War God's Contracted Marriage

Escaping marriage (Search)

Ruth recognized her but remained silent, pretending nothing was unusual. Hmm, it seems I won’t need to meddle in their family matters. This is good, but how should I approach her?

She might get startled if I call her now. Since she managed to escape, I shouldn’t interfere. As the sage always said, let fate guide our path.

Stretching his body, he made his way downhill. Meanwhile, Melina observed from a distance, still hesitant. She recognized the man as an ordinary person—the same one she had saved the other day.

However, she wasn’t sure how to approach him. At the very least, she felt relieved knowing he wasn’t a criminal or someone to be wary of.

I should observe him a little longer. If everything seems fine, I’ll find a way to approach him. I wonder if he would help me.

Keeping a safe distance, she silently followed him.

Ruth, keenly aware of his surroundings, went grocery shopping before returning home. Soon, a pleasant aroma filled the air, reaching Melina’s nose. She tried to resist the temptation, but her empty stomach betrayed her.

Just as she was lost in thought, the door to the house opened again. Caught off guard, Melina realized—too late—that she had forgotten to hide behind the trees due to her hunger. She had been spotted.

She was about to slip away when the man spoke in surprise.

“Huh, it’s you! You saved me the other day. You remember, right?”

Flustered, Melina hurriedly replied, “Oh! I remember now. I did save you. So… is everything alright?”

Ruth smirked, amused by her poor acting. “I couldn’t even thank you properly that day. But as you can see, I’m doing just fine.”

Melina felt relieved. “That’s good. Well then, I should take my leave—”

“Wait,” Ruth interrupted. “I wanted to thank you that day, but you were in a rush. Since you’re already here, why don’t you come in and have a meal?”

Melina shook her head, politely refusing. “No, it’s okay. I was just exploring the forest and happened to stumble upon your house. Besides, I just ate a while ago, so I’m not hung—”

Before she could finish, her stomach let out a loud growl.

Embarrassed, she covered her face with her hands, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of red. Seeing her like this, Ruth almost fell into a trance.

Chuckling, he insisted, “Come on, don’t be shy. How could I not show gratitude to my savior? Please, don’t make another excuse. Just accept my invitation.”

Melina hesitated, but her stomach had already made the decision for her. What’s more, the aroma from the house was too tempting to resist.

“Since you’re being so honest, I’ll accept your offer.”

Ruth led her inside. Though the house looked shabby from the outside, it was surprisingly well-kept inside.

As someone accustomed to living in a grand mansion, Melina felt a little uncomfortable. The couch was far less plush than she was used to, but she maintained her composure, not letting her discomfort show.

Ruth went to the kitchen and served two bowls of fried rice along with grilled pork. It was a simple meal, but Melina, too hungry to care about etiquette, dug in without hesitation.

Ruth watched in amusement as she devoured the food, his heart unknowingly throbbing.

After finishing her meal, Melina finally asked, “Do you live alone?”

Ruth, still caught up in his thoughts, snapped back to reality and replied, “Yeah, I live alone. What about you? You seem like you come from a good family.”

Melina stiffened. “How did you know? I don’t think I told you anything about my family.”

Ruth shrugged. “Just a guess. Your outfit looks expensive, so I figured your family must be wealthy.”

Melina gave an awkward smile, quickly making up an excuse. “Oh, really? There are high-quality replicas that I buy from street vendors. I never thought I’d be mistaken for someone rich.”

Ruth chuckled. “My bad. I didn’t know you could find copies of those high-end dresses.”

After a moment’s pause, he asked, “If you don’t mind, can I ask you something?”

Melina hesitated, unsure of what he was going to ask. Yet, thinking about his generosity, she nodded. “Sure, as long as it’s not too bothersome.”

Ruth smiled. “What are you doing in a forest like this? I’ve heard there are dangerous animals deeper in.”

Melina quickly replied, “Oh, I was just training my martial arts. I can’t train properly in a crowded place, so I came here. It’s pretty secluded.”

Ruth nodded. “That makes sense. It’s the same reason I bought this house. Is martial arts hard to learn?”

Melina shrugged. “It depends on your physique. If you have a strong body, it’s easier. You also need a good memory to properly remember the forms.”

The two strangers, reunited by chance, found themselves engrossed in conversation—unaware of the turmoil unfolding in the city.

---

Meanwhile, in the city…

Jerrad was troubled by the news of his granddaughter’s escape. He was secretly rejoicing, but at the same time, he knew this could bring disaster upon their family.

The Collins family was furious. They accused the Lyndens of deceiving them and demanded they hand over Melina within two days.

Jenni, on the other hand, had different concerns. She wasn’t worried about her daughter’s escape, nor was she afraid of the Collins’ threats. What troubled her most was that she had sought help from the War God—and yet, her daughter, who was supposed to escape with him, was nowhere to be found.

She couldn’t reveal this to the War God. If she did, she might invite a wrath even more disastrous than anything the Collins could bring.

The Collins, growing more agitated, couldn’t let Melina escape, nor could they allow her to die—not until they got their hands on the secret martial arts of the Lyndens.

---

Back in the forest…

Ruth took an interest in martial arts, realizing it was the perfect excuse to keep Melina around.

Melina, with nowhere else to go, decided to teach him.

Days passed, and the Collins grew even more restless. They circulated Melina’s photo across the city, offering a million-dollar reward for any information on her whereabouts.

Fate played a cruel trick. The hooligans whom Melina had beaten at the outskirts of the city saw the announcement. Greedy for the reward, they provided the Collins with crucial information.