VHRTDM 12

 Chapter 12

“…But if things are going to go like this, I’m really in trouble.”

Even if life doesn’t go the way you plan it, isn’t this a bit too much?

In the end, things came to this.

“Anna, you’re bored right now, aren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“Pack your bags. We’re going on a trip.”

“W-what kind of trip all of a sudden?”

“They say unplanned trips are the most fun.”

“Where are we going?”

Anna looked at me like she was about to die from anxiety.

I grinned.

“The Northern Wall.”

“…My lady!”

This was going to be a difficult trip in many ways.

Brace yourself.

Northern Wall

We arrived at the base camp where the Northern Wall Knights were stationed.

I had no idea how much I cursed Kahinel on the way here.

Why would anyone leave a warm, comfortable home just to come all the way out here and suffer like camping addicts?

I knew it was for monster subjugation, but that wasn’t a convincing reason for me.

Everyone looked surprised when I appeared.

I ignored them and immediately searched for my painkiller.

“Where is Kahinel?”

“His Grace left early this morning for subjugation.”

“When will he return?”

“He should be back by sunset.”

Argh!

My neck hurts!

The distance from the duchy to the Northern Wall base camp wasn’t too far, but the terrain was brutal.

We used teleportation to reach the entrance of the Northern Wall, but after that we had to climb on foot.

That’s when my curse activated.

I quickly took out Kahinel’s handkerchief and pressed it to my nose, but it barely helped.

Maybe it was because this was my first time climbing an icy mountain—or maybe the curse just wasn’t fully suppressed—but my condition was awful.

Still, I thought if I just endured a little longer, I’d meet Kahinel and everything would be fine…

Why is meeting a painkiller so hard?

In my past life, there was no cure at all, and now there is a cure—but I can’t even reach it.

Today, I finally admitted it.

I am the most unfortunate person in the world.

Nothing ever goes right for me.

I decided to wait in the tent until Kahinel returned, avoiding the cold wind.

While walking with Anna to the tent, I overheard knights talking.

“Do you know where tomorrow’s inspection area is?”

“West of Bahan Cave, I heard.”

I suddenly stopped.

“Lady?”

I ignored Anna and replayed what I had just heard.

Bahan Cave.

I knew that place.

It was a mine-like cave filled with rare gemstones.

In the future, Highrant would discover its secret and make a fortune through the jewelry business.

Why do I know this?

Because Kahinel later uses stones from Bahan Cave to make a ring for the heroine.

So why did I react so strongly?

The secret of Bahan Cave hasn’t been discovered yet.

That meant… I was the only one who knew about it right now.

My top priority was escaping the curse.

More broadly, my goal was breaking the curse and divorcing Kahinel.

But there was a problem.

Right now I was the Duchess of Highrant, living comfortably.

Warm rooms, good food.

But after divorce?

I was an isekai outsider in this world—basically an alien.

Could I survive alone?

If I tried, maybe.

But without money, I couldn’t even begin trying.

Money meant I could live anywhere.

What a capitalist world this is.

The conclusion was simple:

If I wanted to live well after divorce, I needed money.

And the only money I could realistically get was property division.

But unfortunately, I had almost no chance of receiving it.

I had never properly fulfilled my role as a wife.

But what if I uncover the secret of Bahan Cave?

Maybe I could get a share.

You never know what might happen in life—I needed insurance.

I grabbed a passing knight.

“Hey. I need to meet someone. Can you call him for me?”

“Are you part of the Northern Wall Knights?”

“No, Sir Bellio. I heard he’s here.”

“You mean Sir Bellio of the Second Battalion?”

The knight looked at me like he was wondering how I knew Bellio.

Yeah, I get it.

A reclusive duchess knowing a specific knight is suspicious.

But I couldn’t exactly say:

“Because he was my lover in the original story!”

So I just smiled.

“Yes, that Sir Bellio. Please call him.”

“Ah… yes. Please wait a moment.”

Thankfully, he seemed to be in the camp.

As soon as the knight left, Anna leaned in.

“Lady.”

“Ah! You startled me.”

“How do you know Sir Bellio?”

How am I supposed to explain that?

I just smiled without answering.

Anna changed the question.

“Why are you looking for him?”

“I need him as a bodyguard.”

Bahan Cave was part of Northern Wall territory.

It would be dangerous for just Anna and me.

So I planned to ask Bellio to guide and protect us.

I need Bellio just in case.

The curse could strike anytime, so I needed a reliable “painkiller” nearby.

It’s only temporary until Kahinel returns, so it should be fine.

The reason I avoided Bellio in the original story was because he was Rishua’s lover.

And apparently, it was mutual love.

Even if the soul has changed, it’s still awkward.

But circumstances were circumstances.

If I just stayed cautious, nothing would go wrong.

Soon, a clear voice drifted from outside the tent like wind over clouds.

“Bellio here. May I enter?”

“Yes, come in.”

He entered.

Silver hair like moonlight rippling over a lake, and deep golden eyes.

A man so beautiful it felt unfair to look at him directly.

He gave a polite bow.

“Bellio of the Second Battalion, Northern Wall Knights. I heard you were looking for me.”

“Ah… uh…”

Author, you never said he was this handsome—on par with Kahinel!

“H-hello?”

My heart was literally bouncing.

But then Kahinel’s cold face throwing divorce papers at me flashed in my mind.

Focus, Rishua!

“Ahem. I have a request for you.”

“Please speak.”

“I want you to be my bodyguard for today.”

“I’m sorry, but may I refuse?”

“…Pardon?”

Unlike me, Bellio didn’t waver at all.

“I am not skilled enough to protect you. Please reconsider.”

“I specifically need you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Was he always like this?

In the novel, he was supposed to be kind.

Maybe not.

“Even if it’s just for one day?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“My skills are insufficient—”

“You’re clearly skilled enough to protect me. Why are you lying?”

Bellio narrowed his eyes.

His gaze turned sharp.

So she knows?

But I knew he was skilled.

“I need you.”

“I am a Northern Wall knight. I cannot act without my lord’s orders.”

“Even if I’m the lord’s wife?”

“I’m sorry.”

Wow, this guy is stubborn.

He really wasn’t acting like the “future lover” type I remembered.

But giving up here wasn’t an option.

I knew the original story.

Which meant I knew exactly what he wanted.

“You want to join Highrant’s elite unit, don’t you?”

“…!”

Got him.

His eyes trembled slightly.

“I can write you a recommendation letter so you can pass the selection. If you protect me today.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Not impossible. With a recommendation, you basically pass the screening. I can make that happen. So help me just this once.”

Bellio didn’t answer.

He was clearly thinking.

For him, Highrant’s elite unit was his dream.

And he knew better than anyone how valuable that recommendation would be.

“I’m not lying.”

I genuinely intended to help him.

In the original story, Bellio loses his future because of Rishua.

After her affair is discovered, he gets expelled from the Northern Wall Knights.

Even though he chose her willingly, I didn’t want to ruin his life.

“I’m kind of busy, so can you answer quickly?”

I only had three months left until my death day.

Time was more valuable than gold.

“…Just for today?”

At last, a compromise.

Now it was time to move quickly.

“Then I’ll give you your first mission.”