Miraculously, after Valenos retreated, the knights celebrated as if a festival had taken place.
However, the festive atmosphere did not last long.
“Forget everything you’ve just seen from this moment on. That the desert was wet, that Valenos ran away, all must be treated as if they never happened.”
At this, the knights wore puzzled expressions.
“Your Highness, may I humbly ask for the reason?”
“A miracle has occurred in Heden. If the power of the dragon is truly returning, wouldn’t it be right to spread the word?”
“That’s right. Everyone would be overjoyed. It would also boost the morale of the Principality’s people.”
To this, Dietrian firmly shook his head.
“There is nothing certain yet. There’s no evidence that the miracle just now was thanks to the power of the dragon. Even if the power of the dragon is indeed returning, it must not be made known yet. Josephina will definitely not sit still.”
Dietrian issued a gag order to protect Leticia.
He grasped her hand more firmly and continued.
“It’s right to wait and observe how things develop before the power becomes complete.”
“Oh, I had completely forgotten about Josephina. You’re right, Your Highness.”
The knights’ expressions quickly became serious.
“Given her nature, if she learns of this incident, she might find stronger monsters than Valenos to attack Heden.”
“Since there’s no guarantee that miracles will happen again, we must be cautious for a while.”
“We will definitely keep silent. Do not worry, Your Highness.”
Leticia thought to herself as she saw the knights’ resolute statements.
‘Mother sending monsters… doesn’t seem to bother me much.’
She was confident she could fend off most monsters by now.
It was somewhat embarrassing to think so just after defeating Valenos.
But she was certain.
‘I am, after all, the proxy of the goddess.’
Dietrian knew this fact too.
Yet, both of them did not show any signs of acknowledging her power.
Dietrian had asked her to hide her power.
[Leticia, for the time being, do not speak of your power to anyone.]
[But Your Highness, my power could help everyone, right?]
[Of course, that’s true. But please, just this once, follow my wishes and give me some time.]
[Time? For what?]
[Time to find a way to talk about your power. Your safety is the most important thing in the world to me. So please, just this time, let’s do it my way.]
Honestly, Leticia found it hard to agree with his words that her safety was the most important.
If it meant saving her loved ones, she could easily sacrifice her own safety.
Yet, she agreed to hide her powers because.
‘The way he said it… was just too lovely.’
Dietrian worrying about her was so endearing that she almost confessed her love for him right then and there.
She managed to hold back those words, but as a backlash, her desire to be closer to him surged to its limit.
Even after some time had passed and her emotions had settled, her body still twitched with desire.
She wanted to drag him to a secluded place and press her lips against his.
She even wanted to do more than that.
‘I must be out of my mind.’
Leticia decided to accept her state of mind.
In a way, it was inevitable.
It was hard enough to hold back from saying “I love you.”
Denying her desire to be close to him was impossible.
Therefore, finally, Leticia made a decision.
‘If only I could solve the curse.’
If the moment comes when she can perfectly dream of a future with him.
‘I’ll confess my feelings.’
I will tell him I love him.
‘And if Dietrian accepts my feelings.’
Leticia clenched her fist tightly.
‘I’ll stay by his side for an entire month.’
Not even for a single moment will we be apart.
‘Would it be okay to… keep everyone out?’
She wanted to lock the bedroom door from the inside and make up for all the missed time.
Just imagining it made her heart race and her chest swell with emotion.
‘Of course, there’s a chance Dietrian might not accept my feelings…’
Despite her firm resolve, her timidity reared its head as if it had been waiting for the opportunity.
Still, Leticia took a deep breath and tried to steady her heart.
‘Don’t be afraid. It’s okay if I’m rejected. I’ll keep trying until he accepts me.’
Reassuring herself wasn’t easy. A voice in the back of her mind kept whispering.
Don’t dream in vain.
You don’t deserve to be loved.
By now, she knew to ignore that voice.
Yet, her heart still wavered.
Biting her lip in sorrow, Leticia thought,
‘Why am I so weak?’
The weaker her heart grew, the more she longed for his embrace.
Being in his arms made all worries and fears disappear.
Under normal circumstances, she would have waited for nightfall.
‘But in Heden, we have to sleep in separate rooms.’
The thought of sleeping alone at night made her feel even more despondent.
“Leticia.”
Just then, Dietrian called her.
Startled, Leticia lifted her head.
Dietrian looked at her with a very serious expression.
“Leticia, is there a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
Leticia quickly smiled and shook her head.
Despite that, Dietrian’s expression did not ease.
“Leticia, if there’s a problem, please tell me honestly.”
“A problem? There’s no such thing.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe you’re okay when you say that.”
“I really am okay. Really.”
“Your expression just now did not look okay at all.”
Leticia bit her lip harder under Dietrian’s persistent questioning.
It was true she wasn’t okay.
But how could she honestly tell him that thinking about sleeping in separate rooms made her depressed?
“Leticia.”
“……”
“Leticia, if you care for me, please be honest…”
Seeing Dietrian worry about her without knowing anything made Leticia want to cry.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she threw her arms around him.
“Your Highness, please don’t ask anything and just stay like this for a while.”
Although a hug wasn’t enough to quench her thirst for closeness, being together like this was still comforting.
“Is it because you’re worried about Josephina?”
Leticia said nothing and just burrowed deeper into his embrace.
Dietrian’s gaze deepened, misunderstanding her behavior.
He hugged her back and patted her.
“Do not worry. I will definitely protect you. I swear it.”
“Yes……”
“So, everything will be okay.”
But since separate rooms were confirmed, it was not okay at all. Therefore, Leticia decided.
‘I must find a way.’
Whether she had to sneak in past the guards or make up an excuse. She resolved to find a way to embrace him and sleep together in Heden……
* * *
“I have good news, friend.”
Banessa smiled wickedly and then whistled sharply.
“Valenos has retreated.”
Tenua shivered, curled up.
“That… can’t be.”
“It’s true. As soon as it appeared, it tucked tail and ran. How about that, happy?”
Despair flickered in Tenua’s eyes.
With Valenos gone, the slim hope that had remained was now completely extinguished.
There was only one way to escape from this madman.
“Please… kill…”
“What?”
“Please kill… me.”
Banessa shook her head in disapproval.
“It seems Josephina’s wings lack any ability to learn. How many times have I told you? You’re going to live a very, very long time. You’re going to live until I paint the walls with dung.”
“Hu…huff.”
Banessa said this as he kicked Tenua lightly. Tenua couldn’t even properly moan.
Part of his vocal cords had lost their function.
Earlier, to provoke Banessa, he had cursed Leticia.
It was meant to prompt him to kill him, telling him to wake from his dream as there was no such outcome, and then he cleansed his vocal cords.
Seeing Tenua despair at the thought of hell restarting, Banessa smirked.
“Well, to be honest. I’ve had my fun with you. So, killing you now wouldn’t really be a loss. It’s not like I have an interest in torture.”
Tenua’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected words. Could hell end so easily? A flicker of hope shone in his eyes, but then.
“Still, I’ve decided to keep you alive.”
Banessa easily trampled that hope.
“There are many others who’d enjoy playing with you. Especially, by now, His Highness must have learned about what you’ve done to Her Highness. It wouldn’t do for me to kill you. That would be disloyal.”
Then, with a sly smile, he whispered very softly.
“Look forward to it. They will make things far more interesting for you than I could. So, as much as it’s a shame, let’s call it a day here.”
The flames of purification wrapped around Tenua in an instant. Tenua couldn’t even scream.
After a moment, Tenua’s body slumped within the flames.
After retracting the flames of purification and confirming that Tenua had fainted, Banessa waved.
“Miss! Please bring the sack I asked for earlier!”
The shoe store owner, Anna, hurriedly brought over the sack she had been holding.
“Is that damned man finally dead?”
“No, he’s alive. It wouldn’t do to kill him so easily.”
“Ah, of course. You do know your stuff, knight.”
Banessa hummed a tune as he stuffed Tenua into the sack.
Anna glared at the sack containing Tenua as if she wanted to kill him herself and said,
“Such a devil, no, worse than a devil. Go to hell.”
“Don’t worry, miss. For this guy, reality is already hell, heh.”
“Still, it’s not enough. When I think of what that man did to her earlier, my blood still boils.”
Anna burst out in anger. Then, she handed something over. It was a small package wrapped in old cloth.
“Right, knight. Take this with you.”
“What is this?”
“It belonged to Her Highness earlier. Said it was Madam Mano’s belongings. It was supposed to be a gift for someone.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure it gets delivered.”
Banessa casually accepted the package.
Then, a strange feeling raised his eyebrow.
‘What’s this?’
It was light yet thin. Tapping on it, it felt solid. Anna said,
“It’s a book.”
“A book? What’s the title?”
Banessa asked. Anna shrugged and replied,
“The Twelve Guardian Families… Gilead.”
“……”
“It was a fairy tale book about the Gilead family.”
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