5.5

“Not satisfied with the wh*re I discarded, now you’re after a widow. You seem only interested in leftovers. Just like your mother, who spread her legs for any man!”

His words cut and slashed at his mind like blades. Sven’s provocations fanned his anger, leading to unnecessary movements and frequent mistakes. Even knowing it was a trap, Julian fell into it helplessly.

Before he knew it, the sharp tip of a sword was close enough to pierce his eye. He hastily pushed Sven away and created some distance.

Sven deflected and neutralized Julian’s wildly swinging sword without directly countering it. Like cutting water, he couldn’t land a proper hit, and his stamina was gradually depleted.

“You’ll die miserably without ever having children! Instead, you’ll leave behind a string of illegitimate bastards like yourself! And that misfortune will repeat for generations! Your cursed fate!!”

“Save that nonsense for hell!!”

As Julian raised his sword high to strike, the sunlight suddenly blinded him, reflecting off Sven’s armor. At the moment Julian’s attack faltered, Sven reversed his grip on his sword and struck Julian’s face as if hammering it. His brain rattled violently inside his skull. Dizzy, Julian couldn’t overcome the vertigo and collapsed. Sand crunched under his fingers.

“This is your end!”

The sword aimed precisely at his neck gleamed as it descended. Julian turned his body to dodge the sword and threw sand into Sven’s face.

“Damn it!”

Sven’s sword, grazing his shoulder, embedded itself in the ground. With sand blinding his remaining eye, Sven clutched his face in agony. Julian staggered backward. His back hit the hard fence. There was nowhere else to retreat.

He removed the helmet that had become useless, with smashed rivets and dents from the recent attack. Blood dripping from his torn scalp stained the sandy ground red. His vision blurred as if shrouded in fog. The hand holding the sword dropped.

“Julian!”

He instinctively caught the white handkerchief that fell before him. Along the edges, bright blue cornflowers were neatly embroidered, and his initial ‘J’ was inscribed in one corner.

“Julian, get a grip!”

Looking up, Vanessa was leaning out as if she might fall from the execution platform. He saw Vanessa weeping softly, her arms held by guards on either side.

“It’s not over yet. Go fight, you can do it. Don’t die. You promised me!”

“Vanessa….”

“Please survive, Julian. I love you….”

Tears streamed down Vanessa’s cheeks as she wept. The tears splattered onto the back of his hand, where the bloodstains had dried.

He couldn’t give up like this. If they were to share life and death, they had to survive together and end this hell.

Julian tucked the neatly folded handkerchief into the gap of his breastplate. Sven clapped mockingly as Julian leaned against the fence, exhausted.

“What a touching love.”

His voice was full of sarcasm.

“Unfortunately, this is the end. Complete your unfinished love in the afterlife!”

He turned his body to dodge the incoming sword. The sword, which had struck the stone wall, changed direction and swung at his neck. Julian barely managed to parry it and charged at Sven. Using superhuman strength, he grabbed Sven’s waist and slammed him to the ground. The quickly reversed situation made it difficult to predict the winner of the duel.

“Ahhhhh!”

With a loud roar, he mounted Sven and started a rough brawl. Using his helmet as a weapon, he struck Sven’s head. There was a limit to what Sven could block with both hands. Blood splattered, and flesh was crushed. As he was about to pummel Sven’s brazen face into a pulp, Sven suddenly stabbed Julian’s armpit with a dagger. It was the inside of the joint, unprotected by armor.

He coughed up blood as the dagger penetrated deep into his body. Sven, covered in blood, pushed Julian off and tried to crawl away on the ground. Julian swallowed the blood running down his throat and pursued Sven on trembling legs.

He wrapped his legs around Sven’s waist and choked his neck with his arm. Sven, with his face turning red from strangulation, barely gasped for breath.

“Gah, gah….”

Thrashing violently, Sven managed to flip Julian over and pin him underneath. However, Julian held on tightly like a crocodile with its prey, enduring with his whole body. Sven’s face, twisted in pain, was exposed for all to see.

Sven flailed his arms behind him, trying to stab Julian with the dagger, but the dagger repeatedly slipped off the plate armor.

Julian, too, reached his limit. He gathered his strength from below his abdomen and twisted Sven’s neck.

Seconds felt like eternity. The spectators watched the scene, forgetting even to breathe.

Eventually, Sven’s arms fell limply to the ground. But Julian also lay still, unmoving. 

Had he, too, exhausted his strength and died?

Please let him rise again. I can’t let Julian go like this. Please, show us a miracle.

Vanessa prayed with all her heart. Tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks.

Sven’s chest heaved, and Julian’s arm fell. 

Was life and death reversing?

Vanessa’s vision darkened.

“Julian! Julian!”

In a daze, he heard Vanessa calling his name. His scattered consciousness reassembled into one. Sven’s body, pressing down on him, felt as heavy as a boulder. Panting, he rolled Sven’s body off.

Lying on his back, he pulled out the handkerchief from his chest. Amidst the smell of dust and blood, he sought Vanessa’s fragrant scent. Remembering the touch and warm gaze that caressed him, Julian keenly felt that he was alive.

Vanessa shook off the guards restraining her and clung to the execution platform’s railing. And she saw with her own eyes. Julian, who had claimed victory after taking Sven’s life, standing proudly before the king.

“Your Majesty, God has upheld my hand! Through me, He has revealed the innocence of Viscountess Vanessa Cloet!”

At Julian’s resounding shout, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Donnie secretly wiped away tears as he clapped, while Pierre and Max shouted unintelligible cries of joy. Earl Hendrick, relieved of tension, wore a broad smile on his face.

“I am innocent! It was all orchestrated by Earl Plar. I only did as I was told!”

Miriam, being dragged to the execution platform by the guards, screamed in desperation. At her cry, Earl Plar, who had been stupefied by Sven’s death, turned pale.

“W-What slander is this! Quickly silence that vile criminal!”

“There is evidence! There is a letter instructing me to kill my father in exchange for freeing me from the convent!”

“Nonsense! Your Majesty, it is a lie. Do not be misled!”

The people looked at the man and woman shouting from both sides with eyes full of disdain.

“Take them both to the dungeon! Let’s see if they can still lie shamelessly after interrogation.”

“This cannot be! Your Majesty, how can you do this to me? Let go! Do you want to die?”

Earl Plar, trying to escape through the crowd, was seized by the guards and dragged out of the stands. Simultaneously, Miriam, with her hands bound, was driven off the execution platform. The people jeered and hurled insults at Earl Plar and Miriam. King Arno raised his voice to capture the people’s attention.

“Thus, the true culprit behind Sir Michael Cloet’s poisoning has been revealed, and Viscountess Vanessa Cloet’s innocence has been proven. I shall bestow a great reward upon Sir Julian Plavant, who bravely fought to clear the name of an innocent woman. I hereby elevate you to the rank of Viscount; serve me and this kingdom with loyalty!”

Julian knelt before the king and expressed his gratitude. Looking up at King Arno, he earnestly made a request.

“I humbly have one wish to ask of you, Your Majesty.”

“What is it? Speak.”

“I wish to become the guardian of Robin, Sir Michael Cloet’s son, in his stead. Please grant me permission to marry Vanessa so that I may protect him until he comes of age.”

It was not a difficult request.

King Arno understood that Julian had not come forth as Vanessa’s champion merely because of Earl Arenshen’s command, but that there was love and a strong bond between the two. Since the heavens had saved the two lovers, it was not for humans to separate them.

“Very well. I grant and bless your marriage, and you shall watch over and protect the mother and son to prevent such an event from happening again.”

“Thank you for your grace as vast as the sea.”

He staggered to his feet and glanced at Sven’s corpse. Thus, the long and weary battle ended. Although the numerous conflicts caused by Sven left Julian with indelible scars, the many years ahead would gradually erase those marks.

Taking his eyes off the futile, he passed through the arena’s gate and looked at Vanessa running toward him.

“Julian!”

He pulled Vanessa, who had run into his arms, close. Feeling his eyes grow hot, he unhesitatingly captured her lips.

The sweet kiss diluted the metallic taste in his mouth.

When their lips parted, applause and cheers erupted even louder than before. Some were moved to tears by the vivid and beautiful ending, more touching than any romance. It was worth the long journey from the provinces to witness the trial by combat. The tale of today’s great victory and tender love would spread across the country through word of mouth.

Vanessa pressed the handkerchief against Julian’s still-bleeding armpit to staunch the flow.

“You made it for me, but it got dirty so soon.”

“Don’t worry. I made plenty while waiting for you last winter.”

Julian recalled Vanessa sitting by the fireplace, her fingers busy with embroidery. Thinking that Vanessa had made this handkerchief while missing him after he left the castle filled him with regret and guilt.

“I’ll never leave you alone again. I’ll always stay by your side.”

“Julian…. Even if you have to leave me, I’ll always wait. Please, come back to me.”

Their lips met again. Their breaths mingled, and the tension in their bodies gradually softened. It was an ecstatic kiss that momentarily made him forget the pain of his injuries.

“If you’re not going to get married right here and now, how about stopping? You need to get treated first. At this rate, you’ll end up having a funeral.”

Donnie, who had approached unnoticed, teased as he removed Julian’s armor and bandaged him. Pierre and Max, their faces scrunched up, held back tears. King Arno left with his knights and nobles, and most spectators followed the two criminals being taken to the palace prison, seeking new entertainment. In the atmosphere of departure, Julian also moved to leave. It was then.

“Mother!!”

Robin let go of Anna Spitzer’s hand, which was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, and ran. The little boy, tumbling down the steps of the stands, rushed into Vanessa’s arms.

“My darling! My darling, Robin! You were so scared, weren’t you? It’s okay now. It’s all over. We’re safe now.”

Stroking Robin’s soft hair as he sobbed, Vanessa realized it was truly over. She knew nothing would threaten them anymore. Julian’s promise to give everything to make them free had been fulfilled.

“Well done. Let’s go home now.”

Earl Hendrick, waiting at the exit, affectionately patted Julian’s shoulder.

Julian firmly held Vanessa’s hands. Their faces bloomed with smiles.

As they left the arena, leaving death behind, the brilliant midday sun of spring shone brightly upon them.

<The Contract Romance of a Virtuous Noblewoman and a Tyrant Mercenary> END