"We're special."
Lennox swallowed the words that they were cursed.
Being "special" did not mean anything good.
"A disaster that has already swept through cannot be helped, but from now on, you must prevent another misfortune."
Just as his mother had once told him, Lennox explained to Duren the duty of Winterlen.
"So that means there isn't one right now?"
"That's right."
Duren's eyes drooped down sadly.
"I want to save them."
"From now on…"
To protect people from demons.
And to helplessly watch the death of loved ones because of his long lifespan.
That was the curse carved into this bloodline.
"From now on, you just have to save them."
The black hair and red eyes, the immunity to demonic energy—traits unique to Winterlen.
No one could explain how Duren was born with all the characteristics of the Winterlen bloodline.
But one thing was certain: unless cursed by God like Winterlen, it was nearly impossible for such traits to overlap.
This child is cursed as well.
A bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
It was Duren's lively voice that broke Lennox's thoughts.
"Then Dudu and Mister are heroes, right?"
"Heroes?"
"Because you save people from scary places! Dudu already saved Grandma too!"
The world called them demons. But Lennox did not bother to correct Duren's words.
"You're still young and weak, so saving a lot of people will be hard."
"Dudu can do it!" Duren declared firmly.
"When Dudu grows big and strong, Dudu will protect Mom and everyone else!"
It was a simple, childlike way of thinking.
Lennox let out a small laugh.
"Yes. Become a strong adult."
"Unh!"
He really is still just a child.
Lennox, afraid the feather-light boy might slip, set him firmly back on his shoulders.
At once, Duren grabbed hold of Lennox's hair again and tugged, steering him like reins.
Feeling the pull on his scalp, Lennox briefly plotted a heinous plan to scoop Duren up like a handbag.
But worried he might actually drop him, he decided to leave it as just a plan.
"Let's head back now."
"Okay!"
Retracing the path, Lennox carried him until they reached a place beyond the reach of demonic energy, where he finally set Duren down.
Plop—.
"Mom!"
Not far away, Estelle came into view, and Duren dashed off at full speed.
But then—
"Duren!"
Estelle shouted his name.
It wasn't a cry of joy.
Seeing Estelle's face drained white, Duren slowed for a moment, realizing something was wrong.
Somehow, it felt as if the world had suddenly grown darker.
And it wasn't an illusion.
"Duren, run!"
A massive monster—easily more than three times the size of a grown man—loomed right beside Duren.
Grrrk—.
It was the first time Duren had ever seen a monster.
The moment he met its glistening black eyes, his resolve to grow strong and mighty vanished in an instant.
Shock. Fear. Terror.
Those emotions surged over him, and Duren couldn't even twitch a single toe.
"Duren!"
The monster had no intelligence.
As a predator, it would normally target the youngest and weakest first. But instead, it moved to hunt the nearest lifeform.
That was Lennox.
For him, it was fortunate news.
Drawing the sword that always hung at his hip, Lennox spoke.
"Estelle, move as far away as you can for now."
But before he could finish, Estelle's body was already in motion.
The instant she saw Duren frozen in fear, her reason evaporated.
The only thought in her mind was: I have to block the monster's attack.
Estelle could wield demonic energy.
And monsters were made of demonic energy.
Maybe… maybe I can control the monster with my power.
She had to protect her child.
With that single determination, Estelle stepped in front of Duren.
"Disappear!"
They say if you wish hard enough, it might come true.
The monster split cleanly in two.
Impossible…?
Just then, a white cloak fluttered across her vision, blocking it for a moment.
A spotless garment that would immediately show even the slightest stain—typical of a man obsessed with cleanliness. It wasn't hard to know who favored such clothing.
"Dammit."
With a single swing of his sword, Lennox muttered a curse.
"Just because people now call you Winterlen doesn't mean the bloodline itself has changed. If you suddenly interfere like that…!"
For Lennox, this kind of monster was something he could dispatch with his eyes closed.
Having sliced it cleanly apart, he raised his voice—
But the moment he turned and looked at Estelle, he could only fall silent.
"Estelle."
Estelle's breathing was unsteady.
Was it because she had been frightened by the monster?
But if that were the case, her gaze wouldn't have been fixed on Lennox, lips parting as if to say something.
Just as he was about to press her—What are you trying to say?—
Estelle suddenly collapsed without warning.
"…Mom?"
Startled, Duren rushed forward to check on her.
But Lennox swiftly caught him before he could reach her.
At a quick glance, it seemed fortunate that no demonic energy had splashed onto them.
The hastily thrown cloak had likely helped as well.
Even so, there was no room for carelessness.
Especially since they had just come out of an area brimming with demonic energy—ordinary people must not be touched by it.
"Let me go! I'm going to Mom! Mom!"
Duren thrashed in Lennox's grip.
"You can't."
"Why! I hate you, Mister!"
Tightening his hold to keep Duren from breaking free, Lennox's brows furrowed.
His gaze never once left Estelle.
Surely not…
She couldn't be dead, could she?
Humans died more easily than one might think.
Lennox had witnessed far more deaths than lives saved.
Ordinary deaths never made him so much as blink—yet now, his heart was pounding fast.
Like a man unsettled.
To steady himself against this unfamiliar surge of emotion, Lennox slowly blinked.
No. She isn't dead.
Looking closer, her face was drenched in cold sweat.
She hadn't been instantly killed by demonic energy.
But that didn't mean he could relax.
If she had fainted apart from the demonic taint, her condition was still dire.
"Mom! Mom!"
Every instinct screamed at him to scoop her up—just as he had carried Duren—and rush her to safety.
But he couldn't.
If he mishandled her, even that faint breath might stop.
"Pepeen."
Lennox called out to Pippin, who stood among the knights still struggling to grasp the situation.
"Take Estelle to the main stronghold. Immediately."
Lennox gave the order through clenched teeth.
With the knights' help, Pippin managed to lift Estelle onto his back and carry her to the carriage.
During that time, Lennox had no choice but to keep holding tightly onto Duren.
Even as the carriage carrying Estelle slowly disappeared from view, his eyes would not leave it.
A crushing sense of helplessness spread through him.
The same helplessness he had been forced to endure from birth until now.
"Her condition is in complete ruin. How have you been moving about in such a body?"
The physician, who examined Estelle once she was rushed to the stronghold, spoke in a tone of disbelief.
It was plain from appearance alone that she was far too fragile to survive in the harsh North.
But whenever he had recommended an examination, she had waved him off, insisting she was fine—accepting only a few tonics for her health.
Yet now, seeing her…
"In this state, it wouldn't be strange if she were to suddenly die within a year or two."
"What?"
Lennox shot back in disbelief.
What did I just hear?
"She's either congenitally frail or her constitution is weak. At this level, she herself must have felt the seriousness more than anyone. Did she say nothing during your outings?"
"…She didn't."
Suddenly, Lennox recalled the image of Estelle coughing with traces of blood.
At the time, he couldn't be certain it was blood.
But now, listening to the physician, he realized that Estelle had been overexerting herself all along—she had simply hidden it.
From the moment Duren disappeared, her body had been sending warning signals.
But because she had to find him, she kept pushing forward on sheer willpower.
Even after finding Duren, she endured, endured, and endured again.
But no one could rely on willpower forever.
When she saw the monster collapse, the extreme tension finally released—and she fainted.
"How can we wake her?"
"I've given her a nutrient injection, so after a deep sleep she should wake up. But this only restores her energy temporarily. In the long term, there is no solution."
"A pathetic excuse for a physician."
"It's not that a single organ has failed. Her entire body is like that of a patient standing at death's door—that's why."
"That sounds exactly like the kind of excuse a quack would give."
"I understand your anger, but any physician you bring will tell you the same."
Anger? Was that what this was?
Because of himself?
Because of one woman—no one else—who might be gone within a year?
"I'll take my leave now. I'll return once my lady wakes."
The physician, sensing danger from the way Lennox stared at him with a blank, unwavering expression, fled as though sparks might fly.
In an instant, the room fell silent.
Duren, after crying for a long while, had worn himself out and fallen asleep not long after they arrived at the stronghold.
Now, the only one left by Estelle's side was Lennox.
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