In the end, everything was going in the same direction as before. All she had to do was come to her senses again.
'The end is set anyway. Nothing will change.'
She already knew what kind of ending awaited her. It was as if everything she had to do had already been decided.
'There's no need to worry about this problem.'
A self-deprecating laugh leaked out through her teeth. At first glance, it looked like a sigh. Even now, if she closed her eyes, she could easily recall it.
His cold face, looking down at her with eyes as cold as ice. His cold voice pierced her heart like a sharp knife, and his ruthless back as he turned away, leaving her as she begged and clung to him. As she recalled those memories, Karina's heart sank as if a cold wind had blown through her. She felt empty as if a corner of her heart had been pierced open.
'I won't be able to forget the past anyway.'
Now, it was something that had never happened, but the large wound that remained remained as an ugly scar on her heart and could not be erased. It was impossible to bury the memories of the past as if they had never happened.
'I shouldn't have wavered in the first place.'
Even if Jeremiah's feelings toward her are true now.
'Can I trust him till the end?'
She had no confidence. Her heart had long since become torn and worn out like a rag, too worn to hold on to just one emotion like love that could change at any time. Even her heart, which she thought would never change, had eventually broken. Her eyes sank deeply.
As if he had noticed Karina's condition, David continued.
"His Majesty said that he was upset because he felt that he had imposed too much burden on the Grand Duchess. He said that he would now listen to the Grand Duchess' wishes."
"I see."
"I thought the Grand Duchess wanted a divorce. Was I mistaken?"
"No. Your Highness the Crown Prince is right. I want a divorce. I was just a little surprised by the suddenness of it."
Her voice had become hard at some point.
"Well, that's good."
David looked satisfied.
"His Majesty has told me to stop by the north on my way back after finishing the prayer service and pack your things so that I can prepare for the divorce while the Grand Duchess is visiting the temple."
"All right."
Karina had already packed everything up when she left there. There was nothing left to pack up.
'I just have to go to the temple and get a divorce.'
Now that the Emperor's permission has been granted, the divorce preparations will proceed smoothly without any obstacles. Thinking about all the efforts she has made so far, she feels a little empty.
"Oh, by the way."
David took a sip of his tea, paused for a moment, and then asked.
"Are you in touch with the Marquis?"
Why is the story of the Marquis of Milliner mentioned here?
"I saw him recently at the palace banquet hall, but we don't keep in touch very often. My father doesn't like the idea of me getting a divorce."
She told him back that she had never contacted the Marquis before.
"I guess that's what it must be like from the Marquis' perspective."
He nodded as if it was obvious, then added in a slightly lower voice.
"You'd better watch out for him."
Karina wondered if David knew something and was saying it. She had already asked Mikhail to do something because she was worried about the Marquis. However, seeing the Crown Prince pay special attention to her like this, she thought it wouldn't hurt to be a little more prepared.
"Yes. Thank you for your concern."
***
A few days later, Karina and Jeremiah, who had finished preparing to attend the prayer service, boarded the carriage to go to the temple.
"Karina."
Jeremiah held out his hand to her as she tried to get into the carriage.
Karina stared at the hand he extended, then took it a beat later.
"..."
"Thank you."
With a light greeting, she smiled softly. Her expression and voice were the same as usual. Her actions had not changed much either. But for some reason, Jeremiah could not shake the feeling that she was treating him coldly. Even now, when they were sitting face to face in the carriage, she did not make eye contact with him.
"Is there anything uncomfortable?"
"No, there isn't."
Even while answering his questions, her gaze continued to wander away from him. Of course, it wasn't like she had met his gaze often before.
'It's different.'
It was a subtle difference, but it was definitely different. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it felt extremely businesslike. It wasn't just today. It was the same when he visited her room. She seemed reluctant to be in the same space as him, and she didn't talk to him unless it was absolutely necessary. She didn't even give him a glance, let alone talk to him.
Thinking back, it was after that day that he first felt something strange. That day a while ago, when the Saintess and the Crown Prince had visited. Jeremiah had to leave for a while to deal with the demons, and when he came back, something had happened with the Crown Prince.
'Karina. Did something happen?'
He had a strange feeling that day too, so he asked.
'No, nothing happened.'
The answer he got back was absolutely no. There was no sign of hiding anything or lying.
'But why are you suddenly avoiding me?'
Along with the sadness, a sense of disappointment came over her. It felt like an invisible wall had been built between her and him. The distance between them, as if they had grown farther apart, was suffocating. If only he could, he wanted to get rid of everything. However, Jeremiah was afraid that if he tried to force himself to get closer, Karina would reject him and push him away.
'Phew.'
His unspeakable sigh deepened.
***
Even though it was closer than the north, it was still a three-day ride from the capital to the shrine. They had to stop by towns along the way for meals and rest. They would ask for the understanding of the lord's castle to which the town belonged and stay for a night. The evening of the first day of departure came, and they arrived at the nearest lord's castle.
"Welcome."
"Welcome."
"I have prepared a room for His Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess and the Saintess. Please come inside."
The lord, his family, and his servants, who had been notified in advance, were waiting for them. While they were shown to their rooms and dinner was prepared for them, Karina wanted to move her body, which had been tired from sitting in the carriage all this time.
'I never knew it would be this hard to be in the same space with Jeremiah for so long.'
During the carriage ride, Jeremiah never took his eyes off her. His persistent gaze made her face sting. Unable to bear it any longer, Karina pretended to sleep halfway through the ride and came here.
'What if it keeps going like this?'
She frowned as she thought about how long it would take to get to the temple. Jeremiah was currently talking to the lord, so Karina was able to sneak out on her own.
'Let's go get some fresh air first.'
Karina left the castle and walked along the open road. Then she saw a familiar face walking towards her from the other side.
"Mikhail?"
When she called his name, he smiled brightly and strode toward her.
"Karina!"
Mikhail also followed her as her escort.
However, since he was staying in the castle, his room was assigned separately from the room where the knights were
"Why are you here? Didn't you just go to put your luggage in the room you were assigned?"
"For a room, I just need to know its location."
He said he was just checking out the place and was on his way back to her.
"Where are you going, Karina?"
"I just felt stuffy so I came out to get some air."
"Then shall we go for a walk together?"
As she nodded in agreement, he naturally stepped aside and moved to sit next to her. Karina and Mikhail walked slowly along the path. The path led to a large garden filled with flowers and bushes.
"It's well managed."
It was just as he said. Flowers of various colors were planted in rows, and beautifully arranged, and the garden trees were neatly pruned so that there were no branches that would get in the way when walking. The statues erected here and there in the middle of the garden blended into the landscape without any sense of incongruity, and there was a large pond in the center of the garden. Beyond the pond, there was a small shelter with a canopy installed.
"Shall we go over there and sit down?"
"Yes."
The two went to a shelter around the pond and sat down. The view of the garden from where they sat was also charming. The breeze blowing gently was also warm.
"Maybe it's because it's still close to the capital, but the garden is still so lush and green."
"That's right. It's really nice to have it like this."
Karina's face relaxed like a cat taking a nap in the warm afternoon sunlight. Mikhail smiled as he looked at her.
"I like it too."
The two people sitting side by side were leisurely enjoying their time. In the meantime, a commotion was heard from somewhere.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Karina looked around.
"Karina, look over there."
Mikhail pointed somewhere with his finger.
When she looked at the place he pointed to, there was a large garden full of people gathered. They were all nobles and commoners. The commonality was that they were all either sick or seriously injured, and their faces were pale. Several priests in white robes were leading the people who had gathered one by one.
“Ah.”
Karina immediately realized why they were gathered there: to seek healing from the Saintess.
Lucia was called by His Majesty the Emperor and had to rush back to the capital, so she couldn't visit all the patients.
'I hope to find at least one more person in need of treatment and help them on my way to the temple.'
Every time the Saintess stopped by a village, she would split her time off from her rest and sleep to gather the patients in the village and treat them. And she put her words into practice.
'That's amazing.'
It had not been long since they had arrived here. Karina had just caught her breath, but it felt strange to see the Saintess who had come a long way like her, continuing her healing service without rest.
'Can you do something like that with just a sense of mission?'
It was so amazing.
"Saintess!"
A man with a disgusting appearance, with pus and pus spreading across his face, hung on to Lucia's sleeve, ignoring her turn.
"It hurts so much! Please! Please help me."
Even in the crowded crowd, people were far away from him. Even though he was out of turn, no one stopped him, just making faces and yelling at him to go back. It seemed like they were afraid of getting infected, so they didn't approach him. It was a situation where it would be natural to frown in discomfort, but Lucia didn't frown even once. She gave him a kind smile and reassured him as he cried and clung to her.
"Don't worry. I will treat you."
The Saintess boldly touched the patient's pus and wounds with her bare hands and used her divine power. A sacred halo of light enveloped her body, and pure white divine power emanated from her hands. The light was not simply bright but also had a strong sense of purity and sublimity.
'Wow.'
Karina exclaimed inwardly. It was the first time in her life, past or present, that she had seen Lucia use her divine powers so closely. It was a noble and pure light that made her feel as if her heart was being purified. The halo of light enveloped the patient's body and soon shone brightly. When the light subsided, the hideous wound had healed as if it had been washed away.
"Ohhh!"
"Oh my God! This is a miracle!"
The people around them who witnessed the scene cheered in admiration.
"Ahhh... !! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
The person who received the treatment knelt before the Saintess and shed tears.
"As expected, you are someone who is loved by God!"
"She is an angel sent to us by God!"
Among the people, words of praise and admiration for the Saintess invariably spread. Seeing this in person, Karina felt like she understood why people praised Lucia so much.
"She really is a Saintess."
To the people, the saint was truly a miracle, a blessing bestowed by God.
"Karina, are you okay?"
Mikhail, who was watching her from the side, suddenly asked.
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