TVDWL - Chapter 171 < Do you believe in fate? >

Meanwhile, Jeremiah, sitting across from the Emperor, was thinking a lot about Karina.

'Is she okay?'

Just before coming here, he was a little worried because her condition seemed a little strange. Apparently, Karina suddenly stopped saying anything after the Saintess appeared.

'You seemed very surprised...'

Well, it was only then that he realized that it must have been a huge shock to Karina, who had no immunity to such things, to suddenly see someone drenched in demon blood.

'I should have taken better care of her.'

He was not happy about the Emperor sending Karina back first because it seemed like he had some other intention.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

Just then the Emperor spoke. Jeremiah responded with a blank expression.

"I was wondering why Your Majesty has called us."

It meant to get to the point quickly.

"You have quite a short temper."

"I don't feel safe leaving my wife alone."

"If that's the case, then there's no need to worry. What danger could there be inside the palace?"

The Emperor continued speaking leisurely.

"If it is because the Grand Duchess is not feeling well, then there is no need to worry about that. The Saintess is with her now, so she will treat the Grand Duchess. If you are still worried, I will tell the Saintess to look after the Grand Duchess separately."

The Saintess was a great force. She was the only being who could directly hear the revelations of God and perform miracles of healing with the power of God. Therefore, the Saintess was treated as much as the pope in the temple. This meant that she was not someone that could be easily used by an individual. Even the Emperor, who was the highest authority in the empire, had to consult with the temple to entrust the Saintess with something. That is why he looked down on the temple, saying that it tried to go against the Emperor's authority. It was strange that the Emperor, who did not like the temple, showed such a cooperative attitude.

"Thank you."

Unlike the imperial court, the Saintess resides in the temple and serves the will of the Gods. To use the power of the holy Gods, or the holy power, the Saintess who uses that power must also be righteous and noble. Otherwise, it would be impossible to use the power of healing. She would not be able to conspire with the Emperor and harm Karina with impure intentions. Jeremiah thought that he could trust Karina and leave her to her. He was already acquainted with the Saintess as they had accompanied each other on official business to deal with demons before. She seemed to have a gentle and easygoing personality, so he thought there wouldn't be any areas where she wouldn't be too different from Karina. 

David suddenly spoke to Jeremiah, who was lost in thought.

"From what I heard from the conversation earlier, it seems like the Grand Duke of Colesburg already knows the Saintess. How do you know her?"

"Now that I think about it, you're probably already familiar with the Saintess. You must have seen her a few times when you were subduing demons."

The Emperor also intervened and asked.

"Yes. How is your relationship with the Saintess?"

"...?"

Jeremiah's eyebrow arched diagonally at the unexpected question.

'How are things between us?'

They were nothing. As the Emperor had just said, the Knights Templar, to which the Saintess belonged, had simply been supporting the Northern Knights during the monster subjugation campaign. They had used their power to corner the monsters and purify the polluted land and atmosphere. All the Saintess had done was treat the knights who had been injured during the process. Even then, Jeremiah had rarely been injured, so he had never met the Saintess outside of strategy meetings or work-related matters. It was strange to ask about something he should already know. 

At that moment, knock. The door opened and the Saintess entered the audience room looking neat and tidy.

"I'm here. Has everyone been waiting for a long time?"

She appeared with a smile on her face, looking completely different from when she first appeared at the banquet hall. She had washed her hair clean and returned to its original color, and she was showing off her freshness with her platinum blonde hair and soft purple eyes.

"Come in."

The Emperor greeted her, gesturing for her to sit on the empty chair. Lucia nodded and sat down, asking.

"I wonder what interesting stories you were talking about while I was away?"

"You came at a good time. I was just asking the Grand Duke of Colesberg what your relationship was."

The Emperor laughed heartily as if he found it amusing.

"Oh, is that so? I wonder what the answer is? So what did you say?"

Lucia looked at Jeremiah with strange eyes and asked.

"Not at all. I was about to answer that we have no relationship."

Jeremiah cut off the playful atmosphere with a low voice. He did not like this atmosphere and conversation at all.

"I see. That's not fun."

Lucia's expression and voice were filled with laughter as she spoke, pretending to be surprised.

"It's because people are so stiff and boring."

The Emperor clicked his tongue at Jeremiah.

"Why did you want to see me?"

Jeremiah asked without caring, wanting to finish quickly and go back to Karina.

"There's a reason I called you all together."

The Emperor continued the conversation, rubbing his chin with one hand.

"The people of the empire are trembling with anxiety due to the frequent appearance of monsters these days. So they say they will soon hold a purification ceremony at the temple."

"A purification ritual?"

When the topic of the temple came up, Lucia began to explain as if she was prepared.

"This is a prayer service to purify the abnormal magic that has spread throughout the empire and to pray for peace and safety for the empire. As this is an important ceremony, we would like to ask His Highness the Grand Duke of Colesburg and His Majesty the Emperor to attend."

She nodded politely as she finished speaking.

"I have decided to accept the temple's request. I am worried that the people of the empire will become anxious since the demons have appeared in the capital."

David responded calmly to the Emperor's words.

"I see. Then is there anything else you would like me to do?"

He looked as if he didn't know why he had been called here.

"The Crown Prince must go to the temple on my behalf."

"Yes?"

"As the Emperor of the Empire, I cannot leave my post due to important business. So, you will have to go in my place."

"Yes."

David hid his bitter smile and answered in a feminine tone.

"It would be a great honor if Your Majesty were to come, but I feel it would be a waste to continue to ask you, as you are busy ruling the empire. The temple would be delighted if His Highness the Crown Prince were to come."

Lucia smiled brightly.

"If you understand, everyone, get ready and go. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in a week."

The Emperor commanded.

"Thank you for your consideration in accepting the temple's request, Your Majesty."

"It's only natural, for the peace of the empire."

In that way, participation was decided without any reflection of the opinions of the parties involved. 

***

At that moment, Karina stared intently at the vial of medicine in front of her. Croana was a drug that was not yet well known to people. The Marquis must have mentioned the name because he thought she didn't know anything about it.

"Feed this to the Grand Duke and tell him if there is anything that makes you sad or disappointed. If you feed him this, the Grand Duke will have to give you whatever you want. If you want a divorce, he will divorce you without a second thought."

It seems that when he came last time, he realized that threats didn't work and changed his method to persuasion.

'If you say you'll give me what I want, I'm sure you mean you'll blackmail Jeremiah with the antidote.'

"This is an important task, and you absolutely cannot fail. Do you understand?"

As Karina listened to the Marquis's repeated and firm words, a question suddenly occurred to me.

'That medicine my father gave me in the past... Was that really a pregnancy pill?'

If the medicine her father had given her back then had also been Croana... She felt a chill seep into her lungs as she walked through the eerie household.

'No. That can't be true.'

Karina quickly erased the rising assumption.

"There can't be a single mistake."

"No. I don't need it, so I'll decline."

Karina got up from the sofa with determination.

"Rejection? Did you just say rejection?"

The Marquis snorted and made a mockery of himself.

"I'll be clear, Karina. You're not in a position to refuse. This is your last chance to prove your worth."

'Last chance to prove your worth?'

Karina's eyebrows furrowed. Up until now, she had lived a life of bitter regret despite having listened well. In the past, she had obediently followed everything the Marquis told her to do. And the result was a lonely death. Like a completely used and discarded tool.

'I won't play dumb anymore.'

She had no intention of being swayed by the Marquis. Karina had a cold expression on her face that was as cold as a needle. She was so strong that not even a needle could go in. Then...

"I didn't know you could be this incomprehensible."

The Marquis spoke in an irritated voice as if he was frustrated.

"You're not so stupid as to not know what kind of ending those useless things met, are you? And you're still going to refuse?"

"Yes."

Tsk tsk. 

The Marquis narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"You are the one who is blocking my path."

It was a look of pity and foolishness.

"You will regret it."

The Marquis warned in a low voice.

"I've already regretted enough."

Karina's heart was not shaken. After she left, the Marquis was left alone in the lounge, his lips twitching.

"You idiot. Maybe it's because you take after your own mother, but you can't communicate. Then, in the end, that's the only way."

His eyes were shining dangerously, but no one saw it. 

***

Jeremiah returned to the banquet hall to find Karina after his audience with the Emperor. He was crossing the banquet hall to go to the lounge where Karina was. At that time.

"Your Highness!"

A Saintess appeared behind him.

"Please talk to me privately for a moment."

"I don't really have anything else to say?"

Then, a question suddenly occurred to him and stopped him in his tracks.

"Saintess. Have you ever met my wife before?"

He was concerned that Karina had a strange reaction to seeing the Saintess. So he asked her outright. If something had happened between them, it would be good for him to know.

"No. Is this the first time we've met?"

"I see."

Jeremiah's expression darkened slightly.

"I see you care a lot about the Grand Duchess."

Lucia said with a meaningful expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Just. It seems a lot different from what I've heard."

"What did you hear?"

"..."

An odd silence fell between them.

"I guess you're not feeling too well. You seem quite chilly."

Lucia shrugged her shoulders as if trying to lighten the mood.

"I don't know what my feelings have to do with the Saintess."

Lucia laughed at his words and immediately changed the subject.

"Your Highness, do you believe in fate?"

"Rate?"

Jeremiah, who seemed to be thinking for a moment and did not answer, opened his mouth again.

"It could be."

He didn't believe in fatalism, but if there was one, he was sure that his destiny would definitely be Karina. A smile spread across his lips as he thought of Karina. Lucia smiled at Jeremiah's affirmation.

"That's fortunate. You didn't reject your fate."

"I don't know why you're suddenly bringing up the subject of fate, but if you don't have anything more to say, I'll be going now."

He turned around and his eyes met with Karina's, who was not far away.

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