Vulgar Marriage - Chapter 17

Chapter 9.1

“If we hadn’t gone after the Joseph family, our territory wouldn’t be under attack! I can understand attacking the marquisate, but why did you spare her? If you’d left her behind, we would’ve reached Celsion by now. This is all her fau—”

BAM! Hawthorne’s body flew sideways.

Livi blinked in confusion. Jeff, who had been standing behind her a moment ago, was now in front of her, fist raised. Despite his lean build, he had sent the much larger Hawthorne crashing into the dirt with a single punch. Hawthorne’s body slammed into the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

Without even sparing him a glance, Jeff bowed deeply toward Dominic.

“My apologies, Your Grace. You know how much this fool cares for his fiancée. Please, let it go just this once. He’s not in his right mind right now.”

Dominic remained silent, and the tension among the knights grew thick. Jeff’s deep bow, nearly a perfect right angle, made it clear that he was desperate not to lose another comrade. After a long pause, Dominic glanced at Hawthorne, who lay still on the ground and sighed.

“…Take care of him.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Jeff saluted as Dominic turned to leave. The moment Dominic disappeared from view, Jeff rushed over to Hawthorne.

“Sir Hawthorne, get up and mount your horse. Now.”

“…”

“I said now!”

Jeff’s voice was low but firm, yet it was no use. Hawthorne remained motionless and began to sob where he lay collapsed on the ground.

“Hngh, ngh, aghhhh!”

Hawthorne covered his face, wailing like a child. He clawed at the dirt and pounded his fists against the ground, causing dust to shroud Livi’s vision.

“Let me go! Please, let me go alone, I’m begging you…”

Even as his fellow knights tried to restrain him, Hawthorne’s cries continued, his tears leaving streaks down his rough, rugged face. It was rare—knights never allowed themselves to cry. To them, it was a sign of weakness, a disgrace.

Livi quietly turned toward Jeff, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Sir Jeff.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“If we don’t take this path, will the territory be in danger?”

“…It will take us three more days if we turn back. There’s a high chance we won’t make it in time.”

“I see.”

Livi’s face darkened, and Jeff hesitated for a moment before adding,

“Please don’t take what he said to heart. That fool isn’t thinking clearly. He didn’t mean it.”

“But it wasn’t entirely untrue, was it?”

“Well…”

Jeff trailed off, unable to find the right words. Livi bit her lip. Though she hadn’t done anything herself, every mishap seemed to be blamed on her. That was just the way of things.

‘He risked his territory to personally march to the Joseph mansion.’

Layers of resentment within her began to swell inside her. Even if Dominic hadn’t come with his knights, her family wouldn’t have survived. They had already been branded traitors.

‘I know that. But still…’

Couldn’t they have at least allowed her to say goodbye?

Livi shuddered as she recalled the demonic face she’d seen inside the mansion. Dominic had destroyed her family, forced her into a marriage she didn’t want, and disregarded the safety of his own territory to do so. None of it had been her choice.

And now that Celsion is in danger, it’s somehow my fault?

All the blame was falling on her?

Her body trembled with anger at the unfairness of it all.

Dominic’s arrival had shattered her life. He had stormed in, obliterated her world, and taken everything she held dear: her family, her status, her honor, even her future. All of it was now in his hands.

– Give me that refined body of yours. Each time you hold a knife to my throat, you’ll spread your legs for me. Each time you try to poison me, I want you to cry out like a wh*re beneath me.

His words had been cold, without an ounce of emotion.

The moment she nodded in agreement, Livi’s past life had become a distant memory. Dominic, with his indifferent expression, had forced her to expose the very depths of her vulnerability.

Livi didn’t want to do anything. Yes, she hated Dominic, but she despised the knights who served under him just as much.

The urge to make them suffer the same way she had simmered in her chest. She wanted them to feel the same helpless agony of watching their homes burn, their families die right before their eyes, and being utterly powerless to stop it.

But emotions and duty were two different things. Livi couldn’t afford to let Sevarium fall to an enemy nation.

In a dry voice, she declared,

“…I can clear the path.”

“What?”

“I’ll clear the path. Prepare to draw a magic circle.”

Jeff blinked in disbelief, clearly struggling to process her offer to help them.

“I heard you were a tactical mage, my lady, but… why? Why are you helping us?”

“Because it’s what needs to be done.”

“But…”

His wide eyes and stammering lips showed his confusion, but he had no response. Without another word, Livi walked past him, heading toward the entrance of the canyon.

“A Joseph does not retreat, does not compromise, and does not choose.” Those were the words her father used to mutter while standing on the terrace.