Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband [Novel] Chapter 135

Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband – Chapter 135

I snapped my head toward the door.

Then I looked back at Cailus.

"Hurry up and go."

"I'll be right back."

"Call me if you need anything."

Instead of answering, Cailus planted a light kiss on my forehead and stepped out.

I stared blankly down at the box of Divine Purification Stones.

I had thought that wasn't the case, but to think it was actually the right answer.

It was almost fascinating how he had searched for it so desperately in the past, yet now he set it down without any lingering attachment, as if he no longer needed it.

"The past?"

I tilted my head in confusion even after saying it myself.

"What do I mean by the past? It was the original story."

I was so exhausted that even my thoughts seemed to be getting jumbled up now.

I let out a soft chuckle, placed the box on the table, and sat on the bed for a moment.

It was undeniable that I needed more rest.

Sitting sideways and leaning my body against the headboard, I closed my eyes with the intention of resting for just a fleeting moment.

---

That evening.

The meeting resumed.

The scouting party that had gone out for a morning inspection returned and joined us.

"Large-scale monsters have set up camp to the East, West, South, and North, centered around the Grand Altar."

"Since we blocked them with a barrier, they haven't been able to expand beyond that area, but their numbers have doubled compared to four days ago."

"It's certain that the monsters are pouring out from within the Grand Altar."

We had continuously dispatched troops even while holding meetings.

We had to try changing our strategies to minimize casualties as much as possible.

After several failures, we managed to practically shove the monsters as close to the Grand Altar as possible and successfully erected a barrier over that entire area.

However, the monsters were multiplying within that barrier.

It practically confirmed that a passageway to the otherworld existed beneath the Grand Altar.

I already knew the North was the starting point, but finding out the exact location made my skin crawl.

"The divine barrier using the Divine Purification Stones can be deployed a total of five times, once per stone."

I nodded at Rendil's words.

"So you're saying we have to finish this within that time?"

"Yes, Duchess. We must finish it within that timeframe to prevent massive casualties."

Because we lacked proper priests, the divine barrier was our way of utilizing the Divine Purification Stones to their utmost potential.

Inside that barrier, there would be a certain level of purification, preventing the monsters from properly wielding their power.

We continued to be incredibly busy after that.

As the day of the expedition drew near, we released the Imperial Family's support troops.

We gave them the choice to participate in the battle or return if they wished.

Among them were knights I had trained with in the past, but since we had fallen out with the Imperial Family, I didn't want to accept their help.

However.

"I will stay."

"I want to return victorious so that His Majesty the Emperor cannot hold us accountable."

"I will stay as well."

"May we also join the battle?"

Of course, there were knights who practically fled as soon as we opened the gates, but the vast majority volunteered to stay here and join the battle.

Although we had detained them after they entered the North following our fallout with the Imperial Family, we hadn't oppressed them.

We treated them exactly the same as the other knights. However, there was a distinct sense of distance since we could become enemies at any moment.

Yet, they declared their intention to stay here.

Some stayed because they saw Dylan, Josh, and Lux joining us, while others found hope after seeing the wizards from the Magic Tower.

And some stayed to stop the danger right here so that it wouldn't spread any further.

I resolved once again that we absolutely had to lead this battle to victory.

Because if we didn't, the many people who had taken my hand would be swallowed by an even greater darkness long before they could face any accountability.

If all of this ended in victory, there was a gift I absolutely wanted to give the Imperial Family.

I truly hoped I would be able to deliver 'that' to them.

---

Another two days passed.

Finally, the day dawned.

In the early hours before the sun even rose.

The view stretched out dimly, and the biting chill of the dawn settled upon our clothes.

The knights who had steadfastly guarded the castle gates without a moment's rest while we held our meetings finally took a brief break. In their place, other knights took their stand on the ground.

Perhaps they might never be able to return.

But even so, we would absolutely return from the darkness.

The knights had written letters the night before, sent them to their loved ones, said their goodbyes to their families, and returned.

And right before our departure.

I stood facing Cailus, who had approached me.

I reached out and touched his face, which looked stiffer than usual.

At that, his large hand covered mine.

I forced the corners of my mouth, which refused to go up naturally, into a smile.

He was someone who moved forward, relying solely on me as he faced danger.

"I will protect you no matter what."

He had had countless opportunities to stop me, yet he never did.

He simply stayed firmly by my side, protecting me.

"I'll protect you, too."

I felt like my frustration would only be relieved if we absolutely succeeded and dealt a proper blow to the Imperial Family.

I wanted to end things properly like that.

Finally, I rested my forehead against Cailus's sturdy chest and prayed earnestly.

As I finished my prayer and lifted my head, Cailus took my hand.

"Why?"

Ignoring my question, he rolled up his sleeve, took out a bracelet from his pocket, and slipped it onto my wrist.

As I examined the bracelet, it looked similar to the one we saw when I first went to the Duchy's market with Cailus in the past.

I had debated whether to buy him a sword belt or a bracelet back then.

"I asked Rendil to enchant it so you can use a protective shield."

At those words, I lifted my hand and pulled slightly at my collar.

"Cailus, do you remember the necklace you gave me for our wedding anniversary?"

"Of course."

"I came wearing the necklace you gave me back then. Now that I have two accessories with protective shield abilities, I am invincible."

At those words, Cailus chuckled lightly.

"That's a relief."

While I was talking with Cailus, Rendil approached us.

"I see you received the bracelet."

"Ah, right here."

I showed the bracelet to Rendil.

Rendil paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Please make sure you keep it on."

"I will."

Soon after, Rendil headed back.

Cailus didn't move forward until he had helped me mount my horse.

Lux rode up next to me on horseback.

"Still no regrets?"

I asked Lux.

It had only been for a short time, but perhaps because we had fought together in the rearguard during our training days, it felt exactly like going back to that time.

"Do you want me to have them?"

"Half and half?"

"Hey, the least you could do is be grateful to your big brother."

I flashed a wide grin at Lux.

"I'll make sure you don't regret it."

Even if I didn't know anything else, I knew exactly how Lily and Zed had won at the final battleground.

That was why I had intentionally participated in all the strategy-making sessions.

Since I couldn't tell them outright, I slowly leaked the information while we devised and tested the strategies.

I was confident because I had even conducted a few tests in advance.

Moreover, unlike back then, the Demon King hadn't actually descended this time.

So we could definitely win.

I straightened my back on the horse.

I surveyed the armed knights and waited for the departure.

Along with the majestic sound of a horn announcing our expedition, the beating of drums echoed through the air.

Accompanied by the sound of marching footsteps, we slowly began our advance.

Our speed, which was closer to a slow walk at first, gradually picked up, and the moment we exited the castle gates, we began moving forward, slowly forming our ranks according to the plan.

I wonder how long we rode.

As we ruthlessly advanced toward the Grand Altar, cutting down the monsters we spotted along the way, fog gradually began to roll in around us.

The fog enveloped the surroundings in an instant, growing so thick that we could barely see unless someone was right next to us.

The knights grew even more alert, relying on the sounds and the light blasted by the wizards to heighten their senses as they began slaying the monsters.

Before I knew it, I had moved from the rearguard to the center.

It was because I had to conserve my strength as much as possible until we entered the Grand Altar, and if things got dangerous, I needed to cast illusions utilizing the space and terrain.

The Grand Altar was now right in front of us.

We were moving swiftly, changing our formation once more, when suddenly, with a massive boom, a purple light exploded in the distance like a firework.

At the same time, the knights' movements came to a halt.

I also stopped casting spatial illusions to tie down the monsters' feet and turned my head.

That's a magic flare.

Following that, a pure white light erupted once more.

"Halt!"

At the shout, all the advancing knights stopped in their tracks.

Flares were usually fired by late-joining knights to check directions or signal their location.

However, there were no more troops left to join us here, so it was strange for a flare to go off.

Everyone stared in that direction, their nerves on edge.

Two knights and a wizard rode toward where the flare had gone off to check the situation.

We dispatched all the remaining monsters as the wind wizard pushed the fog away.

In the meantime, another flare and pure white light exploded in quick succession.

A little further back, the ground began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.

Small pebbles on the ground began to bounce rapidly, and the tremors grew increasingly violent.

The knight and wizard who had gone ahead to check emerged from the fog.

"It's reinforcements!"

Simultaneously, a stronger tremor resonated as hundreds, thousands—no, an unfathomable number of people revealed themselves.