<Wasn’t this a strategy game? Chapter 120>

In these chaotic times, the existence of the Saint was crucial for the Great Temple, so Sereman and the high-ranking priests put in all sorts of effort to persuade Eden, but they all failed.

If the opponent hadn’t been Jepar, they would have forcibly kept Eden there, but considering who they were dealing with, they couldn’t push back any harder.

Ibthan, too busy to even make it to the Temple, sent six letters in a row expressing his vehement opposition to Eden’s decision, yet that too was in vain.

The very reason Asmun made Eden a Saint was that the marriage of the Saint was a matter of her own free will, and once she had made up her mind, no one could stop her.

Moreover, once Jepar confirmed Eden’s answer, he wasted no time.

Naturally, he had been sure Eden would make such a choice, and he swiftly arranged all the procedures and sent a lavish escort to bring Eden to the Grand Duchy within a day.

“If you change your mind, feel free to come back anytime. This Empire desperately needs the Saint.”

Sereman, who had escorted Eden to the end, implored in a voice that was uncharacteristically earnest.

The news that the Saint who had descended after 200 years was marrying Grand Duke Jepar Yuren spread like wildfire across the Empire, leaving everyone outside the Grand Duchy in despair.

They knew nothing of the circumstances between Jepar and Eden, merely whispering that the Saint chose the Yuren Grand Duchy and that Hamun’s light would now shine upon it.

The Emperor was furious at the Saint and Jepar for making such unilateral decisions and didn’t even attempt to change their hearts.

However, Eden’s plan was not to hold the wedding immediately upon arriving at the Grand Duchy. She had laid down a single condition to Jepar.

“I’d like to have the wedding after spending a hundred days at the Grand Duchy.”

Even though it was obviously a ploy to turn the tables, Jepar accepted it.

Asmun and Sereman were both aware of this condition. Hence, Sereman was telling her to come back if her heart changed within the hundred days.

‘Yeah, rumors of the Chancellor’s divine power being depleted are buzzing all over the Empire.’

The support for Sereman, which had once been solid, was now plummeting due to a series of events.

At this point, Sereman, too, surely needed the card of the Saint desperately.

Therefore, if Sereman truly had the Empire’s best interests at heart…

“Yes. I will do that.”

Eden calmly responded to the seemingly inscrutable Sereman and then climbed into the carriage heading to the Grand Duchy.

I could only hope it wouldn’t take a hundred days to revert everything back to square one.

As the luxurious carriage door closed, the carriage jolted and began to move.

The furious Emperor had ordered the portals along the way to the Grand Duchy to be blocked, so the carriage had to take a long detour.

Because of that, they eventually arrived at the Grand Duchy late at night, where, even at midnight, Jepar and the household staff were all gathered outside waiting for Eden.

Jepar personally escorted Eden down from the carriage and placed a welcome kiss on her hand.

Then, with his usual impeccably smooth and neat face, he smiled gently.

“I have been eagerly awaiting the day to meet you, dear Saint.”

Eden couldn’t bring herself to smile back at him. In just a few days, her feelings for Jepar had leaped out of her control.

She felt resentment towards him for creating such a situation, and then despair for having brought it upon herself, scared by his consistent demeanor from start to finish, and finally ended up feeling somewhat pitying for him.

Given that this was the development laid out in the Quest, I would strike Jepar from behind once more, eventually bringing him down.

I would definitely uncover the weaknesses of this meticulous man, who seemed like he wouldn’t bleed even if you poked him.

“Now, this will be where the Saint will reside.”

Only then did Eden raise her head to see the grand, palace-like mansion, as magnificent as the Imperial Palace.

Truly, it was a fit building for its secret nickname of the Second Imperial Palace.

Could I find Jepar’s weaknesses within those walls?

“I hope our Grand Duchy pleases you, dear Saint. And…”

With a soft voice, Eden turned back to Jepar. His leisurely gaze was fixed on her without moving an inch.

“I also hope to be to your liking, dear Saint.”

It was a proposal that seemed almost sweet.

“I look forward to working well with you in the future.”

Eden looked at Jepar, who appeared as though he had fallen in love, with gentle eyes.

Gazing at his flawless smile left no doubt that this Quest would not be easy.

Eden took a moment to catch her breath and then returned a half-transparent smile.

“I also look forward to working with you, Grand Duke.”

I wondered if I’d ever get to sleep in such a luxurious and vast bed again, and just as that thought crossed my mind, the reality I had trouble grasping finally sank in when I greeted the morning atop that bed.

“Ha…”

I truly had arrived. In the Yuren Grand Duchy.

“How many times does this game change its residence…?”

Eden got out of bed and approached the window, where bright light was streaming in, and pulled back the curtains.

Outside the window lay an expansive garden that sparkled in the radiant morning sun.

“…They must have worked hard to create this background.”

My sarcastic words spoke to the ever-changing environment, but the garden’s scenery, containing a restrained sharp elegance akin to its owner, was breathtaking beyond complaint.

It was a fantastical view that one could never encounter in reality.

The player who had made it this far was probably me as the first, and I might also be the only player to visit the Yuren Grand Mansion.

‘In previous plays, I had never gotten this intertwined with Jepar…’

To put it differently, Jepar was a person who built an impenetrable wall, not giving much room for anyone to delve into.

Yet now he wanted me enough to resort to such underhanded means.

Back in the day, I would have been buzzing with exhilaration and joy, but Eden could no longer feel that way.

‘…When I go back, I’ll probably miss this place a lot.’

The things I had tried hard not to recall during the game came flooding back, washed ashore with the sweet morning garden’s scenery.

Even if I cleared the game, I couldn’t return without saying anything.

I had to devise a plausible excuse to persuade Asmun and reason with Hagen’ti.

I also had to create a compelling reason for Ibthan and Karon, who would be taken aback if I suddenly vanished.

I wanted to ensure the world could continue to exist even after I disappeared.

Recently, every time Eden found herself thinking like this, she discovered she wanted to give up clearing the game, which left her utterly perplexed.

After all, the choice given to me was singular: If I didn’t clear the game, this tear-inducing beautiful world would vanish.

Just as Eden struggled to pull herself out of her deep contemplation, someone knocked on her room’s door.

“Saint, may I come in?”

It was still the unfamiliar voice of a maid. Only then did Eden take her eyes off the garden’s view and turn around.

What I needed to focus on now was only the Quest.

“Come in.”

Eden had a feeling that life in the Grand Duchy would be entirely different from her previous ones.

From early morning, three maids had fussed over her for an hour, dressing her up.

After changing and donning a dress from among the five she had chosen, it felt like she had been transported to another world.

It was as if she had become the delicate and beautiful noble lady from a novel that had nothing to do with saving the Empire or fighting monsters.

If this truly were such a novel, Jepar would probably be the splendid male lead overflowing with rational charm, albeit one whose intentions remained a mystery; but sadly, the place I was in was not that sweet novel.

“It certainly suits you well.”

Jepar, who had been waiting to have breakfast with Eden, greeted her warmly as she entered the dining hall.

“It feels awkward because it’s clothes that don’t suit me.”

Even with her blunt response, Jepar broke into a slight smile.

“Don’t worry. You’ll soon get used to it.”

After all, humans are creatures of adaptation.

Jepar said this as he personally pulled out Eden’s chair for her.

The dining table was spacious enough for two people. As soon as the two sat down, the household staff in the dining hall left as if they had received a directive.

It felt vast enough that the dining hall was finally left with just Eden and Jepar.

“Have you thought about how you’ll spend the hundred days?”

As he casually brought up the sensitive topic, Eden, who had been stirring her soup, looked up in surprise.

It was clear that she understood that the condition of a hundred days was a scheme to flip the situation, yet Jepar’s expression remained as calm and relaxed as when she first met him.

It almost felt as if, even if a thousand days passed, he wouldn’t be receptive to any changes in this game’s layout.

“Well, first, I need to get accustomed to this grand mansion, and after that, I want to discover what the Grand Duchy is like.”

Jepar nodded as if he found her reasoning acceptable.

“Since you’ll be the lady of the Grand Duchy, getting familiar with it first is wise.”

“……”

“The Yuren Grand Duchy is a beautiful place. I’m sure it will be to the Saint’s liking.”

Eden smiled back at his charmingly handsome face, noting the smile that was radiant yet seemed to conceal something.

This atmosphere, where they both seemed to wear masks while fully aware of each other’s intentions, was suffocating, making her feel as if she were chewing on sand.

Eventually, Eden put down her fork and spoke up.

“Are you really okay with this?”