Real War of Mystical Healer Girls

Time frame: after war

"Arthur," Sophia called once they reached the hallway of the Eryas Citadel castle, where the royal relatives used to stop for a few days because of the envoys in Everkeep.

Sir Arthur remained silent, clenching his jaw. He walked towards their room in the north wing.

What Sophia did not understand was that Arthur felt threatened by the presence of Prince Ragnar Clementine, who was handsome, gallant, brave, and of much higher status than him.

And that the man with all that perfection was in love with his wife, a healer who usually ended up as a mistress. This was truly an insult to Sir Arthur.

Especially since everyone was in favor of their divorce and hoped Sophia would accept Prince Ragnar Clementine's proposal.

Even though Lady Sophia steadfastly refused Prince Ragnar's proposal just now, Sir Arthur still felt anger burning inside his chest. He secretly suspected Lady Sophia of having an affair with Ragnar during their nine months together on the Clearport Border battlefield.

Prince Ragnar had blatantly humiliated him and jeopardized his marriage.

Oh, how insolent. Just because he was a war hero.

As soon as they reached the deserted park with no one watching, Arthur, as usual, ran up to her and slapped Sophia hard across her pretty face.

This time Sophia didn't have time to prepare, and she fell back against the wall and clung to a pillar. "What did you tell that barbarian person about me?! Hm?"

Sophia endured the pain in her jaw. She secretly used a little of her healing power to ease the throbbing pain. Don't let Arthur know; otherwise, she would be beaten even more.

"That my husband asked me to carry his child when he never even fucked me," Sophia replied defiantly. Sophia was prepared to take it this time.

"You bastard!" Arthur was about to hit her again. The air crackled with electric energy as Sir Arthur spoke, his voice low and dangerous.

"Remember everything I have given to you and your wretched clan! All the money I have spent! And all the effort I have put in to provide a home for you healer whores in Everkeep! Remember all that I have done for you and your clan! You are nothing without me! How dare you cheat on me with that barbarian scum while in Clearport!"

"Arthur, watch your language. I never once betrayed our marriage! Not once did Gamaaloth put his sword to my neck! You saw it yourself!" Sophia snapped emotionally.

"Lies! Then how could that barman fall in love with you if you didn't fuck him? You unlucky bitch!"

"I didn't sleep with him and have no intention of divorcing you for Prince Ragnar. No matter what!" She added.

From the moment Ragnar showed interest in her, Sophia was determined not to leave Sir Arthur for Prince Ragnar, whom she had only known for nine months.

Even though in her heart she adored her new brave friend. Ragnar had a very soft heart. He was quiet and shy. He was also loving, it was just that he had trouble expressing his feelings well.

Sophia understood that Ragnar was brought up as a royal successor who must always appear perfect and wise, so he tried desperately to hide his emotions.

Ragnar was not much different from a kind and gentle man trapped in a big, scary body. So when Ragnar, with his frightening face, proposed to her,

Lady Sophia knew that she should not be afraid to kneel and submit her neck to be cut. The real Ragnar was what she saw on the battlefield.

That was why Lady Sophia dared to reject his proposal.

"I don't want to know. This time, I'm going to be firm with you! I've given you too much time. I want you to be pregnant by next month, and I don't care in any way!"

"I won't get pregnant for a hundred years if you don't fuck me, Arthur! You think a child can grow by itself in a woman's womb."

"Then be a whore, Sophia! Fuck anyone! You can choose between palace guards, rogues, or slaves. I don't care! As long as you get pregnant! You fool!"

Arthur railed as he was about to hit Sophia on the head.

"HEY!"

Someone in the distance called out. Ragnar's rough and hoarse voice could be heard in the distance. Then his heavy footsteps threatened again.

"One more time you hit her, I'll make sure you're going to lose your hands and eat with your feet! Stay away from my Sophia!"

As soon as he saw Ragnar approaching, Arthur trembled and staggered back. The more Ragnar shortened the distance, the more Arthur peed himself. The sun shone brightly and illuminated colorful petals of flowers of every hue imaginable in Eryas Citadel Garden.

But this serene setting was soon broken by the arrival of Ragnar. Arthur trembled as Ragnar approached, his massive form casting a shadow over the peaceful garden.

Ragnar was now standing directly behind Sophia's back. His huge body sheltered Sophia like the hard shell of an oyster protecting its precious pearl.

Ragnar's voice boomed loudly as he prepared to strike Arthur once again.

"Leave while I allow you," he threatened in a voice that shook the ground.

Arthur stuttered and in a daze, quickly walked away. He ran into the guards and broke through, disappearing behind the castle hallway.

"I didn't need saving, Ragnar."

"Hm," Ragnar said. "I know."

"Then why did you scare Arthur?"

"His face was ugly. I felt like slapping him."

Sophia laughed. Ragnar always came up with simple words that were funny to her. They were still in the same position, Ragnar still standing behind Sophia's back.

"Don't laugh. You already rejected me earlier in front of everyone. I'm going to be angry."

"Yes, and you also disgraced my marriage in front of everyone. We were even Crown Prince of the Gamaaloth Kingdom," Sophia said as she turned to face Ragnar.

As Sophia turned her head, she caught a glimpse of Ragnar's towering figure. Clothed in a mysterious fabric, his face was concealed, leaving only his piercing, gray-green eyes visible. Despite the veil of secrecy, she sensed a quiet intensity emanating from him and couldn't help but feel drawn into his enigmatic aura.

"Oh, why bother covering your face again? Didn't you show off your good looks to the whole crowd earlier?" Sophia couldn't resist teasing Ragnar.

"You think I'm handsome?"

Sophia smiled. "The crowd thinks you're handsome. They whisper and exclaim in praise of your beauty and your people."

"I don't care what people think. I only need your opinion about me. Do you think I'm handsome?" He repeated.

Sophia stammered. "A married woman should not praise another man who is not her husband."

"That's why I should be your husband."

Oh, Ragnar made her blush with his innocent response. Sophia lowered her face deeply and looked away.

"Come, I'll take you to the bathhouse. I'm sure you got separated from your herd." Sophia said kindly.

As they walked across the castle garden, the landscape seemed to be a haunting reminder of the war-torn days in Clearport.

The familiar sight of the beach ahead brought back memories of walking along the shore, side by side, gazing out towards the endless horizon.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, signaling the possibility of an incoming war.

Yet, there was a certain tranquility in the air that couldn't be ignored - the quiet rustling of leaves, the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, and the gentle breeze that carried the scent of flowers.

The two friends walked in silence, lost in thought, as they took in the beauty of their surroundings.

"What made you decide so quickly to reject my proposal earlier?"

"Ragnar, my dear friend, I have repeatedly said I cannot marry you."

"Why am I not as handsome as you expected? Or do you not like me?"

Sophia couldn't help but laugh again. "Don't be silly. In Cescil, marriage for women is not merely about their physical virginity or feelings of love. It is also a matter of status and importance. The wedding can bring great benefits or cause significant harm."

Ragnar listened as Sophia explained.

"When a woman gets married, she has to think about many things. Whether her marriage leads to the desired goal or is self-destructive, so far, Sir Arthur has given me everything I need to achieve my goals, so I must maintain our marriage. As foolish and pathetic as it may seem to you, I will never divorce Sir Arthur."

Ragnar stopped and shook his head. "I do not understand. You said marriage is based on mutual love."

"I'm sorry, Ragnar, I lied to you. I was explaining the ideal conditions of marriage to you. But as in life, things are far from ideal," said Sophia sadly.

"You once asked me why I had the courage to go to war. I'll be honest with you, for me, the real battle for a healer girl was in Everkeep. We fought against the Cescil Kingdom system that dwarfed our clan. You are currently witnessing my war, Prince Ragnar Clementine of Gamaaloth."

Sophia stopped in front of the door of the royal bath made of gilded copper and stretched out one hand for Ragnar to enter.

"Welcome to Everkeep, and have a good rest, my lord," Sophia said politely, sounding foreign, as if they had no special relationship.

The two women guarding the bathhouse entrance directed Ragnar inside. Sophia looked at him from the doorway with a faint smile.

Then the door was closed.

***