We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 49

“This is…”

“My lady, run!”

As my eyes adjusted, the hopeless situation became clear.

Spears glinting with reflected sunlight, dozens of Vraogone soldiers, Zach pinned to the ground. And,

“Quite the face you’ve made, Sierra. Looks like you’ve been running around quite a bit.”

Chrislan wore a faint smile as he puffed on his pipe, as if to say he’d been waiting impatiently.

What’s going on? Why are the pursuers here?

“This escape tunnel,” his lordship the Duke said cheerfully, preempting my question as he exhaled smoke, “was originally for royalty and high-ranking nobles. Of course, I would know about it.”

“I thought that clever, well-connected you would surely sniff out this tunnel if I blocked the north and south gates. Well now, you’ve given me quite the trouble.”

Emphasizing his last words, Chrislan took a deep drag from his pipe.

I could see the fiery glow burning brightly in the pipe’s bowl.

“Please, don’t hurt Zach.”

“That depends on your behavior. If you come quietly to Vraogone, that guard lying there will remain in one piece.”

“…Coward.”

The straightforward insult slipped out.

That’s how well Chrislan understood how to use hostages. He would never kill Zach. Instead, he wouldn’t hesitate to injure him. That’s how he had manipulated Julian. If I were taken to Vraogone, I would become the hostage this time.

“My, my, such ill-mannered language from a little girl. You need some education. Cut off one of the man’s fingers.”

“Wait!”

“Don’t move!”

As I tried to rush forward, I was roughly pulled back. In the process, I heard the sound of fabric tearing. Something spilled from the torn pocket. It was small and silver, and

Ring.

made a clear, ringing sound. That bell Julian had given me.

The bell that Julian had called nothing but a comfort, making its best effort with its small body to produce sound, but overwhelmingly lacking in volume.

“My lord!”

So, I screamed.

“Lord Julian!”

With all my strength, the name of the person I loved.

I had never asked anyone for help before. I had always been alone.

Not because I was strong. Because I was afraid of being brushed aside. Much more frightening than suffering alone was having my outstretched hand for help slapped away. So, I shouldered everything alone. Without borrowing anyone’s hand, without asking for anyone’s help. The one who changed me was—

“Lord Julian, help me!”

My voice echoed through the woods. My feelings bounced off tree trunks and escaped into the sky,

—.

And then I heard it.

At first small, then gradually growing louder, the grove began to stir. The rustling sound of leaves shaking, the snapping of twigs, the flapping of startled birds taking flight, the crunching of dried grass underfoot. The harsh sound of metal scraping.

“That’s far enough!”

Over a hundred soldiers emerged from the forest.

Fully armed soldiers reminiscent of silver beasts surrounded Chrislan’s troops with coordinated movements. Their triumphant armor glittered brilliantly as it reflected the dappled sunlight.

The sight was like a meteor shower racing through the grove.

“W-what, who are you people?!”

Chrislan’s pipe slipped from his fingers. The newly appeared soldiers bore the same ‘Flame Key’ emblem on their chests. But from their disarray, it was clear they weren’t under the Duke’s command.

Then who? Who was commanding this army?

As if answering that question, one soldier stepped forward.

In his hand wasn’t a spear but a single-edged saber. I recognized its make. Not just the sword. I recognized his walk, the air about him, the way he stood still. Painfully so.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Of course, I recognized that voice too.

“Are you hurt, Sierra?”

And the silver hair flowing from his removed helmet too.

Just like when we first met. Standing there with the dappled sunlight at his back, he looked like an angel descended to earth.

“Julian.”

Tears overflowed before words could form. I couldn’t believe what was happening before my eyes.

“How… why are you here?”

“When I heard Father had moved to capture the fugitive, I immediately knew it was you. The rest was the same as Father. I gambled that you would definitely escape through here.”

“That’s not what I meant… the Divine Spring… the King’s guard…”

When I asked, Julian fell silent for a moment,

“…Don’t be ridiculous.”

Then let out an embarrassed laugh.

“You expect me to continue guarding the King while you’re in danger?”

“But that’s what a warrior does.”

Protect the King, protect one’s lord, protect the country. That’s what warriors—

“I have nothing I want to protect more than you, Sierra.”

Saying this, Julian embraced me.

The same way he always did—strong at first, then gently enveloping.

“…Julian.”

He conveyed through his armor the warmth I thought I would never feel again.

I love you. In his arms, I conveyed feelings I had never been able to speak aloud.