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The next day, the priest visited the delegation early in the morning.
It was the very man who had coerced Enoch into Abraxia, using the remains of Julios as an excuse.
Everyone felt uneasy, wondering what kind of fault he came to find again.
“I must apologize to the Prince for my rudeness yesterday.”
However, the priest was not in good condition.
He apologized unbidden, making everyone wonder what had happened in just one day.
His arrogant demeanor had disappeared completely, replaced by a look of anxiety.
Dietrian found it strange, but did not show it and accepted his apology.
“It’s okay. I’ve already forgotten everything.”
“The Holy Maiden has an important message to deliver to the Prince.”
“Please come this way.”
Dietrian calmly guided the priest.
The delegation members exchanged glances as they watched the backs of the two men entering the reception room.
‘What’s going on?’
‘It’s obvious, isn’t it? He’s come to find another fault to make us suffer.’
‘But the atmosphere is a bit strange….’
‘Exactly, that’s what I’m saying.’
A short while later.
After the priest left, Dietrian reentered the room.
The delegation members were tense at the sight of his stiffened face.
Eventually, Yulken, the head of the delegation, knocked on the closed door.
“Your Highness. I have a message. May I come in?”
“Sure.”
Upon entering, Dietrian was looking down at a letter and tapping on the table.
Feeling uneasy, Yulken cautiously opened his mouth.
“Your Highness. Is it bad news?”
“…Well.”
Dietrian’s response was vague. To Yulken’s puzzlement, he spat out as if it was an afterthought.
“The Holy Maiden is sick.”
“Excuse me?”
“She is not well, so the previously canceled wedding will be resumed as soon as possible.”
Dietrian flipped the letter and extended it towards Yulken.
The golden-bordered paper stated that the wedding would be resumed in three days.
Yulken responded with a mixed expression.
“So, the wedding in three days is the good news, I see.”
Everyone was anxiously waiting for the resumption of the wedding ceremony.
Once the wedding was over, they would finally be able to leave this tiresome empire.
“……”
However, instead of responding, Dietrian furrowed his brow slightly.
Yulken found it strange.
He had thought that Dietrian, like everyone else, would be eager to leave, but something seemed off.
“Your Highness, is there anything that’s troubling you?”
Dietrian gave no answer.
Yulken, who was tilting his head, asked hesitantly.
“Is it because of the benefactor?”
Dietrian’s fingers, which had been tapping the desk, paused for a moment.
Thinking that it was just as he suspected, Yulken quickly spoke.
“Don’t worry. We will definitely find her.”
“……”
“Since the priests will also attend the national funeral, we will keep a keen eye and find our benefactor.”
“……”
“Even if she does not attend the national wedding, we will find a way to find her before leaving the empire. Please trust us.”
Yulken did not know that Dietrian had already found Leticia.
He couldn’t even imagine that Dietrian had spent all of last night by her side and only returned at dawn.
Dietrian nodded without bothering to explain what had happened the day before.
After Yulken left, Dietrian fell into thought.
‘The wedding is in three days.’
He hadn’t expected to leave the empire so soon.
‘Maybe I should have left a letter.’
He had spent all of last night by her side.
Even when he entered the villa, he couldn’t have imagined that such a thing would happen.
He was only intending to briefly check on her recovery.
But once inside the building, his thoughts changed.
The interior was just as shabby and disheveled as the poorly maintained exterior.
The cold stone walls seemed like the scenery of a prison.
He was filled with anger at the thought that she was staying in such a place.
But that wasn’t all.
There were no guards to be found, no matter how thoroughly he looked.
It meant that a woman, unconscious, was alone in that large building.
If someone with ill intent were to barge in, it would lead to a major disaster.
He remembered the patrolmen who had brought her there earlier.
Although there had been a warning from Noel, there was no guarantee that they would heed it.
If by any chance, they were to come back.
And if they were to reach out to her.
When his thoughts reached that point, he had no other choice.
After checking the results of the treatment, he decided to stay until she woke up.
With that in mind, he entered her room.
But then, an unexpected problem arose.
He simply couldn’t take his eyes off her sleeping form.
He sat mesmerized by her side.
Her side profile, faintly illuminated by the moonlight, was incredibly beautiful.
He had seen her in the chapel as well, but then his concern had been greater and he hadn’t been so enchanted.
Holding his breath, he took in the sight of her, curled up in sleep.
After gazing at her endlessly, he shifted his gaze to his clenched hand.
His heart ached.
Already twice in one day, blood had flowed from that hand.
Without realizing it, he made a resolution.
He would never, ever let it happen again.
It was an absurd notion, that he, the king, would guard a high-ranking priestess for the rest of his life.
It didn’t matter.
The only thought in his mind was that he had to make it possible, no matter what.
“……”
He slowly surveyed the small room.
The worn-out desk, the moldy and torn wallpaper, even the small bed.
It was so shabby that it was hard to believe it was the room of a high priestess.
It was infuriating.
All the other high priests were living in luxury, and you, why?
How long had you endured the oppression of the Holy Maiden?
Perhaps at least seven years.
Or maybe even longer than that.
When his thoughts reached that point, he couldn’t bear it any longer.
Without thinking, he reached out to the sleeping woman.
“I want to know your name.”
“……”
“Would you, with me to the kingdom……”
Before his hand could reach her, he clenched it tightly and let out a hollow laugh.
Reaching out to touch a woman who’s unconscious.
That’s a behavior lower than beasts.
Even with those thoughts, he felt like he was going insane with the desire to touch her.
He thought this must be what it feels like to burn with longing.
If he had an excuse like he did in the prayer hall, he would have held her without hesitation, but he couldn’t.
He stared at her as she slept painfully.
He couldn’t think of anything other than that he was going mad.
Since meeting her, he had broken his lifelong principles many times.
He had acted recklessly without caring that he was a king, and even allowed himself to care for another woman while he was about to get married.
A woman he hadn’t even known for a full day was shaking up his whole life.
Rather than being afraid, he wanted to fall even deeper.
In the end, Dietrian rose from his seat.
He felt like he wouldn’t be able to control himself if he stayed here any longer.
He put the remains of Julios back on the table.
If it hadn’t been for her, the remains would have become food for wild animals as the high priest from before had threatened.
He believed it was right for her to receive them directly because he was able to retrieve them thanks to her.
He also didn’t want her to be surprised by the disappearance of the remains.
Considering the connection between his brother and her, he thought his brother in heaven would agree with his decision.
He stepped outside the room, left the door slightly ajar, and leaned against the wall.
She can receive the remains when she wakes up.
He can thank her, ask her name, listen to her voice, confirm the color of her eyes, and also…
‘It would be nice if I could see her smile.’
Dietrian let out a deep sigh and leaned his head against the wall.
He hadn’t been able to sleep for a few days, but his mind was surprisingly clear.
Time passed.
Soon, a bluish light was filling the room.
She didn’t wake up until dawn.
As the surroundings gradually brightened, he grew impatient.
But he couldn’t be stubborn any longer.
It was time to go back.
He debated whether to take the remains or leave them, and ended up leaving them as they were.
He thought about leaving a note of thanks, but decided against it, fearing it might surprise her.
Since they would meet again soon, he decided to do everything after she woke up.
The Holy Maiden would surely want to torment him for a long time, so there would definitely be an opportunity before they left.
Reassuring himself with these thoughts, he reluctantly returned.
And the wedding was only three days away.
‘Three days left.’
The vigil will be held in the empire, so he should leave the empire within three days at the latest.
Whatever he did with her, three days were too short.
‘I need to find a way to get her out before then.’
No matter how many times he thought about it, he couldn’t leave her in the empire.
He was already so anxious being apart for a moment, he felt he wouldn’t be able to bear leaving for the empire alone.
Swallowing his restlessness, he leaned his head back in his chair.
As soon as he closed his eyes, her image rose in his mind again.
His gaze, hidden by the back of his hand, twisted.
He couldn’t stop this feeling any longer.
He didn’t even have the will to do so.
He missed her.
Madly.
* * *
A day had passed.
The detached villa was noisy from the morning.
It was because the Holy Maiden urgently called for Dietrian.
The wedding was three days away, and she wanted to discuss the procedures.
The representatives of the two countries had to meet officially, so the attendants had to join as well.
The diplomatic corps was in a frenzy.
Even though preparation was needed, they were abruptly notified in the morning.
Everyone was out of their minds, running around and getting ready since dawn.
In front of the detached villa’s bathroom, an unusual scene unfolded as the entire diplomatic corps lined up in a row.
They hurriedly took out their formal wear from their bags, ironed them, and brought their accessories.
With their arms forcibly threaded into the unfamiliar formal wear, the diplomatic corps let out deep sighs.
“These imperial folks are disagreeable until the end. They just do as they please.”
“Exactly. The national marriage is not a children’s game.”
“Is only her daughter important? Our lord is also incredibly precious.”
“If they’re going to take the wedding this lightly, they should have sent the bride. Why did they make us come all this way?”
While everyone was expressing their complaints, they also felt relieved.
They wanted to end this precarious life in the empire as quickly as possible.
“My Lord. Your formal attire suits you very well. If the late king saw you like this, he would have been very proud.”
Yulken admired Dietrian, who had finished dressing up.
“I wish he could see me.”
Dietrian softly spoke as he undid the buttons of his coat.
He was currently wearing one of the Empire’s traditional wedding outfits.
It was meant to be worn when meeting the bride’s parents for the first time before the wedding ceremony.
The coat had a slight curve in the line, and golden embroidery was laid around the shoulders and sleeves.
Characteristics of the attire included a high collar and buttons that were not visible from the outside.
The black coat matched him very well, with his black hair and black eyes.
Due to the strangely tense atmosphere from yesterday, he also exuded a dangerous charm.
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