Ways to Protect Your Warmth

Synopsis:




Finally, it was the beginning of the night.

Leticia whispered, leaning her forehead on his chest.




“Perhaps, am I too far? Should I come a bit closer?”

“........”




Detrian managed to swallow his groan.

Leticia’s hand, clutching his shoulder, was shaking in sweet embarrassment, but he didn’t notice.




“I know, you’re uncomfortable with me. But please bear with me just until the people my mom sent comes.”




Detrian loathes Leticia.

It’s only natural because Leticia’s mother killed his family. He had never doubted that fact.




So he didn’t know.

How violently distorted his face was by her words.




“Half a year, just bear with it for half a year. Then as you wish, I’ll divorce you.”




Divorce, he greeted his teeth with those words.

Chapter 1 

Miracle

Episode 1

Am I really back in the past?




Everything was like memory.




The white wedding dress she was wearing, the rich bouquet of hydrangeas, even to the picture frame on the wall of the bride's waiting room.




Leticia stopped breathing as she hurriedly rolled up her sleeves and looked inside her arm.




A red scar on the inside of the wrist.




Two days before the wedding, her mother made it.




Her mother poured hot tea on her daughter who could never marry a man who hated her.




It was a very painful memory in the past.




Unlike before, tears of joy flowed from her eyes looking down at the wound.




“God, thank you.”




She knelt and prayed to God.




“Thank you for giving me a chance to save him.”




* * *




Leticia's mother, Josefina, was the only saint of the Holy Empire.




The daughter of God, who raised a crumbling empire and saved countless people.




Josefina was the savior of all.




But for one person.




Except for Leticia.




From a long time ago when she can't even remember, her mother has been abusing Leticia.




Somehow, after Leticia was born, her divine power gradually decreased, and she took it out on her.




The abuse was done in great secrecy.




Until her first brother noticed it.




But in the end, her brother turned away from her, too.




At one time, she resented such an older brother, but now she didn’t.




Because of her brother, she met the person she loves.




Detrian.




He was her husband before she died, and he was about to be her husband soon.




As time went on, her mother's hatred for Leticia only grew.




It was enough to blame Leticia for all the evil deeds she had done.




No matter how long she waited, the divinity that disappeared did not return.




My brother said to my mother, who was getting hysterical because of anxiety.




「Wouldn’t it be better to just send her away? How about marrying her off?」




「No marriage! You want me to see that girl happy? I can’t do that!」




「Marry her off to a man who hates her. King Detrian. How about you arrange her marriage with him?」




When she heard that conversation, her vision went dark.




Detrian, the King of Genos.




Seven years ago, her mother wiped out his family.




「He regards the Empire as his enemy. If you order him to marry Leticia, he will surely vent his anger on her. Maybe he’ll even kill her. 」




「Then with that excuse he can be punished!」




Her mother regarded Detrian as an eyesore.




She really liked her brother's plan to break the two people she hated at once.




While the marriage between the two was progressing in a flurry, her mother made another safeguard for herself.




「I can't dare let you live in peace outside my sight.」




A secret curse was engraved on Leticia's body.




「Kill Dietrian in half a year. If you don't, you'll be torn to pieces alive.」




Her mother's curse was still holding her heart.




Touching with her hand where her heart was beating, Leticia smiled faintly.




In her previous life, the curse was just horrible, but now it's like a blessing.




In this life, she will definitely protect him.




* * *




After the arrival of the Empire's proposal of marriage, the state of affairs was thrown into a frenzy.




“Marry the saint’s daughter!”




The Chancellor couldn't contain his anger and hit the desk with a loud bang.




“They are responsible for the death of your highness’s family and they’re making such an offer!”




“And it’s Leticia! Do you expect such a devil to become the Queen!”




The daughter of the Holy Empire’s Saint, Leticia.




Her nickname was a blood-mad killer.




She killed the nanny who had raised her because of her cruelty, she was famous for making the maids run away in less than a week.




Even the Imperial people pointed fingers at her.




Her evil deeds hurt the kingdom as well.




A year ago, ten young boys from the kingdom studying in the Empire were brutally murdered.




When asked about the reason for the traces of the harsh beatings left on the body, only a profound answer came back.




「They were punished for their sins committed against Leticia.」




It wasn’t just that.




In the past thirty years, the kingdom has tormented the empire.




Nevertheless, the kingdom could not fight back once properly.




The difference in power between the Empire and the Kingdom was overwhelming.




Unlike the empire where the power of the goddess remains, the Kingdom has long lost the ‘protection of the dragon'.




Then, in the end, something happened.




Seven years ago,  the Crown Prince Julius, who was the head of the delegation, was executed.




The crime is blasphemy.




The saint herself killed Julius and hung his body on the wall for seven days.




The King, who had run to the empire to save his son, fell in shock when he saw that.




Eventually, the King became ill and could not return to his homeland and died in the field.




The tragedy did not end there.




「I will not return the dead prince’s remains! I will display a small piece of stolen goods in front of everyone to publicize his sins.」




There was a declaration that even the remains of a dead son will not be returned.




The Queen, who managed to endure the deaths of her son and husband, finally lost her mind.




His brother was killed, his father died, and his mother went crazy.




He was just sixteen, the young boy Detrian, was the only one who survived.




It’s been seven years since then.




「We request for the marriage of Leticia, daughter of the Saint and Detrian, the King.」




Dietrian looked down at the proposal.




His dark eyes sank deeply.




A neat finger sweeps the tip of the paper for a moment, then stops.




Everyone told him to reject the proposal.




But he couldn’t.




If he refused to marry, the empire will not leave the Dukedom alone.




The innocent people will be the scapegoats of the blade.




So there was only one answer left.




Listening to the thunder, Dietrian slowly rose from his seat.




The swirling emotion pressed deep into his heart.




"I have listened to your opinion."




A quiet voice instantly silenced the conference room.




“However, I will accept the royal marriage.”




“Your highness! What are you saying!”




The officials, who regained their minds, vehemently opposed.




“We’d rather go to war than take a monster for a Queen!”




"Your Highness! Please reconsider!"




Some of them even cried on their faces, unable to overcome their resentments.




Seeing them, Dietrian recalled seven years of hell.




He lost his family overnight.




It's been a long time, but he still had nightmares about it.




Whenever he managed to wake up from his nightmares, he used to become sick alone until dawn.




One day he couldn’t stand it, he quickly woke up at dawn and took the reins of a horse.




He ran out of the palace alone to take the head of the Saint and kill all her children.




Then maybe, even just a little, just a little, his heart would calm down.




But in the end, he turned back.




He’s now a King, and he had people to protect.




Dietrian closed his eyes.




Will he be able to put up with that woman?




The woman who killed his people, his enemy’s daughter….




However, he had to do it.




Detrian slowly opened his eyes.




He told his servants who bent their bodies and bowed deeply to raise their heads, and said.




“My decision will not change.”




“But, your highness!”




“If I refuse, the empire will not let this go. I can’t take that dangerous risk.”




“But to Your Highness!”




Detrian smiled faintly and shook his head.




“I am alright.”




If I sacrifice myself, everyone can be saved, and even if it’s not okay, what more is there to say?




“Then I will send my consent to the Empire.”




* * *




The wedding was supposed to be held in the Empire.




It took a month just to get ready to leave.




In the meantime, the servants who opposed the royal marriage tried to persuade Dietrian.




The young knight Barnett was one of them.




Barnett’s cousin died by Leticia’s hands.




To Barnett, he would rather go to war than treat her as the Queen. Detrian said firmly.




「We can’t have a war. We cannot shed the blood of innocent people.」




「Is it alright for you to sacrifice yourself when you committed no sin?」




「It’s not a sacrifice. If you’re a King, it’s natural to do it.」




There have been several similar scuffles since then, but Dietrian hasn't changed his decision.




On the day of his departure for the empire, Barnett gritted his teeth and glared at the statue of Dragon standing by the gate.




‘Why did you abandon us? You bastard Dragons!’




The Kingdom of Genos was founded by the Dragons.




Even with the protection of the dragon, the Kingdom was as powerful as the Empire.




People talked about the dragon abandoning its kingdom.




'Even if you didn't abandon us, your Majesty shouldn't get married like this!'




He couldn't stand his anger and kicked the statue, but he heard a soft voice behind his back.




“We haven’t departed yet. Instead of venting your anger on a statue, why don’t you just stay here.”




“Your majesty!”




Barnett looked back in surprise. For fear that Detrian might really leave him behind, he hurried up next to him.




“When did I ever say I don’t want to go? I was just frustrated, so I did that. Why did the Empire call us now?”




Barnett looked up to the sky.




“It’s almost the start of the rainy season. We’ll still have to walk for a month.”




“..........”




“The rain can cause an epidemic. I’m saying people could die.”




“Don’t worry too much. We have prepared enough.”




Detrian tapped Barnett’s shoulder and smiled.




“It won’t work out the way the Empire wants.”




He spoke plainly and headed for the lined carriage.




Barnett, looking at his back, crumpled at the image.




He spit towards the direction of the Empire.




“Bastards, screw yourselves.”




The envoy quickly moved towards the empire.




There was a minor accident, but luckily, thanks to the thorough preparation, it was no big deal.




There was a small disturbance just before arrival.




Barnett running around in the heavy rain, fell down.




“Haha! Are you watching us, Imperial bastards! We arrived safely! My stomach hurts, I feel like I’m going to throw up….ak!”




Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but he had to be on crutches for a while.




Anyway, the wedding is in two days.




Detrian arrived in the capital.