And that day, a lawyer visited the Brechen estate.

After wiping away the traces of her tears, Yuis sat across from the man in the drawing room. Introducing himself as Mr. Manners, legal representative of House Descartes, he laid out the divorce papers.

“If the war does not end by next spring, these documents will be filed.”

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she flipped through the pages. Even the divorce had been fully prepared. Once again, done without her knowing.

As Yuis worked to steady her breath, Mr. Manners continued speaking.

“This is the list of properties that will be transferred to your name along with this estate. Please review it, and if you feel anything is lacking, do let me know.”

There were so many. From the estate in the capital of Kalang, to a portion of his territory, to numerous properties scattered throughout the country, and even shares in the Descartes enterprises.

“All of this…”

The documents had been arranged so thoroughly, so meticulously, it made her want to laugh in disbelief.

‘Just how far ahead had you prepared for everything?’

When their eyes met, the lawyer offered her a polite smile and continued in a smooth, pleasant tone.

“If the war ends before spring, we will file the papers immediately after the armistice.” Though I would very much like to believe otherwise, should His Grace be killed in the war, the divorce will be invalidated and the terms will be carried out in accordance with his will. You don’t need to worry about that either. There’s nothing in it that would harm you, my lady.”

A sigh-like laugh continuously spilled from Yuis’s lips in the end. Mr. Manners blinked, puzzled as he looked at her, but Yuis had no strength left to care about what he thought.

‘Killed in the war.’

It was a war he could die in.

She had wanted to be away from Edric, to live a life separate from his. But what she wished for had never been his death.

And war was a place where no one could protect anyone. If he were to lose his life…

A surge of emotion swept through her entire body. No. That couldn’t happen.

He was someone who was supposed to live. To continue living as if he were the king of Haneder, arrogantly placing everything beneath his feet for the rest of his days.

“…The will.”

“Pardon, my lady?”

“What does it say… in his will?”

“Technically, I am not permitted to disclose that, but His Grace made an exception for you, my lady.”

Yuis now wore a laugh of pure disbelief on her lips.

“Should His Grace fall in battle, he has entrusted all responsibilities of House Descartes to you. You may remarry and raise a child to inherit the duchy, or appoint a suitable heir from a collateral branch. Everything has been left entirely to your discretion. If His Grace dies, your chosen successor will be considered the sole direct descendant of Descartes.”

‘Why?’

‘Why are you giving everything of yours… to me?’

She felt the question pressing up against her lips, threatening to spill out before she could stop it.

Yuis clenched her eyes shut, staring down at the divorce papers in front of her.

It was a reality she didn’t want to accept. Even though, deep down, she had said this was what she wanted.

For a while, Yuis couldn’t stop laughing—soft, breathless, bitter. Then she simply stared blankly at the spot where the lawyer had just been sitting.

Every action Edric took had a reason. Everything he did was for her sake. As though nothing else in the world mattered.

She couldn’t understand it. It felt like she never would.

And yet—once again—he had been right.

Yuis hated him for it. If this was love… she wanted no part of it. This strange, twisted emotion—there was no way this could be love.

‘How could someone claim to love, and still deceive the one they love like this?’

And yet… if this wasn’t love, then what else could she possibly call it?

Yuis didn’t even try to stop the sobs erupting from her chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks and splattered onto the documents before her.

He had deceived her again. Protected her again—in his own way. Covered her eyes. Kept her in the dark.

‘It’s confusing.’

She didn’t know what to do, what to think, or even how to breathe. Only after crying herself dry—until it felt like every ounce of moisture had left her body—did she finally come to her senses.

She called for the butler.

“I need to return… to the estate.”

And if not there, then to the capital. She would find Hailey, at the very least.

Because… if she and Edric were truly to part ways forever. what was she supposed to do then?

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

Yuis tightened her grip on the folds of her dress and spoke to Leif once more.

“I want to return to the estate in the capital. Or Haneder. Please make the arrangements.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, my lady. Right now, this is the safest place for you.”

It was true—leaving Brechen now would be unwise. They were in the midst of war, and major cities like the capital or Haben were under constant threat of aerial *ssault.

Even with Leif’s difficult expression and polite refusal, Yuis didn’t change her mind. But his next words stopped her cold.

“With His Grace absent, you are the sole master of House Descartes.”

It was a name she had never once felt suited her. She had never considered herself the mistress of this house.

But Leif continued in a firm, unwavering voice.

“My lady, please protect Descartes from here. You are the only one who can.”

He bowed deeply to Yuis Descartes.

***

The war dragged on longer than expected.

Bold claims that they would declare victory within two weeks—within a month at most—had long since crumbled.

It was a constant battle of losing and retaking ground. Territories changed hands every few hours, or every few days. And as the fighting wore on, morale steadily declined. A brutal cold swept into Fetchif.

Kalang’s soldiers, at least, were used to this climate but the southern coalition was not.

Yet that alone couldn’t be taken as comfort. Kalang’s position was far from favorable as well. An endless string of battles that benefited no one wore down both sides.

Hetar fought with everything it had trying to erase the disgrace of their last war, while Kalang had nothing left to surrender.

Both nations stood on the edge, fighting with death in their eyes.

The time for a decisive move had come.

“This is meaningless as it is. A decisive move is necessary, Your Grace.”

“We must break through Hetar’s defensive line! If we surrender Fetchif, we’re essentially opening the gates to the capital.”

Fetchif was directly connected to the capital city, Busette. It could not be lost under any circumstances.

“Is it not possible to pull reinforcements from the eastern front?”

“This isn’t like the last war. Darec has joined the fight, and the Beart forces are pushing in from the east. They’ll be at the southern front soon. We must drive the front back toward Hetar before that happens. We can’t afford to give up any more ground.”

Even if the eastern front had the upper hand, their forces couldn’t be withdrawn. Even if they were sent to help, it would take time for them to arrive. It wasn’t a viable solution.

Holding Fetchif was critical to ending the war but allowing the eastern front to fall was not an option either.

Hetar was using a combination of new weapons and human wave tactics. Beart was the most populous country on the continent and as of a week ago, they had officially joined the Southern Coalition.

It was a grim development for Kalang. The moment Beart’s troops arrived at the southern front, Kalang would be outnumbered. Fetchif would fall. Victory could no longer be guaranteed.

“There has always been sacrifice… for the greater good.”

“What are you saying?”

“I mean, it might be time to prepare the grenadiers. Isn’t that the most effective way to protect our forces—and in turn, our country—at the cost of only a few lives?”

“And just who exactly decides that?”

“Who would go willingly if they knew they were being sent to die?”

“If we keep standing here like this, everyone will die for nothing! Does anyone here not know that Hetar came at us with sharpened blades, seeking revenge for their crown prince?”

As the room erupted into shouting, the tension boiling over, Edric—who had been silently observing the heated exchange—finally spoke, his voice quiet but commanding.

“Tonight… Hetar will attack.”

It was intelligence they had received just before the meeting began.