Refusing Your Ex-Husband’s Obsession: A Guide - Chapter 216

Chapter 216

Translator: Yonnee

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Ciel was quietly observing from above the capital. He flinched when winged monsters appeared but remained patient, watching as they were quickly extinguished. He needed to conserve his strength.

He noticed people gathering and the presence of the Crown Prince, but he silently scouted other areas.

Seo-yoon had surely crossed dimensions, but there was no monster wave yet.

Could it have occurred somewhere else than the capital?

He considered various possibilities, but his intuition told him it would happen not far from the capital.

However, as the sun set and no monsters appeared, Ciel grew more anxious and remained in the air until dusk.

Watching the gathered citizens move in a long line and realizing Irene was among them, he finally noticed her.

“Irene…”

He wanted to rush to her, but at that moment, a tremendous roar sounded. A noise like he had never heard before made his hair stand on end.

It wasn’t just one roar. The sounds, like a signal of the beginning of a monster wave, echoed one after another.

Ciel, pale-faced, located the direction of the noise.

A cloud of dust began surrounding the western walls of the capital. It was clear, even to an onlooker, that monsters were inside that dust cloud.

“What is that?”

Behind the dust, another tear in the fabric of time and space opened, and a giant monster emerged first.

Its large hand tore through the dimension, followed by various types of monsters—centipede-like, winged, and insectoid—all kinds that had been seen before burst out.

Another portal opened beside it.

Witnessing the simultaneous monster waves, Ciel slowly lowered his gaze to the procession below, which had come to a halt.

Irene, amidst them, looked up.

It should be too dark to see.

Yet, it seemed as if their eyes met. That’s when he realized.

Why had the Goddess sent him back? Why had he died in the original story?

Everything had been shrouded in questions. The Goddess had not provided answers to each one.

But now, he understood it all. He had to exist for this moment.

And…

“This time, I will protect you.”

He would not stupidly rely on his wife’s help to survive as in the past. This time, he would be the one to save her.

If only he could, there was nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice himself for.

Ciel stared determinedly at the horde of approaching monsters. He flew swiftly, unleashing all his powers at once. Fire and wind combined to produce an immense force.

The bizarre cries and the smell of burning flesh were familiar, yet Ciel felt a sudden loneliness. But he had to endure it all. He would be the shield to protect the empire and Irene.

Meanwhile, Irene, spotting Ciel, tried to call out to him joyfully. But the chilling roars made her drop her half-raised arm. She turned around with a fearful expression.

Though the capital’s walls obscured the view, she could imagine what now unfolded outside. Then she checked the sky.

The night sky, filled with countless stars, seemed to ripple as he moved through it, and a piercing howl spread.

The dark sky reflected a red hue. Knowing what that light meant, Irene frantically tried to move against the crowd.

“Lady?”

“Lady Closch!”

“Saintess!”

Aiden, Lacie, Jace, Marco, and the citizens halted her steps. Aiden, looking alarmed, rushed to her.

“What’s wrong?”

Lacie also spoke to Irene.

“We should evacuate first. That roar was unlike anything before.”

Jace, too, turned his horse around and approached.

“All of you, evacuate to the palace. The knights will take care of things here.”

Everyone tried to stop her, but Irene felt an ominous premonition and couldn’t easily turn back. She was overlapped by a memory from the past, the moment she had risked her life to save him.

She felt an inexplicable anxiety. Could anyone understand the feeling of having their insides torn apart, seeing their most cherished person crumble before their eyes?

She didn’t want to repeat the past. She just wanted to live a normal and happy life. She had just begun to open her heart again.

She couldn’t lose him a second time.

“This is insane.”

Why did they always take away her loved one when it mattered the most?

“Your Highness, Saintess…”

The high priest, who had recognized their procession from the temple, hurried over. He stood before Irene and said,

“Please go to where that door had stopped last time. There must be a purpose there.”

It seemed like everyone was stopping her, as if saying everything would be resolved if only Ciel was sacrificed. She longed to run to him, but her family was in her way.

Unlike the past, she wasn’t alone.

As Irene stood, tormented and indecisive, a familiar voice reached her.

“My daughter, what are you doing here!”