Chapter 68

Silence fell.

A chill, desolate air—like something sunk to the bottom of the deep sea—coiled around every object and every person in the room.

It tightened around our throats. Crushed down on our hearts.

Even Camilla’s expressionless face showed a crack.

Only I remained dry-eyed and indifferent.

“I think I was twelve… Kabil and Juliet said we should play a hunting game, so I went along. I was the prey.”

“…….”

“It was in the forest near the ducal estate. Juliet would pick an arrow while blindfolded and hand it to Kabil. He’d take it and shoot.”

“…….”

“And among them, there was a real one. An arrow meant to kill.”

Even knowing that sharp arrowhead could take my life, Kabil drew the bowstring.

My desperate plea to spare me turned into a scream of agony.

“The arrow pierced me here… They said it missed the vital organs, luckily. Still, I was just a child. The fact that I didn’t die—it was a miracle.”

I had already been frail to begin with. After that, I was bedridden more often than not.

The Duke of Tierney gave Kabil and Juliet a week of confinement. Nothing more.

I can still remember, vividly, the conversation they had beside me while I lay there dying.

‘Next time, be careful not to kill her. We’ve invested years into this… Wouldn’t it be a waste if she died?’

‘I’m sorry, Father. She was being so irritating, I lost my temper.’

‘We thought she’d listen better if we taught her a lesson. She’s been getting too cheeky lately. Anyway, we’re sorry. We’ll be more careful next time.’

‘Tsk, tsk…. It’s all because that one is lacking. She’s still breathing for now, but—’

“—if she dies, it can’t be helped. Dispose of her quickly and replace her with another child.”

When I recited the Duke of Tierney’s exact words, Raul’s face drained of what little color it had left.

I met his gaze squarely and blinked, calm as ever.

“Why are you so shocked? I only got shot with an arrow and hovered at death’s door. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

“…….”

I’ve been through a hell of a lot worse.

The reason I’m terrified of bugs? I once survived two days in a pit swarming with them.

‘If I start unpacking everything, it’ll never end.’

Anyway. This was the point.

This was why I’d been building up to it all along.

“I hate the Tierney family just as much as you do. No—maybe even more.”

“…….”

“You don’t have to believe me. I don’t need your—”

Raul stared at me, dazed, his expression impossible to define.

I drew Lycian’s hand closer and pressed it against my cheek.

The warmth seeped into me. I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them again and continued.

“I don’t need your salvation.”

The only person who can save me is myself.

Someone might lend a hand—but in the end…

The one who could take that broken, shattered, ruined little girl by the hand and pull her out of the pit of despair—

was me.

The moment that realization settled in, a single tear slipped down my cheek.

“…Ah.”

I let out a small, startled sound at my own reaction, and Raul’s eyes widened.

He half-rose from his seat and reached toward me—

But in the blink of an eye, Lycian stepped in and pulled me fiercely into his arms.

“…!”

I flinched on instinct, trembling like a small bird caught in winter rain.

Then I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around him in return.

I could hear his heartbeat. His breathing, slightly roughened.

“…….”

I’ll probably manage just fine on my own from here on out.

But if there’s someone who sees me as I am—who cherishes me as if I were part of themselves—

There’s no greater stroke of luck in this world.

Enough to make me unafraid of whatever trials and hardships life throws my way.

---

Raul signed the divorce agreement in a half-dazed state.

After that, everything moved quickly.

Dragging things out would only put me at a disadvantage—I had a strong feeling of that. So I took Raul straight to the temple that very day and submitted the divorce papers.

After we left the temple, just before we parted ways—

He glanced at me, as though he had something he wanted to say.

But Camilla and Lycian flanked me on either side, blocking any approach.

And I had nothing more to say to him either.

So I turned my back without a shred of hesitation.

“Ah, I’m starving.”

On the ride back, I was the only one speaking lightly.

Everyone else looked like they were returning from a funeral.

Especially Ninabel, who had been sitting on my shoulder sniffling this whole time.

This INFP, honestly….

I deliberately softened my voice and tried to soothe her.

“Nini, stop crying. I’m not sad at all. If anything, I feel like I could take flight. What am I supposed to do if you’re the one bawling?”

“B-but, Master’s past was so, so… waaah…!”

Another failed attempt. Ninabel burst into louder sobs, teardrops plopping down in heavy beads until my shoulder was soaked.

‘INFPs are seriously difficult.’

While I was reflecting on that, Lycian suddenly grabbed Ninabel and lifted his arm out of habit.

“…Hoo.”

But instead of flinging her away like usual, he stuffed her into the bag hanging from the saddle.

‘What’s gotten into him? Lycian not being mean for once.’

“Quit your crying.”

“Waaahhh!!”

He barked the words coldly, but—

Ninabel only managed to calm down once we reached the farm.

I was hungry and about to cook for myself, but Camilla and Lycian insisted I leave it to them. In the end, I gave up and sprawled out on the sofa.

Staring up at the ceiling, I suddenly recalled something trivial that had happened at the temple.

‘Welcome, Lady Muriel. We’ve been expecting you.’

‘Expecting me?’

‘…Yes. All things follow the guidance of time, life, and fate.’

The high priest who oversaw the temple of the Winterberg territory left it at that and firmly shut his mouth.

That was all.

And yet, I had a powerful premonition that something monumental was approaching in my life.

---

“Gah—!”

For several days now,

Every time Raul fell asleep, he was tormented by nightmares.

Muriel was always there.

In his dreams, she lay on a sickbed, pale as a corpse, dying.

Raul gathered every means and method he could to save her—but all of it was useless.

‘Please, no…. Dear God, please don’t take her.’

The guilt was suffocating.

The past couldn’t be undone. All he could do was pray for a miracle in the present.

Muriel didn’t seem to hate him. Nor resent him.

Her hollow eyes held no emotion at all.

As though she had let go of everything.

Raul understood.

That wasn’t forgiveness.

He hadn’t been forgiven at all—

He had been ‘abandoned.’

In Muriel’s world now, he held no color. No meaning.

It was a merciless indifference. A final compromise.

The nightmares came more and more frequently.

One day, he was so sleep-deprived that he dozed off in the afternoon—only to dream the same dream again.

Sometimes he even saw visions of Muriel while fully awake.

On top of that, even the vassals of the Winterberg family had learned that Muriel possessed purification powers.

He had no idea where the information had leaked from.

It couldn’t have been Michelle. And he’d made sure to keep the servants’ mouths shut.

Besides, the servants had only seen the farm. They didn’t know about the purification ability.

…Had he accidentally let it slip to Sienna?

‘I don’t remember.’

He had been in an abnormal state for days.

Dreams and reality tangled together, and sometimes he couldn’t tell which was which.

It felt like he was going mad.

“My lord, do you truly intend to proceed with the divorce from Muriel Tierney?”

“She may be a Tierney, a bloodline that deserves death… but if she holds the power of purification, we should capture her and use her.”

“Indeed. The contaminated zone bordering Winterberg is vast. If we could purify it and claim it as our territory, the benefits to Winterberg would be immense—”

“You must go to the temple at once and declare your refusal of the divorce. File an objection—”

Raul, who had been silently listening to his vassals’ counsel, suddenly slammed his fist against the desk.

Bang.

Already plagued by headaches, his patience finally snapped.

“I have no intention of retracting the divorce.”

His voice was low and heavy.

“And do not approach the contaminated zone where… Muriel resides. Recklessly, at least. If you understand, leave.”

“But, my lord—!”

“Leave!”

The lord who had always listened attentively and ruled with fairness was now openly enraged.

His vassals were deeply flustered.

They cast worried glances at him but had no choice except to file out of the study.

“…….”

Left alone, Raul found himself unable to focus on his work.

He simply stared blankly out the window.

How much time passed like that—

Knock, knock.

A quiet rap at the door, followed by the butler’s voice.

“My lord, a letter has arrived from the temple.”

Raul’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.

‘…Already?’

It hadn’t been long since they submitted the divorce papers… Had it been processed so quickly?

“…No.”

It might not be about the divorce at all. It could be the matter of the territory’s dungeon.

If the Parakai Church judged the dungeon too difficult for civilian forces to conquer, they would dispatch the Holy Knights.

That would greatly reduce the difficulty of subjugation—

But requiring the temple’s assistance was considered shameful for a lord.

It meant he lacked the ability to protect his own lands.

Raul let out a long sigh.

“…Come in.”

“Yes. Excuse me.”

The door opened, and the butler stepped inside.

Approaching the desk, he bowed and presented a pristine white envelope.

Stamped in gold foil was the emblem of the Parakai Church.

Raul opened it without delay.

Inside was a single document.

A notice informing him that his divorce from Muriel had been approved.