We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 50

“There’s nothing I want to protect more than Sierra.”

Saying this, Julian embraced me.

His usual way – strong at first, then gentle and enveloping afterward.

“…Julian.”

He conveyed warmth through his armor that I thought I’d never feel again.

I love you. He communicated feelings I’d never been able to voice within his arms.

“Well said! That’s right, Julian!”

But I wasn’t the only one pleased by Julian’s words.

Before anyone noticed, Christian’s saber tip was pressed against Zach’s face.

“You finally admitted it, Julian! Yes, your precious, precious Sierra. You don’t want a single scratch on her, do you? Come here, Sierra. If you don’t, I’ll pierce this man’s eyes. And that’s not all – I’ll have the arms cut off every servant at Harrop.”

“Father, please stop this.”

Julian stared at Christian with utterly cold eyes.

“I’m no longer part of Vraogone. Neither Nadine nor Arcadia will side with you. Even if you control me alone, rebellion is impossible.”

“Indeed, the Vraogone family’s rebellion would be impossible. But so what? I never counted on those incompetent siblings anyway. I’m not the only one who wants to crush the Vishka Kingdom.”

“So, you’ve allied with the neighboring country after all.”

“You knew?”

“Even though I’ve withdrawn from the front lines, I thought the territories were being reclaimed too quickly. You used the return of captured lands as bait for the alliance?”

“Exactly. But it’s not enough. For the alliance with that country, Julian, I need you.”

“Me? Why?”

“For the neighboring country, the Immortal King is a symbol of terror. Unless I bring you to the negotiation table, the alliance is impossible. Come with me, Julian. When the rebellion succeeds, I’ll give you that woman.”

“What about my sister and Arcadia in this plan?”

“Who cares? I’m only telling you because it’s you. Those incompetent siblings aren’t worth talking to.”

“Wow, that’s harsh. Did you hear that, sis? I’m shocked.”

“Don’t misunderstand – the incompetent one is you.”

Two soldiers flanking Julian reacted to Christian’s insults.

An unusually tall soldier and one with terribly sloppy armor simultaneously threw off their helmets.

“We came to help you, sister-in-law.”

“Don’t act cool – Julian just called you here.”

Their lustrous, matching black hair was revealed.

“Arcadia! And sister too!”

“You managed to escape this far, little girl. But wait a moment. I have business with father now.”

Nadine shot Christian with eyes filled with quiet anger.

“Now, shall we have you explain, father?”

“What, you two left your posts too? This is why I call you incompetent. What about the king’s guard?”

But the battle-hardened Vraogone head brushed off such gazes as if they were nothing and shrugged his shoulders.

“Hah. I never thought I’d be worried about the king’s guard by father of all people.”

“Give up, dad. It’s already impossible.”

“Shut up, useless. Don’t you dare comment on your father’s methods.”

“…Hey, haven’t you been treating me terribly since earlier? It hurts, you know.”

“So what? What can you do? An incompetent military policeman who can’t even gather evidence of treason – will you kill me? You’ll just bear the sin of patricide. Or will you report me to the king? Same thing. There’s no evidence. Who would believe anything you say!”

Christian declared triumphantly. Nadine and Arcadia said nothing, exchanging only a glance that siblings understood.

“Indeed, whatever we say is meaningless without evidence.”

Julian took over the conversation.

“That’s why we decided to have him hear it directly.”

“Directly?”

“Yes, that’s enough now.”

“…What do you mean?”

The smile vanished from Christian’s face. The man sensitive to everything sensed the premonition of his fatal mistake.

“What do you mean, Julian!”

Christian’s roar echoed. Julian gave no answer.

Without answering, he turned his gaze to the third soldier standing by his side.

A man wrapped in armor and helmet, with the most soldierly robust physique of anyone.

“…I heard everything.”

That voice sounded familiar. Just yesterday. I remembered trembling at that voice.

As the soldier in question slowly reached for his helmet,

“Chris, I understand your true intentions well now.”

Revealing sharp eyes unimaginable for royalty.

“Your Majesty Dimitris…”

“Everyone, stand down!”

At Julian’s command, the soldiers simultaneously saluted.

“Why are you here…”

Christian’s face turned pale instantly.

“The Immortal King boldly suggested during the ceremony. He said if I wore helmet and armor, I’d see something interesting. But I never expected it to be this interesting.”

“Julian, you…”

“Father, I never imagined you’d take such bold action. Thanks to that, I’ve made up my mind. I could have just returned and cut you down, but being branded a patricide would be troublesome. So, I decided to have you speak your true intentions directly before His Majesty.”

Julian quietly declared this. His eyes no longer held any emotion. Not looking at his father, not looking at the family head – just looking at a criminal.

“Don’t fuck with me!”

Christian’s shouting exploded toward Julian.

“Do you, do you understand what you’ve done! You betrayed your father! No, not just me. You betrayed your mother and the Vraogone family too! You ugly pig! Are you happy to become the royal family’s pawn! Are you that happy to become the royal family’s slave!”

It had become an unbearable sight.

Christian, the head of Vraogone feared as a martial family, threw away all pride and his mask of smiles as he ranted. It looked like the death throes of nobility.

“Do you know what the royal family has done to Vraogone for generations! Not letting us participate in politics, confining us to the border, not allowing us to attack, forcing us to just become a ‘wall’ and die! What nonsense is ‘neither invading others nor bending oneself’! Why can’t you see we’re being used up! This royal house deserves to be destroyed! Why can’t you understand that!”

“…Father.”

“Come with me, Julian! We’ll rebuild Vraogone! We’ll settle the longstanding grudge against the Vishka Kingdom!”

“…”

“Julian!”

“Is that what the people want?”

“…What?”

Christian’s eyelids, his eyeballs opened so wide they seemed about to fall out. His lips trembled with rage.

“The people?”

His voice shook, his fingers shook, the saber in his hand began trembling violently.

And then,

“Don’t talk like you know anything! You bastard child of a concubine!”

He threw the saber. Or perhaps Julian had been waiting for that moment. Julian deflected the thrown saber with a draw strike.

“—!”

He flashed his blade with a lightning-fast slash.

“Don’t look, Sierra.”

Sheathing his sword, he cradled my face with his left hand.

In Julian’s embrace, I smelled the suffocating scent of blood.