battlefield. You saved us all.”
“Even a housewife from a remote village should be thankful. If I hadn’t fought, the enemy would’ve reached this place.”
Dain brushed crumbs off her lips with the back of her hand as she recalled the character traits the author had given the male lead.
‘Right. Humility was never on the list. Especially not for the ‘regretful’ type of male lead. They’re almost always arrogant.’
She was about to let it pass when he murmured something unexpected:
“But my stomach turns knowing that one of the people I saved was some cheating bastard who abandoned his wife. Maybe I should’ve let the enemy take over.”
“…”
Startled, Dain paused mid-motion.
He may not have been humble, but apparently, the author had given him the capacity to offer a small word of comfort—even to a stranger.
Quietly, she replied, “You’re right.”
Why had her husband done that to her?
Why did he cheat?
She didn’t have an answer.
But if there was one thing she did know—it was that his words, simple as they were, had comforted her.
He had offered solace to the very person who came to save him.
That alone made her long journey into this cursed forest worthwhile.
“I don’t understand why he cheated. But maybe I don’t need to.”
Dain and her husband had fought constantly about his mother.
Their once warm home had grown cold, and they treated each other with increasing apathy.
Still, she had once hoped they could fix things. So why did he cheat?
Was it because she was younger? Because she laughed more?
Even after saying she didn’t need to understand, her mind kept chasing the answer.
‘Enough. Stop thinking about it. It’s not something worth mourning.’
“Your expression just darkened.”
She wore a hood and scarf that only left her eyes visible, yet somehow he had seen right through her.
Ashamed, Dain lowered her head.
She felt exposed—as though her feelings had been caught.
He studied her silently, then muttered:
“You won.”
“…What?”
“You’re with me tonight. I never saw the woman your husband cheated with, but why should that matter? You’re here. With me. So, you win.”
It was the logic of a grade-schooler.
Yet, Dain couldn’t help but laugh—and found herself oddly comforted.
‘Yes. Go on, live happily ever after with your beloved mother and your perfect brother. Meanwhile, I’ll try living well right here.’
‘Besides, I was just comforted by the hero of this world!’
She was smiling to herself when suddenly, his large hand slipped into her hood.
‘Is he trying to pull it off?!’
Panicked, she tried to lean back—only for his fingers to gently brush beneath her eye.
“You won. So don’t ever think of dying.”
His touch lingered. Something cool and soothing had been applied to a scratch on her cheek—a salve, no doubt.
“I won’t do anything you don’t want. So don’t be scared.”
Her wound itched and burned, not unlike the bonfire beside them.
She felt she needed to put some distance between herself and its growing warmth.
She pulled her hood down to cover her face entirely.
She had never considered dying, but still…
Those words sounded like: Live. Don’t let life break you.
And so, Dain resolved once more to survive in this world.
“I should know your name. What is it?”
“My name…?”
“I’m not curious about your cheating husband.”
“Oh… I’m…”
“My lord Duke!”
“Where are you, my lord?”
Morning light finally crested the hills. At the booming voices echoing through the forest, birds startled awake in their nests.
Those two finally shut up and let us sleep… and now this? squawked the birds.
One especially cranky mother bird fluffed her feathers and glared down.
Below, a swarm of knights in full silver armor scoured the forest floor.
Just then, a man in civilian clothing stepped between them, his face squinting into the rising sun.
He wore a finely tailored shirt and coat, raising his tinted glasses as he surveyed the area.
“You’re telling me Ethan spent the night out here?”
This was Kenwolf Merrick, eldest son of the Kenwolf family—and Ethan’s brother.
Ethan’s adjutant, Stanley, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“My deepest apologies, sir. I should’ve ensured his safety.”
Merrick’s gaze dropped slowly to Stanley’s abdomen—where a wound had been hastily bandaged.
“It’s fine. We all know Ethan wasn’t himself last night. Had he stayed at camp, you wouldn’t be the only one hurt.”
“Still, as his adjutant, it was my duty… I failed.”
Merrick flicked a finger against Stanley’s shoulder.
“Why do you keep apologizing to me instead of him? Do I look easier to deal with?”
“N-no, sir!”
Merrick smirked.
“Come now, it’s understandable. I do look gentler than Ethan. And he’s a Duke, while I’m a mere Count. Maybe that’s why you’d rather apologize to me and be done with it.”
“That’s not it at all!”
“Then stop apologizing. My brother isn’t the type to die alone in a forest.”
With that, Merrick patted Stanley’s shoulder and strode off to scan the trees.
“Sir!”
A voice called from further away. Merrick rushed toward it.
There, slumped against a tree stump, was Ethan—asleep, with leaves piled gently atop his messy hair.
Merrick stared at him.
He looked utterly at peace. Even his slightly parted lips threatened to drool.
After three years of war, his brother finally looked… at rest.
“He looks peaceful. Couldn’t sleep in a palace bed, yet out here he snoozes like a baby. Maybe all he needed was a nature-themed bedroom.”
“Should we wake him?”
“Let him rest.”
Merrick waved the knight off and smiled at his brother’s dozing face.
“He hasn’t changed a bit. Right, Stanley?”
“He used to sleep with that same vacant expression?”
More knights gathered.
“Why isn’t he waking?”
“He normally wakes at the slightest noise…”
“Wait. Has something happened? Is that truly the Duke, or did the Demon God take him?!”
A knight stumbled back.
At that moment, rustling leaves stirred Ethan awake.
“Your Grace…?”
Everyone stared.
“You call yourselves knights? You don’t even recognize your commander. I have failed as your superior.”
Relieved sighs spread through the group.
Ethan looked around.
These were faces he thought he might never see again.
They were safe. He was sane. He had survived the night.
Because of that woman.
He ran a hand through his messy hair, sending leaves tumbling down.
Merrick grinned.
“Allow me, little brother.”
“Gross.”
“Big brothers deserve to dote. Let me love you.”
Ethan ignored him and looked around.
The woman was gone.
“Where is she?”
“Who?”
“There was a woman with me. Was she moved to safety?”
“A woman?”
The word rippled through the knights like wildfire.
“Did he say… a woman?”
A knight dropped his helmet.
He picked it up, cradled it like a newborn, and sprinted off.
Stanley stepped forward.
“You… spent the night with a woman? After stabbing me to protect us all, you went off and spent the night with… a woman?!”
Ethan watched the flustered knight vanish into the trees.
No one here had seen her.
Did she return? To that house? To her cheating husband and monstrous mother-in-law?
“I need to find her.”
His eyes, now sharp and cold, held a quiet resolve as he stood.
