"Ugh!"
"Ugh! Blood... Blood!!"
"Convoy!"
Those around the entrance were terrified and looked for the imperial knights.
'Did something big happen?'
People were all murmuring and the banquet hall was filled with tension and confusion. At some point, as if the water was splitting in the distance, people stepped aside and a path was created. Shock and fear were written on people's faces as if they had seen something they shouldn't have seen.
"Oh my God."
"What the heck is that..."
Some people let out sighs. Karina's expression, which had confirmed the figure of the person crossing between them, soon became no different from theirs. A group of three people covered in blood were entering the banquet hall. Among them, the woman in the middle was in particularly serious condition. It was as if she had been covered in a bucket of blood, and her clothes, face, and even hair were all stained red with blood. Even the blood had not hardened, so drops of blood dripped down with every step she took. Red footprints, made of blood, were left in her wake. It was an extremely creepy and eerie sight. They were walking towards the direction where Karina, Jeremiah, and David were gathered.
'What... What is it?'
Karina peeked her head over Jeremiah's shoulder, who was blocking her way, and watched them approaching her with trembling eyes.
"...!"
When their figures came close, Karina was startled. The woman in the middle looked familiar.
'Why is Lucia here?'
Karina's body froze solidly. From the moment she recognized her, it felt like a cold dagger had pierced her lungs. Karina froze in place, unable to move. She knew the original color of that blood-red hair. Pure white platinum hair and pure purple eyes as if made of brilliant light. An object of awe, wearing pure white priestly robes and traveling around the empire, unconditionally treating and embracing the sick.
Yes. The empire's one and only Saintess, Lucia.
Karina quickly recalled her past memories. Normally, Lucia, a Saintess, would be busy traveling around the empire, treating and saving the sick. That means she wasn't in the capital at this time. But...
'Has the future changed because the past has changed?'
At least Larina expected that major events would happen similarly, if not exactly like in the past. A vague sense of fear and anxiety grew in volume. Lucia's sudden appearance made her heart pound. Karina unconsciously raised her gaze and looked at Jeremiah. As their figures got closer, Jeremiah frowned and watched them, and a small murmur escaped from his teeth.
"Saintess?"
"..."
Karina's body trembled as the word Saintess came out of his mouth.
'Jeremiah already knew Lucia at this time.'
It was clear that he knew she was a Saintess just by looking at her face. When Karina saw his gaze on Lucia, his heart sank.
"Hello."
Lucia, who had arrived in front of Karina and her group, greeted them in a soft and gentle voice.
"His Highness the Crown Prince. May the blessings of God always be with you."
She was the first to greet David, who was the highest-ranking person here. However, as she was a priest, she greeted him with the politeness used in temples rather than the palace etiquette.
"May God bless His Highness the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess."
Her smile, which was bright and cheerful despite her bloody face, seemed extremely affectionate. As if she could never be tainted by blood stains like this. She appeared in the banquet hall in the most unfamiliar form, but she exuded the most pure and noble aura here. The shock, surprise, and disgust that had filled the banquet hall just a moment ago had all disappeared as if washed away.
"Nice to meet you. Welcome."
David greeted her with a nonchalant smile.
"Thank you for your welcome."
Lucia also continued the conversation naturally.
"I have come at the invitation of His Majesty the Emperor, but he is not at the banquet hall."
"Isn't it fortunate that His Majesty is not at the banquet hall right now? The Saintess's condition does not seem to be suitable for a banquet hall."
"Ah..."
At David's comment, Lucia looked at Karina awkwardly for a moment, then smiled brightly and said.
"I guess my outfit is a bit shabby, don't you think? I just came back from helping to deal with the demons, so I didn't have time to pay attention to my outfit."
It was a reaction of complete indifference.
"I ask for your understanding, as it was a sacred task for the stability and cause of the empire."
Rather, she was more confident than anyone else. Then she turned her head and looked at Jeremiah.
"It's been a while, Your Highness. How have you been?"
Jeremiah's attitude in response to the friendly greeting was blunt.
"It's been a while, Saintess."
"I told you to call me by my name, not by title."
At the Saintess's words, one of Jeremiah's eyebrows rose diagonally. It was an expression that seemed to say, 'Why?'
"You're still the same."
Lucia laughed at that and continued speaking.
"I've heard a lot of rumors. I've heard them often, even from my travels around the empire."
"What rumor did you hear?"
"There are rumors that you are protecting the people of the empire well. You are said to have solved various incidents in the north and dealt with monsters on a large scale in the Cursed Forest."
"It was nothing special."
"You are always humble. But this is something that is not easy for others to do, except for Your Highness the Grand Duke. You should be more honorable."
While the two were talking, Karina was deeply silent. No. It was more accurate to say that she couldn't say anything. Her lips were stuck together and wouldn't come apart. Naturally, she couldn't join in on their conversation at all. She was lost in her own thoughts and confusion.
'Did I wish Jeremiah had never met Lucia?'
She finally felt like she could open her heart a little bit.
'Even if the future changes, will the important things that need to happen eventually happen?'
Bitterness and emptiness slowly ate away at her. A deep, bottomless swamp-like depression gradually swallowed her up, starting from her ankles.
"Grand Duchess? Are you okay?"
As if noticing the change in her, David tilted his head and quietly patted her shoulder.
"Ah... I'm fine."
Thanks to that, Karina woke up from her reverie and barely managed to pull herself together.
'What are you going to do if you lose your mind here? Come to your senses.'
She shook her head and scolded herself.
"Karina?"
Jeremiah looked back at Karina, sensing something strange, and was about to say something when the knight standing at the entrance next to the stage shouted loudly.
"His Majesty Emperor Edmir Havelion, the High Sun of the glorious Havelion Empire, enters!"
***
The Emperor entered the banquet hall. At his appearance, people quickly bowed their heads and paid their respects. The Emperor looked around with a solemn expression, then found Karina and her party, raised the corners of his mouth and smiled broadly.
To be exact, he was smiling at the sight of the Imperial Saintess, Lucia, who had come to the banquet hall.
"You're finally here."
The Emperor did not hide his delight and walked slowly towards them.
"Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Your Majesty the Supreme Emperor of the Havelion Empire."
They greeted the Emperor who had just come forward.
"I see the sun of the empire. May the protection and glory of God be with you."
"Yes. Thanks."
The Emperor frowned slightly at the sight of Lucia covered in blood but soon returned his expression to one of disinterest.
"That's a good thing. I was going to call you over and say hello, but it looks like you were already talking."
The Emperor burst into laughter after seeing the Saintess and Karina gathered in one place.
"But, shouldn't the Saintess have come to me first when she arrived in the capital?"
Lucia smiled and responded to the Emperor's joke-filled remark.
"I came straight to the banquet hall upon my arrival in the capital to see Your Majesty the Emperor first, but since You were not there, I had to offer my regards to His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Grand Duke first. I apologize."
"Yeah. If you hadn't come right after arriving, you wouldn't have come to the banquet hall in that condition."
The Emperor stroked his chin and nodded.
"But it's not a good time to talk to everyone. The smell of blood is overwhelming, so I think it would be better to wash up and come back."
The Emperor, who was laughing, ordered the servant next to him to prepare for the Saintess to wash and change her clothes. The servant who received the order quickly said that he would prepare and left the room.
"Then let's go first and have a conversation."
The Emperor, who was about to take David and Jeremiah away, discovered Karina.
"Oh, the Grand Duchess was there too. By the way, how is your health? I heard you were so sick that you had to stay in bed."
"Thank you for your concern. I feel much better now."
Karina gave a perfunctory thank you.
"No. It seems that your complexion is still not good. It would be better for the Grand Duchess to quickly go back and rest."
"..."
It was a curse that was given only to her. There was no one here who did not understand it.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry, but as you just said, my wife is not fully recovered yet. I must remain by her side for now. If you have anything to say, I will request an audience with her later..."
"No."
The Emperor cut off Jeremiah mid-sentence.
"There aren't many opportunities to gather together and talk. It's been almost a year since I last saw the Saintess. If not today, then when will we get together like this again?"
The Emperor showed no sign of backing down.
"If you are worried that the Grand Duchess might get involved in another incident, I will personally appoint my own guards."
"...!"
Karina was surprised when the Emperor said he would appoint a guard to protect her. Jeremiah also seemed speechless for a moment.
"The Grand Duchess, be careful on your way back."
Jeremiah didn't know why he was chasing Karina, but since it was the Emperor's order, he had no choice but to follow it. Jeremiah looked unwilling. Karina didn't want to be escorted by the Emperor's direct guard either. After thinking for a moment, she opened her mouth.
"Your Majesty, I appreciate your hospitality. However, I am not feeling well enough to go back right now. I feel a little dizzy. Would it be okay if I rest in the break room for a while before I go?"
Karina spoke blandly and lowered her head.
"That doesn't matter. The Saintess will have to wait while her clothes are prepared, so you can go with her."
'Together?'
Karina's eyebrows furrowed at the words that they were to be together instead of having separate rooms for each of them. She didn't want to be alone in the same space as Lucia. However...
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."
Lucia answered quickly. The Emperor looked satisfied and took David and Jeremiah to a separate audience room. Jeremiah whispered softly so that only she could hear before leaving.
"I'll be right back, so just wait a moment. Come back with me."
It was a tone that made her feel uneasy at all. Karina nodded quietly. And so Karina and Lucia ended up alone in a separate lounge.
***
The lounge, which had a sofa, a table, and simple snacks, was spacious and clean. Warm sunlight poured in through the large windows. Nevertheless, the air inside felt heavy and stuffy as if it was stagnant. As soon as she entered the room, Lucia looked back at Karina as if she had been waiting for her and smiled brightly.
"I'll say hello again. Nice to meet you, Your Highness."
Then he added with an "oh no" expression.
"No. Now that I heard you're getting a divorce, should I call you Lady Milliner again in private?"
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