IELNDMH - Chapter 74 < Cough, Poverty, And Love >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
High Priest Diat hesitantly opened his eyes and looked at the former Grand Duke and his wife in turn.
Rebecca looked puzzled at him, and Cedric's face was already filled with displeasure.
“...Is it profane?”
Cedric's eyebrows rose fiercely as he asked that question.
He had never lost his composure despite repeated provocations from High Priest Diat.
“...Is it profane?”
Cedric's eyebrows rose fiercely as he asked that question.
He had never lost his composure despite repeated provocations from High Priest Diat.
High Priest Diat actually disliked him like that.
Because he subconsciously felt that his calm attitude actually came from a subtle ‘ignorance’ towards himself and the human race.
'I can't believe the Prince of Twins is so angry.'
Normally, be would have felt a sense of exhilaration.
But the only feeling he felt now was anxiety stemming from an ominous premonition.
That's because, if it had been the former Grand Duke, he would have been angry at the very mention of the two people reuniting.
'Not about the fact that I referred to their reunion as profane.'
But what about now?
Cedric was even showing his hostility, which was unusual for him.
“High priest Diat, this is the extent to which I will forgive you for your disrespect.”
“...”
“You’d better not test my patience anymore.”
It was a face so bloody that one felt instinctive fear.
'...Indeed, demons are demons.'
Suddenly, he wondered if this was how a herbivore would feel when encountering a wild beast.
'It's only when I'm slightly emotionally shaken, but when that anger grows out of control....'
Gulp. The High Priest started drooling without even realizing it.
Then, when he realized that he was momentarily scared, an unknown desire to win bloomed.
“...I am the High Priest of this empire. If you have to point a knife at my throat for telling the truth, I have no choice but to accept it.”
He tried to answer calmly, but cold sweat was already running down his spine.
However, he could not retreat like this without giving a proper warning.
Of course, Grand Duke Cedric was afraid, but what he feared even more was the ‘wrath of the Pope.’
If it turns out to be true that love blossomed between the two, how will the situation unfold?
'If that affection had blossomed while they were living together after the secret divorce that the Pope had no choice but to allow...?'
He may not know it, but if the incident reached the Pope's ears, it would be over for him.
After much trouble with the Emperor, he was the one who eventually persuaded the pope.
'But in the end, if the blasphemous thing turns out to be true and the Pope's heavenly pride is hurt...'
Just imagining it made his eyes turn dark.
So, hoping that his intuition was wrong, he tried to pretend not to hear or see.
He pretends not to hear Cedric's soft voice calling Rebecca from the banquet hall.
He pretended not to notice Cedric's kind eyes looking for Rebecca the whole time.
Chuck, chuck, chuck.
The more he did, the more the alarm bell rang louder in his head.
Then, he finally saw two people making eye contact in front of him...
'This is really... Something isn't quite right.'
High Priest Diat eventually came to the conclusion that his suspicions were very reasonable.
Did you say that cough, poverty, and love cannot be hidden by anything?
Even though he devoted his whole life to God with his whole body and mind, he could instinctively know this.
Their eyes look at each other.
It was definitely something he only saw in lovers in love.
It would have been better if the source of the blasphemous signal was Rebecca.
It was a normal situation between them, and in the end, her affection became too much and led to the divorce.
'But what happened is that the Twins Grand Duke's condition seems to be even worse now...'
Moreover, Cedric's current face had a familiar aspect to it, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Where did he see that face?
'...Ah. The famous Viscount Bernard, a man of many talents.'
As soon as such a thought occurred to him, High Priest Diat's eyes became distant.
If his feelings were based on facts, wouldn't it be a really big deal?
‘I don’t know about the Grand Duchess, but the Twins... I only believed you.'
High Priest Diat has always thought that Cedric was rational to the point of being hateful, but that made him a more trustworthy person.
'I never thought he would stab me in the back like this.'
He let out a nervous breath and slightly trembled as his thoughts became more complicated than a skein of thread.
‘No, no... It may not be a serious relationship yet. There's no way their relationship, which had deteriorated to the point of divorce, would suddenly improve like that.'
Yes, if it were that easy, why would any couple in the world divorce?
He consoled himself and tried to calm his mind.
'...Still, just in case, it would be better to at least give a warning.'
High Priest Diat looked at Cedric again with a hard look on his face.
“Your Highness, I’m just telling you this just in case...”
After speaking up to that point, High Priest Diat bit his mouth for a moment.
It was because he suddenly felt unfair about the situation that led him to say this.
'It wasn't his intention to intervene between the Holy See and the Emperor from the beginning.'
But it was too late to regret it now.
It's too late at least. So, it was best to respond properly at least as much as possible now.
“You both know that remarriage is only possible after one year of divorce announcement, right?”
He suppressed the resentment that surged up again and raised his eyes.
“Until the time comes when remarriage is possible, you must make sure that neither of you gets caught up in any unnecessary scandal. So, even if someone you like appears, you have to wait at least a year after the divorce is announced.”
For a brief moment, High Priest Diat noticed that Cedric's eyebrows were slowly distorting.
The more he spoke, the more force he put into his words.
“It is a matter established by imperial law and church law. Of course, the two of you have already secretly proceeded with the divorce stipulated by imperial law in your own way...”
“....”
“The remarriage law must be observed. The Pope will never allow two exceptions.”
He ground his teeth without realizing it.
High Priest Diat raised his eyes sharply and looked at Rebecca and Cedric alternately.
“Even if the partner of the remarriage is ‘anyone’.”
The outdoor corridor leads to the carriage house.
In the dark corridor, not a single ant, let alone a person, could be seen.
Even on that very road, Cedric and I were walking far apart.
I just walked forward for a while.
Cedric glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
I wonder how many times that action continued, and a deep sigh escaped his lips.
“... Rebecca, can we just walk together?”
It was a deserted corridor, but out of habit, I quickly looked around and glanced at him.
"No. Don’t you remember what High Priest Diat said earlier?”
"But....”
“According to the remarriage law, the two of us cannot date or marry anyone for one year after the divorce is announced. It shouldn’t be embroiled in scandal.”
“...”
“Even if that person is our ex-spouse.”
I continued to pretend to look straight ahead and waved my hands in the air.
“So walk farther, farther away. If I inadvertently incur more hatred from the Pope here, it could become even more difficult later.”
Because he subconsciously felt that his calm attitude actually came from a subtle ‘ignorance’ towards himself and the human race.
'I can't believe the Prince of Twins is so angry.'
Normally, be would have felt a sense of exhilaration.
But the only feeling he felt now was anxiety stemming from an ominous premonition.
That's because, if it had been the former Grand Duke, he would have been angry at the very mention of the two people reuniting.
'Not about the fact that I referred to their reunion as profane.'
But what about now?
Cedric was even showing his hostility, which was unusual for him.
“High priest Diat, this is the extent to which I will forgive you for your disrespect.”
“...”
“You’d better not test my patience anymore.”
It was a face so bloody that one felt instinctive fear.
'...Indeed, demons are demons.'
Suddenly, he wondered if this was how a herbivore would feel when encountering a wild beast.
'It's only when I'm slightly emotionally shaken, but when that anger grows out of control....'
Gulp. The High Priest started drooling without even realizing it.
Then, when he realized that he was momentarily scared, an unknown desire to win bloomed.
“...I am the High Priest of this empire. If you have to point a knife at my throat for telling the truth, I have no choice but to accept it.”
He tried to answer calmly, but cold sweat was already running down his spine.
However, he could not retreat like this without giving a proper warning.
Of course, Grand Duke Cedric was afraid, but what he feared even more was the ‘wrath of the Pope.’
If it turns out to be true that love blossomed between the two, how will the situation unfold?
'If that affection had blossomed while they were living together after the secret divorce that the Pope had no choice but to allow...?'
He may not know it, but if the incident reached the Pope's ears, it would be over for him.
After much trouble with the Emperor, he was the one who eventually persuaded the pope.
'But in the end, if the blasphemous thing turns out to be true and the Pope's heavenly pride is hurt...'
Just imagining it made his eyes turn dark.
So, hoping that his intuition was wrong, he tried to pretend not to hear or see.
He pretends not to hear Cedric's soft voice calling Rebecca from the banquet hall.
He pretended not to notice Cedric's kind eyes looking for Rebecca the whole time.
Chuck, chuck, chuck.
The more he did, the more the alarm bell rang louder in his head.
Then, he finally saw two people making eye contact in front of him...
'This is really... Something isn't quite right.'
High Priest Diat eventually came to the conclusion that his suspicions were very reasonable.
Did you say that cough, poverty, and love cannot be hidden by anything?
Even though he devoted his whole life to God with his whole body and mind, he could instinctively know this.
Their eyes look at each other.
It was definitely something he only saw in lovers in love.
It would have been better if the source of the blasphemous signal was Rebecca.
It was a normal situation between them, and in the end, her affection became too much and led to the divorce.
'But what happened is that the Twins Grand Duke's condition seems to be even worse now...'
Moreover, Cedric's current face had a familiar aspect to it, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Where did he see that face?
'...Ah. The famous Viscount Bernard, a man of many talents.'
As soon as such a thought occurred to him, High Priest Diat's eyes became distant.
If his feelings were based on facts, wouldn't it be a really big deal?
‘I don’t know about the Grand Duchess, but the Twins... I only believed you.'
High Priest Diat has always thought that Cedric was rational to the point of being hateful, but that made him a more trustworthy person.
'I never thought he would stab me in the back like this.'
He let out a nervous breath and slightly trembled as his thoughts became more complicated than a skein of thread.
‘No, no... It may not be a serious relationship yet. There's no way their relationship, which had deteriorated to the point of divorce, would suddenly improve like that.'
Yes, if it were that easy, why would any couple in the world divorce?
He consoled himself and tried to calm his mind.
'...Still, just in case, it would be better to at least give a warning.'
High Priest Diat looked at Cedric again with a hard look on his face.
“Your Highness, I’m just telling you this just in case...”
After speaking up to that point, High Priest Diat bit his mouth for a moment.
It was because he suddenly felt unfair about the situation that led him to say this.
'It wasn't his intention to intervene between the Holy See and the Emperor from the beginning.'
But it was too late to regret it now.
It's too late at least. So, it was best to respond properly at least as much as possible now.
“You both know that remarriage is only possible after one year of divorce announcement, right?”
He suppressed the resentment that surged up again and raised his eyes.
“Until the time comes when remarriage is possible, you must make sure that neither of you gets caught up in any unnecessary scandal. So, even if someone you like appears, you have to wait at least a year after the divorce is announced.”
For a brief moment, High Priest Diat noticed that Cedric's eyebrows were slowly distorting.
The more he spoke, the more force he put into his words.
“It is a matter established by imperial law and church law. Of course, the two of you have already secretly proceeded with the divorce stipulated by imperial law in your own way...”
“....”
“The remarriage law must be observed. The Pope will never allow two exceptions.”
He ground his teeth without realizing it.
High Priest Diat raised his eyes sharply and looked at Rebecca and Cedric alternately.
“Even if the partner of the remarriage is ‘anyone’.”
***
The outdoor corridor leads to the carriage house.
In the dark corridor, not a single ant, let alone a person, could be seen.
Even on that very road, Cedric and I were walking far apart.
I just walked forward for a while.
Cedric glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
I wonder how many times that action continued, and a deep sigh escaped his lips.
“... Rebecca, can we just walk together?”
It was a deserted corridor, but out of habit, I quickly looked around and glanced at him.
"No. Don’t you remember what High Priest Diat said earlier?”
"But....”
“According to the remarriage law, the two of us cannot date or marry anyone for one year after the divorce is announced. It shouldn’t be embroiled in scandal.”
“...”
“Even if that person is our ex-spouse.”
I continued to pretend to look straight ahead and waved my hands in the air.
“So walk farther, farther away. If I inadvertently incur more hatred from the Pope here, it could become even more difficult later.”
“...”
“You know, right? In the Empire, whether it’s a first marriage or a second marriage, you can’t do it without the Pope’s permission.”
Cedric nodded his head slowly as if he was barely accepting something he didn't want to admit.
It was a while before I walked away again, looking straight ahead.
Suddenly, a creepy sound came from next to me.
When I glanced out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cedric gritting his teeth with a bloody expression.
“Diat, that inflexible person. He should have been eliminated a long time ago, at any cost.”
He had a life-threatening face as if he was suppressing his desire to do so right away.
As I, overwhelmed by the force, slowly widened the distance between me and him, Cedric hurriedly grabbed my fingertips and pulled me.
“No, falling further is a foul.”
Let's take a moment to look into each other's eyes from a closer distance.
His touch of my fingertips gradually became gentler.
“Oh my, who is playing foul right now? It’s against the law for both of us to do this.”
Although I grumbled for no reason, I was also glad to see his touch again after a few hours.
'...Still, I have to exercise restraint at least in the imperial castle.'
I took my hand away from him and walked away, leaving my regret behind.
“Cedric, when the time comes...”
As I softly opened my mouth, Cedric turned his head towards me as if he had been waiting.
“What I couldn’t give you earlier, please give it to me again.”
Eventually, a smile slowly spread across his lips as if he understood what I meant.
“When the time comes... Then it will be about a year later.”
“I guess so.”
“Are you confident that you will accept it over time?”
He asked with a hint of slyness.
“That’s what... It would depend on my heart at that time, right?”
I can't lose.
As he responded more mischievously, a flash of gray flashed across his face for a brief moment.
“Ha, that would be nice. Because I’m a human being who doesn’t need to be imprinted.”
“So you feel unfair? Do you think you’re the only one who has a crush on me?”
"Not at all. That’s absolutely not true.”
“So, will you still have the intention to give me that ring then?”
“Yeah...”
At my question, a smile appeared on his lips again.
"Of course."
It was a smile like pure white cherry blossoms embroidering the black night.
***
Meanwhile, in the corridor, the two people left.
Someone leisurely walked out from a corner.
The dark red high priest's uniform that stretched down to his feet fluttered helplessly in the wind.
“As expected, something is suspicious...”
This person is watching the place where the Grand Duke and his wife left with disapproving eyes.
It was the High Priest Diat.
“Well, High Priest, it couldn’t be... I guess not?”
A young-looking man standing next to High Priest Diat asked with a worried voice.
Wearing a green low-ranking priest's uniform, he kept looking at the attention of the High Priest Diat.
“If what we are thinking now is true, and the Pope finds out about it, it will be a really big problem....”
"Shh. Watch your mouth.”
High Priest Diat spoke in a stern voice.
“What we just saw shouldn’t be said out loud. Then not only I but you, who follow me, will not be safe.”
"Yes? Yeah....”
The junior priest simply nodded his head.
Then, suddenly, as if he was curious, he looked up at High Priest Diat again.
“Then those two... What do you plan to do?”
“Is there any other way?”
He had no choice but to volunteer to act as a watchdog.
High Priest Diat, who was lost in thought for a moment, gave a strong command to the lower-ranking High Priest.
“Please ask the Pope for permission to move your and my residence.”
High Priest Diat gritted his teeth and glared at the path the former Grand Duke and his wife had left.
“I need to urgently head to the Northern Twins Grand Duchy, even if it’s just for one day.”
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