Chapter 1 (Part 2)

After Cloud ascended to the throne, Yuliana continued to receive deployment orders to conclude the numerous wars Rezeph had initiated. 

Matthias once again stopped eating, distressed that Yuliana’s situation had not changed despite the change in Emperor.

<Do not worry, Earl Loengrin. The Rockbellion family will prioritize Lady Yuliana’s safety, and her tasks will only involve safe duties such as healing people and supplying necessary water.>

Yuliana’s first deployment took a full three months.

“Are you okay, Lia?”

“Yes. Everyone is kind to me. The place I sleep is as wide and soft as the bed at the manor. And all I do is heal the injured and supply water where needed. There was nothing difficult. You don’t need to worry. And I made a contract with the wind spirit this time.”

No parent would not congratulate their child on such remarkable growth and talent. However, knowing that the more power one has, the more responsibilities one must bear, Matthias could not fully celebrate Yuliana’s talent and power.

“There must be a reason why the Gods gave me spirit affinity.”

“I resent the God who gave our Lia the power of spirit affinity.”

“Mother said, no matter how much we hate the Gods, they still love us.”

Seeing Yuliana speak so maturely, Matthias could only repeat his apologies.

Yuliana silently patted his back as he showed his distress with tears.

Yuliana’s deployments continued. The water spirit she contracted healed people and supplied water. Eventually, people began calling Yuliana the ‘Saint of the Battlefield’.

9 years had passed since her first deployment at the age of 11. Over the years, Yuliana diligently contracted with low-level water, wind, and earth spirits, as well as mid-level water and fire spirits.

Yuliana couldn’t return home for as short as a month or as long as half a year. Naturally, she couldn’t meet her fiancé, Beonar.

Even so, Beonar never resented his fiancée, Yuliana. Instead, he supported her.

Grateful, Yuliana used the money she earned from her deployments to support Beonar’s business. Each time, Beonar felt sorry and promised to make her happy once they were married.

<I’ll propose to you in a grand way, Lia.>

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t excited by Beonar’s words. And the endless war finally came to an end when Yuliana turned 20. The long-awaited peace had arrived.

Returning from her deployment, Yuliana spent time with Matthias and her brother Louis, and met Louis’s fiancée and her friend, Selenia.

“Have you talked about marriage with Young Lord Beonar?”

“We haven’t talked about marriage yet, but if he proposes, I’ll accept. He has waited for his fiancée for 9 whole years… And he said he has something important to tell me…”

“Something important?”

“Yes… He said he has something serious to tell me after I return from my deployment… But has my brother proposed to you? I’d like it if you and my brother got married first before I have my wedding.”

Yuliana smiled and asked Selenia.

“He hasn’t proposed yet.”

“What is my brother doing, not proposing yet?”

Selenia had grown up together with Yuliana and her brother Louis as childhood friends.

“It’s not too late now. Sellie, run away quickly.”

Selenia and Yuliana laughed quietly.

“You know… I want you, Sellie, to be very happy.”

“My happiness?”

“If I see the two people I love being happy at the same time, I will be happy too… So the happier you are, the happier everyone, including me, will be. So you just need to be happy.”

“Yuliana, your happiness depends on my happiness?”

Selenia’s cheeks slightly reddened.

“Yes. That’s right. My happiness depends on you.”

The two continued their conversation with smiles.

“Sellie, it’s a shame, but I have to go now. Beonar is visiting today.”

“Alright.”

On her way to the earl’s estate, Yuliana pressed down her heart that was fluttering with excitement.

<Lia, I have something important to tell you when you return from this deployment.>

What kind of expression should I make to show my joy if Beonar proposes today? If he proposes, I should smile as I accept it happily.

Yuliana arrived at the earl’s estate. Hearing from the butler that Beonar had arrived, she quickly walked to the reception room where he was.

The thought that Beonar’s important words would be a proposal filled her mind. Her heart pounded.

As soon as she knocked and opened the reception room door, she saw Beonar.

She quietly smiled and slowly approached him. Although his face looked different from usual, she didn’t pay much attention, thinking it had been a while since they last met.

“Am I a bit late?”

“No.”

She couldn’t shake off the strange feeling. Beonar, who would always approach first, kiss her hand, and smile when she entered, didn’t come closer. When their eyes met, there was a chilling and unfamiliar atmosphere.

“Young Lord Beonar, have you been well?”

“I have been well.”

“That’s good.”

“I came to tell you something. It’s not something that can be delayed any longer…”

Beonar cleared his throat and looked nervous. This reminded Yuliana of the proposal and marriage conversation she had with Selenia earlier in the day. It seemed he was nervous because he was about to propose, which made him look a little cute.

Yuliana smiled, feeling relieved.

“Please speak, Young Lord Beonar.”

“We…”

“Yes… we.”

“We.”

Let’s get married, Yuliana Loengrin!

…is what he will say, right?

“Yes, we.”

Let’s get married, Lia!

…is what he might say!

Yuliana’s heart started racing like a horse in a nonstop race.

“Lia… our engagement has been annulled.”

“What?”

What came out of his mouth was completely different from what Yuliana had expected.

“I came to tell you that our engagement has been annulled. Although it could have been done just by sending a letter of annulment, I felt it was respectful to tell you in person since we have been engaged for 9 years.”

“An… annulment?”

“I intended to tell you before you left for your last deployment, but Duke Rockbellion’s sudden appearance prevented it. Do you not remember me shouting that I had something important to tell you when you returned?”

“I remember…”

She was sure he was going to propose… Her head felt dizzy.

She was convinced he would propose when she returned. But the words that came were ‘annulment.’

Her chest and head were ringing loudly. At times like this, one should stay calm… but… she couldn’t gather her strength.

Yuliana calmed her pounding heart and asked Beonar.

“What is the reason for the annulment?”

“I have grown tired of waiting for a fiancée who has been deployed for 9 years.”

It felt as if the ground beneath her feet had collapsed at Beonar’s words.

Who was the one who proudly spoke of my deployments all this time? Were all his words of support lies?

“I couldn’t tell my fiancée, who was leaving on the emperor’s orders, not to go…”

Beonar continued speaking without pause.

“We only see each other once or twice a year. How can this be considered an engagement? It would be better for both of us to end this relationship quickly.”

Her left chest felt suffocated as if submerged in water. She understood the annulment, but she couldn’t comprehend his actions of blaming her expeditions for it.

“The war is over. Are you aware of that?”

“Yes, I know, but there are other reasons. Despite my efforts to love you over the years… I couldn’t develop any feelings of love.”

I mustn’t cry. I mustn’t show any sign of being hurt by the annulment. I mustn’t collapse in tears at the news of the annulment.