A New Life After Divorce - Chapter 123

A tower stood atop a cliff overlooking the raging sea, once used as a lookout during battles against monsters in the past.

 

At the very top of this building was a shabby room, filled with the musty scent of mold. It had a small, dimly lit window and basic living facilities, serving as a resting place for the guards on duty.

 

“Ugh…”

 

A woman was inside. Her frail body, covered in ragged cloth, hung from chains fastened to the ceiling. Her complexion was pale, and from the dampness beneath her, it was clear she had wet herself out of fear.

 

Crackle—! At that moment, a log was thrown into the fireplace.

 

Whoosh! Flames rose inside the glass hearth, casting a flickering glow on a man seated elegantly in a wooden chair.

 

He gazed at the fire with dull eyes for a long time before speaking in a detached tone.

 

“It’s been a while. I’ve been busy.”

 

The woman, trembling, looked at him warily without responding.

 

“Aren’t you curious about your mother’s well-being?”

 

His voice was chillingly beautiful, making the woman’s eyes widen in fear.

 

“Y-you promised…! If I stayed here for the rest of my life… y-you said you’d let my mother go!”

 

Her words were clumsy, her voice rough like sandpaper, as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time.

 

The man let out a dry laugh.

 

“I never said I would kill her. I only came to inform you—they have her.”

 

His voice lowered dangerously as he spat out his next words.

 

“They know about you. They know they can use you against me.”

 

The woman gasped for breath and crawled forward as far as the chains would allow.

 

“No! Even if someone finds me, I—I won’t say anything! I swear! Please, just spare my mother…!”

 

Despite her desperate plea, the man didn’t even glance at her. His voice was as cold as ice.

 

“Sure, I’ll take your word for it. Though, we both know how abstract and unreliable human promises can be.”

 

After all, I am human too.

 

He slowly tilted his head, grabbing the woman’s tear-streaked face roughly by the chin.

 

In the darkness, his eyes gleamed like a blade.

 

“But remember this—no matter who has your mother, I have the power to tear her apart and feed her to the monsters at any time.”

 

The woman nodded frantically, tears and snot streaming down her face.

 

“Y-yes… I understand…”

 

Years of conditioning had made her excessively obedient.

 

The man, satisfied by the fear in her eyes, released her chin with a smirk.

 

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair before tossing a small ruby communication artifact toward her.

 

“Make sure I can hear even their breathing.”

 

With that, he disappeared into the darkness, his long hair flowing behind him.

 

“Ugh…”

 

The woman clutched the artifact tightly, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed. Then, her tearful gaze shifted toward the spot where the man had vanished, filled with pure hatred.

 

 

I stood before a towering structure.

 

A pristine, majestic white temple that took my breath away with its sacred and awe-inspiring presence.

 

The grandeur of the Grand Temple remained unchanged.

 

Just as I had done when I prayed for Edmund’s life, I stood before it once more.

 

The only difference was that the temple doors were now wide open, as if welcoming us, and Edmund stood steadfastly by my side.

 

Exchanging a glance with him, I stepped toward the threshold of the temple.

 

Clang—!

 

Or at least, I tried to.

 

Just as I was about to cross the threshold, the temple knights blocked Edmund’s path by crossing their swords.

 

“Apologies, but outsiders are not permitted to enter.”

 

“What do you mean? We arranged this visit with Priest Lova.”

 

“Priest Lova only permitted Countess Buell to enter.”

 

What? My teeth clenched as I quickly grasped the situation.

 

‘Lova, you cunning bastard. When I informed you that I was coming with Edmund, you clearly said, “Understood.”‘

 

His ill intent was obvious. Even though the temple was known for being secluded, our public love affair must have reached his ears.

 

That’s why he was wary of Edmund.

 

‘He’s afraid I might defy my duty to the temple and marry Edmund.’

 

Meanwhile, Edmund stood firm against the knights, his sharp gaze cutting through them like a sword.

 

The air around him grew increasingly cold. The knights instinctively hesitated before calling for reinforcements.

 

In an instant, more knights swarmed around us like ants, forming a circle.

 

I saw a vein pop on Edmund’s temple. The situation was on the verge of exploding.

 

Just as his hand reached for his sword, I spoke up.

 

“Edmund, I’ll go in alone.”

 

Edmund lowered his hand slightly and gave me a look that clearly said, ‘Are you serious?’

 

“I don’t want to cause a scene.”

 

“That’s unacceptable. We agreed to enter together.”

 

“I remember. But…”

 

This was my selfishness.

 

It wasn’t that I doubted Edmund’s strength, but I couldn’t bear to see him get even a single scratch.

 

I never wanted to relive that heart-stopping fear from before.

 

Nor could I allow the House of Mipedian to become an enemy of the temple because of me.

 

“……”

 

Edmund stared at me for a moment. Then, seeing my unwavering determination, he exhaled sharply and closed his eyes.

 

“I’ll wait.”

 

“Thank you for indulging me.”

 

I gazed at him tenderly before hurrying into the temple. If I lingered any longer, he might just break through the knights to follow me.

 

“This way, please.”

 

A young cleric, who had been waiting at the entrance, led me to Lova’s office. I had been here a few times before, so the surroundings were familiar.

 

As the arched doors opened, I saw Lova peacefully sipping tea, and all my suppressed irritation boiled over.

 

“Lady Etricia! You’re finally here. I, Lova, have been eagerly awaiting you!”

 

Ignoring his usual dramatic welcome, I glared at him with narrowed eyes.

 

“Lova, this was petty. You knew Edmund was coming.”

 

“I acknowledged it, but I never said I would allow Duke Mipedian inside.”

 

This man…!

 

Lova feigned a pitiful expression as if regretting his actions.

 

“I had no choice. I cannot reveal the secrets of the Grand Temple to an outsider.”

 

It was clearly an excuse, but I had no solid argument to counter it, which only made me more annoyed.

 

“Come in, Lady Etricia.”

 

Lova extended a hand to guide me inside, but I hesitated at the doorway, glaring at him.

 

Just then, he frowned and glanced down the corridor.

 

“He’s trying to force his way in.”

 

Edmund? I turned to look down the hallway.

 

‘I don’t hear anything.’

 

Lova smirked and looked back at me.

 

“No matter how great an imperial hero he is, he won’t be able to enter.”

 

“Are you insulting my fiancé?”

 

I raised an eyebrow, and Lova quickly waved his hands in defense.

 

“No, you misunderstand! The temple knights are protected by divine—”

 

“You mean them?”

 

At the familiar voice, I turned around with a bright smile—only to be left speechless.

 

At the end of the white hallway, Edmund was dragging a foam-mouthed knight by the collar. The young cleric who had guided me was chasing after him, pale as a ghost.

 

Thud! Edmund tossed the knight toward Lova.

 

Lova yelped and leapt back.

 

Edmund scoffed and rolled his shoulders.

 

“You should train them better. Is this all the Grand Temple has to offer?”

 

I gaped at the absurd sight.

 

“Edmund, what happened?”

 

He stopped rubbing his neck and approached me.

 

After inspecting me, he brushed off my shoulders—the very spot Lova had touched—with a disgusted expression.

 

“Didn’t you say you’d wait for me?”

 

“One of the knights had a surveillance artifact.”

 

“And?”

 

Edmund looked away and continued brushing my shoulders as if deeply focused.

 

I sighed, already knowing what happened.

 

“So, you saw Lova put his arm around me and stormed in out of jealousy?”

 

“……”

 

His silence was an answer.

 

As I frowned, his jaw tightened nervously.

 

Then, I patted his shoulder.

 

“Good job.”

 

“…?”

 

Both Edmund and Lova looked dumbfounded.

 

Well, Lova deserved it for being sneaky.

 

I linked my arm with Edmund’s and grinned.

 

“Surely, you won’t hold a grudge over something so minor, right, Priest Lova? Especially since you need my power, don’t you?”

 

At the word fiancé, Edmund’s lips twitched into a smirk, but I ignored it.

 

“Lady Etricia…”

 

Lova gaped at me, lamenting that I had been corrupted by worldly influences.

 

I paid him no mind and led Edmund inside with a smile.

 

“Now, let’s settle our unfinished business, shall we?”