TVDWL - Chapter 198 < Don't Let Me Get a Divorce >

The scarred man snorted and glared at Jeremiah.

"Don't you understand the situation right now? You're not in a position to say something like that to me."

He then lashed out at the remaining assassins.

"You annoying little bastards! Stop dawdling and go stab him! No matter how strong that guy is, do you think he'll survive with his neck cut off?"

The assassins, urged by the man, drew out their poisoned knives and weapons and approached Jeremiah. However, Jeremiah still did not take his eyes off Karina. He did not seem to move at all even though the assassins were running right in front of him with their poisoned knives.

"What are you doing instead of avoiding It!"

Karina, unable to bear it any longer, screamed. Then the man growled in a fierce tone.

"Can't you just shut up and stay still? If you're a hostage, act like one. Why can't you die quickly and be impatient?"

But Karina wasn't intimidated at all and instead glared at the man.

"It's no use."

She spoke in a low voice.

"What?"

"It's useless."

"What are you talking about?"

'What is this woman talking about all of a sudden?'

The man's eyebrows furrowed. Seeing her calm in this situation, it seemed like she was trying to act quite composure as the Grand Duchess.

"You're acting so arrogant and confident, trusting in the Grand Duke, but don't expect anything. If you make even the slightest mistake, I'll kill you right away."

Karina snickered after hearing the man's words.

"Is this crazy? Why are you laughing and making a fuss by yourself?"

Then Karina responded in a feminine tone.

"You sound so ridiculous. Do you ever speak as if you were trying to save me?"

"..."

Instead of answering, the man glared at her as if to say, "What are you going to do about that?"

'Then, that's right.'

Karina remained calm and collected without panicking.

'I've already received kidnapping threats!'

She recalled her previous experience of being held captive by the escapees. Even then, the escapees could not harm her until they had achieved their goal. The Scarred Man would also intend to threaten Jeremiah with her as a hostage until he believed he had incapacitated and completely subdued him.

'So you can't kill me right now. It won't help me at all if I just stay here.'

And no matter what Jeremiah does, the scarred man will eventually use her and then kill her.

'Then there is no need to get involved in such meaningless games.'

It was a matter of life and death, so she had no intention of just trusting in the generosity of this crazy guy and listening to him. She had a better chance of survival if she resisted now.

"This guy has no intention of letting me live anyway! So don't listen to him and just deal with everything!"

As Karina shouted, the scarred man's face turned red and blue.

"This fucking bitch!!"

The man instinctively grabbed Karina by the collar.

"Those fools who don't understand the situation will only listen if they see blood."

The corners of the man's mouth twitched with anger. He had expected the hostage Grand Duchess to scream and beg for her life, so he did not cover her mouth.

'I thought it would only further incite the Grand Duke!'

It was a misjudgment.

If he had known this would happen, he should have kept her mouth shut from the beginning.

When the plan went awry, the man's mind completely twisted. He grabbed the dagger aimed at Karina's neck as if he was going to stab her at any moment. He intended to stab her in the shoulder or leg that was not dying and make her obey him.

"If you get stabbed a little, you'll be able to properly understand the situation."

Just as many people before her had done in the face of the fear of death, he thought that the Grand Duchess would tremble in fear at the sight of blood and tremble at his every word. The man, with only the corners of his mouth raised in a sinister smile, raised his hand holding the sword.

"...!"

The tension was rising at that time.

"Get away from her now!"

With Jeremiah's shout, an overwhelming sense of aggression engulfed the surroundings. His sword swung in a large circle. A dazzling light of the sword and a mist of blood gushed out. Everyone who rushed at him fell to his sword without even a single scream.

"What, what is this!"

The scarred man was startled and then immediately expressed his rage.

"I clearly told you to stay still and not rebel. Do you two find what I said funny?"

The man with a fierce expression grabbed Karina's hair more tightly and tilted her head back.

"Do you care if the Grand Duchess dies? Do you think I can't kill her?"

The man was planning to follow the Marquis's words that he could kill her if necessary. At that moment. 

Kwak! 

Without hesitation, Karina stomped down on the man's instep with the heel of her shoe.

"Ha! Did you think I'd let you go just because of something like that? This is it..."

The man snorted and glared at Karina with a disapproving look. It wasn't a big blow, but it was enough to create a small opening for the man to hesitate. 

Phew! 

Jeremiah, who had come in front of them, was stabbing the man in the stomach with his sword.

"Ugh!"

The man who was stabbed by the sword opened his eyes wide without even screaming.

"When did that happen..!"

"I told you to stay away from her."

The dagger that had been pointed at Karina's neck was now held in Jeremiah's other hand. His eyes were shining so brightly that it felt like they were burning with anger. Only then did the man who met those eyes realize who he was dealing with. And also that he had touched his sore spot.

"Crazy... a real monster..."

The man fell over before he could finish his words. 

***

"Are you okay?"

Jeremiah asked while checking Karina's condition. Karina, who was looking at the man lying on the ground, quickly raised her head and looked at Jeremiah.

"Are you okay?"

Karina asked with a worried voice.

"It's nothing, so don't worry about it."

But contrary to his words that it was nothing special, blood was dripping from the hand holding the blade of the dagger.

"It's nothing. My hands are bleeding."

The arm that had been injured in the explosion earlier was the same. She was shocked when she checked Jeremiah's wounds up close.

'Gasp...! Oh my God!'

The Injuries he sustained were quite serious. The skin from his arm to his shoulder was not just torn, but the flesh had completely fallen off, and bones could be faintly seen inside.

'Besides, it's poison.'

Even a stranger could tell that it was poisonous, as the black poison mixed with the blood and slowly burned away the wound. It was a terrible state. Even so, Jeremiah did not groan and just stood there. Karina felt so unfamiliar with the sight of him being injured like this. Even seeing him injured like this while trying to save herself made her heartache.

'Why are you doing this?'

She had stubbornly rejected him, but she was still so grateful to him for coming to her in such a hurry. A wave of emotion and longing for him surged through her heart. Her soaked heart melted away.

'If he refuses to divorce me until the end.'

If you continue to risk your life and protect me like this.

'Can't I stay with you for a while, if not forever?

Now that she think about it, Karina suddenly had that thought. But she didn't have time to dwell on it for long. 

Jeremiah's face was noticeably pale as if the poison had spread throughout his body. His lips, which were usually red, were gradually turning purple as if he was dying.

"You have to go back quickly and get treatment!"

At that moment, his body lost its balance and began to sway. Karina quickly tried to support him. However.

"You don't need to support me."

Jeremiah turned away, blatantly avoiding her touch.

"...?!"

Karina looked puzzled.

'Why are you avoiding it? When you can't even walk properly?'

"Don't be stubborn and let me help you. Your condition is serious right now!"

Despite her urging, Jeremiah's attitude did not change. No, rather, he pushed her away and spoke even more coldly and indifferently.

"Don't worry about me anymore."

'What?'

Karina was momentarily speechless in embarrassment. She didn't know how to react to him suddenly being so cruel to her as he was in the past. While she was frozen.

"I will do whatever you want."

He said that out of the blue.

"Yes?"

Karina tilted her head, not understanding what he was talking about.

"You have been rejecting me all along."

"...!"

Her face turned red for a moment with embarrassment.

"I did not accept your rejection, and I forced my will on you, making it difficult for you."

"..."

"But now I admit that it was all just my one-sided feelings and my greed."

His voice was calm and composed, but his words sounded louder than ever in Karina's ears.

"As you wish, no. Now I wish it too."

Jeremiah licked his lips and then continued speaking.

"Let's get a divorce."

"...!"

At Jeremiah's declaration-like words, Karina felt the ground beneath her feet give out and she felt like she was falling down a steep cliff. As if he was mocking her thoughts just now. As if he was urging her to imagine something like that again. His single word made her realize the harsh reality. 

After standing there for a while in silence, she opened her trembling lips and asked.

"You said you wanted a divorce... Then why did you come here?"

She tried not to ask because she felt embarrassed, but she couldn't stop the questions from flowing out. They would no longer be a couple. So she wondered why he had come to save her, even at the risk of

such a risk.

"I told you earlier. If you die in a place like this, the Grand Duke's family will be in trouble."

"Is that all?"

Really? Is that all there is to it?

"...Yes."

He remained silent for a moment, then finally answered. The answer dug deep into her heart. She couldn't move as if she had been stabbed by a sharp iron skewer.

"Yes."

Karina quickly tried to pull herself together. She desperately suppressed the emotions that were threatening to rise to her throat.

'Yeah. That's right. That's what I've always wanted. It's not like I didn't know it would turn out like this.'

There was no reason to be shocked again.

'Everything just flows as planned.'

Karina bit her lower lip hard.

'But why do I feel this way?'

She was embarrassed by her own disappointment and frustration at his words.

'I decided not to expect anything from him anymore.'

She had given up because she was so tired and worn out. But this is what happened. It was so ridiculous. She said she didn't want his feelings, and she ignored it, saying it had nothing to do with her, but in the end, she expected it again. Karina denied it, but in fact, it seemed that she had already given him a part of her heart at some point.

'You're so stupid, you only realized that now.'

Karina couldn't even laugh at her own shame.

"All right."

Karina answered, trying her best to hide her confusion.

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