My Husband Picked Up a Woman - Chapter 4

When two wars break out in one country, the state usually refuses to split its forces; instead, it abandons one front to secure the other.

The war against the Kingdom of Mervenia, where Damian had been deployed, was never meant to be a grand struggle. Mervenia was a mere kingdom—a small, insignificant nation compared to the Cropus Empire. From the very beginning, the Empire had marched in with total certainty of victory, intent on nothing less than a complete crushing of their foe. Most ministers had invested their own knights into Damian’s campaign for that very reason.

Consequently, the war against the Viathen Empire, where Crown Prince Calisten Ethan Cropus had been sent, was treated as a throwaway battle. Because the Viathen Empire shared a border, small skirmishes were common, and the court assumed this would be just another symbolic exchange of blows. Calisten was sent without proper support or reinforcements.

And yet, how? How could he have toppled the Viathen Empire with nothing but a handful of knights? This was an event that hadn’t even been mentioned in the original novel.

“Calisten?”

“Yes! He is said to be at the castle gates this very moment!”

The Emperor glared at the aide who had dared to interrupt his toast. Under that freezing gaze, the aide’s head instinctively bowed. The ballroom fell deathly silent.

Everyone knew the Emperor held his son, Crown Prince Calisten, in low regard. Since the death of his mother, the late Empress, Calisten had been treated as an outsider. Rumors had even circulated that the Emperor sent him to this battle hoping he would lose, providing a perfect excuse to strip him of his title.

“We are still celebrating the Grand Duke of Mayze. Tell the Crown Prince his victory parade will be held next month.”

“Pardon? But Sire, he is currently…”

The Emperor was essentially ordering the knights waiting at the gates to camp outside the capital, denied entry despite their miraculous victory. He was making men who had just conquered an empire wait for a month.

“Ah. I expected as much, but you really never change, Your Majesty.”

A voice I hadn’t heard in a long time made me turn my head.

There stood Calisten. With his pitch-black hair and blood-red eyes, he looked like a phantom. He was drenched from head to toe in gore, and with every step he took, the heavy, dull clank of his armor echoed through the hall. His weighted footsteps seemed to trample the ballroom carpet as the gazes of the nobility followed his every move.

“Father.”

“…Calisten.”

“My men and I have brought you the head of the Viathen Emperor, solely for your pleasure, Your Majesty.”

“Is that the truth? Truly… the head of the Viathen Emperor?”

“Yes.”

Calisten had not come alone; a knight standing behind him bowed deeply, holding a small box. At Calisten’s signal, the knight moved swiftly, racing up to the second-floor balcony to reach the Emperor. He presented the contents of the box.

“Ha!”

The Emperor of Cropus let out a cry of triumph as he received the head of his lifelong nemesis.

“Truly… this devil of a man is finally…!”

With a feverish expression, the Emperor re-examined the contents of the box. Then, with a look of pure ecstasy, he laughed.

“I shall hold your victory parade tomorrow.”

“Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.”

“Rest and enjoy yourself today! Release all the frustrations you’ve held back!”

Upon seeing his old enemy’s head, the Emperor seemed to forget his hatred for his son, speaking as if he were bestowing great mercy. The current Emperor loathed Calisten simply because the boy was far too extraordinary compared to an ordinary monarch.

“I care less for the festivities and more for what was promised,” Calisten countered.

“That… we shall discuss that at your victory ball! Today belongs to Grand Duke Damian!”

“…Very well.”

Calisten looked dissatisfied, but his gaze soon shifted to me, and he smirked.

“Just make sure you give me what you promised, Your Majesty.”

Calisten was my childhood friend, but I didn’t particularly like him either. He was a truly madman. In fact, one of the reasons I had rushed into marriage was because of this lunatic. I knew that if Damian went to war and I remained unmarried, this madman would never leave me be.

❖ ❖ ❖

The banquet dragged on tediously. Damian, Delilah, Sir Baron, and I were forced to remain together as a group.

“Duke Mayze! Come here!”

The Emperor, perhaps driven mad by joy, had drunk heavily in a short amount of time and was now shouting nonsense in a drunken stupor.

“I knew my Grand Duke could do it! To offer the Kingdom of Mervenia to the Cropus Empire!”

“You flatter me, Sire. To have been of service to this Empire is an honor my house will cherish for generations.”

“Ho! Still so humble, I see.”

The Emperor, who usually maintained his dignity, seemed unable to distinguish left from right in his intoxication. It was understandable, given he had received his enemy’s head and likely documents regarding the Viathen Empire. The national territory was about to double in size. It was clear the Emperor’s joy was rooted in such cold calculations.

I forced a smile, pretending to focus on the Emperor’s words. I wouldn’t have bothered with this performance if it weren’t for Calisten. He stood by the terrace doors, still in his bloodied armor, glaring at me without even changing his clothes.

I had considered slipping away to the mansion while he was changing, but as if reading my mind, he stayed put. He ignored anyone who tried to speak to him and simply watched me, over and over again.

“Miss Delilah.”

“To think you would remember my name! It is a true honor, Your Majesty!”

Delilah bowed as if overcome with emotion. The Emperor laughed heartily.

“I have heard much of your exploits. Was it not your strategy at Luden Bridge?”

“Ah… that was only because the Grand Duke led us so well…”

“Hahaha. I have heard from the Duke that you are as humble as a proper lady should be. A wise woman indeed.”

“You are too kind. I feel as though I could die happy right now!”

“You mustn’t die! Not while you are so young and beautiful!”

At the Emperor’s words, Delilah smiled, her eyes brimming with tears of feigned or real moved.

In the original story, the reason the second male lead, Calisten, and Delilah never ended up together was that they were actually half-siblings. That fact isn’t revealed until near the end, but until then, Calisten had pursued Delilah like a man possessed.

“I once had a daughter just like you,” the Emperor mused, lost in thought as he remembered his lost child—who was, in reality, Delilah. “If you ever face hardship, come to me. I will help you anytime.”

“Ah…! It is an honor, Your Majesty!”

Delilah bowed repeatedly, her head nearly touching the floor. I continued to smile, playing the part of the hero’s wife in this uncomfortable ballroom.

We had not yet consummated our marriage. Under Imperial law, an annulment wouldn’t be difficult. However, if I returned to the Marquisate of Philia, I would likely be sold off in another political marriage. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

I needed to divorce Damian, but it would be best to have my next move settled first.

“Now, Duke, tell me of the battlefield.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The tedious war stories continued. Perhaps, if I hadn’t been so disappointed in Damian, his struggles and stories would have meant something to me. What made me feel pathetic was that even though I told myself his words were meaningless, I couldn’t help but listen. If moving on were that easy, I might have left the house the day I saw him kissing Delilah.

“And so, at that time, I…”

Every time Damian laughed, he checked Delilah’s expression instead of mine, making my heart ache once more. Perhaps, deep down, I was still hoping he would beg for forgiveness, kick Delilah out, and return to me.

‘My love will never change.’

‘One shouldn’t make oaths they cannot keep.’

‘There is nothing I cannot keep, Brie. Not for you.’

The memory of his words before he left made me feel even more wretched. Suddenly, I realized Calisten was no longer by the terrace door. Perhaps he had grown tired of waiting and left. With his victory parade tomorrow, he needed to update his men and rest after being away for so long.

“Brie.”

“I’m sorry. I feel quite dizzy.”

“Oh dear. I heard the Duchess hasn’t been well lately. Could it be a pregnancy?”

The Emperor, too drunk to know better, asked a question he shouldn’t have while pretending to care.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

“Nonsense. Your complexion is poor. I shall have a room prepared for you in the palace.”

“No, Your Majesty. I am moved by your grace, but I believe it is best if I return to the Grand Duke’s estate first.”

I had a bad feeling he might try to send Damian with me, so I quickly added, “Though my body departs, my heart remains here. I hope you will look after my husband with your generous and brave insight.”

“Hahaha. The Duchess is as eloquent as ever. Very well, go on.”

Having received the Emperor’s permission, I headed straight for the carriage.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Haa.”

Reaching the carriage, I spoke to the coachman. “To the Duke’s estate.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Just as the carriage was about to move.

The door flew open.

“Long time no see, Brie.”

The person who had invaded the carriage was Calisten. He glared at me with those same blood-red eyes, filled with madness.

“Didn’t you miss me?”