"Are you okay?"
"What?"
Karina looked at him with a puzzled face.
'What's wrong with me?'
When Karina stared at him, saying she had no idea, Mikhail smirked.
"No, just."
He slowly reached out and gently stroked Karina's hair.
"You've been riding a carriage all day today. Aren't you tired from the long journey?"
He leaned closer to Karina, arched his eyes, and smiled prettily.
"I can use healing magic on you. What do you think?"
Karina hesitated for a moment at his whisper. She wasn't that tired physically. The reason she felt tired was more mental than physical. She thought that just getting some fresh air like this would be enough. And didn't Mikhail come a long way with her? Karina shook her head.
"No, it's okay."
"Really? I have a lot of magic left right now."
Mikhail showed his sullen expression openly. He looked like a child who couldn't eat the candy in front of him and pouts, so Karina almost laughed.
"Aren't you having a hard time because you have so much work to do? You seem really busy these days."
She had secretly prepared a lot of work for him, who was already busy. On top of that, he had to follow her all the way to the temple as her escort. She felt sorry for burdening him.
"Not at all. Anything Karina tells me to do is not difficult at all."
Mikhail answered lightly and tucked Karina's hair behind her ear.
"By the way, what happened to the work I gave you?"
"It's going to take some time, but it's going well. And I was going to tell you anyway."
"Yes?"
"Look at this."
Mikhail took out a small, white, circular pendant and held it out in front of Karina.
"What is this?"
The pendant was densely engraved with intricate patterns or phrases that were difficult to understand.
"Actually, the Master gave it to me because he thought it would be helpful to Karina. He said that if you used it, you would be able to strengthen your connection with the weakened dragon."
"Connection with the Dragon?"
Karina's eyes opened wide.
"Then can I meet the dragon again?"
Karina had so many questions to ask when they met again.
"It would probably be possible for a short time."
Karina's heart grew impatient at his affirmation.
"What should I do? Tell me right now."
"Close your eyes for a moment and hold this in your hand."
Karina did as he said. Mikhail breathed his magic into Karina's hand holding the pendant. A warm energy began to emanate from her, just like when receiving healing magic. However, the energy quickly disappeared as if it had been absorbed by the pendant.
"Hmm?"
He tilted his head as if something was strange. He breathed his magic again, but the result was the same as before.
"Are you defective? Why Isn't there any response?"
Mikhail scratched his chin awkwardly.
"I originally thought that if I just touched the contractor, there would be some kind of reaction. Is it because it's so old?"
Seeing the faint disappointment on Karina's face, he quickly added.
"I'll ask the Master again. It might work out over time, so keep it for now."
"Yeah, I understand."
Karina looked at the delicately engraved pendant with regretful eyes and put it in her pocket. Just as she was thinking that she should go back to her room, she suddenly felt a gaze and looked around. Then, her eyes met with Lucia's, who was looking at them.
"...!"
'What? Since when have you been watching me?'
The saint gave a meaningful smile to the bewildered Karina.
"..."
'It doesn't seem malicious...'
Even so, Karina had no intention of smiling back at her.
"Let's go back, Mikhail."
"Yes."
Karina took him straight back to her room.
***
"Excuse me, Your Grace. Dinner is ready."
The lord's second daughter came to Karina and told her that dinner was ready.
"I'll get it ready right away, so please wait a moment."
Jen, who had followed Karina to attend to her, quickly helped her get ready. After finishing her preparations, Karina went down to the restaurant that Young Lady had guided her to. The lord, his other family members, and Jeremiah were already seated in the restaurant. His face brightened when he found Karina entering the restaurant. However, since his expression did not change much, no one else noticed his condition except her. Karina went to the seat that had been prepared for her. Naturally, it was next to Jeremiah. His eyes were fixed on her. He couldn't help but feel nervous.
'You're not going to be like that the whole time you're eating, are you?'
As she sat down, the lord opened his mouth.
"The Saintess said she would eat separately because she had to treat the patients."
He winked at the empty seat of the Saintess.
"It's simple, but enjoy it to your heart's content."
"Thank you."
After Jeremiah's words, the restaurant was quiet for a while. Only the occasional clanking of dishes could be heard. However, no one was eating comfortably there. In particular, the lord had to constantly recall his memories to see if he had done anything wrong to Jeremiah.
'What on earth did I do wrong?'
It was because he seemed to be in a bad mood throughout their conversation today. The plan to introduce his daughters to him naturally went awry from the start in this icy atmosphere. He pretended not to notice his wife's disgruntled stare and tried to please him. It was the same even now. He ate halfway. He seemed to be constantly paying attention to the Grand Duchess next to him. The Grand Duchess, who was receiving that gaze, didn't seem to be in a good mood either.
The lord, who was glancing at the two of them and checking their moods, recalled his memories.
"The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess of Colesberg are about to divorce. His Majesty has given his permission. I am letting you know in advance so that you do not make any mistake, and you should arrange for separate rooms for them to stay in."
It was a separate instruction from the Crown Prince before they arrived. Since it was a call he received while they were preparing the room where they would stay, he immediately reflected on it. And he was a little excited when he heard that the divorce of the Grand Duke and his wife, which had been going on for a while, would be finalized soon. In this situation, he thought that if any of his daughters caught his eye, it would be an opportunity. As the owner of a small fiefdom, he thought that it would not be bad to get to know the Grand Duke even if it was not necessarily related to marriage.
However, he could not understand why the Grand Duke, who was the most important person in this matter, was so cold. Then suddenly. Now that he looked at it, he had placed the two people who would soon get divorced right next to him at the dinner table.
'Ah!'
The lord could sense that they were uncomfortable with each other.
'I should have paid attention to even these
little details!'
The Lord put down the utensils he was holding, sighing inwardly. It was because he judged that it would be better to quickly pay the tax and apologize.
"I'm so sorry!"
Everyone sitting in the restaurant's attention was focused on him as he gave an apology out of the blue without any explanation.
"I was short-sighted and didn't pay attention to the details. If you want, I'll change seats right away, so please be lenient just this once. I will never make this mistake again."
"What do you mean?"
Jeremiah asked with an expression that showed he did not understand what he was talking about. The lord, who took it as an inquiry, swallowed dry saliva.
"It seems like it's very uncomfortable for the two of you to sit next to each other..."
"Why the seat? What's wrong with it?"
Despite his answer, Jeremiah asked again.
'Huh? Isn't this it?'
The lord was confused, wondering if he had made a mistake. He felt like he had brought up the subject for no reason and made a fuss. He quickly changed the subject to end it.
"Oh, no, I thought you two were uncomfortable sitting next to each other. Excuse me."
The Lord smiled awkwardly and waved his hand, adding something else.
"But don't worry, we've already assigned you separate rooms. We wouldn't be so inconsiderate as to put a couple who are about to get divorced in the same room."
But his last words only added fuel to the fire.
"Who gets divorced these days?"
Jeremiah pressed him with a cold murderous intent. In an instant, it was as if the temperature inside the restaurant had dropped, giving him a chill.
"OMG!"
The lord's face turned pale as he faced his sharp aura right in front of him.
Clang!
Not only the family members around him, but even the servants who were carrying the food dropped their plates and utensils and froze in place. Their bodies trembled in fear as if they were prey to a wild beast.
"Tell me again. Who gets divorced?"
But Jeremiah didn't seem to have any intention of just letting it go.
"That is... The Crown Prince said that you will be getting a divorce soon... His Majesty has given his permission..."
The lord continued to speak in a halting manner, looking like he would not have been surprised if he had fallen backward, foaming at the mouth.
"What?"
On the other hand, Jeremiah's expression hardened when he heard that the Emperor had given his permission.
"Karina!"
As she left the restaurant after finishing her meal, Jeremiah immediately followed her.
"Come talk to me for a moment."
"Is there anything you want to talk about?"
The Emperor's permission was given, and they would soon divorce. It was simple and clear. Jeremiah caught her but she didn't look back.
"Even if the divorce is approved, nothing will change."
The hallway wasn't a very appropriate place to discuss divorce.
"Let's go to the room."
They moved into the room. As soon as they closed the door, Karina opened her mouth.
"I knew because His Highness the Crown Prince told me about it when he came to visit last time. He even said that he would prepare for divorce proceedings when he returned after the prayer service."
"..."
Jeremiah's fists clenched as he heard her words. The Crown Prince, who had come to see him a while ago, had kept talking nonsense and saying that he would hear good news soon and had disappeared after saying that he would see him at the prayer service.
'That son of a bitch only talked to Karina and didn't tell me on purpose.'
Jeremiah ground his teeth inwardly.
'Is this why Karina's attitude changed?'
It would have been understandable if she had misunderstood that his consent to the divorce had given him the Emperor's permission.
"Karina. I never agreed to a divorce. I never intend to divorce you."
He thought that everything would be okay once the misunderstanding was resolved. But that was just his mistake.
"No, Your Highness. We are getting a divorce."
Karina spoke as if declaring. Her voice was calm throughout the divorce. That made Jeremiah even more impatient.
"Karina. Are you really angry?"
Her sudden change in attitude made his heart sink. He was afraid that no matter what he did, her heart would not change.
"Trust me, I never once thought about divorcing you."
He had no intention of breaking up with Karina.
'Divorce is absolutely not allowed.'
He couldn't let her go. He would have clung to her and begged her if he could just keep her by his side. But Karina wouldn't even give him the chance.
"It doesn't matter what His Highness thinks. I want a divorce."
"..."
"I told you before, right? If I still want a divorce after the divorce mediation period, then I want a divorce."
"..."
"I don't want to be in this marriage any longer."
Her single word that she still wanted a divorce mercilessly tore at his heart.
"If I did anything wrong, please let me know. Please."
Jeremiah pleaded desperately. But.
"Even if I tell you, you won't understand."
Karina said calmly but firmly. Even if she told him that he had abandoned her and divorced her in the past, it wouldn't mean anything now. So just do it.
"Please divorce me."
She asked calmly.
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