"...!"
Karina's eyes widened at the mention of turning back time. Her own time had also gone back to the past. It was a story of a similar situation to hers. Karina, who was lost in thought, quivered with her lips before asking.
"So, what was the ending?"
"The warrior's wife and child eventually died when the time came. They gave up their lives and returned to the earth."
"..."
"And at the moment they died, the warrior next to them also aged greatly and died along with them."
"Yes?"
"To maintain the dragon contract, the warrior used up all of his life force. And the moment they died, the warrior's life force also ended and everything returned to how it was before."
"..."
A heavy silence fell for a while in the room they were in.
"It's too... terrible an ending to tell children."
Karina broke the silence by laughing hollowly.
"That's right. So they say the story behind the hero who saved the empire was told as an anecdote."
It was worth it. Unlike the hopeful story that came before, the ending was extremely bitter. Pavel asked her, who had been silent after hearing the whole story.
"Let me ask you. Did Madam return from the future to the past?"
"..."
Pavel went over each part he had doubts about.
"You bought up the entire Weln region, which was considered useless land? Before they discovered that there were large deposits of diamonds there. And I heard that every business you invested in hit the jackpot. You even prepared for situations that would happen as if you had seen the future."
Pavel had already heard everything about Karina from Mikhail.
"Based on that, I guess this anecdote is the most similar situation to the current situation. What do you think?"
"..."
Karina couldn't answer for a moment and just blinked.
"I see."
Pavel nodded his head as if he understood her reaction.
"Because in this world, not only believable things happen."
Karina, her cheeks stiff, felt as if she was being thrown to the bottom of the deep sea. Hearing that story, she really realized that she didn't have much time left.
"So am I going to die soon? How much time do I have left?"
"I think Madam would know better."
He was right. Until the moment she died in the past. Then, at most, there were three years left... No, about two and a half years left. It was a long time if it was long, and a short time if it was short. Karina, who was about to divorce Jeremiah and leave in search of her own happiness, was in deep despair. Karina's despair grew even more as Pavel continued to speak.
"That is assuming that the Duke of Colesberg keeps his contract intact. If he doesn't even have that..."
Pavel hesitated for a moment and then continued.
"The day Madam die could be today or it could be tomorrow."
"Ah..."
Karina was speechless. What on earth was she supposed to do?
"Don't worry, Karina. I won't let you do that."
Mikhail carefully hugged her as she became thoughtful.
"No matter what happens, I will definitely find a way for Karina to survive!"
Meanwhile, at the same time that Karina woke up, Jeremiah, who was in the next room, also woke up.
"Your Highness! Are you alright?"
Lucia was delighted to see Jeremiah. awake.
"Where is my wife?"
As soon as Jeremiah opened his eyes, he looked for Karina.
"She is currently receiving treatment in the room next door. So don't worry, Her Highness the Grand Duchess will also receive treatment..."
Before the Saintess could finish speaking, Jeremiah jumped up. But...
"Ugh!"
As if it were an extension of the pain he felt in his consciousness. Along with a headache that felt like his head was going to burst, the pain came rushing in all over his body as if it were being torn apart. It was difficult to even breathe as it felt like his heart had been pierced by a sharp spear.
"Look at that. Right now, you need to take it easy and not push yourself too hard."
Lucia tried to lay him back down on the bed.
"No need."
Right now, Jeremiah's top priority is checking Karina's condition.
"Your Highness!"
He finally shook off the Saintese's hand and got up. Then he headed toward the room where Karina was. The door where Karina was was slightly open. He stopped abruptly in front of the door as he was about to enter. It was because of the sound of conversation he heard inside...
"Karina... is dying."
"...!?"
For a moment, Jeremiah's eyes filled with shock and confusion.
'She's dying?'
Just imagining it made his heart pound. He listened to the explanation of the following magic tower without missing a single word. Jeremiah, who overheard the conversation inside, was shocked. As Pavel had seen, the dragon called him a contractor.
"They could only survive in the past."
"Actually, the dragon didn't save the warrior's wife and child. He just turned back time a little."
"..."
If Pavel's guesses were all correct. If the memories he had seen of her in her consciousness were all of her past experiences. If it was true that Karina had returned to time through the contract he had made with the dragon...
'But in the end, you in the past couldn't trust me.'
What she said made the vague guess clear.
"Let me ask you. Did Madam return from the future to the past?"
"..."
Jeremiah lowered his head and bit his lower lip at Karina's appearance which did not deny it. He already knew Karina's answer, and he felt a suffocating despair. He unconsciously tried his best to ignore it and not admit it. But the one who had treated her coldly and despised her, and driven her into loneliness and pain, was himself. No matter how much he denied that the cruel person in her memories was not him, it was no use.
'Because that was me. So it's no wonder she can't trust me.'
His face was distorted in pain.
"So am I going to die soon? How much time do I have left?"
'Ah.'
His heart felt like it was going to burst when he saw her casually asking about the time left.
"That is assuming that the Duke of Colesberg keeps his contract intact. If he doesn't even have that..."
Jeremiah felt his blood boil at the words that followed.
"The day Madam die could be today or it could be tomorrow."
'No! Absolutely not!!!'
He couldn't just let Karina die. But he already felt it. If things continued like this, he wouldn't be able to maintain his contract with the dragon. Ever since he went to the magic tower to pick Karina up last time, he felt his physical condition deteriorating rapidly. Even after returning to the empire, his body started to feel a little strange, and things he normally did without any problems became difficult and burdensome. But he could never give up on Karina.
'No matter what happens.'
Karina had to be protected even if it meant dying. At that time.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke."
"...!"
Lucia was standing behind him, wondering when he had arrived. She spoke to Jeremiah with an expressionless face.
"Do you want to save the Grand Duchess?"
"...!!"
Jeremiah looked at the Saintess with strength In his eyes.
"With my divine power, the Grand Duchess can live."
"What?"
"His Highness the Grand Duke's power has been greatly weakened. If what he just said is true, His Highness the Grand Duchess won't live long. Right?"
Lucia asked curiously if she had heard the conversation coming from inside. Jeremiah simply kept his mouth shut, unable to deny what she had said. Lucia spoke as if she had seen right through his mind.
"You can already feel it. If things continue like this, Your Highness will not be able to protect the Grand Duchess. Her Highness the Grand Duchess himself will probably not be safe either."
"..."
"Are you going to let it all go like this without doing anything?"
Jeremiah was deeply silent and in agony. He wanted to protect Karina.
"What do you want?"
When Jeremiah asked, the Saintess smiled and answered with the corners of her lips raised.
"Marry me. Then I will use my divine power to become Your Highness's strength. Then I can protect You, Her Highness, the North, and everything Your Highness holds dear."
"So what you're saying is, are you telling me to divorce Karina and marry you?"
"Yes."
Jeremiah's fist clenched. He had to save Karina, but he didn't think he could survive if he let her go.
"I am..."
Jeremiah's lips trembled slightly. His throat trembled loudly as if he was forcibly swallowing an indescribable emotion. In the end, he was unable to answer.
"If it's difficult to answer right now, I'll wait. But..."
The Saintess tilted her head and whispered to him in a flat voice.
"If you want to save the Grand Duchess, I hope you make a wise choice."
***
In the middle of a wide space with neatly trimmed trees and smooth marble paths, Lucia entered the magnificent, tall building erected there. A neat interior, pure white and neatly decorated, appeared. In the distance, people were gathered in front of the prayer room. A priest surrounded by people praying was blessing them with a soft voice and gentle tone.
"May God bless you all."
"Thank you, Father."
"Thank you."
"May God bless you too, priest."
She saw those who had expressed their gratitude rushing out the front door. Lucia, who had been watching them, approached him who was left alone.
"Welcome, Lucia. I've been waiting for you."
As the Saintess entered the temple's prayer room, a handsome man wearing white priestly robes greeted her. It was the high priest, Emil.
"It's been a while, Emil."
The Saintess smiled brightly and cooed.
"Because two patients suddenly appeared, I couldn't properly greet you even after arriving at the temple."
"I guess so. I was surprised too."
Emil spoke, recalling the day the Saintess and Karina arrived at the temple.
"I can't tell you how surprised I was when the Grand Duke and his wife both came to me unconscious."
The Saintess nodded in agreement.
"How was it meeting the Grand Duchess?"
Emil asked.
"It wasn't as bad as I thought."
Lucia shrugged and replied.
"Actually, I thought things would be resolved easily since I knew that the Grand Duchess liked someone other than His Highness the Grand Duke, but I was wrong."
"..."
"It would have been better if it had been like that."
Lucia, with a regretful expression, spoke brightly again.
"But don't worry, I can marry His Highness the Grand Duke just as I want. Isn't that fortunate?"
Emil, who had been contemplating for a while whether or not to speak while looking at the Saintess, finally asked.
"Do you have to do it this way?"
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