“Ugh……”

Those few seconds of death throes felt like an eternity to Celian. Unable to even think about straightening her hunched body, she remained frozen, then painfully turned only her eyes and screamed.

“Kyaah!”

His eyes were wide open but unfocused. The handle of a dagger dangled from the back of Grand Duke Letters’ neck as he collapsed beside the desk.

Winston, who had been watching her trembling and crouching down, pulled the dagger from his neck. His whispering manner while spattering blood everywhere sent chills down her spine.

“Celian, was that bastard trying to r*pe you? Or did he already do it?”

His eyes were unfocused and dreamy. It seemed he had taken alcohol or drugs. She wondered how he had gotten past the soldiers, but considering how he used to freely come and go from the Grand Duke’s quarters, it made sense.

William approached with the bloody dagger. Celian quickly thought. This was her chance to escape.

Celian hid her trembling hands behind her back.

“Thank you, William. I survived thanks to you. You really are the best.”

His mouth gaped open. He was definitely intoxicated. Celian smiled as prettily as she could, but with apparent anxiety.

“I’m so grateful to you that I want to do it with you right now, but if we do, we’ll both be killed by them. It’s too, too obvious that we killed him……”

“Ah, yes. We need to escape.”

“Yes, William.”

Celian whispered quickly.

“We need to run away. Let’s get out of here first and then think. Quickly, okay?”

As much as she hated it, survival came first. Celian pulled William’s hand toward her leg.

“Untie this for me, okay? We’re escaping together.”

“Together, we……”

“Let’s get away from this room before the soldiers notice. Where are we? You know this place, right?”

“There’s a forest right next to here. Let’s roll around in the forest. There’s a cave, and a valley……”

His dreamy laughter was disgusting. But Celian smiled. There was no rule saying yesterday’s enemy couldn’t become today’s ally.

They could become enemies again tomorrow.

Winston obediently cut the rope binding her ankles. Celian grabbed his arm and stood up. She remained on edge, worried he might threaten her with the dagger, but thanks to his intoxication, he seemed to believe her show of affection was genuine.

The soldiers were busy clearing away snow. She had wondered why there had been no movement for three days; it seemed the snow had piled up almost to their knees.

Abandoned cannons were visible here and there. Without favorable weather, they wouldn’t even be able to salvage the cannons and horses. Her dampened skirt was freezing.

The two made their way past the soldiers by giving passwords. Celian deliberately walked as if being dragged by Winston.

‘We’ve left the main camp.’

But it was too early to feel relieved. Sure enough, before long, a soldier blocked their path. Looking at the small fortification, it was an outpost.

“Where are you going?”

“To have s*x.”

Celian’s face contorted with nausea. The soldier who saw her expression of disgust snickered.

“Have a good time.”

What matters isn’t the words coming from that filthy mouth, Celian repeated to herself as she followed Winston. What matters now is escaping, and for that, she needs Winston……

When they had gotten quite far from the last outpost, Winston tightened his grip on her arm.

“Let’s do it here once.”

His voice was much clearer than before. Whatever alcohol or drug it was, it was wearing off. She needed to get away before he became more conscious.

It happened in an instant — Winston fell flat on his back, pushed by Celian’s hands.

“f*cking b*tch!”

Having pushed him with all her might, Celian gritted her teeth and ran.

Her feet sank deep into the snow. Though the dense trees had blocked some snow making it less deep than the open field, it was still not easy. It was laughable that she was leaving such obvious tracks, but she had no luxury to worry about that now.

This was her only chance to escape. Not knowing where she was going, she ran with the sole thought of getting away from the enemy camp.

Bang.

You crazy bastard, what if someone hears the gunshot!

Celian cursed inwardly. Heedless of this, the gunshots continued. Bang, bang, bang, bang. Sometimes there was a thud from a tree to her right, sometimes smoke rose from a tree to her left.

As Celian ran desperately, she felt pain in her side.

“Aagh!”

“Ah, finally caught you.”

His attitude was just like a beast successful in its hunt. Celian’s body, which had been crawling on the snow after falling, was flipped over. The man’s eyes mounting her were full of lust.

“There’s a limit to playing tricks. You try to slip away alone after deceiving me with such cunning words?”

Blood dripping from her grazed side stained the white snow red. Dirty hands slipped under her clothes, groping her br*asts. With filthy breath pouring into her ear, all Celian could do was squeeze her eyes shut. She considered spraying it all over him but realized escape would be impossible in her current physical state.

Now she had to decide. Whether to live or die. Whether to live like livestock tied up in Winston’s basement, or meet a miserable death in a foreign forest.

The resolution to die, which might be difficult for some, was too easy for her. Celian bit her lip firmly.

Izer, you’re finally being freed from a life with me. I hope your shock doesn’t last long. After all, I’m just paying for my sins……

The cold wind touched her exposed lower body. Celian clenched her teeth and assessed the position of her tongue. Bite it. Use force. You can do it. Better to die than live like livestock. You decided……

Snow mixed with dirt suddenly sprayed into Winston’s face. The man cried out and fell back.

“Ugh!”

I don’t necessarily have to die. Celian’s hand, searching the ground as she jerked her upper body up, found the musket William had put down.

Winston turned pale seeing her with the gun.

“Cel, Celian?”

“Is there, a problem?”

Dripping blood while aiming the gun, she looked like an angel risen from hell. Or perhaps an angel who had fallen to hell for her sins.

“Put that down. It’s dangerous, not suitable for a lady like you……”

“What the hell are you talking about, you ignorant bastard.”

“Huh……?”

“You think the daughter of a General wouldn’t know how to shoot?”

Winston recalled what he had heard about Celian in the past. That while she was pretty, her rough speech was a flaw due to always being around soldiers.

The next flaw was that she liked weapons, again due to being around soldiers.

Bang. 

 * * *

 Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

The successive gunshots grew closer. Owen called Jade in a low voice.

“Captain.”

“Shh.”

Jade had taken the chance to go on a distant reconnaissance with a familiar face he’d spotted among the military doctors, hoping to catch up. Neither of them had expected gunshots in the middle of the night.

Judging by the frequency of shots, there was only one shooter. Usually in such cases, it meant desertion or pursuit of a spy. If it was an enemy deserter, they could ignore it, but if one of their own was being chased, they might need help.

After one final shot, separated from the previous ones by a gap, everything fell silent. Jade gestured to Owen. Fortunately, the forest had plenty of rocks and trees, with enough space to hide if needed.

As the two advanced, leaving their horses tied to trees, they heard rustling. Click — instantly loaded guns pointed toward the source of the sound.

Owen whispered.

“Captain, it’s a person.”

Jade nodded slightly.

The figure that appeared against the moonlight was small and thin. The staggering silhouette suggested injury. It was impossible to tell if they were armed.

Jade narrowed his eyes. He needed to know if it was friend or foe. Just a little, just a little closer……

Jade’s brow furrowed as he watched the approaching figure.

The person trudging through the snow was clearly wearing a skirt. The long hair that he had dismissed as a shadow illusion swayed in the wind.

The woman stopped about ten meters away. Jade lowered his gun and groaned.

“Celian?”

Simultaneously, Owen rushed out from beside him.

Though covered in blood with disheveled hair, it was Celian Berienne. Owen caught the woman as she collapsed into his arms.

“Lian, Lian, what happened? Why are you here, why……”

Owen didn’t know Celian had been kidnapped. The higher-ups had effectively blocked the information. Just as Jade decided it was too difficult to keep hiding and was about to tell Owen the truth, Celian staggered out of Owen’s arms.

Her gaze turned to the one with the higher rank.

“Ferbien Letters is dead. Winston killed him.”

“Celian, what are you saying?”

Ignoring Owen’s bewildered look, Celian quickly relayed the information.

“There’s no time. This is when they’ll be most confused. Quickly go to General Schwenn.”

“……”

Jade collected his thoughts. She couldn’t have mistaken Ferbien Letters. Moreover, she was known to have been staying in that quarters.

Whether her words were true could be verified by sending scouts. Jade quickly instructed Owen.

“It’s a good thing we brought a doctor. Owen, escort the Duchess. I’ll go to the General and Lieutenant Chesterfield……”

At that moment, Celian stumbled backward. Jade narrowed his eyes.

“Lian?”

“I…… I won’t go back.”

“What?”

The words from her pale lips seemed dubious. Owen’s expression suggested Jade had heard correctly.

Celian shook her head violently.

“I won’t go. I hate it.”

“Celian.”