Villainous Husband, the One You’re Obsessed With Is Over There - Chapter 137

Chapter 69.1

Since all of us reached a consensus that our presence together as four people would be too conspicuous, we decided to split into two groups. Eden and I would head north first, and then a week later, Cisen and Sylvia would set off to the south.

The sooner we left, the better, so Eden and I accelerated our preparation process, swiftly gathering all the essential supplies we would need for our journey.

We decided to wait for dusk and cross the gate when it was dark since we would be shrouded in the veil of darkness. Even though we had the pass that Eden had stolen, a nagging worry lingered in the back of my mind. What if the guards recognized my face? What if they were alerted to my true identity?

Cisen, who was always meticulous and detail-oriented, packed my things though her heedfulness was even more precise than usual.

Handing the bag to me, she smiled.

“We’ll definitely meet at the temple.”

I responded with a feeble smile and a nod at her words. Deep down, however, I couldn’t shake off the realization that if the operation was successful, it was likely to be goodbye for good.

I was certain Cisen knew that, too. As she opened her arms, extending them towards me, I felt a surge of emotion welling up within me. I embraced her tightly, holding her as if she were a beloved sister. In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words that were lingering on the tip of my tongue, ‘I’m not Angelica.’

The next moment, Sylvia approached me as I pulled away from Cisen, who reluctantly let me go. Vibrant energy radiated from her as her eyes sparkled with an intensity that I had never witnessed before as if dozens of stars were captured within her gaze.

“I’m sure you’ll do well. Do you remember the hunting grounds?”

“I remember.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just as well as you did back then.”

Sylvia whispered hoarsely.

Hunting grounds.

The mention of the hunting grounds brought back a flood of memories. It wasn’t entirely my ability that day. Raniero, the enigmatic and influential figure, had played a crucial role behind the scenes. He gave me a drug that enhanced my performance and appeared when I was in dire straits, saving me from peril.

…But, not this time.

Nonetheless, Sylvia seemed to believe more firmly than myself that I would do well. Her unwavering belief might be rooted in wishful thinking rather than faith.

The hunting grounds left a deep scar on Sylvia as well. What had initially been sadness had gradually transformed into resentment towards her mother and brother, and eventually morphed into anger directed at Raniero. It wasn’t a pleasant experience to be subjected to a mere pawn in someone else’s twisted game of amusement.

…If this went well, would it serve as a means of liberation for Sylvia, finally releasing her from the haunting memories of the hunting grounds?

I consciously averted my gaze from Sylvia.

It wasn’t time to worry about others. Eden was waiting.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded.

Tension clogged my throat and pressed down on my tongue, so we rode atop the horse without speaking a word. Thankfully, Eden had assured me that their trail had been scattered since their safe arrival at Count Tocino’s estate, so I was relieved to hear that.

Stepping out through the back door of the village, we headed down a meandering path far from the bustling thoroughfares frequented by people up to the gate.

Nervousness gripped me, causing my hands to fiddle with the reins.

Ahead of me, Eden walked confidently, his back turned towards me. His calm demeanor remained unwavering still. However, the closer I got to the gate, the more worried I became, and I kept looking around to make sure I wasn’t being followed. The echoing sound of the horses’ hooves reverberated through the stillness, amplifying my fears that someone might emerge and catch sight of us.

‘I just hope the sun will set soon.’

Luckily, it was winter.

The once vibrant scenery, bathed in the brilliance of the sun, had now suddenly turned dull and lifeless, aiding our attempt at discretion.

To reach the northern gate, we had to pass by Countess Tocino’s residence. Eden’s gaze briefly scanned the area as he quickened his pace. I mirrored his actions with my heart pounding in my chest. Anxiety flooded my being as we neared the Countess’ house, where lights flickered in the evening gloom.

By some stroke of fortune, we went unnoticed.

I kept looking carefully at the Countess’s windows, most of which were adorned with curtains, concealing any signs of human presence. Regardless, I couldn’t rest assured until I had the Countess’s residence behind me, so I urged my horse to trot faster.

I could see the gate in the distance.

There were four guards guarding the gate. There were sentry posts on both sides of the gate, some distance away, with lights flickering.

“I feel like throwing up.”

Breaking the long silence, I finally muttered. It seemed that he had heard me as Eden answered me.

“Go through the door and throw up.”

…He was an unfortunate character in a different way from Raniero.

Still, Eden seemed as nervous, though not as much as me. His voice was drier than usual, mirroring the tension in the air.

Indeed, there were four guards at the gate and two guards each at the post. No matter how diligently I had honed my archery skills or how formidable a paladin Eden was, the reality was clear that there was no way we could take on all eight guards at once.

We couldn’t afford to overlook the possibility that a skirmish could erupt, leading one of the guards to swiftly report our presence to the Countess’s mansion.

‘…We need to pass through here as quietly as possible.’

And it depended on Eden’s capabilities. Instead of me, whose face was known through portraits everywhere, we had decided that Eden would handle all interactions with people until we safely crossed the Actilus border.

“Stop!”

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