We're Married, After All - Chapter 70
I knew that heading toward the front gate would be safer. The ground there was more even, allowing for faster riding. But I wouldn’t be the only one who could move quickly on a smooth path—that was precisely why I’d ruled out escaping through the front gate from the start.
Danel must have thought the same thing.
The memory of the hunting dog made me chuckle bitterly.
Every time I realized how deeply Danel understood me, I felt a twisted sense of contradiction. His dark, insidious nature horrified me, yet the fact that his entire world revolved around me also gave me a strange sense of satisfaction. Perhaps others would consider me insane.
Maybe I truly was sick.
And that’s why… before I lost my mind entirely, I had to do what needed to be done.
But just when I thought I was far enough from the barracks, I encountered another problem—I couldn’t mount the horse. My body had grown too heavy, and even using the stirrup, I couldn’t pull myself up.
I grew anxious. The castle gates were still open for now, but shorter days meant they would close earlier. On top of that, I didn’t even have a lantern. No matter how well my eyes had adjusted to the dark, it would be hard to ride fast on an unlit path.
After several attempts, I finally managed to get into the saddle. My trembling hands refused to steady.
I took a deep breath and looked back toward the estate. So far, things have gone according to plan. The real challenge would be the hunting grounds.
Getting past the castle gates won’t be easy.
If I wanted to break through the gate guards, the horse needed to conserve its strength. That was why I had planned to ride slowly through the hunting grounds—but the hunting dog was a problem. Even if it was chained, I couldn’t ignore it. Dogs bark.
“….”
After a brief moment of contemplation, I harshly yanked the reins. The horse responded instantly, breaking into a full gallop.
The best approach might’ve been to slip through the hunting grounds quietly, without alerting the dogs. But I had already lost too much time mounting the horse. If the castle gates closed, there would be no escaping Lapecia Castle. I’d have to adjust my pace when passing through the village instead.
Please… let that be enough.
Luckily, I had no time to dwell on my fears.
I directed the horse toward the least-guarded castle gate. The path would be longer, but it seemed easier than breaking through the heavily secured front gate.
My destination was Count Veloce’s estate.
I can’t return to my family’s home.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
My mother had disapproved of this marriage from the beginning. She had already been upset about the wedding being delayed for Petios’ sake, only to see me hastily wed the younger son instead. She would undoubtedly use this incident as leverage to push for a divorce.
But my father would never allow it. There were no other marriage prospects valuable enough to sever ties with the Veloce family.
Perhaps he would let me stay at my family’s estate until I gave birth—but the moment the child was born, he would send me right back to Lapecia Castle. In the process, he would surely deal with either Danel or Petios—permanently.
The only person I could turn to was Countess Veloce.
Countess Veloce was the only person I knew who valued love above utility. She was also someone willing to do anything for her two sons. If anyone could protect both Petios and Danel, it was her—
even if it meant tarnishing her own honor or carrying a heavy secret to her grave.
I didn’t want Petios to die by Danel’s hand. Honestly, I didn’t care where or how Petios met his end, or who killed him—just not Danel.
Even though I wasn’t a believer, I couldn’t bear the thought of Danel being condemned to hell. He was still a monk once.
Especially not… for wanting to possess me.
Besides, Count Veloce’s estate wasn’t far. By carriage, it would take half a day. Without a carriage, riding a horse, I could reach it by sunrise.
Fortunately, the horse galloped smoothly along the forest path. It must have traveled this route to the hunting grounds many times before.
But as we approached the gamekeeper’s cabin, the horse grew restless.
Bark! Bark! Bark!
The sharp barks of large dogs echoed through the air, accompanied by the metallic clatter of chains. The horse’s ears twitched nervously—it was scared.
I had no choice but to push the horse faster. There was a chance the frenzied hunting dogs could break free from their chains and chase us. Better that risk than letting the horse succumb to terror.
Thankfully, by the time we emerged from the forest path, the horse had calmed down. The sound of the dogs’ barking had faded into the distance. I slowed the horse’s pace, soothing it with quiet words.
And then—
“Ah…!”
