divorce chapter 14

“You truly… don’t recognize me?”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

I hoped my voice wasn’t trembling. Though my face feigned composure, my heart raced wildly.

“I see.”

Lennard quietly retreated. He looked so heartbroken that all my companions sighed in sympathy.

It feels like I’m abandoning a puppy.

I felt a pang of guilt, too. Benedict gave me an apologetic nod and then led Lennard away, consoling him as they disappeared into the crowd. The anticipated disaster had been averted, but I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

I’m sorry.

Was it because of our one-night stand? I felt a strange sympathy for Lennard as he walked away, shoulders slumped. But that didn’t mean I was going to suddenly declare, “Hey, I’m that woman from that night!” I hadn’t developed enough affection for him to spend my life with a man who could lose control at any moment. I turned to leave, enduring the pointed stares of the onlookers. Just as I reached for the doorknob…

“Found you.”

A voice echoed from somewhere, stopping me in my tracks. The people around me also seemed to hear it, as they began looking around. Then it happened. The air began to ripple. I instinctively looked up. A black fissure tore open with a flash of light.

“A… A gate!”

“Impossible!”

The ballroom instantly descended into chaos. Unseen creatures, resembling liquid monsters, began to ooze from the abyss-like crack. They coalesced, transforming into a single, gigantic monster.

“Aaaargh!”

The person standing in front of me was swallowed whole in an instant. I quickly slammed the door shut. The monster escaping outside would be disastrous. Normally, this matchmaking ball would be filled with Awakened individuals, almost as powerful as Doriden. Powerful Awakened individuals typically married early, finding companions to help them manage their immense power.

But thankfully, Lennard is here.

I had faith in him. In the original story, Lennard was a bloodless Awakened. An Awakened who had never shed blood. His power was nothing short of overwhelming. Perhaps trusting in Lennard, the crowd remained relatively calm. The massive, skeletal monster wreathed its hands in dark energy. Lennard, regaining his composure, slowly stepped forward.

Is he going to be alright without a weapon?

In the original story, Lennard wielded a sword as if it were an extension of himself. Coupled with his natural affinity for the elements, his power was unimaginable. An icy aura began to emanate from the seemingly unfazed Lennard. The temperature plummeted, sending chills down my spine even from a distance. Then, the monster began to freeze, starting from its feet. The startled monster tried to move, but it was too late.

Crack!

Lennard shattered the frozen monster with a single blow.

“Eek!”

The monster’s shattered head rolled to a stop at my feet. I screamed in surprise, and Lennard’s gaze snapped towards me, cold and sharp. It was a look that said, “So you were there.”

Damn it. He did that on purpose. Still, he had just saved my life, so I forced a smile. The monster’s death was anticlimactic compared to its dramatic entrance, but the gate remained open. The gate’s boss was likely still inside.

“It seems I’ll have to go in,” Lennard murmured with an indifferent expression. He glanced around the room. Everyone avoided his gaze, as if fearing that eye contact would mean joining him in the gate. Lennard sighed softly and stepped inside, as if he’d never expected anything different. As soon as Lennard entered the gate, people began fleeing the cathedral as if their lives depended on it. I, too, prepared to leave. That’s when Benedict blocked my path.

“Could you… wait for Lennard for a moment?”

“Why?”

Benedict hesitated, then whispered, “Just in case. He seemed comfortable holding your hand earlier.”

“Wasn’t that because he mistook me for someone else?”

“No. I can’t explain the details, but… please, just wait a while.”

I considered ignoring him, but then I remembered he’d just saved my life. ‘Well, if he goes berserk, we’re all dead anyway.’ I nodded in agreement.

After some time, the jet-black gate began to shimmer with a yellow light.

“He’ll be out soon,” Benedict said, and I nervously stood up. Soon, Lennard emerged from the gate. He looked utterly exhausted, which surprised me. He spotted me and immediately frowned.

“Why is she here?”

Benedict, who had been approaching Lennard with an explanation, paled.

“I asked her to stay, just in case… Lenn!”

A flash of red flickered in his blue eyes as he looked at me.

Huh?

His body swayed, and he collapsed to the floor. Benedict and I rushed to his side. Unlike usual, a wave of heat radiated from him.

“Just hold on.”

Benedict cautiously touched Lennard’s fingertips. But after a few seconds, Lennard cried out and pulled his hand away.

“Damn it.”

Lennard looked agitated. He clearly wanted to make contact with Benedict, but something seemed to be preventing him. Unable to watch any longer, I grabbed his hand.

“I’ll do it. Is that alright?”

His now completely crimson eyes turned towards me.