episode_0098

98. Let’s Break Up

Adele’s office.

Two women sat facing each other across the table on the sofa.

It was a room where Vivian and Adele were present.

“Sniff… Hic…”

Crouched on the sofa, Vivian buried her face in her knees, sniffling.

If anyone else saw her, they’d be shocked—seeing the usually cheerful, tomboyish general crying like a child.

But Vivian showed no sign of stopping her tears, as though something truly heartbreaking had happened.

Adele wasn’t faring much better, though she at least kept her composure somewhat.

Her brows were furrowed in gloom, radiating melancholy.

After a heavy sigh, she spoke to Vivian, who was still bawling.

“Calm down a little.”

“St-stop it… Sniff…”

Vivian’s eyes were swollen from crying.

She sniffled and started whining pitifully.

“I’ve never seen Malangi act like this before… It means our relationship is over, doesn’t it?! Wahhh…!”

Even as she spoke, the sadness overwhelmed her again, and she burst into fresh tears.

Meanwhile, Adele—still somewhat composed—began assessing the situation.

“Does it even make sense for us to be together just because of a bet?! Falling for someone in just one day?!”

“This is so unfair…!!”

But Adele’s mental state wasn’t much better.

Eventually, while trying to make sense of things, she exploded in anger.

And seeing Adele snap made Vivian burst into tears all over again.

Adele, now consumed by anxiety, nibbled at her thumbnail and muttered under her breath.

“If I offer half of my entire fortune, maybe I can buy him…

Yeah, with that much, I could buy anything…”

“Waaaah…!!!”

The office had descended into chaos again.

But before their spirits could completely shatter—

Adele suddenly pulled her ragged thumbnail away from her mouth, as if struck by a thought.

“Hey, Vivian…”

“Hic… Y-yeah?”

Vivian hesitantly lifted her head when her name was called.

“But… what happens if Erica noona hears about this?”

“Huh…?”

It was Vivian who had given Erica love advice.

And it was Adele who had eavesdropped and joined in midway.

But none of the others knew about Erica’s unrequited feelings.

What if Erica found out her fox had been stolen?

Worst-case scenario—she might abandon or punish Luna.

And Cain, who genuinely seemed to like her, might flee too, unable to handle the guilt.

And knowing Erica’s thorough nature, wouldn’t she investigate properly?

If she dug deeper, what would happen to Vivian and Adele?

What would happen to the Grace army…?

““We’re screwed.””

The two women shouted simultaneously.

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Luna headed to Adele’s office after receiving a sudden summons.

The letter stated there was something urgent to resolve—urgent enough to warrant Adele’s request for help, despite her usually flawless problem-solving.

So Luna moved quickly.

She didn’t even knock before entering the office—formal as it was, etiquette could wait.

“You called for me?”

Luna opened the door and stepped inside.

Before her, two women sat pressed together on the sofa.

Vivian and Adele.

They didn’t look happy.

Just as she wondered what had gone wrong on what should’ve been a good day—

Adele gestured for Luna to come closer.

“Sit on the sofa first.”

“Understood.”

Still treating this as official business, Luna answered stiffly.

She obeyed and sat on the sofa opposite the two.

Yet even after she sat, Vivian and Adele remained silent.

As the awkward silence lingered—

Adele finally spoke up.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead, General Adele.”

Luna maintained formalities to the end.

Adele took a deep breath and asked:

“Are you really dating Cain?”

A noblewoman questioned about dating a commoner.

It wasn’t just about keeping a pleasure slave—this was treating him as a legitimate partner.

Any normal noble would rage at such absurdity.

But…

Luna, typically cold-faced and dignified, melted instantly.

Her cheeks burned red, turning her into a bashful girl in an instant.

“Um… Yes, I am…”

Even her usually confident gaze wavered—too embarrassed to meet their eyes.

Adele sighed at the sight.

“That kiss wasn’t part of the bet, was it?”

“Well, it… just sort of…”

Luna trailed off.

Eventually, she clenched her eyes shut and admitted honestly.

“I felt enchanted by the fox…”

“I know exactly what you mean.”

The excuse sounded ridiculous, but Adele understood intensely.

Having grasped the situation, the two women exchanged looks.

A teardrop rolled from Vivian’s eye as she sat silently beside them.

“I… I kissed him first, but…”

Her voice trembling, Vivian shed quiet tears.

Startled, Luna quickly handed her a handkerchief.

This proud, tomboyish woman—usually playing the role of a reliable older sister—now cried like a child.

But after handing over the handkerchief, Luna turned stern.

“Wait… You ‘kissed him first’…?”

Her expression instantly cooled to ice.

Even her speech shifted to sharp, informal tones.

Adele nodded.

“Yeah. It happened already.”

“…So… you were all just toying with me?”

Luna gritted her teeth, glaring at them with resentment.

She realized this whole bet was rigged from the start—meant to mess with her.

If she didn’t start swinging fists soon, her boiling anger would erupt uncontrollably.

But Adele spoke calmly.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

Luna wanted to throw punches, sister or not.

But seeing the sorrow in Adele’s expression, she crossed her arms and slumped onto the sofa.

She could always kill them later—after hearing the full story.

And so, Adele began her explanation.

“From the start…”

Vivian had kissed Cain while escorting him, swept up in the moment.

But due to noble status and Erica’s feelings, they kept it a secret affair.

Then, by chance, Adele had witnessed them…

“I got jealous.”

Adele harbored romantic feelings for Erica.

But seeing Cain—unaware of Erica’s love—rubbed her the wrong way.

Then, while heading to Scarletz for concrete materials together…

“He wagged his damn tail so much.”

“…I get it.”

Luna, still furious, couldn’t help but relate.

Cain had done the same to her—leading her on with his fox charms.

Regardless, they ended up sleeping together.

To avoid Erica finding out, they maintained a secret affair.

Then, to drag Luna into it, they provoked her into the bet.

After hearing everything, Luna’s sympathy warred with rage.

“In other words… I just betrayed my master…”

Unintentional or not, she had betrayed Erica.

She immediately reached for a nearby blade to commit seppuku—

But Vivian stopped her.

“I’m sorry, Luna! It’s all my fault!!”

“No, I came up with the idea. Blame me.”

Adele joined in, blocking Luna’s path.

The pain of betrayal seared through Luna like acid.

Clenching her teeth, she asked:

“…Did Cain know about this?”

“No.”

“Rather, he started keeping his distance after getting a girlfriend…”

Hearing that, Luna finally lowered the blade.

Her committing seppuku wouldn’t fix anything.

They had a full-scale war in two weeks—a battle for Erica’s honor.

If Luna, the only one capable of leading a million soldiers, died now, they were doomed.

Plus, compared to these two beautiful women, she was practically a brute.

And if Cain—who pushed even them away for his girlfriend—knew what happened…

Whether she killed herself or Erica exiled her, he’d take responsibility and flee.

And the war effort would collapse without him.

…

Most importantly.

“Good… At least I wasn’t the only one he charmed.”

Cain’s feelings had been genuine.

Luna slumped onto the sofa as if enlightened.

“I’m sorry, Luna… I never thought things would get this deep.”

Vivian’s tearful, heartfelt apology.

But given how things had turned out, Luna could understand now.

If Erica ordered her to abandon Cain, could she?

The answer was a firm **no.**

She’d rather die.

With that thought, Luna exhaled deeply.

“I get it. Damn that fox—how many women has he made cry?”

“Luna…”

“Erica likes him too, right? Even without you two, we couldn’t have stayed together anyway.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely their fault.

The real problem was Erica—too cowardly to confess despite her feelings.

Luna still burned with fury, but…

She was a general.

Thinking of the best moves in dire situations was her duty.

Since she couldn’t keep Cain anyway, she’d do her best while she could.

“So, since you dragged me into this, what’s the plan?”

“Thank you… Luna, wahhh…”

Vivian hugged Luna tightly with her curvy frame.

But Luna peeled her off with sheer force.

“Listen, you two.”

“Huh?”

“You called?”

Luna’s forced smile sent shivers down their spines.

As the strongest fighter among them, she *owned* this moment.

Understanding didn’t mean forgiveness.

And with that, Luna rolled up her sleeves.

“First, present your cheeks.”

Some things had to be done.

And so, *crisp* sounds echoed through Adele’s office.

Twice.

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And now.

Luna had just broken up with Cain.

“Let’s break up.”

Her heart felt torn apart, but what else could she do?

Following her heart would mean destroying everything—Erica’s trust, their faction’s stability.

And of course, any chance with Cain would be gone forever.

Blasphemous as it was, if they just had *time*…

What if she, Vivian, and Adele shamelessly paraded their relationships in front of Erica?

Maybe—just maybe—she’d accept it.

Bracing for a potential slap, Luna clenched her eyes shut.

After sharing a night of genuine love, breaking up immediately was cruel.

If he accused her of toying with his feelings, she had no defense.

His nearly magicless attacks wouldn’t hurt physically.

But seeing his betrayal, his cold stare—

Those once-tender hands now sharp with rejection—

That pain would cut deeper than any blade.

So Luna steeled herself, ready to endure the fallout…

“Is something wrong?”

Instead, Cain asked gently.

Even when *he* should be shocked, he worried for *her*.

She shook her head firmly.

“Really? Nothing with your duties as general or…?”

“No.”

She cut him off, warmed by his kindness despite everything.

Yet Cain just sighed in relief, as if thanking God.

Then, forcing a bright smile, he said:

“I’m glad…”

What was he glad about?

But every word of his kindness stabbed her heart deeper.

She’d prefer curses and blows—at least then her guilt would ease.

Opening her eyes, she faced him squarely.

His fragile expression looked one touch away from tears.

But still, for her sake, he strained to smile.

Against the plan she’d made with Vivian and Adele—

Perhaps risking everything—she blurted out:

“I truly love you.”

“Then why…?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Hearing this, Cain smiled.

A little less sorrowful now.

“Is it about nobility or status?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can’t help, can I?”

She wanted to scream *no.*

To cling to him and beg him not to go.

But she swallowed her desperation and nodded.

“Got it. But promise you’ll tell me later.”

“…I promise.”

Her military tone melted away, replaced by softness.

That damn fox kept digging into her heart.

“You got this, Luna!”

And with that, holding a stack of documents…

Despite being heartbroken, Cain forced a cheerful *fighting!* as he left.

Once he disappeared from view, Vivian and Adele emerged behind her.

“We’ll make this work.”

Vivian’s encouragement.

As long as Erica stood between them, they could never be together.

But having tasted love’s addictive poison, Luna had no choice but to follow through.

She nodded at Vivian and Adele.

When the time came, she’d stake her life and confess to Erica.

That she, too, loved the man her master loved.

Watching the two with their swollen cheeks, Luna swore it.