Chapter 100

The red liquid flowed over the table where Rodella’s hand was resting.

For a moment, Aivert almost lost his mind…

But the sight of Rodella, without a single wound, barely brought his sanity back.

Aivert, who had traversed the extremes of emotion in a short time, clenched his teeth.

As Aivert approached them quickly, Duke Benerix spoke.

“That’s a bit excessive.”

He was so calm that no one would have thought he was the man who had just shattered a glass with his bare hands.

Aivert stood between the two, as if to block Duke Benerix’s gaze from reaching Rodella.

“Damien von Grey Benerix.”

His voice was like a growl, as if he were spitting out the words.

Benerix raised both hands in the face of the clear killing intent.

“Such an outrage, I will officially protest through the Imperial Palace department.”

Protest? Aivert let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“Not only did you send a threatening letter to summon someone, but this kind of…”

He picked up Duke Benerix’s contract, its surface covered in spilled wine.

And then.

—Rip!

It must have been a magic contract, as the paper tore and sparks of magical power flew, but it had no effect on his hand.

“—you offer a fraudulent contract, and if it’s refused…”

He shook off the torn pieces of paper and pointed outside.

“You arranged for the carriage she was going to ride in to explode. Where should I protest about that?”

At his words, Rodella held her breath.

What?

But the shocking revelations weren’t over yet.

“It’s not even an original method, since it’s the same as the one on the day of the academy graduation.”

After hearing that, she froze.

Aivert’s words meant that the Duke had known and tried to exploit her trauma.

Aivert, who had been glaring at the Duke, turned to her.

The look in his eyes, which they hadn’t met in a long time, was filled with unconcealable anxiety.

“Do you want to hear more? I can wait if you do.”

He impatiently swept his bangs back with his hand.

“But I don’t know if the Duke will be in one piece.”

It meant that if he watched any longer, he wouldn’t be able to hold back.

Rodella quickly waved her hand.

“No, I was just about to refuse and leave.”

At that, Aivert looked back at Duke Benerix, as if to make a point.

“You don’t need to feel sorry about the torn contract.”

Of course, his expression was the exact opposite.

“Then I’ll look forward to your letter of protest.”

A large hand wrapped around Rodella’s shoulder, more gently than ever before.

Duke Benerix watched them walk away in silence.

***

She felt like she was suffocating.

She could feel the hand holding her shoulder trembling slightly.

It felt like it had been so long since she’d been face to face with him, no, it felt like it had been a very long time since she’d been this close to him, except when she was asleep.

When she thought that, she wanted to look into his eyes.

She wanted to see what he was thinking, even a little.

But her body reacted first.

“…!”

Her body, which had been standing as if nothing was wrong in front of Duke Benerix, collapsed as soon as the tension was released.

Aivert, without even being surprised, caught Rodella’s falling body.

“Oh, thank you…”

Rodella, who was about to speak, flinched.

The hallway was filled with scattered decorations.

There were clear signs of a battle in the hallway, which must have been his doing.

It was clear that an even more brutal sight would appear around the corner of this hallway.

Perhaps feeling where her gaze was going, Aivert covered her eyes.

His hand was warm.

“Don’t look, close your eyes.”

Instead of thinking of anything else, Rodella closed her eyes as he said.

“Good girl.”

After his low voice, Rodella’s body was suddenly lifted into the air.

Aivert had picked her up.

“…!”

She took a surprised breath, but only for a moment, and then Rodella didn’t move.

As if her body had been in a cold place and had just returned, his embrace was so warm.

Will you try to avoid me again once we leave here?

Along with a warm sense of relief, a sudden wave of sadness washed over her.

While she pressed her lips into a firm line, Aivert moved.

He moved so fast that a light breeze blew, and he left the scene.

“Are you alright?”

At that, a hurried voice was heard.

It was Rodin’s voice. He asked that in a hurry, and then slyly spoke to Aivert.

“The damage to the mansion is extensive… Benerix will protest severely.”

Even though it was an annex, it seemed like half of it was destroyed, so that was a given.

But Aivert spoke shamelessly.

“They’re making a fuss when we destroyed it together.”

…Did Rodin destroy it too?

From his silence, it seemed to be the case.

It seemed that the commotion she heard earlier when Duke Benerix was spouting nonsense was indeed partly because of Rodin.

She had thought the Duke’s words about her escort were just nonsense.

Considering the timing of the loud noise, he must have realized something was wrong much earlier.

“You arranged for the carriage she was going to ride in to explode. Where should I protest about that?”

…Considering Aivert’s words just now, he probably discovered something strange being done to the carriage.

The image of Rodin moving desperately came to mind, and a smile naturally formed on her face.

“You protected me with your life this time, Sir Rodin.”

She wanted to open her eyes, but once her body lost its strength, it was not easy to do so.

After a brief silence, Rodin’s hoarse voice was heard.

Along with the presence of him bowing respectfully.

“…It was insufficient. I apologize.”

If he had truly been insufficient, he wouldn’t have been able to contact Royden and summon Aivert in such a short time.

Rodella shook her head, as if to say it was alright.

In the meantime, Aivert said.

“If a request for a territorial war comes, accept it. Whatever the protest or anything.”

A territorial war.

Rodella’s heart seemed to grow cold.

In the end, it meant blood would be shed.

“If it’s a territorial war… we must officially report our troops.”

Rodella understood the hidden meaning in Rodin’s words.

Royden had many hidden troops, so it would clearly be a problem in many ways.

But Aivert, the head of the family, answered right away as if it was no problem.

“List the minimum. I will lead the vanguard.”

It was war. And Aivert would be at the front.

“Haven’t you ever thought that Duke Royden, who must bow his head before an emperor who prevented him from even finding his father’s body, must be in more pain?”

Even though she knew Duke Benerix’s words were nonsense, the thought kept coming back to her when he said blood would be shed.

Even though she wasn’t going to sign that contract.

—Slash!

The memory of Aivert expressionlessly cutting down a person once came to mind, and she let out a shallow breath.

She liked being held in his arms like this.

She wanted to tell him that she liked his warmth and was thankful for what he did this time.

But after revealing Royden’s forces and now a territorial war, you are again being forced to do something unplanned, something you may not have wanted to do, because of me.

With that thought, it was difficult to meet his eyes.

“There will be opposition from within.”

Rodin’s words were heard again.

“Then ask them if they approve of leaving a family that has touched the head of the family’s fiancée alone.”

Rodella felt his words, which were referring to her, particularly piercing her heart.

“That…”

She heard Rodin’s voice trail off in a troubled manner.

As Rodella listened to that conversation, she completely hardened the decision she had been faintly making in her heart.

Yes, because of this relationship, Aivert would have to make more sacrifices in the future.

He would shed blood because of that playful engagement, which was supposed to be a way to prevent people from trying to arrange a marriage for her.

It was not right.

And so, she made up her mind.

Let’s end this.

She hated that Aivert was uncomfortable with her, and she hated the thought of things becoming more uncomfortable than this.

She hated even more that he was being forced to do things he had no intention of doing.

‘So…’

Rodella, having made up her mind, lifted her eyelids.

She saw Aivert’s hardened expression.

Your expression, hardened with worry, your expression of holding back something again…

Yes.

Rodella closed her eyes.

This is the right choice.

Just as she thought that, her body, unable to withstand the fatigue, completely lost consciousness.