Meanwhile. That’s when Noel destroyed the shrine and caused an uproar.
To the east of the shrine, the residence where the royal family lives was also turned upside down. Beyond the wide open door, a young woman in her dressing gown was anxiously waiting for someone.
A moment later, the knight got off his horse with an urgent sound of hoofs. The woman quickly ran to the knight and asked.
“Sir Robert, what happened to the shrine? What was that roar?”
Her name was Princess Diana. She was one of the royal family who visited the shrine to celebrate the national wedding.
“I meet Her Highness the Princess.”
“Let’s skip the greetings. First, tell me the situation. Be as brief as possible.”
The knight quickly got down on one knee and placed his hand on his chest.
“The shrine where Saint Josephina stayed collapsed.”
“Yes? The shrine collapsed?”
After hearing the knight’s words, the princess’ gray eyes showed astonishment. The knights who guarded her were also shocked, althought they could not reveal it openly.
“What about the Saint? Is the Saint okay? Oh my Goddess. Who on earth did that? Who dares attack the shrine?”
The imperial family had not had good feelings about the shrine for generations. After Josephina became the saint, it became even more so.
Even so, they did not try to fight the shrine openly. This was because the imperial family’s biggest goal was the stability of the empire.
But the saint was attacked. It was a huge undertaking that could jeopardize the empire.
“First, tell us about the saint’s condition. Is she injured? There’s no connection between the collapse of the shrine and the imperial family, right? How is Saint Josephina looking? She’s not suspicious of the imperial family, right?”
“Please don’t worry, your highness. No one attacked the shrine.”
“Then why?”
“Lady Noel Armos, it is said that Saint Josephina’s wings destroyed the shrine.”
“Yes? You mean Lady Noel Armos?”
“I don’t know the details. However, it is certain that the power of water destroyed the shrine.”
“So, are you saying that Noel Armos rebelled against the saint?”
“That’s not it. It’s said that the saint was more than happy. She even praised Noel Armos out loud.”
“She destroyed the shrine, but still praised?”
The princess blinked her eyes in confusion. what on earth was going on? After wakling up to the sudden roar, an unknown number of things were happening.
“So, let’s organize things first. The shrine collapsed, and it was the work of Lady Noel Armos, and the saint praised Lady Noel Armos for destroying her palace. Am I correct in my understanding?”
“More accurately, the Saint praised Noel Armos’ strength. The wing is much stronger than before.”
“I guess it’s because the wing’s power is proportional to the power of its owner.”
As the princess said that, her gaze briefly turned towards the terrace on this floor. A young man, who looked just like her, was standing indifferently with his arms crossed. The princess turned her head back top her knight.
“Anyway, I’m glad it’s not a big deal. Don’t let your guard down though. If the situation changes, please let me know immediately.”
“I will obey your orders.”
After giving instructions to the knights, the princess came up to this floor, rubbing her throbbing forehead.
“Ugh, my head.”
Prince Callisto smiled and welcomed his sister.
“I told you it wouldn’t be a big deal, sister. You just have to sleep comfortably.”
“No big deal. I heard the shrine collapsed.”
“Even though it collapsed, the saintess is still fine.”
“That’s right. As you said, the saintess is fine. It’s been ten years. If the saintess had been injured, how would she have handled it? I don’t even want to imagine it.”
The princess trembled. Callisto’s eyes cooled as he looked at his sister.
“Well. I hoped I was wrong, but I’m so dissapointed. How I wished she had just died…”
“Cal!”
The princess was frightened and covered her brother’s mouth. Although she saw no one, she still urgently looked around.
“Are you crazy? This is the temple! What if someone hears this? You promised me! You will never, ever do anything dangerous!”
Callisto, who was looking down at his sister expressionlessly, laughed. Soon, he slowly removed his hand covering his mouth and spoke.
“Don’t worry, sister. As promised, I will be very quiet. I have to survive to see the devil’s end.”
“Cal!”
“So you have nothing to worry about.”
***
“Leticia!”
Dietrian’s face turned white as he urgently called out to her.
How much time has passed? How long had she lost consciousness?
One hour? A day?
No, it was less than five minutes.
He just shouted her name a few times.
Even though he knew it in his head, that short time felt like an eternity.
Meanwhile, long golden eyelashes fluttered. Dietrian watched her open her eyes without even breathing.
Finally, his image was reflected again in the green eyes that resembled fresh greenery. Dietrian twisted his eyes as if he was about to cry.
“Leticia, are you awake?”
Leticia blinked slowly. It was a very dreamy look.
“Dream…?”
“It’s not a dream.”
He managed to answer like that. Leticia smiled slightly and closed her eyes.
“It’s a good dream…”
She whispered softly.
Soon it was as if his voice could not be heard. She patted his chest and rested her cheek on it, then her body went limp again.
Unlike before, she was smiling faintly.
Dietrian thought while listening to the sound of her breathing.
Are you asleep? Is that it?
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to check.
He called, but what if she doesn’t wake up like before?
What if she never open her eyes again?
‘No!’
A silent scream erupted.
Her breathing was still rythmically tickling the area around his chest.
Still, an eerie fear pierced his heart. He wondered if this was the fear of death.
He whispered very softly with a white face.
“Leticia.”
No answer was heard. All that came back was the sound of peaceful breathing. His face distorted.
“Your Majesty! What’s going on!”
Yulken, who heard the commotion, hurriedly opened the tent flaps.
Dietrian did not even look towards Yulken, but pushed her long blonde hair aside.
It was to check the pulse. He placed his hand on the white nape of her neck and quickly withdrew it.
His hands were shaking, perhaps because of the shock he had just received.
Still holding her in his arms, he grabbed her wrist tightly with his other hand.
“I will check.”
Yulken quickly came over and sat down next to him. He said with relief as he checked her pulse with a serious face.
“Her pulse is normal.”
Even after hearing those words, Dietrian’s expression did not seem to relax.
Yulken checked the pulse again, wondering if he had missed anything.
Still no problems. Embarrassment spread across Yulken’s face.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but Her Majesty…seem to be asleep.”
It was just as Yulken said.
On the outside. Leticia was fine. Her complexion was good and her breathing was stable. Her expression even had a smile on her face, as if she was having a good dream.
Nevertheless, Dietrian could not nod his head at those words. Just now, he saw her suddenly lose consciousness.
‘She needs to see a doctor.’
The problem was that they were now in the middle of the desert. There was no way to call a doctor unless they returned to the Empire.
“Your Highness, aren’t you uncomfortable? It’s better to stop now and let Her Highness down…”
“Yes…”
At that time, Leticia fell asleep and snuggled into his arms. Her white hands gently grabbed the hem of his clothes.
“I’m sleepy…”
Dietrian, who stopped breathing for a moment, hugged her tightly. It felt like his heart, which had been pounding, returned to its proper place at her whine.
‘She just fell asleep.’
Dietrian closed his eyes tightly and managed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Yulken looked at the two people in embarrassment. Dietrian seemed to have no intention of letting Leticia go.
‘I think she’ll be very uncomfortable…’
Although he was worried about Dietrian, he was also relieved.
Dietrian’s love for Leticia seemed to heartbreaking.
Suddenly, a happy smile appeared on Yulken’s lips.
‘Your Majesty has finally met the right person.’
Dietrian and the woman he loves became a couple and will spend their lives together.
The times when he was worried that Leticia was deceiving Dietrian seemed like a long time ago.
‘I have to leave quickly.’
Staying here would only be a distraction.
Yulken, still smiling happily, turned on his heel and sneaked out.
***
Even after Yulken left, Dietrian continued to hold her.
Although he had no intention of letting go, she kept digging into his arms.
Thanks to this, his tense nerves relaxed a little. Still, his worries often reached unbearable moments.
“Leticia, are you okay?”
“Yes…”
Even though she was sound asleep, she answered like that. Then he felt a little relieved.
Dietrian closed his eyes as he watched the light seeping in through the tent flaps. Is it because the tension has eased? He slowly became drowsy.
Come to think of it, he’d barely been able to sleep for the past few days. He deliberately straightened his back to try to catch up on sleep.
“Umm…”
As he changed his position, Leticia, who was being held by him, began to struggle to sleep.
Dietrian, who was shocked and stiff for a moment, chuckled. Her whining seemed to be telling him that he could stop being nervous and rest.
He hesitated a little, then lightly placed his lips on her forehead.
“…thank you.”
A surprising sense of comfort spread from where his lips landed.
He closed his eyes with a faint smile.
He no longer resisted the drowsiness that was creeping in. Because this sleep was like a gift she was giving him.
And at that very moment. Leticia’s bracelet glowed faintly.
***
“Kill them! You bastards!”
Dietrian hurriedly opened his eyes as he heard a scream that sounded like he was vomiting blood. Soon he looked around in surprise.
He’s sure he was with Leticia just a moment ago. He was standing in an unfamiliar place that he had never seen before.
The night sky was full of dark clouds. The sky cried and dry lightning struck. As if it were the middle of a battlefield, numerous people were fighting together.
The sharp sound of weapons clashing echoed everywhere. Dietrian’s eyes widened as he looked around.
A shiver ran down his spine. This was not an unfamiliar place.
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