Vulgar Marriage - Chapter 18

Chapter 9.2

She had heard them a hundred times, but this was the first time she truly felt their weight: When you want to retreat, you don’t. When compromise seems wise, you don’t compromise. And when something isn’t a matter of choice, you don’t present it as one.

What Livi needed to do now had nothing to do with her personal feelings. House Joseph had been a key protector of Sevarium. Her father had spent his life fulfilling that duty, and now, with him gone, it was up to Livadonia to take up the mantle.

‘If the Celsion territory takes a hit, it’s only a matter of time before the entire northern front falls back. And if they march straight down toward the center, the capital itself might not be safe for long.’

Livi roughly scanned the width and length of the canyon. The rocky slopes loomed high, as if ready to crumble at any second. If the knights were to ride through safely, she would need to create a magic circle large enough to cover the entire canyon.

“Alp deer blood, Ende mushrooms, Scharlach flower extract, a refined Albea root potion, and twenty mana stones. These are common ingredients for treating external wounds, so the healer should have plenty of them.”

Jeff gave the orders, and the soldiers quickly brought back the supplies.

Livi arranged the mana stones in a circle at the canyon’s entrance and immediately began her calculations. The formula was going to be extremely complex since the circle needed to cover the full span of the canyon from the ground to the top of the cliffs.

Most tactical mages, often called “geniuses,” could perform these calculations mentally, but Livi lacked that ability. She had to sit down and painstakingly work through every variable with absolute precision, making sure there were no errors in her calculations.

The knights set aside their earlier hostility and watched her with growing hope. Livadonia, a tactical mage, and Crown Prince Carlos, a mage with promising abilities, had been a famous duo, after all.

But the hope based on those rumors didn’t last long. Half a day had passed since she set up the mana stones, and she was still calculating. The tension around her began to rise.

“Are we just supposed to sit here and wait? We’re wasting time.”

“Damn it, the longer route might be faster at this point…”

Sweat dripped down Livi’s forehead. This was her first time calculating such a large-scale magic circle on the spot. In theory, it should work—but she couldn’t be sure.

Even the smallest miscalculation could cause the entire spell to fail. Her fingers continued to move steadily, and after what felt like an eternity, the formula was finally complete.

“It’s ready.”

Now, all that was left was to draw the magic circle based on the formula. But as Livi moved to stand, she was suddenly lifted off the ground. Dominic had grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her into the air with one hand.

Her legs dangled in the air, barely touching the floor.

“What are you doing?!”

“Stop. We’re turning back.”

“Wait, it’s almost finished—”

“Why should I believe you?”

Dominic asked in a biting tone.

“The Joseph family betrayed the crown and colluded with the enemy. How can I trust that you’re not drawing a magic circle meant to kill us?”

“That’s…”

Livi was at a loss for words. Proving the truth was infinitely harder than disproving a lie.

Dominic was asking her to prove her family’s innocence. Something impossible now that they were all dead.

“Keep your mouth shut, wife. Stop drawing attention to yourself. What do you think will happen if you keep this up and I lose my temper?”

“What are you—ugh!”

Before she could finish, Dominic’s hand gripped her shoulder and slowly slid down her collarbone. His casual touch made Livi’s body stiffen instantly.

“It was about time you started behaving yourself.”

Effortlessly, Dominic slung her over his shoulder. Livi was caught off guard by the sudden change in height and grabbed onto his clothes for balance.

“Wait…”

“Follow me, all of you.”

Without hesitation, the knights obeyed Dominic’s order, falling into step behind him. No one mentioned the magic circle. The hopeful glances they’d given her earlier were gone. Now, they acted as though she didn’t exist.

Panic welled up in Livi, and she pounded her fists against his back.

“Wait, wait! Your Grace—”

“Be quiet.”

‘But it’s finished now.’

From her awkward upside-down position, Livi caught sight of the parchment with the magic circle’s formula. The calculations she had spent all day working on blurred before her bloodshot eyes, and a wave of helplessness, as well as frustration, crashed over her.

If this is how he was going to act, why let me finish the formula? Why waste all this time?

Her fury burned—at the commander for making such rash decisions and the subordinates who followed him without question.

“Your Grace! Wait, just hold on for a moment!”

A familiar voice halted them. It was Hawthorne, the knight who had spoken about his fiancée living in the village below the mountain. Though Livi couldn’t see ahead while being slung over Dominic’s shoulder, she could guess what was happening just by the fact that he’d stopped.

“Please, just for a moment. Can’t we at least show it to Adna? As a healing mage, she might be able to determine the purpose of the magic circle!”