My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“I asked who you are.”
The cold steel pressing against his neck radiated a deep chill.
If he suffered even a minor scratch, Amarynthis or Kildian might discover that he had slipped out in secret.
Yulisian raised both hands before the blade could bite any deeper into his skin.
It was a clear gesture of surrender, showing he had no intention to fight.
“If you were planning to reveal your identity so easily, you wouldn’t have come here with your face covered.”
“Oh. Fair point.”
The familiar response almost made him chuckle.
In truth, Yulisian had recognized the man wielding the sword the moment he spoke.
Grand Commander Tristan Wigras.
He was Yulisian’s long-time friend and brother-in-arms, a man with whom he had crossed blades thousands of times.
‘If I fight back with my sword, he might figure out who I am.’
Though he currently wore someone else’s face, if his opponent was Tristan, it was entirely possible.
The man happened to be a rare, deeply superstitious believer in the occult.
Even during their childhood, he had believed in ghosts, monsters, spells, magic, and all sorts of anomalies, and that faith had peaked during his time in the war.
Once, when Tristan stubbornly insisted on wearing nothing but heavy, thick, full plate armor, Yulisian had asked him why.
‘I have no choice. If you get drenched in a dead man’s blood, their ghost hitches a ride.’
He had spouted such utter nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
It was comforting to know there was someone in the world who might actually believe the truth about his identity.
However, now was not the time.
He had to keep his identity hidden until he could root out the traitor or the spy.
Even if he had to let them discover that the face beneath the mask belonged to Scheit Huniswald, he could not let them find out whose soul resided within this body.
If Kildian was indeed conducting experiments to transfer souls, Tristan’s mere reaction could arouse suspicion.
Without lowering his hands, he turned completely around to face him.
“First of all, I am not your enemy.”
The moment he awkwardly spoke in a formal tone, a flash of murderous intent flickered in Tristan’s eyes.
He had caught a glimpse of the face inside the hood.
Yulisian reacted on pure instinct, throwing his body forward and plunging his hand into the gap between the headboard and the mattress.
His fingers gripped the hilt of a sword, and he drew it in one fluid motion to block the incoming blade.
Clang!
He had saved his life, but he instantly realized his mistake.
The habit of keeping a sword hidden in the upper crevice of a mattress was a trick he had picked up on the battlefield.
Tristan, his former comrade, knew about Yulisian’s habit as well.
Did he recognize it?
Tense, he locked eyes with Tristan.
Tristan made no effort to hide his shock as he stared intently at the sword Yulisian had just drawn.
As expected, he had recognized the habit instantly.
Just as Yulisian opened his mouth, searching for an excuse to defuse the situation,
Tristan lowered his sword slightly and muttered grimly to himself.
“Has even this piece of information leaked out?”
“…….”
He hadn’t figured it out after all.
The moment he froze in relief, the sharp blade lunged straight toward his chest.
Yulisian twisted his torso, deflecting the thrust with the flat of his blade, and smoothly parried the follow-up horizontal slash.
Realizing that his sword paths were being read in advance, Tristan’s face contorted in frustration.
Putting his weight into the clashing steel, he closed the distance between them.
“Who sent you?”
“I came on my own accord.”
Yulisian pushed back with force, driving Tristan’s sword away.
Because he was in Scheit’s body, he couldn’t completely overpower him, but it was enough to buy some breathing room.
Just as he attempted to start a conversation during the brief lull, the door burst open.
“Tristan!”
Papilion rushed into the room.
He had detected an intruder, but the frantic sprint had left him completely out of breath.
He stood there panting and glaring, looking like the absolute perfect target to be taken hostage.
Tristan immediately forced the intruder into a corner to keep Papilion out of harm’s way.
Instead of stubbornly holding his ground, Yulisian fell back, continuously parrying Tristan’s relentless assault.
“I told you, I’m not an enemy.”
For an intruder, his constant composure and total lack of malice were deeply suspicious.
Tristan issued a low, warning growl.
“State your purpose for breaking in.”
Ever since Papilion arrived, Tristan’s tone and demeanor had shifted.
When there was someone vulnerable to protect, a man’s wariness naturally intensified.
If he were to ask whether the Archduke was alive right now, they would end up crossing swords in earnest.
While Yulisian remained silent, Tristan called out to Papilion.
“Go fetch the guards. This one possesses considerable skill.”
Papilion froze in place.
Logically, he knew he should go call for help, but his feet refused to move.
“I… I cannot do that. If I do, then His Grace will also…!”
He cut himself off, unable to finish the sentence.
Papilion bit his lower lip as tears welled in his eyes, his clenched fists trembling violently.
Tristan’s focus abruptly shattered.
Yulisian could feel the pressure behind the clashing blades instantly weaken.
Yulisian was taken aback.
The Papilion and Tristan he knew were not the types to let their minds wander with an intruder standing right in front of them.
‘So… he really is dead.’
He had suspected as much, but to have it confirmed that his original body was gone hit hard.
Without realizing it, the strength drained from his own arms.
Yet, there was no despair.
The flesh was dead, but the soul lived on.
What drove him was not personal glory, but his will and convictions; no matter what vessel he occupied, his core values remained unchanged.
Even if he had to do it in another man’s body, he had to stop his brother’s twisted ambitions.
That was the duty of one born to carry a noble burden, and the only way to truly conquer death.
Yulisian was fully prepared to throw himself into danger, even if it meant dying in Scheit’s body.
Though he felt a pang of guilt for deceiving the two men before him, he did not hesitate.
“…If you wish, I can provide you with information regarding Kildian.”
As Yulisian lowered his weapon, Tristan stopped his attack as well.
However, Papilion’s eyes remained fiercely hostile.
“Do we look naive enough to trust an intruder who won’t even show his face?”
Yulisian pondered for a brief moment.
If they worked together, his identity would inevitably be exposed down the line.
If his face was revealed at a critical juncture and their hard-won trust shattered, it could ruin everything and prevent them from stopping Kildian.
Even if it took a long time to win them over, it was better to show his face now.
“…Very well. I will take off the mask. But please, do not be too shocked.”
“Shocked?”
While Tristan tilted his head in confusion, Yulisian reached up and removed the mask.
And in that exact instant,
“You… you son of a bitch! How dare you show your face here…!”
Hurling a harsh curse entirely uncharacteristic of his usual self, Papilion lunged forward.
Tristan swiftly reached out and grabbed Papilion by the collar, hauling him back.
It wasn’t an attempt to break up a petty squabble.
Rather, it looked as though he was pulling Papilion away from a dangerous, venomous creature.
The murderous intent that had briefly faded from Tristan’s eyes began to swirl with renewed intensity.
“I suppose your information must be accurate, considering it came straight from Kildian’s own mouth.”
“If what this wretch says is even true!”
Papilion acted as if he wanted to tear the man before him to shreds this very second.
A bittersweet smile played on Yulisian’s lips.
Facing the distrust and hostility of the two people he had relied on and trusted most left a bitter ache in his chest.
Even so, he quickly masked his emotions and calmly took a seat on the sofa.
He reached into his tunic, pulled out the marriage certificate he had brought along just in case, and placed it firmly on the table.
“This is the source of the funds Kildian used to raise a private army and hire mercenaries.”
Tristan sat down opposite him and reached out toward the parchment.
The moment his hand was about to touch it, Papilion slammed his fist violently onto the table.
Thud.
The heavy sound echoed through the room as Papilion’s hand pinned the parchment down.
He leaned halfway across the table, glaring at Yulisian with a menacing expression.
“What bloody use is any of this now, after everything that’s happened…!”
Unable to control the tempest of emotions raging inside him, his hand clenched into a fist, scraping against the wood.
The parchment trapped beneath his fingers crumpled ruthlessly.
Yulisian stared at the distorting paper for a moment before lifting his gaze.
He looked Papilion straight in the eye.
“Is everything truly over just because Archduke Yulisian is gone?”
“…What?”
“If things are left as they are, innocent citizens will continue to be sacrificed. Kildian might even attempt to assassinate the two princesses and His Majesty. Even if Archduke Yulisian is dead, shouldn’t we protect the things he died trying to safeguard?”
The color completely drained from Papilion’s face, leaving it deathly pale before it suddenly flushed a furious, vibrant crimson.
“Who the hell do you think you are?! What could someone like you possibly know about His Grace to dare spout such garbage…!”
Shorn of all restraint, his bloodshot eyes burned with nothing but pure, unadulterated hatred and disgust.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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