We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 22

“Is this an arena?”

“So, it appears.”

A sign stood beside the stage with thick, black lettering:

“WIN AND CLAIM YOUR REWARD”

It was written just like that.

“…My lord, is this really a picnic?”

“I told you not to ask.”

“My apologies… Still, this is rather tasteless.”

As I suppressed one honest thought, another leaked out.

It truly was tasteless. With a sense of disbelief, I scanned the cheering spectators. Nadine must be somewhere among them. Was she cheering along with them, or perhaps drinking to fuel the excitement? How could anyone enjoy alcohol while watching something like this? Though the warriors on stage wore minimal armor, it was clear that a single misstep could be fatal.

—CLANG!

A sharp metallic sound pierced my ears, and the cheers intensified.

Turning back, I saw a petite warrior’s sweeping strike send the tall warrior’s wooden sword flying high into the air. The sword spun round and round before striking the river surface, sending up a spray of water. Seizing the opportunity, the petite warrior pressed the attack. The tall warrior, now disarmed, had no means to defend—

“—!”

But he wasn’t struck. Instead, he caught the wooden sword bare-handed.

The cheers swelled. Encouraged, the tall warrior closed in, grappling his opponent and hurling him away with brute force. The petite warrior spun through the air just like the wooden sword had, landing in the river with an enormous splash.

“Out of bounds—that’s the match!”

A woman who appeared to be the referee announced loudly. The cheers reached their peak. It seemed the match was over. Would Nadine appear now for the prize ceremony? As I looked around wondering, the referee spoke again.

“Winner, Nadine!”

What did she just say?

“Way to go, boss!”

“Lady Nadine, you’re so cool!”

In response to the crowd, the tall warrior removed her mask.

Ah, it’s Julian’s sister. I knew it the moment I saw her.

Exotic almond-shaped eyes, long lashes curved like a rainbow, a high nose as if carved directly by a god’s chisel, thin lips—in short, a breathtakingly beautiful face that was the spitting image of Julian.

The differences were her long hair flowing in the wind and her eye color—both resembled her father Chrislan, being black and lustrous. She wore no makeup and wasn’t dressed in finery. Yet, Julian’s sister Nadine Vraogone was an astonishingly beautiful woman.

“She’s still as wild and undisciplined with a sword as ever.”

Julian seemed exasperated from a different perspective than me.

“M-my lord! That’s your sister, isn’t it? What is she doing?”

“She probably considers it sword practice.”

“But why would a young lady need sword practice?”

“Young lady? That’s what she hates being called most. She’s always been like that. That’s why she neglected her ladylike education and took up the sword instead. She’s been on the battlefield numerous times and has many military achievements.”

“Have you ever fought alongside her?”

“No. By the time I started appearing on battlefields, Nadine was rotated back from the front lines.”

Because she’s a woman, I suppose. I was about to accept that as reasonable when—

“She doesn’t listen to anyone’s orders. Someone like that, no matter how strong, can’t be kept on the battlefield. Yet she misunderstood that I had her removed through slander and started picking fights with me.”

Ah, I see. So that’s what the “Empress” is about.

“You brutes! Who’s the next fool daring to challenge me!”

Nadine provoked the crowd from the stage. Was swinging her sword like that her way of venting frustration at being forcibly removed from the front lines?

“Really… what part of this is a picnic?”

Oh no. I accidentally asked the forbidden question again. Expecting a scolding, I turned only to find Julian gone from beside me.

Huh? Why? Please don’t. Don’t leave me here alone. With tearful eyes, I searched for my husband when—

“It’s been a while, sister.”

I found him. On the stage. When did he move? Julian had stepped onto the stage without being called.

“Julian… you, why are you here?”

In the dead silence, Nadine voiced my exact question.

“Why, you ask? I sent a letter requesting a meeting.”

“I don’t recall sending any reply.”

“Silence implies consent—that’s the custom.”

“I don’t know any such custom.”

So, Nadine doesn’t know it either. I’d assumed it was a Vraogone tradition.

“Regardless, please hear me out, sister.”

“Refused. Go home. I have nothing to say to you. You just make me angry.”

“It’s an important matter concerning Vraogone’s future.”

“No. Go home.”

“Please, sister.”

“I’ll kill you. Go home.”

You’re really hated, my lord. What in the world did you do in the past to make your relationship this bad? Even Lydia and I aren’t this bad.

“So, you absolutely refuse to talk?”

“That’s what I said. Go home.”

“Then, pick up your sword. I’ll be your next challenger.”

Saying this, Julian picked up a wooden sword and pointed its tip at the signboard displayed beside the stage:

“WIN AND CLAIM YOUR REWARD”

“If I defeat you, I’ll claim the reward of your time to talk.”

“You… you’d actually fight me?”

Nadine’s eyes glittered menacingly. She clearly had no intention of backing down from Julian. The Empress and the Undying King faced each other at the center of the stage. They were about the same height, I thought, and I could almost see sparks flying between them. The audience held their breath as Nadine smiled and—

“Refused. Go home.”

The Empress repeated the same words and turned her back.

“Sister.”

“Don’t call me sister so casually, you disgusting creature. Why should I cross swords with a concubine’s child? It would soil my blade.”

“But—”

“I said go home. Or can’t the child of a concubine understand human speech?”

“Yeah! Get lost, Undying King!”

“Go home, go home!”

Echoing Nadine’s words, the crowd began shouting too. Amid the vulgar insults—

“Wait, please!”

A high-pitched voice rang across the deck. To the spectators who had only heard rough jeers, the voice sounded distinctly out of place. Everyone fell silent instantly.

“Please wait, Lady Nadine.”

It was my voice. Following Julian, I too stepped onto the stage.

“Sierra, step back.”

“My lady, please step down.”

Julian and Zach both called out to stop me simultaneously, but I ignored them and stepped between them before the Empress.

“Now what? Where did you crawl out from?”

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Nadine. I am Sierra Eirondale, Lord Julian’s wife.”

“Wife? You got married?”

Nadine’s eyes widened as she questioned her brother.

“Yes, recently. Sierra, this isn’t the place. Step back.”

“No, I cannot. My husband’s discourtesy is my discourtesy. Lady Nadine, my husband has been terribly rude. I apologize on his behalf.”

Saying this, I made a formal bow of apology.

“Well now, the wife knows her manners, doesn’t she? What a cute thing—too good for a concubine’s child’s wife.”

Nadine laughed with apparent satisfaction, unlike her brother, not bothering to hide her emotions and smiling broadly. Looking up at my sister-in-law, I continued.

“Thank you. Then, in my husband’s place, I shall challenge you.”