How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 69

When she opened her eyes, Ezekiel was looking down at her. Surprised, Sophia sat up on the bed.

“What? Why are you here? Is your shoulder okay?”

Sophia threw a series of questions at him as she sat up. When she moved, the blanket that had been covering her slid down.

A blanket? Why is this over me?

She turned her head and realized she was inside Ezekiel’s tent.

Then, did I take Ezekiel’s bed?

She looked around and it did seem that way. Sophia was dazed at first, then quickly jumped up in panic.

“I’m sorry! I took your bed. You’re the one who’s hurt.”

“Stop making a fuss and just lie down.”

At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind Ezekiel. When she peeked past him, she saw the duke sitting with his legs crossed arrogantly on a chair.

The duke was on the chair, Sophia was on the bed, and the actual patient—Ezekiel—was standing. What a mess. But the duke didn’t seem to think so as he said,

“A scratch like that is nothing for him, so just stay still.”

Even with Ezekiel right there, the duke casually called him “that guy,” like it was totally normal.

Why is he here?

Sophia signaled Ezekiel with her eyes. Unexpectedly, Ezekiel agreed with the duke and said,

“Really, please lie down. I’m fine.”

“I’m fine too.”

“No, you’re not. You collapsed. Because of someone.”

Ezekiel spoke meaningfully, clearly blaming someone. And it was obvious who, because that person let out a dry chuckle. Sophia glanced at the duke’s annoyed smile and asked blankly,

“I collapsed? Why?”

She didn’t remember anything. Trying to remember gave her a headache. She remembered arguing with the duke, being carried on his back, and how he had wrapped fabric around her waist to cover her legs.

But she couldn’t remember why she fainted.

“The only one who knows that is *him*.”

Ezekiel said bitterly. Sophia was shocked to see him showing such hostility. Even when facing seven wolves, Ezekiel hadn’t flinched. But now, with the duke here, he looked tense and cautious.

*Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen them together.*

And their behavior wasn’t what she expected. The duke had been the one who badmouthed Ezekiel. Ezekiel only spoke as if he knew about the duke. So, Sophia had assumed it was one-sided hatred from the duke.

But in reality, it was the opposite. Ezekiel was the one on edge, showing clear hostility. The duke, meanwhile, looked completely uninterested, resting his chin on his hand, looking bored.

Ezekiel, who had been watching Sophia with concern, finally spoke.

“Why do you keep doing this? You know the future can’t be changed. You can’t go against the will of the gods. Erasing memories only delays what’s coming.”

It didn’t make sense. Though he wasn’t looking at the duke, it was clear he was talking to him. Sophia, feeling dizzy, drank some water and didn’t catch the whole conversation.

“W-what are you doing?”

But no one paid attention to her. The duke answered arrogantly.

“Because I feel like it. She’s mine anyway.”

“Mine?”

Sophia was shocked by the childish words and opened her mouth in disbelief. The duke didn’t seem to care how it sounded. Wearing his usual grace, he stood and walked toward Ezekiel.

“Anyway, why are you in the way? Pretending to rescue Sophi—it’s laughable. You know better than anyone how absurd that is.”

“She is human. A being who can feel pain.”

“But you also know I can erase that pain instantly.”

He tilted his head arrogantly. Ezekiel didn’t deny it.

“Humans aren’t that simple. Everything leaves a trace. Not getting hurt in the first place is what really matters. But you wouldn’t know that. You only care about visible wounds. Really, when have you ever cared about someone’s feelings? You only use people for your own gain, and then you dare to call her yours? Stop being shameless.”

“Dare?”

The duke burst out laughing.

“So arrogant. Saying ‘dare’ to *me*?”

The air in the tent suddenly grew sharp and cold, even though nothing had changed. It became hard to breathe. Sophia trembled. But Ezekiel didn’t flinch. He simply stared back at the duke.

The duke grabbed Ezekiel by the collar.

“Don’t forget, I can tear you apart in one second.”

“Even if you do, nothing will change. You know that.”

Ezekiel grimaced from the pain, but didn’t back down. The duke looked at him, then smirked.

“You really think your little power is something amazing.”

“I’ve never thought that. I just follow the will of the god who planned all of this.”

“The will of the god? And you think you know what that is?”

“Isn’t it the god’s will that you fail and disappear? That’s why I exist.”

“……”

The duke said nothing. Sophia didn’t understand what was going on, but she could tell Ezekiel had touched a nerve. Their conversation made no sense to her.

What she did find strange was how respectful Ezekiel, a prince, was being toward the duke as if he were speaking on behalf of humankind to something from another world.

Sophia must find out for herself. Who I am. What the duke is.

She started to understand why Ezekiel had said what the duke was, not who. But then, what exactly was the duke? Was he not human? There was too much to process, and her head hurt.

As she was lost in thought, a blanket was suddenly thrown over her head.

“Ugh, what are you doing?!”

Sophia struggled to pull it off. The more she tried, the more tangled it felt—like someone was purposely blocking her from seeing what was happening.

And her instinct was right. As she finally pushed the blanket away, a shocking scene came into view.

The duke was choking Ezekiel. Because of the pressure on his injured shoulder, blood was soaking through the bandages again.

“Duke!”

Sophia screamed and ran to stop him.

“Don’t do this! He’s the prince! Even if the emperor favors you, hurting a royal is serious!”

But neither the one choking nor the one being choked moved. Sophia grabbed the duke’s waist and tried to pull him away, but it was no use. Their eyes clashed fiercely in the air.

The duke’s cold blue eyes. Ezekiel’s green eyes, filled with resistance and resolve.

It was strange that the one being choked looked even more passionate. But he was still human—his face started to turn pale as time passed.

“Duke! He’s really going to die!”

Sophia shouted desperately. She pulled on the duke’s arm with all her strength. It felt hopeless, like she’d never be able to stop him. But then, unexpectedly, the duke let go.

As if nothing had happened, he calmly fixed his messy hair and looked at Sophia.

His calm face sent chills down her spine. Whether he noticed her fear or not, the duke smiled faintly. Behind him, Ezekiel collapsed, coughing hard.

Sophia tried to run to him, but the duke blocked her and gently turned her away.

“Oh my. You were going to go to *him* as soon as I let go.”

He spoke like he was disappointed. Then, in a soft voice that sounded like a whisper:

“But if you go to him, Sophia Hilden… I’ll kill him. Right there. I won’t even touch him—just watch how easily I can do it.”

The tone was gentle. The smile was soft. But nothing matched the words. Sophia instinctively knew—it was no joke.

Frozen in place, she couldn’t move. The duke lightly placed a hand on her shoulder and led her away—like he was guiding a doll.

“Were you scared?”

Her breath finally returned when he asked that casually. Outside, the sun was shining brightly. The duke dusted off his hands like he’d touched something dirty and spoke to her.

Sophia clenched her trembling hands and forced herself to stay calm.

“You were too cruel to the second prince.”

The duke smiled and nodded. Just the fact that she didn’t go to Ezekiel seemed to satisfy him.

“Yes. I was too harsh.”

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