As soon as Dietrian arrived in the Principality, he was busy with state affairs meetings.
He had been away from the Principality for as long as two months. Despite the efforts of his vassals, there were inevitable gaps in state governance.
“I’ll have to stay in the capital for a while.”
Before his marriage, Dietrian used to visit the border regions every few weeks.
However, it seemed that he would not be able to do so for the time being.
Not only did he need to deal with the backlog of state affairs, but he also wanted to enjoy a proper honeymoon.
“Your Majesty, the movements of the demons are unusual. We can still prepare for now, but if this trend continues, it could be dangerous. It seems there might be a problem with the power of the goddess that suppresses the demons.”
The prime minister reported on the movements of the demons near the border.
Dietrian shook his head.
“There is no problem with the goddess’s power. The problem is only with Josephina, who represents that power.”
“How could Your Majesty know…”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot speak of it yet. More time is needed.”
The power of the goddess was intact.
He had personally verified that the power was still strong.
The miracle that Leticia had caused in Heden was proof of that.
“It won’t take much longer. I will explain everything when the time comes.”
The prime minister, as well as the entire world, would one day know that Leticia was the true representative of the goddess. Until then, there was only one thing he needed to do.
Find a way to safely protect Leticia from Josephina’s total assault.
The prime minister looked unconvinced, but nodded readily without further questioning.
“If Your Majesty assures so, then it must be.”
Dietrian smiled wryly and retorted.
“Oh, prime minister, aren’t you trusting people too easily?”
“It’s not people I trust, but Your Majesty.”
The prime minister burst into a hearty laugh. He then looked at Dietrian with eyes full of trust.
“Not just me, everyone will think the same. They have seen how Your Majesty has lived over the past seven years. That’s why everyone is happy about Your Majesty’s change.”
“What?”
“You seem much more relaxed since returning from the empire. Surely, it must be the power of love?”
“The power of love…”
Dietrian looked at the prime minister in embarrassment.
He tried to manage his expression quickly, but it was not easy.
Not knowing what to do, he eventually asked with a flushed face.
“Was it that obvious?”
“It couldn’t be helped. Anyone with eyes would have noticed. It’s already widely rumored among the knights.”
“…It was that much.”
Dietrian let out a hollow laugh.
Until now, he had been so focused on his own feelings that he had not paid attention to the perspectives of others.
“…And yet, that person still.”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
Dietrian chuckled lightly.
While everyone had noticed his feelings, Leticia herself was unaware of Dietrian’s heart.
“Actually, I haven’t confessed yet.”
“You haven’t confessed your love to her Majesty yet? Why not?”
“I’m afraid.”
“What?”
“She is too precious to me, and I’m scared. I’m afraid of losing her.”
“Your Majesty, this is not the empire. This is the safest royal castle in Zenos.”
The prime minister smiled kindly.
“All the danger has passed. You really don’t need to worry.”
“Safe… Indeed, is that so?”
“I can assure you, everyone here will protect her Majesty. It’s needless to worry about losing her. Please, cast aside such baseless fears and enjoy your newlywed life.”
Dietrian burst out laughing.
“I know. It’s just that she is too precious to me.”
Just thinking of her could make his heart ache.
“I didn’t know love could feel like this. I want to give her everything she desires, even if it seems impossible, I want to make it possible.”
And right now, what he desired most was clear.
“I would like to hold our wedding again.”
“A wedding?”
“The wedding in the empire was never a proper one.”
That wedding, filled not with blessings but with contempt, still made him shiver when he thought of the cold stares.
“I want to have a proper wedding here, where everyone welcomes her.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea.”
The prime minister was delighted.
“I heard from Lord Yulken too. The imperial wedding was quite unsatisfactory. Let’s proceed as soon as possible. There’s no need to delay a royal celebration.”
Hearing the excited voice of the prime minister made it all feel real.
That he had come home with his wife.
Not far away, she was waiting for him.
The realization that happy days would continue to follow, filled his heart with overwhelming happiness, something he had never imagined.
What his wife might be doing at this moment.
* * *
As Leticia gazed at the gently falling snow, her eyes deepened.
Though they had left the empire only a month ago, the winter wind was already filling the surroundings of the temple.
‘It was because of Gilead’s dream, just as Mano had said to bring gloves.’
Leticia sighed and closed her eyes.
Mano had known all along.
That she would soon have to return to the empire.
“Yerina.”
A strange voice interrupted her thoughts.
Leticia slowly turned her head toward where the voice was coming from.
“Yerina, are you going to keep waiting?”
A middle-aged woman she had never seen before spoke to her anxiously.
The woman looked unwell, her face severely gaunt.
“It seems not today. I think I’ll go back. It feels like everyone else is going to leave too.”
The woman gestured with her hand.
At the end, several people were gazing at the temple, deep in thought.
Leticia watched them for a moment, then looked back at the woman.
Then, she tried to guess the situation she was in.
‘The owner of this body’s name is Yerina.’
She hadn’t heard the full story from Sigmund.
But she could guess enough.
Her soul must have entered someone else’s body.
She would have never believed such a thing under normal circumstances, but this time, a dragon who had established a Principality was involved.
Nothing would be too strange now.
‘The owner of this body was waiting for something.’
She still had no idea what it was.
Leticia calmly managed her expression.
She was trying to gather some information.
“Are you leaving already? I want to wait more. There might still be hope.”
“There’s no hope, Yerina. No matter how long you wait here, you won’t hear any family stories.”
The woman said, her voice breaking.
“The Third Wing is imprisoned. Stabbed in the heart with a knife. After such an incident, do you think they’d care about us? The Third Wing might die.”
Leticia barely gathered strength in her legs.
“…But still, he’s alive.”
Ahwin was still not dead.
Leticia knew this better than anyone else.
The woman sighed deeply.
“Being alive doesn’t matter at all. He’s going to die soon anyway. He’s been stabbed in the heart and isn’t even receiving treatment. If the saintess has ordered to just let him be, whether he lives or dies…”
An elderly man with graying hair scrunched up his face and interjected.
“Why do you keep going on about the heart! It’s not the heart, I tell you! Right next to it! Here, here!”
“It’s the same whether it’s the heart or next to it!”
“It’s not the same! Ahwin is still alive! We might even find my son!”
The woman, utterly shocked, slapped the man’s forearm.
“Ahwin? Lower your voice! Have you forgotten that he’s a criminal? What if someone hears you? Do you want to die too?”
The man flinched for a moment and then grimaced again.
He then whispered fiercely, “My precious son has disappeared! I thought his fortunes had improved after he was appointed as a cleric! But right after the oracle was given, he vanished! Now I don’t even know if he’s dead or alive! How can I be in my right mind?”
“It’s not just you!”
The woman retorted without backing down.
“My husband has disappeared too. Yerina’s brother is gone as well. All the clerics present when the oracle was given have disappeared! Everyone is desperate, but you think you’re the only one who’s special?”
“Who said I was special? Why are you suddenly so irritated?”
The woman and the man began to argue.
Thanks to their quarrel, Leticia was able to gather some information.
There was something in common among those gathered here.
All their family members were clerics at the central temple.
All had been with Josephina when she received the oracle, and as if by agreement, they had suddenly disappeared.
Josephina had only stated that they had been sent on a special mission from the capital, without further explanation.
The families of the clerics began to tremble with anxiety, speculating about the missions their loved ones might have been assigned.
“After the oracle was given, a guard unit left for the Principality the next day. Maybe they were assigned a mission related to that escort. Ahwin was leading that group, so they must return soon.”
Holding onto this thin thread of hope, the families awaited Ahwin and the guards’ return.
After a long wait, news that Ahwin had passed through the city gates spread.
People rushed to the temple immediately to find their families.
But they were not there.
None of the missing clerics were with the escort.
No one had seen the missing clerics.
To make matters worse, Ahwin, who had led the guards, was nearly dead and imprisoned.
At the same time, Josephina’s order to Ahwin became known.
[Stab your heart with this dagger to prove your loyalty to me. If you truly follow me, you can do it, right?]
That’s why everyone was in an uproar.
“Miss, remember when Noel suddenly came to your house? Didn’t she ask about your brother? Did she really say nothing else? Didn’t you hear anything that might be a clue?”
“Why do you keep asking? I’ve told you several times.”
“There was nothing useful! Noel was just drinking tea and then she felt sick, then suddenly she was fine and walked out! It’s no help!”
“That’s enough! Isn’t that right, Yerina?”
Leticia could not say anything.
No, she was unable to speak.
Not far away.
Noel, with her pale face, was walking out of the temple gate.
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