The Emperor's Ex-wife Runs Away

What would you do if you ended up dying and reincarnating in a world you knew nothing about? What’s worse, it’s a world filled with magic and fantasy—things you’d only ever seen in stories. Well, that is my case. I died at an old age, having a family of my own, and I can confidently say I lived a normal life. I had no regrets. So why? Why am I here? I have so many complaints! First, there was war. Since I was born into an ordinary household with barely enough food on the table, my father and I had no choice but to enlist and earn money. To make matters worse, my new father had no idea how to hold a sword—he was a farmer! What he knew was how to plow soil, not the heads of people. As for me, I had only a little knowledge of magic and swordsmanship, so I had no choice but to struggle. Thankfully, the war ended after five years, and my father and I returned safely. Our experience at war was the worst. Still, it brought benefits to our family since we gained wealth from every battle we won. After winning the war… Finally, we were back. “Brother!” A childish voice called out, making both my father and me tear up. My youngest brother, Daniel, who was five when we left, had grown far more than I imagined. My three siblings—Danaya, Dony, and Daniel—were left behind during the war, and now… oh my, they had all grown. “Brother, don’t cry. Your face is getting scary.” “How about I modify your face, Dony?” I said while cracking my knuckles. “Mother!” Before our dear parent could respond, I had already sealed my brother’s mouth with my hand. “What’s going on there?” she asked. “Nothing, Mom. Just continue your talk with Father,” I answered while tying Dony to a chair. “Because of your insolence, no ham for you,” I smirked as I said that. “Hmmm! Mmmph!” My brother protested, but his words couldn’t be understood due to the tablecloth stuffed in his mouth. Once I was satisfied, I took a slice of newly roasted ham and ate it right in front of him. I made sure my expression satisfied my ego as Dony groaned in annoyance. “Seriously, you haven’t changed,” Danaya commented while untying the rope around Dony. “Come on, Dana. Our reunion can’t be full of crying and snot—it should at least be filled with mischief,” I replied as I pulled her into a hug. “I miss my little sister,” I said, and in return, she softly tapped my back. “I miss you too, Elder Brother.” Watching the catastrophe, Daniel simply shook his head before handing me a small gift. “For you. Thank you for returning.” My heart warmed as I took it. “Thanks.” I pulled him into a hug filled with love, though his expression remained calm as before. The atmosphere was harmonious—exactly what I wanted the most. The war had worn me down, but coming home like this brought me the greatest joy I could ever have. “Let’s all eat. I prepared your favorites,” my mother said, her voice oozing sweetness, as if she were made of chocolate. That day, we celebrated happily and retired to our beds with grins on our faces. However, for some reason, I couldn’t sleep. “It seems I have too much energy.” I decided to walk around our humble village and see how it had changed over the past five years. The night was cold, the wind carrying nothing but chill, while the sky remained clear with blinking stars. I couldn’t help but breathe in the air. I wanted to feel a breeze not damp with blood and smoke. Crickets began to sing, and I was mesmerized by the melody brought by nature. It was different from the screams I usually heard on the battlefield. I breathed again, feeling calm and peaceful. “I miss this,” I murmured. The wind blew harder, and I basked in the night, letting my past drown behind me. The war was over. My battles had ended and would not happen again. And this— This peace— It won’t— …Huh? What was that? Under the cold breeze, I saw a silhouette that didn’t belong to the harsh night. Walking beneath the trees’ canopy was a beauty resembling the goddesses I often saw in paintings. I could only see her profile, but it was enough to leave me enchanted. Pure white hair cascaded like untouched snow. Long, curled eyelashes. A sharp nose as if carved to perfection. I couldn’t control my breathing as my heart began to race. My eyes drifted to her lips—red and pouty, yet seeming burdened by something unspoken. The cool breeze carried a melancholic air around her. As she turned, I finally saw her face. Two ruby-like eyes met mine, sparkling under the moonlight like enchanted gemstones. Yet within them was silent pain, as if she were battling something unseen. Seeing a stranger like that shouldn’t have bothered me, but for some reason, I felt the urge to approach her. “Miss?” I asked gently. Despite my tone, the mysterious woman looked at me in fright. I couldn’t blame her. “Easy. I’m Diana’s son—the one who lives there, in that house,” I said, pointing toward my home. My explanation seemed to lower her guard, though she remained vigilant. I noticed her shoulders relax slightly. “You’re her son? The one from the military?” I nodded. “My father and I returned today. It seems you’re the neighbor Mother was talking about.” She studied me, as if checking for lies. “Okay.” I raised my hands to show I was unarmed and even turned around so she could see. Then I extended my hand. “My name is Darius. Darius Allwood.” She stared at my hand for a few seconds before taking it. “Larissa…” “Larissa?” “Just Larissa.” I repeated her name. She didn’t want to be identified further. “It seems the night kept you awake as well,” I said, trying to ease the tension. She responded with a polite nod and turned to leave—but I stopped her. I swear, I had no shady reasons. I was just worried. Really, just a concerned citizen. Normally, I would’ve ignored it, but… It was her expression. “Want to walk somewhere nice?” I blurted out. The sudden question startled her. “Don’t worry. It won’t be far from here.” I took something from my pocket and handed it to her. “This is a thunder whistle. One blow, and the sound can be heard from far away.” Larissa examined it before taking it. “Isn’t this the one used in the military?” Her words made my body jolt. I hadn’t expected her to recognize it. “This type of signal can alert the nearest barracks,” she continued, “and to make it more special, only specific people can hear it.” My jaw dropped. That wasn’t something civilians were supposed to know. “How did you—” “My brother was part of the Golden Wing Squadron. He gave me one of these in case I was in danger.” That explained it. But I couldn’t bring myself to ask more. Because the Golden Wing Squadron had been annihilated in the middle of the war. I swallowed, guilt tightening my chest. She glanced away. “It’s okay. I know what you’re worried about.” She walked ahead, leaving me confused until I heard her voice again. “What? Aren’t you coming?” I stood frozen as she looked back and smiled. “I thought you said you wanted to show me something?” That smile—paired with her troublesome expression—made my heart skip a beat. “Um…” My mouth went dry, but I quickly composed myself, unwilling to look like a fool. “Let’s go. I’ll show you where it is.” I walked ahead, trying to hide my face, which had turned red like a tomato. Damn it. This is embarrassing. Her gaze lingered—I know she noticed. Should I be thankful she chose to feign ignorance? I shook my head and led her deeper into the forest.