2.7

Vanessa tried to hold onto hope in any situation. When the magistrate sentenced her to death for poisoning her husband, when she encountered a pack of starving wolves on the road through the ruined Boldren region, and when she bought Julian as a champion at the cost of her own body.  

She hoped to survive and prove that justice still lived in this land and to reclaim her beloved son, Robin. It seemed impossible, but a sliver of hope kept Vanessa alive.  

However, when Johannes fell off his horse, spraying hot blood, and after a short chase, she was caught by the bandit knight, Vanessa realized her luck had run out.  

“Damn, she runs so well even with her hands tied. Who the hell is this woman?”  

“Who cares? We’re going to kill her anyway.”  

She tried to brace herself on the horse with her thighs, but she was pulled down too easily. Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t escape or resist. What would happen next was as clear as day. Greed gleamed in their eyes as they looked at Vanessa.  

“I caught her, so I’ll have my fun first and then pass her on.”  

“We don’t have time, so make it quick.”  

So this is how I’ll be ravaged and killed. 

With her hands bound, she couldn’t put up any resistance. As she was dragged to a secluded spot, she screamed desperately.  

“Julian! Julian!!”  

She fervently hoped he would hear her voice and come to help. The man had little patience for Vanessa’s desperate cries. He slapped her until she shut her mouth. Her vision darkened, and her nose bled.  

“My name’s Peter, not Julian. At least remember the name of the last man you’ll embrace.”  

Peter snickered, his eyes glistening disgustingly. With unfocused eyes, she glared at him with all her might.  

“Who do you think you’re glaring at?”  

“Hey, stop and come out here. Someone’s coming.”  

At Bram’s words, Peter lowered his clenched fist and looked down the road. A hulking man was riding toward them on a horse, wielding a sword.  

The morning sun shattered brilliantly over the man’s helmet. Recognizing the familiar shape of the helmet, Peter shouted joyfully.  

“Manuel! I thought you were dead, but you’re alive!”  

“Wait, is that really Manuel?”  

His face was obscured by the helmet, but Vanessa knew it was Julian. Relief twisted her face as tears threatened to spill.  

As the man drew closer at a frightening speed, Bram’s suspicion turned to certainty. As Bram scrambled to mount his horse, Julian drew his sword from his waist. Julian attacked before Bram could settle on his horse.  

The horses brushed past each other as Julian’s sword sliced Bram’s side. Bram tumbled to the ground, spraying blood.  

“Julian!”  

Vanessa instinctively ran toward Julian. But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before Peter grabbed her hair. A sharp blade pressed against the back of her neck.  

“Drop your weapon if you don’t want to see her die!”  

Her neck was wrenched back mercilessly. Words pleading for her life wouldn’t come easily.  

Julian dismounted slowly and removed his helmet. His face, beaded with cold sweat, was a mix of anxiety and anger.  

“Didn’t you hear me? Drop the sword!”  

Blood trickled down her neck from the dagger’s tip. Julian’s hand, gripping his sword, trembled.  

She stared at Julian, forgetting to breathe. She had never felt death so closely. Though she had tried to avoid it, facing death now, she felt strangely calm.  

She had told Julian to leave her to die if she was taken hostage during battle. Now was the time to keep that promise.  

“Don’t forget the promise you made to me. Even if I die, win the trial by combat and save my son.”  

“What are you babbling about? Can’t you shut up?”  

“I’m not afraid of death. Don’t hesitate and attack, Julian!”  

Contrary to her words, Julian remained motionless. He was nailed to the spot, unable to act. If he stayed like this, he wouldn’t be safe either, but Julian’s indecision frustrated her endlessly.  

Mercenaries were a breed indifferent to anything but money and their own safety. She supposed to be nothing more than a fleeting amusement to him on his journey but then why did he look so pained?  

Faced with an opponent he could easily defeat if he sacrificed Vanessa, Julian was frozen. If he swung his sword, Vanessa would surely be hurt, so how could he dare to aim his sword? If someone other than Vanessa had been taken hostage, he wouldn’t have hesitated like this.  

His deeply furrowed brow gradually relaxed. His mouth opened in a daze as if he had realized something. The gaze they exchanged was vividly clear, as if it could be grasped.

Julian couldn’t understand what this feeling was, but more than anything, he wanted to protect Vanessa completely.  

If he was lucky, his comrades would arrive in time to help. If only he could buy some time until then.  

Slowly and resolutely, Julian lowered his sword.  

“Let Vanessa go.”  

Julian spoke firmly to Peter. His unexpected action made her heart sink. She did not welcome his sacrifice.  

“I told you to let me die if I became a hostage! You fool, pick up your sword!”  

Tears she had held back poured out. Unfathomable emotions swirled within her. Julian’s expression, as he watched Vanessa in pain, twisted as if he himself were crying. Julian’s gaze, separated from Vanessa, quietly fixed on Peter.  

“Earl Arenshen wants her alive and unharmed. Don’t disgrace her…”  

At that moment, Bram, who was thought to be fatally wounded, staggered to his feet. Vanessa’s face turned pale.  

“Julian, behind you!”  

Her warning was in vain as Bram’s sword pierced Julian’s torso. That moment felt eternal.  

Worried that Vanessa might get hurt as a hostage, Julian couldn’t retaliate. Julian’s massive body slowly tilted like a falling tree. As he collapsed, his sword clattered to the ground with a loud noise. A silent scream echoed in Vanessa’s chest.  

“Who do you think you’re ordering around?”  

Bram, clutching his side, kicked Julian in the abdomen. Julian curled up, coughing dryly. If he didn’t block the next attack, his life was in danger. He couldn’t grasp his sword again amidst the intense pain.  

Was this the end? Truly, it was a fleeting life. He hoped Vanessa could at least survive.  

“Die, you bastard!”  

“Wait, hold on.”  

As Bram raised his sword for the final blow, Peter stopped him. Bram, his revenge thwarted, asked aggressively.  

“Why?”  

“It seems that bastard is involved with this woman. Shouldn’t we give him a good show before he dies?”  

“That’s a good idea. It’s no fun if he dies too easily.”  

The two villains looked at each other and laughed wickedly.  

Peter tore the back of Vanessa’s chemise without hesitation. The exposed back felt cold. She struggled and sobbed, but it was not enough to break free. Instead, it only provoked their sadism. Vanessa, slapped, fell near Julian.  

“Open your eyes wide and watch.”  

Peter laughed cruelly as he lowered his trousers. The touch on her thigh made her nauseous.  

“You devil! Your souls and bodies will fall into hellfire and turn to ashes! You’ll never be saved!”  

She screamed all the curses and insults she could muster. It was better to die than have her body defiled by them one by one. She wanted to see Julian’s face one last time before dying. Gasping for breath, she strained to lift her head. Tears blurred her vision.  

“Julian, Julian…”  

“Vane…ssa…”  

Julian, trampled by Bram, could barely move. Feeling her waist being lifted, she tightly closed her eyes.  

The face of her beloved son flashed before her eyes. Not being able to protect Robin to the end was a regret.  

Oh God, please have mercy on me and let me meet my son in heaven.  

Oh Patron Saint, please protect my son Robin from sin and evil.  

She prayed earnestly in her heart and was about to bite her tongue when she felt a vibration through her knees touching the ground.  

At first, she mistook the trembling of her body in fear for the ground shaking. The faint vibration grew distinctly stronger. The irregular vibration resembled the sound of hoofbeats.  

Swish, thud!  

A dull noise like a pumpkin smashing overhead was followed by hot blood pouring onto her shoulder. As Peter stiffened and fell to the ground, Vanessa raised her head in bewilderment.  

An arrow flew past, grazing Bram’s shoulder. In the distance, Donnie, aiming his bow, led Pierre and Max, who were riding toward them.  

Vanessa’s eyes widened. She had never been so glad to see them.  

“Damn it!”  

Bram began to limp away. Already injured in the side, his movements were sluggish.  

“Donnie, stop shooting! That pig is mine!”  

“Get lost! I’ll show him the taste of my axe first!”  

Pierre and Max bickered as they chased after the fleeing Bram. Donnie watched the two fools disappear into the bushes with disdain, then jumped off his horse.  

“See? I was right, wasn’t I? It’s good I saved my arrows.”  

Donnie joked as he untied Vanessa’s wrists. She had no mind for Donnie’s jokes. She hurriedly embraced Julian. Julian’s flickering gaze met Vanessa’s tear-streaked eyes.  

“How long are you going to lie there? Stop pretending and get up.”  

Donnie grumbled as he staunched Julian’s wound.  

‘You idiot, you were late. I really thought I was going to die.’  

‘Vanessa, don’t cry. Everything’s okay now.’  

But Julian’s thoughts remained unspoken. He tried to lift his trembling arm to wipe Vanessa’s tears. But before his fingers could touch her cheek, his arm fell limply.  

“Hey, are you… really dying? Julian!”  

Ignoring Donnie’s noisy chatter and Vanessa’s pitiful cries, Julian closed his eyes.