Chapter 67
In the early dawn, Alejandro left the mansion and gave orders to Emil.
“Have you secured Rebecca’s statement?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Based on that, start the search. There’s a witch among the enemy.”
Emil flinched.
“Huh, this is really not an easy opponent.”
Alejandro laughed fiercely. The Empress had never been an easy opponent, not since she tried to kill young Alejandro.
“Keep an eye on the Empress’s movements. She won’t back down easily.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And send the ghost to the physician to have the poison gas analyzed and prepare an antidote.”
Having given those instructions, Alejandro turned his gaze towards the mansion. It was the mansion where Evelina was peacefully sleeping.
Alejandro narrowed his eyes.
‘Why are you so difficult?’
It was an unfathomable situation. He had thought she would be the easiest, yet Evelina turned out to be the most difficult in the world.
Other women risked their lives to spend a night with Alejandro. There were women who, both by coercion and by choice, snuck into Alejandro’s bedroom. But Alejandro had never crossed that line.
Evelina, with eyes full of affection more than anyone else, seemed to have no intention of crossing that line. Sometimes, it felt like he was being toyed with by Evelina.
While she looked at Alejandro with a moist gaze, whenever he reached out his hand, she took a step back.
If Evelina hadn’t struggled to avoid Alejandro last night and hadn’t come out of the bath with such a frightened expression, Alejandro would have embraced her without any hesitation.
“Why… do you have that expression?”
Alejandro stared at Emil with red eyes. Emil flinched at the sudden encounter.
“What kind of expression do you think I’m making?”
“It seems… you’ve been hurt.”
Alejandro let out a snicker. That couldn’t be true. Was he really such a soft person that he would be hurt over something like this?
“That’s nonsense.”
“Is there a problem with Countess Regnis?”
“I don’t know.”
“Excuse me?”
“It seems like she’ll accept everything, but in reality, she doesn’t accept anything at all.”
“Have you… confessed your feelings?”
“Confessed what?”
Alejandro asked coldly.
“A confession of love.”
Emil said it as if it were obvious. In this situation, what other confession could there be?
“Is there any reason to do that?”
“Excuse me?”
“Anyway, Evelina is mine. Does that feeling even matter? It’s something irreversible, and I have no reason to let her go. And she needs me too.”
“That’s true, but… emotions can’t be logically organized, can they?”
Alejandro frowned, looking confused. He couldn’t understand Emil’s words.
“Regardless, being physically together is the same. Does the process change the result?”
Emil opened his mouth.
“Uh, well, that’s true. Still… there are moments when words are important, right? You might achieve a better outcome.”
Discussing the outcome of love. Emil clicked his tongue inwardly. This was beyond redemption.
“Such uncertainties are not eternal.”
Alejandro’s gaze turned towards the royal palace.
“Rather, they can lead to more destructive outcomes.”
Emil bit his lip. He realized he could no longer persuade Alejandro with any words. A deep loneliness was evident in him. Emil understood Alejandro, and at the same time…
‘Sigh, he’ll only come to his senses after getting rejected.’
He criticized.
Anyway, that guy lives for his own self-importance.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Around noon, a similar situation was unfolding in Dreily, on the outskirts of the capital, and in the slums.
“Why are you blocking the road!”
“It’s an order from the royal family. You cannot leave this place.”
A knight in a cloak bearing the royal seal spoke stiffly. The residents of the slums stared at the knight with blank expressions.
“Does that even make sense? My child is sick! I need to go out and buy medicine right now…!”
“The order has been given that the people of Dreily cannot leave. You can come in, but you cannot go out!”
“What kind of nonsense is this?!”
A few strong young men from the village rushed forward. Among those joining the commotion were travelers as well.
“Open the gate right now! Do you know who my father is?!”
Some were using their status to cause trouble.
“Who issued this order!”
“Who else could it be but someone acting on behalf of the royal family?”
The knight spoke as if it were a nuisance and began pushing people back inside.
“Dreili will be closed until this epidemic ends.”
“The Crown Prince…!”
“This is unfair! Are we supposed to just starve to death?”
“My father will never stand by and do nothing!”
The crowd erupted in protest. The knight yawned and turned his head away. He had no interest in the complicated matters of his superiors. As a knight receiving a salary, he only needed to carry out his orders well.
Like closing Dreili.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“The Crown Prince’s tyranny. Where are they supposed to go?”
“The desperate cries of those dying. The Crown Prince turns a blind eye.”
Articles targeting Alejandro poured out.
All the effort he had put into building up his popularity was crumbling at once.
“How annoying.”
He let out a deep sigh. As if waiting for the moment, they were talking about Alejandro’s curse and the epidemic. Anyone would think Alejandro had spread the disease himself.
In such a situation, I was heading to the temple.
“Alex.”
“It’s been a while! Have you been well?”
“We see each other every week, so what? Was there anything unusual at the temple?”
“Well, yes. The priest who helps with lessons and prayers has changed!”
“What?”
Alex smiled innocently.
“They say they’ve been assigned to serve Her Holiness the Pope more closely! Isn’t that great? Priestess NJ is really amazing!”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
A perfect and faithful belief. This child had no thought that the Pope of Rendia would harm NJ. Most of the children training in the temple to gain divine power are those who have lost their parents.
To those like them, the Pope was like a parent.
The Pope was devouring her own children.
“How long has Priestess NJ been gone?”
“Um, about three days, I think. I’m not sure. But why?”
“…I couldn’t even say goodbye.”
Is there anything I can do? In this temple, even Lucifer cannot exert power.
[You can if you give all your blood.]
Does that mean I should die? Can you be quiet for a bit?
And there was no one else I could bring in besides Rebecca. Glancing at Rebecca, I saw her listening with a calm expression.
My heart is troubled, but there’s nothing I can do.
At that moment, Adrian and a priest I had never seen before were waiting for me.
“Evelina, how have you been?”
“Well… Ah.”
Now that I think about it, Adrian! Adrian was here! Didn’t Pope Rendia listen to everything Adrian said? No, even so, how could I explain this situation to Adrian and ask for help? Adrian might be an accomplice too.
But isn’t it better than doing nothing? At this rate, I would feel uncomfortable the whole time. Hesitating, I finally spoke up.
“Um, Adrian, do you know where Priestess NJ has gone?”
“Um?”
Adrian tilted his head.
“I don’t know either. What did they say about where Priestess NJ went?”
Adrian’s smile was deep. He looked as kind as ever.
“Don’t worry about unnecessary things, Evelina. The temple has its own circumstances.”
“Evelina.”
Adrian looked at me with a deep gaze. There was a strange light in Adrian’s eyes. He warned me in a low voice.
“Don’t get involved in things you can’t take responsibility for. It’s best to avoid dangerous situations as much as possible.”
“Ah, Adrian.”
In that moment, I realized.
Adrian was neither ignorant nor harmless. He knew everything. He knew why the Pope had taken NJ away.
And he knew why the Empress had brought me here, as well as my true identity.
“I only get involved in things I can handle. That way, I can protect you, Evelina, so beautifully, right?”
Adrian flicked my cheek lightly. Even that simple gesture sent chills down my spine.
You bastard.
