A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 36

The slope of the hill was steeper than it looked from below.

 

The higher we climbed, the stronger the wind blew, whipping across our faces.

 

“Stepping outside the carriage feels as if one’s life is at stake.”

 

Eve took a deep breath.

 

With a fairly steady posture atop her horse, Eve took pleasure in equestrian pursuits. 

 

Having been confined within the narrow confines of the carriage for three days, the current situation felt like an outing, and her countenance reflected that sentiment.

 

“It would be wise to turn back even now.”

 

Unlike Eve, Briella’s face was filled with concern.

 

Briella looked up at the hill with a worrisome expression and spoke.

 

“A confrontation is unfolding, is it not? We should ascend quickly, deliver food to the famished knights, and descend. Think of the hungry knights of the Rhone Empire, Lady Briella Viterpan.”

 

Eve slightly furrowed her brow and glanced at the adjutant holding the reins of the horse I was riding.

 

“…As Lady wishes, it would be acceptable for a brief moment.”

 

Despite the visible unease, Briella discreetly sighed while observing Eve, unable to properly articulate her thoughts, as she was wary of Eve’s response.

 

There were more knights surrounding them than anticipated.

 

Although Lady Eve enjoyed the favor of the emperor, these were knights who had clearly emerged from the midst of battle. Furthermore, Lucas would never issue such orders.

 

In that case, the knights surrounding Eve were not followers of Lucas but rather Gusto’s knights.

 

‘To entrust one’s life to such knights and fight… What kind of person is he?’

 

Enemies were everywhere, but this was too much. She thought of Gusto, sitting stiffly cross-legged in the highest seat in the palace, his jaw set, staring down at Lucas.

 

Briella, holding the reins, exerted an unknowing force in her grip.

 

The sun had already descended, casting a dusky hue.

 

The creeping darkness loomed close to her feet.

 

With each step, it felt as if she would be engulfed by the swiftly approaching shadows.

 

“Why are you so concerned when the knights of the Rhone Empire are by our side?”

 

Upon Eve’s words, Briella turned her head, her lips trembling.

 

Her face still bore an unresolved unease.

 

Balancing on leaves dampened by rain wasn’t an easy task for the horse.

 

Briella’s grip on the reins was getting stronger by the second.

 

The sun had already descended, casting a dusky hue.

 

The creeping darkness loomed close to her feet.

 

She felt she would be engulfed by the swiftly approaching shadows with each step she took. 

 

“Why are you so concerned when the knights of the Ron Empire are by our side?”

 

Upon Eve’s words, Briella turned her head, lips trembling.

 

Balancing on leaves dampened by rain wasn’t an easy task for the horse.

 

* * *

 

 

 

With the assistance of the knights, they finally reached the top of the hill when thick darkness had already descended.

 

“It’s so dark.”

 

The darkness was so dense that one could barely discern the shape of a person.

 

The winter night, devoid of the sun, carried a chilling wind. Hair blown around by the wind, obstructed their vision.

 

“It’s so dark.”

 

“I will light a fire soon.”

 

Startled by Eve’s sudden appearance, the knights murmured in confusion.

 

Even the rebels lurking beneath the faintly visible hill were observing their situation.

 

Briella squinted her eyes and surveyed her surroundings.

 

The dimness hindered her view of the path ahead.

 

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of flowing water softly reached her ears.

 

‘Lucas.’

 

Longing for someone she hadn’t seen in many days, Briella’s thoughts rippled through the black abyss.

 

Embracing her fluttering heart, she diligently scanned the vicinity.

 

“Gasp!”

 

“Please be careful.”

 

Eve slipped on the wet leaves as she moved around and let out a cry.

 

The sharp noise caused a stir near the rebel camp.

 

‘Where is Duke Viterpan?’

 

Briella quickly searched for Lucas.

 

Her dark emerald eyes, somewhat accustomed to the darkness, scanned the surroundings busily.

 

“I think I will survive.”

 

Eve’s melodious voice echoed, and soon her figure emerged from the darkness.

 

The torches held by the knights dispelled the surrounding darkness.

 

“Lady Eve, we need to extinguish the fire.”

 

Briella lowered her voice and hurried towards her.

 

The wet ground and leaves hindered her steps.

 

They were close enough to see the faces of the rebels when standing face-to-face.

 

To illuminate a fire so clearly from such a distance was unbelievable.

 

At the sound of a small voice, the knight, who had been hiding in the bushes, came out and approached the torchbearer.

 

“Oh my! You’ve all been hiding in such a place. I’ve brought you some food.”

 

Eve beamed at the approaching knight.

 

Briella looked at Eve and the knights. The knights were divided into two groups.

 

Those who followed Lucas and those who followed Gusto.

 

“The Lady is concerned for her knights, which is why she has traveled all the way here. Please uphold chivalry.”

 

The adjutant, who had been at Lucas’s side the entire time, stepped in front of Eve.

 

The knights swarmed around her and set down the food she had prepared.

 

“This is a battlefield. You never know when a battle will break out.”

 

At the adjutant’s bravado, Hessel stepped forward.

 

A tinderbox situation.

 

It wouldn’t be surprising if a battle broke out right now.

 

With the enemy possibly right on them, allies were about to fight amongst themselves.

 

“The Lady has come all this way for us. To recognize our efforts in person. With the Duchess Viterpan.”

 

At the adjutant’s words, all eyes turned to Briella, lurking in the shadows.

 

Briella, who had been more diligent than anyone in monitoring Eve’s movements below the hill.

 

Many had seen Briella cautioning Eve, but those who witnessed the scene were all down the hill.

 

Gusto’s knights seemed unwilling to take Briella’s side.

 

“Hmmm.”

 

Hessel’s brow creased slightly.

 

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

 

The sound of wet leaves crunching underfoot drew everyone’s attention.

 

With a rhythmic sound, attention shifted to the sound of stepping on damp leaves.

 

Emerging from the dim darkness, the figure walking towards them was very familiar to Briella.

 

“What on earth…”

 

Looking at the torches brightly illuminating the surroundings, Lucas gazed at the gathered group in disbelief.

 

His appearance caused a slight flicker of surprise in the adjutant, but soon he composed himself.

 

“Lady Eve has brought the knights’ meals. She came to visit the peasants of Perta, and when she heard of the knights’ hard work, she rode up the rugged hill herself.”

 

“You mean to tell me you’ve brought the Lady here out in the open, when we don’t know when battle will break out, and without my permission?”

 

“The Lady does not need move with anyone’s permission, sir; she only follows His Majesty’s orders.”

 

Hessel, who had been standing behind the adjutant, chewed on those words.

 

“I’ve heard that Duke Viterpan has taken command and is struggling quite a bit. His Majesty is very worried.”

 

“If such worries exist, perhaps engaging in warm conversations over tea in the drawing room would have been more helpful, my Lady.”

 

“Oh dear! Duke Viterpan seems oblivious to who truly owns these lands.”

 

A long and narrow crescent moon protruded its sharp face in the black, cloud-covered sky.

 

The moonlight, revealed through the clouds, was sharp and chill, like a knight’s blade.

 

“Put out the fire.”

 

“We can’t do that, Lady Eve might get hurt.”

 

The adjutant countered Lucas’ words.

 

The once faint sound of water was growing louder.

 

There was no time for a brief respite. Lucas still had his back turned to Briella.

 

“It’s possible that everyone here might perish in that torch’s light.”

 

In response to Lucas’ growl, Briella stepped forward.

 

“Lady Eve, now that you have seen the knights in person, it’s best to descend.”

 

“Duke Viterpan, the fact that the Duchess herself has come down here and you remain so indifferent is quite surprising—a different sight from the rumors.”

 

Eve’s golden eyes sparkled. In truth, she had subtly anticipated this.

 

Whether the rumors were true about the two of them being at odds.

 

Gusto always called Eve his golden rose.

 

Yet their relationship was clear.

 

Gusto clearly admired Eve.

 

But it was something other than love.

 

He wanted to confirm it.

 

A half-breed noble.

 

A man who, for the love of a woman possibly tainted with barbarian blood, had ventured into marriage—what kind of love was it that Duke Viterpan harbored?

 

Unlike the other noblewomen who would curse behind her back, Briella was different before Eve.

 

She was like a cat with an owner.

 

A place to return to when the time came, with an owner to love.

 

She was curious about who could endure Briella’s whims without getting angry, even if she carelessly dropped precious items with a flick of her paw.

 

“Lady Eve, it would be best to go back.”

 

At Lucas’ provocation, Briella tugged at her sleeve.

 

Feeling a tremor in her voice, Lucas sneakily glanced at Briella.

 

“Aren’t you newlyweds? I thought there would be a passionate kiss or something, but this is quite unexpected. I’m curious about the truth behind the rumors.”

 

Eve, with a mischievous face, alternated her gaze between Lucas and Briella.

 

In the darkness, Lucas’s eyes, shining distinctly, were not visible to Eve, who looked at the two with a swirling smile.

 

Thud!

 

A louder reverberation spread across the ground than before.

 

Lucas’s pupils trembled anxiously.

 

Whoosh!

 

“Argh!”

 

With a sudden scream, the adjutant guarding Eve’s back dropped the torch.

 

An arrow from the rebel camp flew accurately, piercing the adjutant’s shoulder.

 

“Eek!”

 

“The situation transformed into chaos in the blink of an eye.

 

The adjutant, struck by an arrow, writhed his arm, grasping Eve’s shoulder, and fell backwards.

 

As everyone had crouched right after the arrow flew, there was no one to aid them.

 

Thud.

 

The ground trembled.

 

The earth’s cry echoing in their ears jolted every fiber of their beings awake.

 

“The embankment has collapsed!”

 

With someone’s voice as the final note, the ground crumbled.

 

Everything happened in an instant.

 

“Briella-“

 

Reaching out towards Eve being swept down below the hill due to the adjutant’s grip, Briella extended her hand.

 

“Ahhhh!”

 

A loud cry reverberated through the darkness.

 

Knocked down mercilessly by the crumbling earth and water flowing from the embankment, the knights were swept away.

 

Due to the arrows shot from the rebel camp, they couldn’t even move.

 

“Save me!”

 

As Eve screamed, Briella extended her other hand.

Briella, who narrowly grasped Eve’s hand, fell flat on the ground.

 

The once serene hillside had turned into a cliff, with water rushing below.

 

If swept away, it seemed they would be carried off in an instant.

 

Moreover, even now, the ground was still crumbling.

 

“Everyone, retreat!”

 

Lucas’s voice echoed from nearby.

 

The hiding knights moved in unison.

 

Dozens of arrows flew over the prostrate bodies.

 

“Hold on!”

 

Eve could barely support the weight of the lieutenant clinging to her waist.

 

The crumbling ground seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

 

“Briella!”

 

In the darkness, Lucas’s shout was heard.

 

Even though his voice was tinged with panic, Briella could not respond.

 

Her body was being gradually dragged downward.

 

“Save me. Please, save me!”

 

Eve struggled as she held onto Briella’s hand.

 

With each movement of Eve, Briella’s body was being pulled forward.

 

Hrrkk.

 

The adjutant, struck by an arrow, made a strange sound.

 

The black water storming below invoked sheer terror.

 

Thud.

 

Once again, the ground collapsed from somewhere.

 

Feeling the distinct vibration, Briella gritted her teeth.

 

“Briella!”

 

Once again, Lucas’s call rang out. It was chaos.

 

Knights fell to the flying arrows, and people disappeared into the black waters along with the crumbling ground.

 

“Here! Over here!”

 

With all her might, Briella screamed into the darkness.

 

The trembling of the earth rings in her ears, and the roar of the fierce waters made her shudder.

 

And before her eyes, people fell.

 

“Eek!”

 

Eve kicked furiously, and the adjutant’s grip on her waist tightened.

 

In his fear of death, the adjutant seemed to forget who it was he was holding.

 

Crkkk.

 

Eve’s struggles dragged Briella along with her.

 

The horror loomed more clearly in the darkness.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Briella sucked in a deep breath. The ground she was lying on was shifting slightly.

 

“Let go! Let go!”

 

Eve yelled fiercely, kicking at the adjutant.

 

Eve’s eyes, filled with fear of falling, could see nothing.

 

Aah!

 

The scream came from somewhere, incessant.

 

Briella’s wrists were gripped so tightly by Eve’s hands that her shoulders felt like they were going to dislocate.

 

‘What to do.’

 

Briella’s eyes flashed in the darkness.

 

‘If you can’t burn it with fire, if you can’t wash it away with water, then cover it with dirt.’

 

It was a near-perfect plan, except for Eve’s insistence.

 

If only she had prevented Eve from coming up from below the hill!

 

Her strength was gradually dwindling.

 

It was evident that she would be swept down into the black waters with Eve in harmony if things continued like this.

 

“Do something!”

 

As Eve felt Briella being dragged down with weakening strength, she shouted fiercely.

 

In fact, just holding on until now was nothing short of a miracle.

 

It was an adult man and woman hanging on Briella’s slender arms.

 

‘Should I let go?’

 

In the pitch-black darkness, amidst the fierce sound of water, for a moment, that thought crossed their minds.

 

“No, no! Please, please save me.”

 

Perhaps reading Briella’s resignation in the darkness?

 

Eve sobbed as she cried out towards Briella.

 

‘Yes… not yet. I can’t let you go so easily like this.’

 

‘This is madness.’

 

It was the moment Briella squeezed out the last of her remaining strength to pull Eve.

 

A hand that suddenly emerged from the darkness swiftly pulled Eve up.

 

A familiar voice enclosed Briella in an embrace and hastily withdrew backward.

 

As they left, the ground collapsed.