A Change of Husband - Chapter 114

Before sunrise, news quickly spread among the conservative noble families: the weapon factory and even the storage warehouses were completely destroyed in a massive explosion and fire.

 

Of course, including the people of Count Bonaparte’s household, many nearby nobles had seen and heard the loud explosion and flames with their own eyes and ears.

 

“Why did the weapon factory end up like that all of a sudden? This doesn’t make any sense!”

 

“We don’t understand what happened. Why did everything suddenly turn out like this…?”

 

“This must be the work of the royal family.”

 

“Of course it is. The question is how they did it. Just setting fire wouldn’t destroy everything so completely.”

 

“Could it be some new weapon?”

 

“That’s impossible. All the merchants, including weapon developers, are cooperating with us. That idea doesn’t make sense.”

 

“Then maybe… magic…?”

 

Clack!

 

Count Mirk, who had been silently listening, deliberately put his glass down with a loud sound.

 

The nobles who had been talking all turned their eyes toward him.

 

“There’s no reason to panic.”

 

No one replied to that heavy statement.

 

“Even if we lost most of our weapons, each family has their own stockpile. It won’t be a problem to fight.”

 

“But there will be limits. We don’t know how long the battle will last.”

 

“So if we delay, will a miracle plan suddenly appear? Tell me, Count Bellucci.”

 

Count Bellucci couldn’t answer. He had already invested a lot of money for war against the royal family and didn’t want to lose more.

 

Count Mirk didn’t press further but looked around at the other nobles again.

 

“The weapon factory burned down, the storage is gone, and since Astel had the exclusive right to produce guns, we can’t get new ones. But that means…”

 

He let out a small laugh.

 

It didn’t fit the serious situation, but no one said anything.

 

“…the royal army is in the same situation.”

 

“……”

 

“They also had to rely only on what weapons they already had. Now the situation is even. We don’t need to shrink back. If we collect weapons from the market and use what each noble family has stored, it’ll be simple.”

 

“But the soldiers’ morale has dropped a lot because the factory disappeared so suddenly.”

 

“Will their morale rise again just by delaying time?”

 

Again, no one answered Count Mirk’s question.

 

“The royal army must think we can’t move right now, so they’ll let their guard down. Missing this chance would be foolish.”

 

“But still…”

 

Geoffrey tried to speak but stopped when Count Mirk gave him a sharp look.

 

“Does young Lord Bonaparte have a better idea?”

 

Geoffrey didn’t have a brilliant plan, but he also didn’t think it was wise to act so quickly, just as Count Mirk wanted.

 

Of course, even if they waited, a good idea might not appear. But that didn’t mean they had to rush things either.

 

Geoffrey thought Count Mirk was moving too fast, but he couldn’t say that aloud.

 

This man would become king if they won the battle. It was dangerous to oppose him from the start.

 

“…No, I don’t.”

 

“We’ll attack right after sunset.”

 

“The time is too short—!”

 

“They won’t expect us to move right after the explosion. But if we wait, they’ll guess our movements. That’s all.”

 

Count Mirk spoke firmly and left the room.

 

The nobles, who had been watching him in a daze, only began talking again after he was completely gone.

 

“I don’t know what to do anymore. Ha…”

 

“You could say he’s a decisive leader, but he also seems reckless. Maybe even more than the young king, Esperad.”

 

“Maybe he’s afraid morale will drop or nobles will leave if he waits longer…”

 

“But what if this plan backfires?”

 

“We already drew our swords, so we have to start the war eventually…”

 

Some nobles tried to see Count Mirk’s actions in a positive light, but the heavy mood after the weapon factory’s destruction didn’t lift at all.

 

 

**
[ At sunset today, attack from the east. ]**

 

Esperad stared quietly at the secret message sent by a noble who was planted inside Count Mirk’s camp.

 

“He must be feeling desperate.”

 

“Understandable.”

 

“Still, it’s better than I expected. I thought he’d wait longer. That’s usually how older people are.”

 

“Count Mirk has shown surprising qualities.”

 

Every time Edgar faced Count Mirk, he was reminded of a snake hiding its fangs.

 

He was also surprised that Count Mirk had decided to attack today. But at the same time, he thought, Yes, he would do that.

 

“Are the civilians all evacuated?”

 

“I checked this morning. Except for one old man who couldn’t move and his young granddaughter, everyone else has gone to the countryside. The two were sent to the Duke of Camedici’s estate, so they’ll be safe.”

 

After deciding on war against the conservative nobles, Esperad had ordered everyone in the capital to evacuate and asked neutral provincial nobles to help them move.

 

It was a rushed decision, but thankfully everything had gone well.

 

“Good. You did well, Edgar.”

 

“If I couldn’t handle even this, I should give up my armor. Anyway… we need to say a few words to boost morale before the battle starts.”

 

“I’ve already thought about that. It doesn’t have to be long, right?”

 

“The shorter, the better. But… are you okay? You don’t look well.”

 

Of course not.

 

Even for Esperad, who had lived a long life, this was the first real war.

 

He shook his head and answered.

 

“I’m not sure. I just hope there won’t be too many deaths. On both sides.”

 

Edgar let out a faint, helpless laugh at that.

 

“I should criticize you for not having a warrior’s mindset, but I understand. You’re the king of this country, after all. Anyway, you should get ready and come down soon. The knights are waiting.”

 

“I won’t take long.”

 

“Alright. I’ll go first.”

 

Edgar picked up the helmet tucked under his arm and opened the door—but froze.

 

Asil was standing right there.

 

He had heard she hadn’t been told anything, but it seemed she came to check herself, sensing something was wrong.

 

Coming to his senses, Edgar gave a brief bow and then quietly closed the door, leaving the two alone.

 

Esperad, unaware of this, was still looking at the map when he heard someone behind him.

 

Without turning, he asked,

 

“You haven’t gone down yet?”

 

The one who answered wasn’t Edgar—but a familiar pair of slender arms that hugged his waist.

 

He immediately knew who it was from the warmth alone.

 

“Asil.”

 

“I couldn’t let you leave without even seeing your face.”

 

“…I told them not to tell you.”

 

“How could I not notice? Everything feels different. I’m not a fool.”

 

Hearing her sweet voice made his heart ache.

 

To think he was going to leave without even seeing her face—maybe he really had lost his mind.

 

“Esperad, there wasn’t a war like this in the previous world, right?”

 

Before she died, the conservative nobles had already been dealt with.

 

Esperad had been a strong king with power over all weapons, so it was easy to imagine that there had been no need for war.

 

“There wasn’t.”

 

“Then why is this happening now?”

 

“The timing of my coronation was different, and the nobles’ power has changed too.”

 

In the end, the answer was simple—this world and the previous one was different.

 

Asil couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that they were missing something important.

 

“…I see.”

 

“I expected this would happen, so I chose the fastest way to resolve it, Asil. Even if people die now, a long power struggle would make the people suffer more. I had no other choice.”

 

“I’m worried. Especially because this didn’t happen before.”

 

“It’ll be alright.”

 

But how could he say that when nothing was certain?

 

Even if strange things had happened to them, they weren’t gods. They were just humans who could die anytime.

 

Esperad saw the doubt in her eyes and gently tried to comfort her.

 

“If you pray for my safe return, I really will be alright.”

 

“Can you… promise me?”

 

“I promise.”

 

Esperad gently kissed her lips.

 

As if sealing the promise.

 

It was a kiss like they had shared many times before, but this time, the warmth on her dry lips made her want to cry.

 

“You have to come back safe… without a single wound.”

 

“I might not be able to come back completely unhurt. But I will come back for sure.”

 

“You’re really promising me, right?”

 

“Really, I promise.”

 

“…I’ll wait. Right here, until you come back safely.”

 

This time, it was Asilie who wrapped her arms around his neck and boldly kissed him.

 

Her passionate tongue explored him as if she couldn’t miss a single breath of her lover.

 

It was a short farewell, but they knew that if things went badly, this parting could become long again. So their kiss did not end at the usual moment.

 

“Haah…”

 

For a moment, a foolish thought brushed her heart—if she had learned how to fight, could she have stayed by his side? But not wanting to waste this short time with useless words, Asilie swallowed it down.

 

“Esperad, I’ll be waiting. So please, make sure…”

 

This time, it was he who led the third kiss.

 

He cupped her small head in his large hand and pressed his lips onto hers, biting gently as he explored her.

 

“Mmgh…”

 

Even after doing it again and again, it wasn’t enough. And they both wanted more.

 

They were lovers, and they had been closer than anyone, so they knew exactly what it meant to explore each other. That’s why it was so hard to let go.

 

“Haah.”

 

There was no time. A kiss was all they could share now.

 

But Esperad thought maybe this was for the best. It meant they could promise more for when he came back.

 

Esperad kissed her forehead again and looked into her eyes.

 

“I’ll be safe.”

 

Asilie knew him too well to believe that without doubt.

 

Esperad was a man with a strong sense of duty. He wouldn’t just stay at the back-giving orders while the knights who fought for him risked their lives.

 

What worried her more was that she could clearly imagine what might happen. Maybe it would’ve been easier if her lover was a bit more cowardly.

 

“Take care of yourself. Please.”

 

“I will.”

 

“Don’t get hurt.”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

“Come back quickly.”

 

“As soon as I can.”

 

“And…”

 

“I love you.”

 

A sincere confession with not a single lie in it.

 

But Asilie shook her head.

 

“Don’t say that.”

 

“Asilie.”

 

“It makes me anxious. Not now… say it again when you come back.”

 

Understanding her heart, Esperad nodded.

 

At that moment, they could hear the knights shouting, probably being encouraged by their commanders.

 

“I have to go now. Everyone’s waiting.”

 

How nice it would’ve been if she could just tell him not to go and keep him here.

 

But at this moment, this man standing before war wasn’t hers alone. So he had to go, and she had to let him.

 

“I’ll… see you off.”

 

“No, seeing me off here is enough.”

 

“Still…”

 

Before she could finish, Esperad pulled her into a tight hug.

 

She didn’t have long to feel his warmth. He left soon after, a little too quickly.

 

“Ah…”

 

Click—

 

With the sound of the door closing, Asilie sank to the floor helplessly.

 

Without noticing, her face was wet with tears.

 

It wasn’t the end—Esperad was someone who would definitely come back.

 

Even so, sending the one you love into a battlefield full of danger was unbearably hard.

 

 

***

 

“I had a bad dream last night. It felt so strange. I’m scared something might happen.”

 

At Countess Bonaparte’s words, Monica shook her head.

 

The Countess had been crying since the Bonaparte men left for battle. All day long, she spoke of ominous and gloomy things, enough to make even Monica feel depressed.

 

But she couldn’t tell her to be quiet. All she could do was comfort her.

 

“Please don’t worry too much, Mother. Nothing will happen.”

 

“It all happened too fast. If the weapons factory burned down, they could’ve taken more time before moving! Why are they rushing so much?”

 

“It had to begin sometime. But really, everything will be fine.”

 

“I don’t know anymore. After what happened to Joseph, if something also happens to the Count or Geoffrey, I…”

 

Monica barely hid her boredom and forced herself to respond.

 

“Please don’t say such things.”

 

“My head hurts.”

 

“Some warm tea might help you feel better. Shall I prepare some?”

 

Countess Bonaparte shook her head.

 

She knew very well that tea wouldn’t soothe her anxiety.

 

“By now… the battle must’ve started, right?”

 

“They left the mansion hours ago, so I think so. But I’m not sure—I don’t know much about war…”

 

“Ma’am!”

 

Just then, the butler burst into the study, his face pale as a sheet.

 

Startled by the sudden noise, both Countess Bonaparte and Monica jumped to their feet.

 

“S-Something terrible has happened!”

 

His voice was shaking.

 

From just his expression and voice, they could feel something was very wrong.

 

But to whom?

 

The two women looked at each other at the same time. Fear was clearly written in both their eyes.

 

“What… is it?”

 

Monica asked in place of Countess Bonaparte, who couldn’t even open her mouth.

 

But even her voice didn’t sound normal.

 

“Well, the young master…”

 

“Ah…!”

 

Just as he began to speak, Countess Bonaparte collapsed, unable to bear the shock.

 

“Mother!”

 

Monica shouted, quickly supporting her.

 

“What are you doing! Call the doctor right now!”

 

“I-I can’t, my lady.”

 

“What are you saying!”

 

“The doctor is already… with the young master. The young master… fell from his horse.”

 

Monica stared at the butler with a blank face, unable to believe what she was hearing.

 

“What?”