Episode 167. Confirmation (3)

The day after Edward-gun left. During a long-awaited lunch with just the two of them, Winnie-yang kept chattering beside Monica-ssi. She had heard from Edward-gun that Monica-ssi wasn’t in good shape, and as a friend, she was trying to cheer her up and be helpful, but Monica-ssi didn’t feel that way at all.

Watching those chattering lips, Monica-ssi was focusing on Winnie-yang’s mouth, not the content of her words. That small mouth, covering Edward-gun’s lips. Sticking to him so stickily. How many times had she done that? More than her?

Considering how much Winnie-yang’s belly was swelling, she must have been pregnant for quite a while. Had she been cheating since she was busy right after the wedding? Since that time when the two of them went to Retinel alone? Maybe they knew each other even before she met him?

It was she who sent Winnie-yang along with Edward-gun when he said he would go to Retinel. At that time, she was so bothered by Edward-gun proposing to her mother that she opposed the two of them going together and recommended her friend instead. Now Monica-ssi regretted that it was a completely wrong choice.

In front of me, she acted like he was a weird man. She acted like she would never even look at a man in her life. Before she knew it, Winnie-yang had surpassed her. No, not surpassed. It was her thing, but she cut in line, so it would be right to call it cutting in line.

They say a quiet cat climbs the chimney first. That was exactly the case. Pretending to be quiet, pretending not to be interested at all. Deceiving the original owner of the spot. Literally, stealing her husband like a ‘thief cat’. After doing all that, she even used the excuse of ‘family tradition’ to get away with it after having a child. What kind of ridiculous tradition is that? Is the Mountberne Count Family traditionally all mistresses’ families?

‘…No, I shouldn’t be thinking like this.’

What am I thinking about my friend? Winnie-yang is her only friend. No, but Edward-gun is also her only partner? The betrayal that had subsided for a while after Edward-gun left yesterday. The snake coiled in her heart stretched again.

“Ugh…”

Her head hurts. Her eyes are spinning and she’s tearing up. How did this situation come about? Why did he have to pick a woman she couldn’t easily hate, and make it so hard for her? If it was a completely unknown woman, she could have just labeled her as ‘trash’ in a corner of her heart and left it there. Why…

“Monica-ssi. Are you okay?”

Tak-

“I’m okay! I’m okay…”

She roughly pushed away Winnie-yang’s arm that was trying to support her. Monica-ssi was slightly surprised that her hand went out reflexively. She felt a brief moment of apology, but thinking about what Winnie-yang had done, she didn’t really want to offer such a simple apology.

At that point, even the clueless and clumsy Winnie-yang had no choice but to notice. Yesterday morning, she had shared love with Edward-gun. After he left, she had been a little suspicious because of an unfamiliar box she found in the hallway on her way out to eat…

Such a violent reaction, and the negative emotions that she tried to hide but couldn’t hide well. The circumstance that someone might have seen her and Edward-gun together. All of that combined, Winnie-yang had no choice but to notice.

She thought she had hidden it well. To be caught because she couldn’t control her lust and had sex while pregnant. Why did she come when she doesn’t even wake up in the morning usually – she didn’t really think of blaming Monica-ssi together. She understood Monica-ssi’s position well enough.

“I’m really, really sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“That, that…”

Winnie-yang stuttered. Does she know that it’s such a shameful thing that she can’t even bring herself to say it? It’s even more shameless that she can’t even say that much after committing the act. Well, if she keeps beating around the bush or can’t say it here…

“I’m sorry for cheating…”

“…Cheating?”

“I’m sorry for cheating with Edward… Kyung-nim…”

This thief cat is admitting it so easily. She must think she’s too shameless, so she can’t even make eye contact with her. Winnie-yang was speaking with her head bowed.

“You used to call him by his name so casually, why are you suddenly adding ‘Kyung-nim’?”

Winnie-yang shrank under Monica-ssi’s fierce gaze. No, compared to her confident self a few minutes ago, it really felt like she had literally shrunk.

“Do you know you’re sorry?”

Nod nod.

“You knew that and you still did it?”

“…”

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

Haa… Monica-ssi was even more frustrated because of Winnie-yang’s timid attitude. Does she think anything will be resolved if she just stands there doing nothing, not knowing what to do?

“Are you trying to get away with that attitude after deceiving me all this time?”

“I, I was going to tell you.”

“Then you should have told me sooner. You should have controlled your lower body so you wouldn’t get caught.”

It’s not just that she got caught, but she got caught having sex while pregnant. When she saw it, Monica-ssi turned away without saying anything due to betrayal and embarrassment, but the more she thought about it, the more embarrassing it was. She couldn’t stand looking at that slightly protruding belly that exuded such a strong presence.

“Ha, I’m the only fool? Not even knowing it was a baby born from having sex with my husband, I was foolishly congratulating you. Was it fun to watch?”

“No, that’s not…”

“What do you mean it’s not?”

Huk.

Suddenly, tears welled up in Winnie-yang’s eyes. She seemed to be trying to hold back her tears, clenching her lips as if she knew it was unsightly, and her eyes were red. Monica-ssi had known Winnie-yang for several years. Monica-ssi could tell right away that Winnie-yang was about to cry.

“Hey. Are you crying?”

“Uh, no? I’m, I’m not crying.”

Haa… Her annoyance grew even more. She cheated and got caught, what right does she have to cry? Who is it that really wants to cry right now…? Not only did she have an affair with her friend’s husband, but she even had a child first… Monica-ssi hasn’t heard any news yet.

“Haa… I don’t want to hear it.”

“Hic! Ugh… Huk. Ueung.”

Trying to hold back her tears because she doesn’t want to hear it, it feels more like she’s mocking her.

“Edward… Kyung-nim… is not at fault… I did it all…”

“Then get out.”

“I’m sorry. Heuek, I, I was wrong…”

“Get out!”

In front of Monica-ssi, who was shouting at her to get out, Winnie-yang didn’t want to be kicked out, so she couldn’t really leave, but she couldn’t openly object either, so she didn’t know what to do. Fortunately for her, Monica-ssi said.

“Are you really sorry?”

“Huk. Uh-huh.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Anything, I’ll do anything.”

“…Anything?”

It was after she had already said the words that Winnie-yang realized she had misspoke. In front of Monica-ssi’s eyes, which had caught her weakness, Winnie-yang could only tremble without being able to take back her words.

After the last battle, the cavalry, which had been virtually sealed, was put on standby, and I directly clashed with the enemy along with the infantry. Forming a formation, they faced each other with shields and spears. Strangely shaped spears and axes flew to remove the shields, and the formations shook, and the tense and upright human wave gradually became chaotic.

As ordered, the allies, who had formed a solid defensive formation, took a passive defensive stance, focusing on checking with spears. Watching that from a step behind, I waited for the guys I had to deal with to appear.

In fact, if it was only for the victory of the battle, I could have just ignored those spear-wielding guys and charged the cavalry to stir up the guys in the back, and I could have created an overwhelming exchange ratio… But in a situation where every soldier is precious, I couldn’t do that.

It was because of those barbarian warrior bastards who, although much less mobile than the cavalry, were not far behind in combat power. It was also difficult to eliminate those guys protected by spearmen with cavalry first. There were many cases where they counterattacked, taking advantage of the gap where the charge was blocked by the spears.

But if I ignored them altogether, the damage to the I-gun, which was consumed to block those guys, would be too great. Those guys who are barbaric but have combat power that can be called knights. There’s no way that guys who held spears instead of plows in their farming hands could stop them. Just as I and my cavalry could sweep through the enemy, warriors were able to grind humans.

No matter how good the exchange ratio is, what’s the use? We have fewer troops. I don’t know how many times those guys will attack again, and if they consume our troops every time. It’s not easy to replenish troops, and morale will drop. And I can’t always be here.

In the end, for various reasons, it was better for me to directly face those guys in order to minimize the damage to the troops. The best thing would be to lock the castle gates and hold out, but I don’t have that much time… When I have the chance, to the extent that defense and protection are possible even without me. My role was to stop the enemy warriors and reduce the enemy forces.

And I-

I was faithful to that role.

Chaenggeurang-

The barbarian’s barbaric axe collided with the floor, which had frozen as hard as steel, making a sharp sound.