how to divorce the male lead - chapter 24

The tented waiting room failed to provide any insulation, leaving it filled with chilly air.

Evan sat in the cold waiting room, wearing only a thin leather armor, casually crumpling a piece of paper in his hand.

It was a list of participants for the tournament qualifiers. Evan lazily tossed the crumpled paper away and leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

Exhaling into the air, a white puff of cloud appeared.

It was cold, his stomach was appropriately empty.

It was suitable for a fight.

Evan preferred leather armor over cumbersome iron. It made him nimble and mounting a horse was easier.

His fighting style resembled that of ancient ancestors. Fast, with a focus on lethal strikes.

But as settlements became more established, the raw fighting style of their ancestors gradually faded away.

The Aryan citizens of the Aricane Empire, once known as 'barbarians' from the north, had now forgotten their roots, but this barbaric fight was their last play to revive their instincts.

However, as only half-hearted knights began to participate, this meaningful game not only failed to ignite blood but also cooled it.

Evan couldn't even find it worth mocking the trembling knights in heavy iron armor, fearing a spear through the neck.

Ironically, the protagonist of this barbaric spear-fighting competition, where blood was carelessly spilled, was none other than the Blue Rose, Yuliana Ovren.

Since childhood, Yuliana had been renowned for her beauty. Her fair skin, dark fiery red hair, and shining bronze eyes captivated anyone who laid eyes on her.

Her scenes of casting magic were also spectacular. When flames spewed from her fingertips, her flawless and smooth skin, unblemished by burns, stood out. Yuliana's talent and appearance were beyond comparison.

Mysteriously beautiful, she enjoyed mingling with people. People of all genders were drawn to her sighs and smiles. People sighed at her kindness and shed tears at her pain.

And conversely, many felt betrayed and cried at her capriciousness. Evan's opponent in this tournament, Evan Hillchen, fell into the latter category.

"Hmm. The son of Count Rosen?" Count Rosen, who had territories on the northern border, had many children. It was nothing for one or two knights to come from such a fussy family.

What bothered Evan was that this fussy knight had once suffered from lovesickness and had gone through a knightly revival, now seeking revenge on his own.

Evan felt no remorse. He reclined leisurely in the opposite chair, crossing his legs and humming.

Simultaneously, mimicking the sound of a spear piercing through the air, he whistled.

*Aiden Rosen was the third of ten siblings.

Due to his father, who tirelessly replaced wives, all his siblings were from different mothers.

Among so many siblings, Aiden never stood out.

The same was true in social circles.

Living a colorless life, one day Aiden Rosen met Yuliana.

It was at a party she hosted. Amidst the throngs of people vying to touch her, Aiden felt alienated.

Feeling similar to the alienation he felt among his siblings, he tried to escape the party. Perhaps his fleeing caught Yuliana Ovren's eye just before the party got lively.

That night, Aiden received Yuliana's favor.

They danced together, shared drinks, and dared to call each other 'friends.'

Her plump, red lips, slightly teasing tone, and charming demeanor made Aiden forget his colorless life in an instant.

But it was only later that he realized the men at the party that night had similar thoughts.

She was stealing men's hopes. Without guilt, she now turned away from those hopes as if they were all garbage.

"It won't be like that anymore. Yuliana, I won't let you get away with it." Excitedly, atop a white stallion, Aiden straightened his back. The iron helmet obscuring his vision was actually helpful. It allowed him to focus only on what was ahead.

A bastard heir to Yuliana Ovren's shackles and an illegitimate child, Aiden rode on a black horse, taking the reins tightly.

For a moment, he glanced at the nobles seated in the royal box. More accurately, he looked at Yuliana Ovren, who was seated in the front row.

Ah, she was still beautiful. Like a beautiful demon feasting on hopes and dreams.

"I'll make you look back. I― I will definitely do what others cannot...!"

Excitedly, he spurred his horse. The horn sounded, echoing throughout the tournament ground, breaking the barrier between commoners and nobles. Everyone rose, shouting and cheering.

And amidst the madness, only Yuliana kept her eyes closed.

"Evan...!"

The two knights charged in parallel.

Aiden firmly gripped his lance. His vision narrowed and reddened. In that red vision, the Duke was vigorously leading his horse.

The Duke was confidently leading, even without proper protective gear. The scene of the Duke's embarrassing defeat excited Aiden. Excitement would lead him to victory.

"Yuliana!"

For a brief moment, Aiden thought his lance had pierced the Duke's throat.

However, the dull thud he felt was just a delusion. The heavy air parted, and the lance barely grazed Evan Hillchen's head.

"Oh!"

Surprised, Aiden pulled back his lance.

Clearly, undoubtedly!

The Duke deftly avoided the attack and suddenly appeared beneath Aiden's gaze. His fierce gaze was aimed at Aiden's neck, barely visible through the sturdy helmet.

Darn it. Losing his balance as he tried to adjust his lance, Aiden stumbled.

"Hyah!"

The trained white horse, now agitated, let out a loud neigh as it pulled the reins.

Aiden's posture crumbled.

"Pok!"

"Argh!"

Even as Aiden Rosen's throat was pierced, he continued to clutch his neck with eyes that couldn't perceive the pain.

As the sound of foaming blood was heard, the audience in the stands was engulfed in the thrill of excitement, instead of silence. 

Once, they roamed fields and mountains, taking what was stolen and stealing what was held. Their instincts were rising. The silence surrounding the audience didn't last long.

"Wow!"

The spectators in the stands clapped and cheered, as if they had seen a splendid performance, whistling and shouting.

Thud―.

Aiden Rosen's body fell from the horse.

On the other hand, Evan, dismounting from the black horse, approached Aiden Rosen's body with steady steps. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out the lance stuck in him.

Whish―.

Checking the condition of the lance by turning it around, he glanced briefly at Aiden Rosen's body being dragged out.

Then, with a nonchalant face completely unrelated to the madness of the audience, he wiped his bloodied hands.

Soon after, with one side of his face stained with blood, Evan glanced at the audience as if he were indifferent.

Yuliana didn't pretend not to know anymore. Evan, who returned, was looking at her. Since the day he opened the window to see her, he had been watching her. Straightforwardly.