“Unless you are truly widowed, you are the Countess of Rhineland. So if you meet a brunette or a redhead, it’s an affair.”
Unless we break up? So you're saying you'll live with me until I die?
Judith swallowed dryly.
Are you kidding? You've been talking nonsense up until now, so you must be kidding, right?
“Why are you ruining someone else’s new life? Don’t say things like that, even if it’s just a joke. Words are seeds.”
If they were joking, wouldn't it be funny if they were serious? So Judith, as always, took it lightly as a joke.
Then, as he tried to climb onto Gold, Erne, who would normally have grabbed his waist to help him or held Gold's reins, did not move.
“Unless you’re joking.”
"Yes?"
“I’m really thinking about putting a stop to Miss Harrington’s new life plan.”
It was no joke. Erne had no intention of letting any man, blond or bald, into Judith's life.
This situation could have been passed over as a joke, as usual.
Then, I wouldn't have to face this awkward atmosphere and Judith's helpless face.
But if that's the case, Judith will only think of his feelings as a joke, and then what if another guy really appears? If she goes there and catches Judith, won't it be too late?
Judith was the type of person who would do anything. Did she meet another man with that type of personality?
She'll leave without looking back.
“I’m not getting divorced.”
"...Why?"
Why? Did he really intend to divorce me?
Judith asked, remembering their original promise to split the Rhineland mansion in half when its value rose, but Erne only heard it this way.
I've been planning to divorce you and let it all out, so why won't you divorce me?
His eyes glared fiercely.
“Come to think of it, there is no divorce in the Rhineland family.”
"Yes?"
“Countess, I mean my stepmother, not Miss Harrington. My father not only gave birth to me outside, but also brought me in and raised me, but they never divorced. That’s because divorce doesn’t exist in the Rhineland family.”
There was only one reason why Erne said this, even though he neither liked the Rhineland family nor felt any sense of belonging to them.
"What?"
“Didn't you intend to abandon the family line? You said you didn’t care whether the House of Rhineland perished or not.”
His heart is trembling, and he has to point out and move on from what needs to be pointed out.
"...”
Is that all you can say while being shy and listening to my confession?
Erne was so shocked that he was speechless for a moment.
“Don’t you know what atmosphere is?”
“What does the atmosphere have to do with it? You just have to touch on what needs to be touched on.”
No, does that matter now?
Erne now seemed to understand why Judith had never been in love in her previous life.
He swallowed a sigh and held on to Gold's saddle tightly to keep it from shaking.
Judith, who couldn't read the mood but understood the hand signals amazingly, jumped up onto the horse.
Usually, when you confess, "I don't want to divorce you," you'll get a response like, "Me too," or "I'll think about it."
What is this? It's not that I heard the answer, nor that I didn't hear it.
'Yeah, if you were planning to get a divorce, you would have said so.'
Judging from her expression, Judith didn't seem particularly displeased. Erne wanted a definite answer from her.
But to get a definitive answer, he felt like he had to ask, 'Are you going to divorce me, tell me straight up?'
However...
Unless we break up? So you're saying you'll live with me until I die?
Judith swallowed dryly.
Are you kidding? You've been talking nonsense up until now, so you must be kidding, right?
“Why are you ruining someone else’s new life? Don’t say things like that, even if it’s just a joke. Words are seeds.”
If they were joking, wouldn't it be funny if they were serious? So Judith, as always, took it lightly as a joke.
Then, as he tried to climb onto Gold, Erne, who would normally have grabbed his waist to help him or held Gold's reins, did not move.
“Unless you’re joking.”
"Yes?"
“I’m really thinking about putting a stop to Miss Harrington’s new life plan.”
It was no joke. Erne had no intention of letting any man, blond or bald, into Judith's life.
This situation could have been passed over as a joke, as usual.
Then, I wouldn't have to face this awkward atmosphere and Judith's helpless face.
But if that's the case, Judith will only think of his feelings as a joke, and then what if another guy really appears? If she goes there and catches Judith, won't it be too late?
Judith was the type of person who would do anything. Did she meet another man with that type of personality?
She'll leave without looking back.
“I’m not getting divorced.”
"...Why?"
Why? Did he really intend to divorce me?
Judith asked, remembering their original promise to split the Rhineland mansion in half when its value rose, but Erne only heard it this way.
I've been planning to divorce you and let it all out, so why won't you divorce me?
His eyes glared fiercely.
“Come to think of it, there is no divorce in the Rhineland family.”
"Yes?"
“Countess, I mean my stepmother, not Miss Harrington. My father not only gave birth to me outside, but also brought me in and raised me, but they never divorced. That’s because divorce doesn’t exist in the Rhineland family.”
There was only one reason why Erne said this, even though he neither liked the Rhineland family nor felt any sense of belonging to them.
They will never get divorced, that was it.
Meanwhile, Judith, who realized what Erne was trying to say, licked her dry lips with her tongue. Her heart was pounding fast.
Even a confession received near a graveyard, without a single flower, can be thrilling.
The tips of her ears burned hot.
Judith couldn't look Ern in the eye and instead spoke while fiddling with her gold hair.
“...But since when did Erne follow the family’s wishes so well?”
Meanwhile, Judith, who realized what Erne was trying to say, licked her dry lips with her tongue. Her heart was pounding fast.
Even a confession received near a graveyard, without a single flower, can be thrilling.
The tips of her ears burned hot.
Judith couldn't look Ern in the eye and instead spoke while fiddling with her gold hair.
“...But since when did Erne follow the family’s wishes so well?”
"What?"
“Didn't you intend to abandon the family line? You said you didn’t care whether the House of Rhineland perished or not.”
His heart is trembling, and he has to point out and move on from what needs to be pointed out.
"...”
Is that all you can say while being shy and listening to my confession?
Erne was so shocked that he was speechless for a moment.
“Don’t you know what atmosphere is?”
“What does the atmosphere have to do with it? You just have to touch on what needs to be touched on.”
No, does that matter now?
Erne now seemed to understand why Judith had never been in love in her previous life.
He swallowed a sigh and held on to Gold's saddle tightly to keep it from shaking.
Judith, who couldn't read the mood but understood the hand signals amazingly, jumped up onto the horse.
Usually, when you confess, "I don't want to divorce you," you'll get a response like, "Me too," or "I'll think about it."
What is this? It's not that I heard the answer, nor that I didn't hear it.
'Yeah, if you were planning to get a divorce, you would have said so.'
Judging from her expression, Judith didn't seem particularly displeased. Erne wanted a definite answer from her.
But to get a definitive answer, he felt like he had to ask, 'Are you going to divorce me, tell me straight up?'
However...
'That looks so ugly.'
It's a confession that doesn't have even a hint of a romantic atmosphere.
Erne couldn't hold back the sigh that was flowing out of him.
How on earth did I end up getting entangled with a woman who had no idea what a good mood was and giving her my hand and my body, giving her everything?
It was already too late to regret.
Breaking the gold ban was a task that required considerable physical and mental strength for Tia as well.
Still, she found strength in her grandmother's arms and in the care of those who treated her as family.
“If it’s difficult, we can talk tomorrow.”
“Not to that extent. I can sit and talk just fine. But Sir Erne, what happened?”
Tia asked Erne, who seemed to have given up on something and seemed thoughtful at the same time.
What seems more complicated than Erne's feelings about having to say something he really doesn't want to say?
“Nothing happened.”
The answer came not from Erne, but from Judith.
Erne looked at Judith with a look of disbelief, then burst out into a short laugh and crossed his arms.
It's a confession that doesn't have even a hint of a romantic atmosphere.
Erne couldn't hold back the sigh that was flowing out of him.
How on earth did I end up getting entangled with a woman who had no idea what a good mood was and giving her my hand and my body, giving her everything?
It was already too late to regret.
***
Breaking the gold ban was a task that required considerable physical and mental strength for Tia as well.
Still, she found strength in her grandmother's arms and in the care of those who treated her as family.
“If it’s difficult, we can talk tomorrow.”
“Not to that extent. I can sit and talk just fine. But Sir Erne, what happened?”
Tia asked Erne, who seemed to have given up on something and seemed thoughtful at the same time.
What seems more complicated than Erne's feelings about having to say something he really doesn't want to say?
“Nothing happened.”
The answer came not from Erne, but from Judith.
Erne looked at Judith with a look of disbelief, then burst out into a short laugh and crossed his arms.
Okay, do whatever you want, that seemed to be what he meant.
Tia suddenly remembered Tan's advice: 'Even if it looks like the two of you are fighting, don't worry too much about it, it's just the way the two of you play.'
Looking back, Erne turned his head to the side, but his lower body was still attached to Judith.
It must be uncomfortable since their buttocks and thighs are close together, but Judith is still without changing her position, so it must be a lover's fight like Tan said... or is it a lover's play?
Anyway, it didn't seem like it was something she should be involved in.
“I have so much to say that I don’t know where to start. Is there something you’re most curious about? I’ll answer that first.”
Judith asked as if she had been waiting for Tia's words.
“You said that the priest changed after performing the necromancy? How exactly did he change?”
“He seemed like a completely different person. The old Shadin was only interested in ensuring that the Prince continued his legacy.”
Even though, from Shadin's perspective, Tia was a couple he had been forced into, he treated her as his wife.
Rather than treating her kindly, he treated her politely, saying that she was the one who would produce the next high priest.
But after being sick for a few days following the necromancy, Shadin was strangely rude and violent.
Of course, he didn't openly swear at her or directly touch her. However, his every action, tone of voice, and nuance made it seem like he considered Tia his slave.
“Did he only do that to Tia?”
“He was especially mean to me, but he also acted like a superior to other people.”
“If you are a priest, wouldn’t you be a superior?”
“He may be the superior, but that doesn’t mean others are his servants or slaves. Shadin wanted to rule over us.”
Although other Followers did serve the priest, it was because they had different roles, and it was different from the superior-subordinate relationship between nobles and servants.
But Shadin treated all of his other Followers as if they were his subordinates, just like his servants and maids.
“Then there must have been discontent internally.”
“If that were the only thing that happened, then it would be fine, but there was a bigger problem than that. Shadin declared that he would postpone the operation for a while and make money.”
There was considerable opposition from the Followers when he announced that he would postpone the work of passing the throne to the Crown Prince.
In particular, the council of elders cried out in resolute opposition. Even if he were a priest, he could not force something that the majority of the council of elders opposed.
“At first, he tried to convince the elders that even a giant needs money. Maybe it was because they were struggling financially, but the elders backed down.”
Since they had fled, leaving behind most of their wealth after the failed rebellion, the Council of Elders would not have been able to blindly oppose Shadin's plan.
Originally, Followers made money by taking on assassination requests using curses or poison. However, after the rebellion, no nobles made such requests to their Followers.
“Shadin started selling everything he could.”
He sold poison, he sold the cursed amulet, he sold anything that could make money.
Later, when he had nothing to sell, he began to make money by using secret recipes that had been passed down through generations of Followers.
These included things like elixirs of drowning, fountains of youth, and nourishing creams made from corpses.
“Oh, what was it? Health bracelets? They made and sold those too. And they were cheap bracelets that had no effect at all.”
“Are health bracelets also priestly work?”
This kid makes and sells all sorts of things. The name "health bracelet" somehow sounds familiar.
Even as Judith admired, Tia continued her story.
“At that point, I started to feel a mixture of concern.”
Those types of drugs could be sold at high prices, but the side effects were so severe that they could easily get the royal family involved.
But the priest did not stop. No, there was no reason to stop.
As money came in and life became more comfortable, Followers who supported the direction the priest was going appeared. And.
“The elders who opposed Shadin disappeared from the sanctuary one by one.”
“Disappeared? Ran away like a purple-feathered medium?”
“No, they literally disappeared. I think the elders were murdered.”
Previous Next
Tia suddenly remembered Tan's advice: 'Even if it looks like the two of you are fighting, don't worry too much about it, it's just the way the two of you play.'
Looking back, Erne turned his head to the side, but his lower body was still attached to Judith.
It must be uncomfortable since their buttocks and thighs are close together, but Judith is still without changing her position, so it must be a lover's fight like Tan said... or is it a lover's play?
Anyway, it didn't seem like it was something she should be involved in.
“I have so much to say that I don’t know where to start. Is there something you’re most curious about? I’ll answer that first.”
Judith asked as if she had been waiting for Tia's words.
“You said that the priest changed after performing the necromancy? How exactly did he change?”
“He seemed like a completely different person. The old Shadin was only interested in ensuring that the Prince continued his legacy.”
Even though, from Shadin's perspective, Tia was a couple he had been forced into, he treated her as his wife.
Rather than treating her kindly, he treated her politely, saying that she was the one who would produce the next high priest.
But after being sick for a few days following the necromancy, Shadin was strangely rude and violent.
Of course, he didn't openly swear at her or directly touch her. However, his every action, tone of voice, and nuance made it seem like he considered Tia his slave.
“Did he only do that to Tia?”
“He was especially mean to me, but he also acted like a superior to other people.”
“If you are a priest, wouldn’t you be a superior?”
“He may be the superior, but that doesn’t mean others are his servants or slaves. Shadin wanted to rule over us.”
Although other Followers did serve the priest, it was because they had different roles, and it was different from the superior-subordinate relationship between nobles and servants.
But Shadin treated all of his other Followers as if they were his subordinates, just like his servants and maids.
“Then there must have been discontent internally.”
“If that were the only thing that happened, then it would be fine, but there was a bigger problem than that. Shadin declared that he would postpone the operation for a while and make money.”
There was considerable opposition from the Followers when he announced that he would postpone the work of passing the throne to the Crown Prince.
In particular, the council of elders cried out in resolute opposition. Even if he were a priest, he could not force something that the majority of the council of elders opposed.
“At first, he tried to convince the elders that even a giant needs money. Maybe it was because they were struggling financially, but the elders backed down.”
Since they had fled, leaving behind most of their wealth after the failed rebellion, the Council of Elders would not have been able to blindly oppose Shadin's plan.
Originally, Followers made money by taking on assassination requests using curses or poison. However, after the rebellion, no nobles made such requests to their Followers.
“Shadin started selling everything he could.”
He sold poison, he sold the cursed amulet, he sold anything that could make money.
Later, when he had nothing to sell, he began to make money by using secret recipes that had been passed down through generations of Followers.
These included things like elixirs of drowning, fountains of youth, and nourishing creams made from corpses.
“Oh, what was it? Health bracelets? They made and sold those too. And they were cheap bracelets that had no effect at all.”
“Are health bracelets also priestly work?”
This kid makes and sells all sorts of things. The name "health bracelet" somehow sounds familiar.
Even as Judith admired, Tia continued her story.
“At that point, I started to feel a mixture of concern.”
Those types of drugs could be sold at high prices, but the side effects were so severe that they could easily get the royal family involved.
But the priest did not stop. No, there was no reason to stop.
As money came in and life became more comfortable, Followers who supported the direction the priest was going appeared. And.
“The elders who opposed Shadin disappeared from the sanctuary one by one.”
“Disappeared? Ran away like a purple-feathered medium?”
“No, they literally disappeared. I think the elders were murdered.”
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