I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 28

Episode 28

 

 

 

“Now we…”

 

 

 

Just as Elisa was about to speak, someone suddenly barged in without even knocking.

 

 

 

The cold gaze of Richard and the surprised gaze of Elisa both turned towards the intruder.

 

 

 

The uninvited guest was Thomson.

 

 

 

Thomson hastily delivered the news while gasping for breath.

 

 

 

“Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting, but monsters have appeared in large numbers in the western forest.”

 

 

 

“Monsters?”

 

 

 

“Yes. They have attacked the villages, and there are many casualties.”

 

 

 

The expressions of Richard and Elisa both hardened simultaneously.

 

 

 

Spring was the time when everything came to life.

 

 

 

Monsters tended to be more active during spring, often causing damage.

 

 

 

However, since Elisa had reinforced the troops near the western border eight years ago after almost being attacked, there hadn’t been significant damage so far.

 

 

 

But the fact that the village was attacked meant that a large number of monsters had overwhelmed the knights of Rubelin.

 

 

 

Richard put on the coat hanging nearby and concluded the conversation.

 

 

 

“Elisa, let’s continue this discussion when I return.”

 

 

 

“Oh, yes. Be careful.”

 

 

 

Richard, now wearing his coat, approached the window and instructed Thomson.

 

 

 

“I’ll go first to check, you bring the knights.”

 

 

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

 

 

Richard promptly disappeared out the window. Thomson followed, leaving the study.

 

 

 

Elisa watched Richard fly away with a worried expression, lost in thought.

 

 

 

“Lately, monster appearances have increased suddenly. Even though it’s spring…”

 

 

 

There had been reports of monsters appearing in large numbers in the southeastern and northeastern forests not long ago.

 

 

 

Fortunately, those were sparsely populated areas, and the incidents were discovered early enough for the residents to be evacuated before any harm occurred.

 

 

 

“Could there be something causing the monsters to move?”

 

 

 

Elisa stood up to go to the library. She intended to look for books on the behavior of monsters.

 

 

 

But this time, Agil barged in without knocking. His expression was also urgent.

 

 

 

“Madam! There’s been an avalanche on Mount Luke!”

 

 

 

Elisa’s expression stiffened.

 

 

 

Rubelin had many mountainous areas, and during spring, when the temperature rose after heavy snowfall, avalanches occasionally occurred.

 

 

 

This was the second avalanche Elisa had experienced since coming to Rubelin.

 

 

 

“Are there any casualties?”

 

“I’m not sure of the exact details, but it seems that there weren’t any significant casualties because people heard the sound and evacuated in advance.”

 

 

 

“What’s the extent of the damage?”

 

 

 

“Due to the avalanche covering the village, about twenty households were buried.”

 

 

 

Upon hearing that there weren’t many casualties, Elisa breathed a sigh of relief.

 

 

 

But it wasn’t time to relax yet. When a house was buried, not only did people lose their property, but they also lost their immediate access to food and shelter.

 

 

 

“Prepare supplies for the victims.”

 

 

 

“Understood. I’ll organize the knights and go there immediately.”

 

 

 

Just as Agil was about to rush out, Elisa’s voice stopped him.

 

 

 

“I’ll go too.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Elisa, accompanied by Agil and the knights, arrived at the village buried under the avalanche with supplies.

 

 

 

The village had disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed. Only the villagers standing there proved that a village had been there.

 

 

 

With bewildered expressions, they looked at the mound of snow and then at Elisa and the knights.

 

 

 

“Madam!”

 

 

 

Elisa dismounted and approached them.

 

 

 

“Are there any injuries? What about those buried?”

 

 

 

“No one is injured, but…”

 

 

 

The villagers hesitated, glancing down at a young girl standing beside them. She looked about nine years old.

 

 

 

“My brother… He went into the forest and hasn’t come back yet…”

 

 

 

As the tearful girl struggled to speak, a fellow villager standing nearby explained the situation.

 

 

 

“She lives with her brother, and he went to gather firewood this morning but hasn’t returned yet. He’s said to have gone to the western forest…”

 

 

 

The western forest was far from where the avalanche occurred.

 

 

 

Although the chances of the girl’s brother being caught in the avalanche were slim, the fact that he hadn’t returned home yet was cause for concern.

 

 

 

Elisa knelt down to the girl’s eye level and took her hand. The girl’s hand felt cold, likely from being exposed to the outside air for so long.

 

 

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“…Liana.”

 

 

 

“And what’s your brother’s name?”

 

 

 

“Jonathan.”

 

 

 

Upon hearing that name, Elisa nodded to the knights beside her, indicating to start the search.

 

 

 

The knights of Rubelin dispersed upon Elisa’s command.

 

 

 

Elisa turned back to the girl.

 

 

 

“Liana, you’re a very brave girl. You’ve been managing the house well even without your brother.”

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

“Your brother will be found soon by the knights. Let’s eat this while waiting together, okay?”

 

 

 

Taking the jerky offered by Elisa, the girl nodded.

 

 

 

Elisa gently patted the girl’s head before turning to the villagers.

 

 

 

“Does everyone have a place to stay?”

 

 

 

“We have relatives in a nearby village, so we’ll go there.”

 

 

 

Listening to their stories, Elisa instructed one of the knights nearby.

 

 

 

“Sir Lawrence, bring a carriage from the castle and take them to their destination.”

 

 

 

“Yes, my lady.”

 

 

 

“Thank you so much, my lady. Thank you for coming all the way here to check on us. We truly appreciate your kindness.”

 

 

 

“Assisting those in need is a duty of a ruler.”

 

 

 

Elisa smiled graciously and glanced at the other villagers.

 

 

 

“If anyone else needs to go to nearby villages, come this way.”

 

 

 

Following Elisa’s instructions, the villagers moved.

 

 

 

Elisa instructed them to distribute food and supplies to those who would be traveling to other villages.

 

 

 

After those who would be moving to other villages had left, only four families remained.

 

 

 

Without hesitation, Elisa made a proposal to them.

 

 

 

“You can stay at Rubelin Castle until you have a permanent settlement.”

 

 

 

“Yes, really?”

 

 

 

The villagers, as well as the knights and Agil, were surprised by Elisa’s proposal.

 

 

 

Agil hesitated and tried to dissuade Elisa.

 

 

 

“My lady, that’s not advisable. Bringing outsiders into the castle could…”

 

 

 

“If they were spies, they could have entered the castle without causing an avalanche in their own village.”

 

 

 

Agil couldn’t argue with Elisa’s logic and remained speechless.

 

 

 

With a smirk, Elisa added, looking at Agil and the knights.

 

 

 

“And I trust the thorough protection of Rubelin Knights.”

 

 

 

Although it was an unexpected compliment, the knights couldn’t refute it and merely coughed awkwardly, likely feeling recognized for their efforts.

 

 

 

Agil sighed but couldn’t further deter Elisa.

 

 

 

Having managed the situation roughly, Elisa decided to inspect the village buried under the avalanche with the knights.

 

 

 

“The location of the village and the slope of the mountain make it prone to avalanches.”

 

 

 

Avalanches rarely occurred on steep or gentle slopes. However, Mount Luke, located behind this village, had the right slope for avalanches to happen.

 

 

 

The terrain of the gorge also contributed to this condition. The slope and the geographical feature of the gorge were conducive to avalanches in many ways.

 

 

 

“Since we can’t change the terrain, the risk of avalanches will still exist as long as the village is here.”

 

 

 

Persuading the villagers to relocate the entire village was the most certain way to prevent future damage.

 

 

 

As Elisa was lost in thought, a knight approached urgently.

 

 

 

“Madam, could you please take a look at this for a moment?”

 

 

 

Elisa followed the knight to where four white fur masses lay scattered.

 

 

 

At a glance, Elisa recognized what they were.

 

 

 

“These are…”

 

 

 

“They are Yeti carcasses. According to the villagers, they suddenly appeared and attacked the village before the avalanche occurred.”

 

 

 

Yetis were monsters that lived in the snow-covered mountains and were known to fear humans, often hiding in high mountains.

 

 

 

“They probably sensed the avalanche and came down to the village.”

 

 

 

The knight offered his speculation.

 

 

 

However, Elisa shook her head.

 

 

 

“No. If they fear humans, they would have quietly found a safe place to hide if they sensed an avalanche, like the forest or nearby caves.”

 

 

 

It was strange for monsters with a fear of humans to suddenly attack.

 

 

 

“There must be another reason.”

 

 

 

As Elisa pondered, the memory of Richard, who had gone to defeat monsters just before the avalanche, came to mind.

 

 

 

Could it be related to the recent frequent monster appearances?’

 

 

 

Before she could delve further into her thoughts, the knights of Rubelin returned with the carriages.

 

 

 

Elisa decided to first sort out the situation here.

 

 

 

“Everyone, get into the carriages.”

 

 

 

She sent those heading to other nearby villages in carriages first, then those going to the castle next.

 

 

 

However, Jonathan had still not appeared.

 

 

 

Elisa boarded the carriage, looking at Liana with a worried expression. The girl, who had been waiting for her brother, had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

 

 

 

Observing this, Agil spoke up.

 

 

 

“Madam, please return to the castle with this girl first. I and the knights will continue searching.”

 

 

 

“No. I have something to investigate too.”

 

 

 

Elisa sent the sleeping girl back to the castle first and then headed to the western forest with Agil.

 

 

 

Agil furrowed his brow, looking up at the sky.

 

 

 

“The snowfall seems imminent. We need to hurry with the search.”

 

 

 

The knights started searching in the opposite direction from where they had searched earlier.

 

 

 

However, not long after they started the search, snow began to fall.

 

 

 

Elisa frowned at the steadily falling snowflakes.

 

 

 

“Once it starts snowing in the northern region, it usually lasts for half a day at least.”

 

 

 

With heavier snowfall, searching would become difficult. It could even become dangerous for those conducting the search.

 

 

 

“Madam, searching will become difficult once the sun sets and the snowfall intensifies. We’ve built a makeshift shelter. We’ll stay there and keep an eye out for the girl. You should return to the castle.”

 

 

 

“Sir Lawrence is right. If she doesn’t return by the time the snow stops, we’ll resume the search. It’s too risky to continue like this.”

 

 

 

Elisa bit her lip at Agil’s words. The image of the lone child waiting for her family haunted her.

 

 

 

It was at that moment, while she hesitated without making a firm decision—

 

 

 

“Ahhh!”

 

 

 

A scream echoed from not too far away. It was the voice of a young boy who hadn’t yet reached puberty.