Protect Male Lead

Prologue

The snowstorm gradually intensifies. At last, it's the end of the north even if it's a cold and terrible one.

"Iris."

Even in his dying moment, he wipes Iris's tears away.

"Don't cry."

"Don't tell me that, please."

Iris tries to stop his wounds with her shaking hands, but they're too small to do much. They're stained red instead.

Why, Cedric.

Clearly, this person should have shone brightly and blindingly.

"I love you."

Iris wants to say, I do too.

"I don't know anything else, but I'm angry that I can't see your face right now."

I'll let you see me.

By all means.

If you live in front of me.

I should have said that.

"C-Cedric."

He drops Iris' hands, unable to hear her any longer. 

She quickly seizes his cold hands.

"No. No."

What's the point of denying this, Iris doesn't know.

But this isn't all.

His death, this ridiculous world.

Why is God so harsh on this man?

"Tsk... He's a nuisance to the end."

Iris turns her head to the cruel voice behind her. Two men and a blonde woman look at Iris.

The first person who speaks to Iris is a man of great importance.

"That filthy blood betrayed the imperial family. He ruined my mood."

He is her father.

This time, a younger man standing next to him opens his mouth.

"Iris, don't be too sad. I'll find you another marriage partner."

He's her older brother.

The blonde woman, who is smiling brightly, speaks naively.

"Sister, how long will you stay in a nasty mess? I'm cold."

She is her sister.

Her family that abandoned her has slaughtered her beloved.

Iris's tears gather in Cedric's palms.

Memories of him come to her like shrapnel in her mind.

You're not your own person at all.

That's what he said the day they first met.

It's all right then, I'll protect you.

Protect what?

That's what Iris thought at the time, but now she knows.

"You were protecting me."

Me, who doesn't love myself, you were protecting me.

How come I've come to finally regret all this?

"Then..."

Cedric, I'll protect you this time.

In this world where everyone was trying to drag you down, I'll take you to the end.

So that you can shine completely.

Iris, who's sitting weakly, slowly rises from her spot.

"Iris!"

With the voices of her family calling from behind her, Iris runs toward the white sword that has fallen on the floor.

A holy sword with a faint light.

This is the starting point of all these problems.

[ The Holy Sword that makes wishes come true ]

It's the only hope left to make everything returns to what it should've been even if it's uncertain. This is all Iris could count on.

The light surrounding the Holy Sword grows stronger and stronger, as if it is calling out to her.

The sword resonates as Iris grabs onto it.

"Give him back his fate."

It is her first time spitting out in such an angry, harsh voice.

"Since you're the God who sets the goddamn destiny!"

Iris throws herself at the sword and then holds it up high.

"No!"

She hears the screams of her family and the sound of a knife plunging into her stomach simultaneously.

Iris has pierced herself with the sword using her own hands stained with Cedric's blood, mixing both of their blood together.

She laughs as she sheds tears.

Only Cedric is clearly visible in front of her pale eyes.

Iris reaches out her hand, unable to touch him. She draws him with her fingertip.

"I'm sorry."

She calls him in an inaudible voice.

"You..."

Soon, even Cedric's appearance blurs.

At last, Iris closes her eyes. Thick tears streams down her cheeks.

I love you.

Finally, time turns back.

.

.

Iris slowly opens her eyes to a familiar and unfamiliar sight. She raises her upper body and sweeps away the blanket that touches her hand.

Am I really back?

From the canopy above to the blanket next to her, here are everything that Iris used in the Valentine's family.

It's even clearer now because these are things that were taken away by her younger sister, Lilian, saying they were useful.

How can I forget this room?

This room has existed in the most isolated corner, a place where she has been in since childhood.

Iris gets up and looks in the mirror.

"... I came back."

In the mirror, looking back at her, is Iris Valentine, a nineteen-year-old child who has yet to marry Cedric.

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T/N: This is a side project of mine. I'm only putting it here so that I can claim the project. Updates will be slower than a sloth.

As always, thanks for reading. 

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