War God's Contracted Marriage

The fugitives Gambit (Escaping marriage)

Raymond, upon receiving the news, hurriedly assembled a group of men to search the outskirts of the city. Even the few individuals who had been beaten up by Melina joined in, eager to find her.

It had been two days since she left the house. After spending time with Ruth, she had grown at ease around him. He was easygoing, yet his natural talent for martial arts was nothing short of astonishing. He grasped the forms as effortlessly as breathing, and his improvisations even helped her refine her own skills.

"If I had his talent, I could have become a martial arts master within a few years," she thought, envy creeping into her heart. "What a monstrous talent. I don’t even know what else I can teach him—I barely have anything left to offer."

However, an underlying worry lingered in her mind. She feared that the temporary refuge she had found would soon have to be abandoned. Meanwhile, Ruth struggled to maintain the guise of a novice martial artist. His years of experience made it difficult for him to act unskilled, no matter how hard he tried.

Elsewhere, the Lynden family had also received word that Collins had discovered Melina’s whereabouts. Knowing Collins' aggressive nature, they decided to find her first and set out toward the outskirts of the forest.

Ruth’s keen instincts told him something was amiss. During the day, he excused himself, claiming he needed to buy groceries. Melina could only sigh. She neither had the power to stop him nor could she accompany him.

As Ruth made his way past the dense forest, he noticed several men in black stationed at its edge, equipped with specialized search gear. He skillfully avoided them and continued to the nearby market. While purchasing groceries, he overheard hushed conversations.

"I heard there's a huge reward for finding the girl."

"You have no idea! Even the newcomers get ten thousand dollars just for joining the search. Imagine the reward for the one who actually finds her."

"Wealthy families really are something else. But why are they so desperate to find her?"

"Hah, did you come without knowing? The girl we’re searching for is the youngest daughter of the Lynden family. She was arranged to marry the Collins’ heir."

"So, she ran away to escape the marriage?"

"Seems like it. The Collins' young master has a terrible reputation—he's a lecherous man who enjoys toying with beautiful women. That must be why she fled."

"Must be tough being part of a wealthy family."

Ruth silently walked away, his expression darkening. He had known about Melina’s arranged marriage, but the details about the groom disgusted him.

"How could she be forced to marry someone like that?"

In frustration, he struck a nearby tree, nearly splitting it in two. Startled by his own strength, he exhaled sharply. "Damn, I almost caused a commotion. Am I... changing? Why do I feel so enraged knowing about her marriage?"

A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Is this what they call love? How absurd. A cold-blooded man like me, feeling something for a girl? Life really is unpredictable."

He returned home, knowing it was only a matter of time before people found the house. He couldn't tell Melina what he had learned—after all, she hadn’t confided in him about her escape.

When he arrived, Melina greeted him with a questioning look.

"You took quite some time today."

Ruth offered a sheepish smile. "Oh, there were some elderly folks crossing the road. I helped them and carried their groceries, so it took a while."

Melina had been around him long enough to sense he was hiding something, but she decided not to pry.

That evening, as Ruth prepared dinner, the search for Melina intensified.

Meanwhile, Raymond lounged in a lavish bar, playing with a beautiful woman on his lap. His carefree demeanor made it clear—he had no real interest in the marriage.

Among the searchers, whispers spread about a deeper motive behind the arranged marriage. However, none dared to speak openly, fearing for their lives.

As the men combed through the area, an irresistible aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air. Following the scent, they stumbled upon a secluded house deep within the forest. Suspicious, they boldly approached and knocked on the door.

Melina, resting in the hallway, moved to open it. But before she could, Ruth pulled her back, his voice low and firm.

"It's not wise to open the door without knowing who's outside."

Startled, Melina hesitated before nodding.

Ruth called out, "Who is it?"

The men outside were surprised to hear a man's voice. After a brief pause, one of them responded, "We’re explorers. We lost our equipment and saw your house. Thought we could rest here before continuing our journey."

Ruth sighed. "I'm sorry, but I can’t accommodate strangers. However, I can offer food and water if you need it."

One of the men clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch, what’s wrong with letting us in? Do we look like thugs to you? You don’t even know us."

"Exactly," Ruth replied. "I live in a secluded place. If something were to happen, I’d have no way to call for help. Caution is my best option."

One of the men, now irritated, said sharply, "Listen, we’re not here to waste time. We just have a few questions. It would be best for you to cooperate."

Ruth’s tone remained indifferent. "Oh? Then why pretend to be lost travelers in need of rest? You should’ve just stated your business from the start. What do you want to know?"

A photo was slipped through the thin gap under the door.

"Have you seen this girl? Her family is extremely worried. We recently received word that she was last seen around this forest."

Melina’s breath hitched when she saw the image. Her heart pounded as she anxiously glanced at Ruth, fearing he would reveal the truth. She had never told him she was on the run—what if he turned her in?

Ruth scratched his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Hmm… she looks familiar, but I can’t remember clearly."

The men outside grew excited. "Come on, man! Just tell us what you know. You’ll be handsomely rewarded."

Ruth smirked. "You should have mentioned that earlier. Give me five thousand dollars, and I’ll tell you."

Melina stared at him in shock, her mind racing. It’s over. He’s selling me out.

Panicking, she prepared to run, but Ruth held her back. "What’s the rush?" he murmured. "Let’s make some money first."

Melina was utterly speechless.

One of the men barked, "Five thousand dollars? Are you insane? Why would we pay that much?"

Ruth sighed dramatically. "Oh, I see. She’s not that important after all. I assumed her family would spare no expense, considering they hired so many men to find her. But I guess I was mistaken. Forget it, move along."

The men hesitated, then relented. "Fine. We’ll give you five thousand. Now tell us what you know."

Ruth shook his head. "No, no. Payment first. You don’t get information without paying upfront."