"Phew."
Karina let out a long sigh and pressed one hand to her temple.
'I definitely refused and left.'
But she still couldn't put her mind at ease. The Marquis wasn't the type of person to give up easily. Didn't he boast that she would regret it right before she left?
'He clearly said it was the last chance.'
Since she refused, he will definitely use other means.
'I don't know what that is, though.'
It was inevitable that a bad aftertaste would linger.
'Let's go back and think about it.'
After being harassed by the Saintess and the Marquis one after another, Karina was already exhausted. If Jeremiah isn't here, she should go alone. Thinking this, she returned to the banquet hall first. When she arrived at the banquet hall, she felt people looking in one direction and making a fuss.
'What's going on?'
Karina looked around with a puzzled expression at where people's eyes were focused. At the end of their gaze were Lucia and Jeremiah.
"Who is that woman talking to His Highness the Grand Duke?"
"How can someone be so pure and clean?"
"Just look at that hair. Her skin is as smooth and white as porcelain. I would believe it even if you said an angel came down to you!"
They were admiring Lucia, who had washed up and dressed up in a dress. Lucia, who had definitely found her original appearance, was incredibly beautiful. Her platinum blonde hair, which seemed to be made of light, and her purple eyes, which were as radiant as sparkling jewels. Her long, straight eyelashes, her delicate features, her rosy cheeks, and her moderately pretty red lips. Her soft, ringing voice and her good looks further enhanced her pure and noble appearance.
"She is a Saintess!"
Someone recognized her and shouted.
"I can tell by those shining blonde hair and those rare purple eyes."
"Oh my! If she were a Saintess, she would travel around the empire and treat the sick without any compensation."
"Oh, how kind she is."
Everyone praised and supported her.
"Now that I look at it, doesn't it seem like His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Colesburg and the Saintess are secretly close?"
"These two handsome men and beautiful women look really good together."
At their words, Karina unconsciously took in the two of them. She had not acknowledged it before, but now she did. The two of them were a good match, just like a picture. However, it was uncomfortable to continue to see them like that. She did not want to hear the gossip of those who paired the Saintess and Jeremiah together any longer.
'Let's go back for now.'
Karina pushed aside the unpleasant thoughts that were slowly rising in her mind and approached Jeremiah. When she was about seven steps away,
"Do you believe in fate?"
It was far away so she couldn't be sure, but she heard it clearly. It seemed like Lucia was telling Jeremiah about her destiny. Suddenly, a groundless confidence arose in her, out of nowhere.
'I'll be right back, so just wait a moment. Come back with me.'
As she recalled what he had said, a vague sense of anticipation came to her that things might still be okay. Karina secretly thought that Jeremiah would be childish and cut her off like a knife. He was not the type of person to believe in such unrealistic things. However.
"It could be."
“...!?”
Her expectations were pleasantly off. Jeremiah answered positively. He didn't completely agree, but his answer was not much different from saying that he thought it was true. He even had a small smile on his face, so she couldn't help but acknowledge it.
'Maybe there really is such a thing as fate.'
If it were possible to change someone who wasn't like that in an instant, it seemed like it could only be explained as fate.
'Because for me, it was impossible no matter how hard I tried for a long time.'
Bitterness spread across Karina's face and then darkened. At that moment, Jeremiah turned his head and their eyes met.
"...!"
Karina, who was surprised as if she had been caught peeping, quickly left the place. She had not done anything wrong, but she felt like she was running away. Even so, she did not stop walking. Today was too mentally exhausting and difficult. At least for now, she did not think she could stand seeing those two together any longer. Even though their eyes had clearly met.
"Karina?"
Karina turned away as if she hadn't seen him and hurriedly left the banquet hall. Jeremiah, who had been frozen for a moment as he watched her back moving away, quickly came to his senses. It was a long distance, but it was far enough for him to notice that her expression was strange. He started to follow her.
"Wait a minute."
Lucia grabbed Jeremiah's arm and stopped him.
"Before attending the prayer service at the temple, there are some things I would like to discuss in advance. I would like to speak with you privately, Your Highness the Grand Duke."
Lucia whispered softly so that only he could hear her as if she was pushing her words back. Jeremiah looked down at the arm that Lucia was holding with an annoyed expression. The temple prayers or whatever were of no importance to him at the moment. For some reason, Karina had left with a hurt expression.
Jeremiah spoke coldly in a low voice.
"Let go of this. Now."
"!"
Lucia flinched at the bitter cold blast coming from him and let go of his hand. Jeremiah turned around without hesitation.
Left alone, Lucia stood there as if she was nailed to the spot, staring at Jeremiah who was quickly disappearing with a strange look. However, when she was greeted by the people who soon came rushing in, her expression quickly disappeared and she smiled brightly. David was quietly watching them from a little distance away.
"This is true."
The Saintess was openly showing interest and affection for Jeremiah.
"Is work going to be fun?"
He moistened his dry lips as he recalled Karina's stiff reaction when she first saw the Saintess.
"I guess I can play a little more with the Grand Duchess."
He raised the corners of his mouth and smirked at the prospect of another opportunity soon. The strange smile grew even deeper.
***
Karina quickly went down the stairs that led from the banquet hall entrance to where the carriage was waiting.
"What is all this..."
Annoyed at herself for getting upset over such a trivial situation, Karina tried to suppress the emotions that were welling up in her.
'Don't worry about it. There's no need for me to wish for your happiness.'
Her hands, which were holding the hem of her dress, became even more tense. At that moment.
"Karina!"
Jeremiah followed her from behind, calling her urgently.
"...?"
Karina looked back with a puzzled expression. She had thought that he would be talking more with Lucia in the banquet hall, but Jeremiah followed Karina out, leaving her behind. He quickly caught up with her and asked with a worried expression.
"Karina. Why are you looking like that? What happened?"
"..."
When she heard his voice asking in a sorrowful and pitiful tone, her throat felt like it had been choked up, and she couldn't answer easily.
"Tell me. Please."
He carefully took Karina's hand, but Karina's reaction was cold.
'If he believes in fate.'
Now that the destined partner who received the will of God had appeared before him, she hoped that they would not be entangled with each other any longer. A cold voice flowed out of Karina's mouth as she pulled her hand away from him.
"Go back."
If he couldn't be connected to Lucia anyway, she didn't want to give him any room to do so. If it was God's will for him to be connected to Lucia, she wanted to yell at him not to drag her into the process. Whether or not they were destined to be together.
'I just had to leave.'
Why was I acting like such an idiot?
A hollow laugh seemed to be about to burst out. Instead of letting those thoughts out, Karina bit her lip. She still had the presence of mind not to tell Jeremiah all of these things.
"Yes."
"..."
In the quiet silence, his calm answer came through clearly. When she heard him say yes, tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.
'If it was going to happen anyway, why did you keep confusing people and shaking them up until now!'
She was moved.
'You confessed that you were the only one and said you would wait for my answer!'
Karina became even angrier as she recalled what had happened in the charnel house. She felt so foolish and pathetic that she had even wavered for a moment, and she felt ashamed of herself. That soon turned into anger and resentment.
'Did you come after me just to give me that answer?'
The heat rushed to her face and her anger rose. Karina was finally unable to calm down and was about to snap at him.
"If it's going to be like this...!"
Before she could say anything, Jeremiah came close to her and hugged Karina tightly.
"Huh! What are you doing...?!"
Karina was quite embarrassed. Jeremiah, who was holding her, had a certain firm expression on his face.
"Let's go back right now."
He looked down at Karina and spoke very affectionately.
"Yes?"
"If you're having a hard time, you don't need to stay here. You should go home and rest."
He began to walk briskly towards the carriage, still holding her in his arms.
'What? Why is Jeremiah like this? Didn't he believe in fate too?'
Karina, who was in a state of confusion, forgot that she had been angry for a moment, and continued to speak, blinking her wide-open eyes.
"You... Shouldn't you be with the Saintess? Can you leave her alone?"
She knew it was a stupid question, but she was so surprised and embarrassed that it just blurted out.
"..."
However, he looked at Karina with an
expression of incomprehension and asked back.
"Why should I leave you alone?"
"That's the fate of you and the Saintess..."
Her voice became quiet as if she was crawling, but Jeremiah heard it clearly.
"Who said such nonsense?"
His expression suddenly distorted.
"That is..."
Karina opened her mouth a few times, then awkwardly avoided his gaze and lowered her gaze to the floor.
"When I greeted the Saintess earlier, the two of you seemed close..."
She trailed off. Then Jeremiah denied it with a serious face.
"Not at all. I only saw the Saintess a few times when we were working together to subdue demons."
"..."
"Really."
As if trying to calm the confused Karina, Jeremiah caught her gaze again and emphasized in a firm voice.
"If there really is such a thing as fate, my fate is Karina, and only you."
His gaze as he looked at Karina was straight. There was not an inch of wavering in his voice as if he was stating an absolute truth.
"It has nothing to do with the Saintess."
'Ah.'
At his words, Karina's fluttering heart calmed down as if it were a lie. It felt strange to feel that he thought of her as his top priority. Even more than the Saintess Lucia.
'Why?'
I
Karina couldn't understand, but why did his words sound so believable?
"Don't worry. I won't have any reason to meet the Saintess outside of official duties."
Although his words had no weight, his sincerity was conveyed to Karina with a deep feeling.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"..."
His assertive attitude filled a corner of her heart as if she had found an oasis in the desert. Karina buried her blushing face in his arms and nodded slightly.
"Now let's really go back."
Only then did Jeremiah breathe a sigh of relief.
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