Dietrian finally calmed his heart and carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
‘Something changed.’
He couldn’t exactly explain it, but something about her had changed.
Besides the fact that her complexion looked much better than before, something definitely had changed.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“You know of Tenua, right?”
“Of course. The one who contaminated the spring.”
“Just now, that person died.”
Dietrian flinched. Leticia whispered.
“The truth is, Tenua had tormented me for a very long time. It was really hard for me… But now, he’s dead. I feel relieved now. That person won’t be able to harm my loved ones anymore…”
Dietrian clenched her garment tightly. What surprised him wasn’t just that Tenua was dead, but something even more astonishing.
‘Leticia told me about her past for the first time.’
It was the first time she had confessed her wounds to him. Not only that, but she also shared her inner thoughts.
For the first time, she showed ‘inside the line’ to him, who had been ‘outside the line.’
What had caused such a change in her feelings?
His heart raced.
“Leticia, did you see Tenua die with your own eyes?”
“Yes.”
“That must have been quite shocking.”
Was it the shock that made her seek someone to rely on?
Thinking this, he patted her back when Leticia whispered.
“I wasn’t that shocked. I was just curious.”
“Yes?”
“Whether it would really happen as that person said…”
That person? Dietrian blinked in surprise.
“Your Highness.”
“Please speak.”
“Could you tell me that everything will be alright? Someone once told me that all my desires would be fulfilled. But I can’t believe it. So, please tell me.”
Leticia burrowed deeper into his embrace.
“Tell me that all my dreams will come true.”
“Of course, they will.”
“Really? Even the dream I wish for the most?”
“Of course. Whatever you desire, I will fulfill it for you.”
Dietrian said emphatically.
He didn’t know exactly what she wished for.
But he was sincere.
If it was her desire, he was prepared to give his all to make it come true.
Leticia was silent for a moment.
“Your Highness.”
“Please speak.”
“May I kiss you now?”
“Yes?”
“You promised. To kiss you once a day, no, even more than that.”
Leticia peeked up at him. Smiling sheepishly, she looked up at him.
Dietrian couldn’t blink as he watched her.
“Is it alright?”
Without waiting for his response, Leticia cupped his cheeks with her hands. She tiptoed and kissed him lightly.
Then she softly laughed. Could it be just her mood? Her laughter seemed strangely relieving.
“May I continue?”
Dietrian could barely nod his head. That she was reaching out to him so actively felt like a dream.
“Then please tilt your head down a little.”
Leticia whispered.
Dietrian hastily bowed his head. Her lips slowly touched various places on his face.
As if kissing a very precious treasure.
Forehead, tip of the nose, both cheeks. And then back to the lips.
Her eyes softly curved. Her green pupils sparkled beautifully.
“Thank you.”
Dietrian became overwhelmed with an unbearable feeling. Why does she look at me with such precious eyes? Why.
“I like being in your embrace… Let me stay like this for a bit longer.”
Leticia pulled him into a hug again and rested her cheek against his chest.
She felt all of her through their touching bodies.
A memory naturally came to mind. Last night, she quietly embraced him while he was asleep. The expression she had, knowing how to ride but not showing it.
The thought he had briefly dismissed earlier quickly filled his mind.
Could it be, she.
Could it be…
For me.
* * *
Ahwin finally decided to spare the lord’s life. In exchange for sparing him, he entrusted Behemoth with surveillance.
“Behemoth, for the time being, you’ll have to take care of the Lord of Rozantine.”
[Understood, Lord Ahwin!]
The lord laughed heartily at Ahwin’s decision.
“You’ve made a wise decision, Lord Ahwin. If I dare play any tricks, feel free to kill me.”
Leticia was informed through Behemoth. Shortly after, Behemoth returned and said,
[Lord Ahwin! Lady Leticia said you did very well! And she said not to engage in dangerous actions anymore!]
Saying so, he presented something.
[This is the Grail of Rozantine! She said to return this to the lord!]
Looking at the golden, shimmering grail, the lord spoke with a voice full of emotion.
“The light of the grail has completely returned. Truly, a different kind of agent of the goddess.”
He took the grail and then spoke with a determined voice.
“Do not worry anymore, Lord Ahwin. I will surely deceive everyone perfectly.”
Saying so, he approached the people. He lifted the shining grail high under the sunlight.
“The power of the grail has returned! Because the corrupted wing has been cut down! This means the will of the goddess is with us, Rozantine!”
Nearly a hundred people witnessed this scene. Enough witnesses to justify the death of Tenua were secured.
Among them was even the High Priest.
“Goddess, we are truly grateful. Thank you!”
The high priest cried with emotion as he prayed thus.
Having witnessed the hell that Rozantine had become after the Holy Grail disappeared, it was sufficiently justified.
Ahwin became frantically busy. Because Tenua had died, he had to prepare to end the escort and return to the Empire.
The Principality’s delegation decided to leave first. They could not delay any longer because of the monsters.
Before going to where the horses were, Leticia took a moment to look towards the Imperial Knights. She saw Ahwin busily urging the imperial knights.
‘So we part again.’
Ahwin and she did not manage to say a proper farewell. Formally, Ahwin had no relation to Leticia.
The wings that Josephina trusted most and the daughter she hated the most in this world.
They could neither be close nor afford to be.
Now that Tenua was dead, it was even more so. Actions that would get caught by Josephina were absolutely forbidden.
She knew it would come to this from the time she planned to kill Tenua. Even though she had prepared herself mentally, it was disappointing.
Thinking of parting with Ahwin, Noel’s absence also felt very significant. Precious connections that came like miracles. It pained her heart to keep parting with such people.
‘Parting is indeed a lonely affair.’
Was this what it felt like to part with family? Leticia suddenly thought so. And just then, the wind blew.
[Do not worry about anything, Lady Leticia.]
Startled by the faint whisper, Leticia turned her head. Ahwin was looking at her from afar. The wind had carried his voice to her.
[We will take care of all the difficult tasks. So, until we meet again, may you be only happy.]
Hearing the concern in his voice, Leticia’s eyes welled up with tears. She quickly blinked away the tears and lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Both of you must stay healthy. And make sure to propose.”
After a moment, Ahwin let out a soft laugh. He slightly bowed his head towards her and turned around.
It was still sad to part with a dear person.
But Leticia smiled.
Because they would definitely meet again.
Unlike the past, the day would come when both Noel and Ahwin could laugh together without worries.
Therefore, the parting was no longer sad.
****
As the red sunset faded, the Imperial Knights, including Ahwin, arrived back in Rozantine.
As soon as the Holy Grail passed through the city gates, all the water in Rozantine returned at once.
Water spouted from the fountains, lakes filled up, and holy water brimmed in brass bowls.
People who witnessed this miracle embraced each other, excited as if the goddess herself had descended.
“Did you all see? The water has returned! The lake that was dry has come back to its original state!”
“It’s not just the water. The dead fish have come back to life, you know?”
“It’s a miracle of the goddess. The goddess is with us. Hurray for the Saint! Hurray!”
Watching this, the Lord of Rozantine was pleased but also troubled.
The miracle was not caused by Josephina but Leticia. He whispered to Ahwin standing beside him,
“Lord Ahwin, could we hint just a little about Lady Leticia? That a new power saved Rozantine, something along those lines. It’s frustrating just watching.”
[Oh! Lord Ahwin! The Lord has spoken about Lady Leticia! I’ll kill him right now!]
“Just spare him this time.”
Ahwin pressed his forehead and sighed softly.
“Lord, Behemoth is not flexible. Please be careful with your words when I’m not around.”
“Thank you for sparing me. I will not speak carelessly.”
After enjoying their happiness for a while, the people of Rozantine turned their anger towards Tenua.
“To be stoned to death! It’s because of him stealing the Holy Grail that things have come to this, right?”
“Was he planning to kill us all? What a villain!”
“He died by the sword? The Lord was too kind in his killing!”
Although they had heard he was already dead, people gathered to vent their frustration on his corpse.
Thus, the Imperial Knights guarding Tenua’s body were forced to sweat profusely.
“Move away, please! This is not acceptable! You must not approach the carriage!”
“What? You want to burn the criminal’s body? Stop talking nonsense! We need to show it to the Saint!”
The knights’ words only excited the people more.
“Do we need to explain the situation to the Saint? Isn’t it enough that the one who deserved to die, died?”
“Or, are you saying Lord Ahwin is in trouble because of that bastard’s death? Take us too! We will speak to the Saint!”
Even those who wanted to follow to the capital emerged. With their number being not insignificant, calming them down took until late into the night.
It was indeed a tiring task, but Ahwin was pleased.
‘Sooner or later, they will become supporters of Lady Leticia.’
The people of Rozantine had seen the miracle with their own eyes. In case of a conflict between Josephina and Leticia in the future, they would support her.
The night deepened. Finally, the city of Rozantine, which had been in a festive mood all evening, fell asleep.
In the quiet of the city center,
A wriggling, violet energy began to flutter from the ground.
Soon, that energy took the form of a person and started to move slowly.
It headed towards the carriage where Tenua’s body lay.
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