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“Wasn’t this a strategy game?”

The question was pure, devoid of any hint of disappointment or desolation. It seemed he just genuinely wanted to win Eden’s heart.

But trusting his sincerity was tough, especially given the chaotic situation he had created.

Feeling this was her last chance, Eden slowly turned her head and met the gaze of those piercing blue eyes still fixed on her.

Reflected in those eyes was a determination that felt too close for comfort.

“I might believe you if that threatening document of yours disappeared.”

Despite the intense term “threatening,” Jepar remained unfazed, keeping his cool demeanor.

“But can you swear to stay by my side afterward?”

It was Eden who found herself at a loss for words in response to that question.

Jepar wasn’t disappointed by her non-answer; instead, he flashed a knowing smile, as if he expected it.

“It’s always the Saint who puts me in this position.”

Why did that statement feel more distant and intangible than the vague, hazy light floating above?

“Watch out below!”

At the urgent shout, Baint turned around just in time to slice a monster that burst from the ground with a single blow.

“Ugh… this is never-ending!”

“What is this? Have you seen a monster like this before?”

In response to Ronpell’s question, Baint shook his head, pulling up the drooping mask he wore as he furiously fought.

This monstrosity, which had suddenly appeared throughout Reblem and begun attacking people ten days ago, was something he had never encountered.

“If the Saint were here, she would have identified these monsters and their weaknesses immediately…”

With a sigh, Ronpell lamented, showing his frustration. Baint wholeheartedly agreed with his words.

If only Eden were present, she would have swiftly unveiled the nature of the monsters with her incredible abilities.

But how unfortunate that this incident occurred precisely when she had vanished. The timing couldn’t be worse.

Unless someone had deliberately made it so.

“Is there still no word from the Grand Duchy?”

Ronpell shook his head in reply.

“This is absurd! The Grand Duke should be…”

“This isn’t just about the Grand Duchy. The Emperor is merely observing the situation, leaving us with nothing we can do.”

“…And the Emperor?”

“He went to assess the infection situation.”

The enormity of the danger darkened Ronpell and Baint’s faces.

“What’s happening in Phileden?”

Baint asked, sounding troubled, and Ronpell irritably shook his head.

“They say things are going smoothly. The extermination of the monsters and the treatment of the disease.”

“Huh, I can’t believe it! You really buy that, Ronpell?”

Instead of answering, Ronpell glared at the monster that had been split in half.

This monster, which had started appearing across Reblem ten days ago, would suddenly burst from the ground, bite people, and spread some unknown curse.

Moreover, the disease was contagious, quickly engulfing Reblem.

As soon as he heard the news, Asmun had rushed in with his troops, slicing through monsters, but he couldn’t contain the disease that had already spread.

And without knowing the cause of the illness, treatment was ineffective.

Despite this, Asmun had a mission to ensure the disease didn’t spill over into other regions.

“Damn it, how is this possible without some god…”

Yet there was someone proving it was possible even without divine intervention.

In Phileden, the exact same disaster was occurring, but unlike Reblem, there, the illness was resolving swiftly.

“This must be the 2nd Prince’s doing.”

The real problem was that Phileden fell under Patriar’s jurisdiction.

And the one calming the illness in Phileden was…

“Ugh…”

Ronpell let out a deep sigh. Anxiety filled his breath, becoming trapped in the sweat-stained mask and swirling around in his dry mouth.

Clip-clop, clip-clop. The sound of a sturdy horse galloping swiftly echoed like a battlefield.

On that horse was Karon Sitriel, the Commander of the Hesimoro Holy Knights, racing without pause.

For months, there had been unprecedented monster rampages across the continent, and just days ago, Karon had been focused on dispatching them as usual.

“I’ve heard that the Saint left for the Yuren Grand Duchy!”

And then, like a thunderbolt, he received the shocking news: Eden had departed for the Yuren Grand Duchy to marry Jepar, the Grand Duke of Yuren.

Karon didn’t even get the chance to stop her. For the past few days, he had been using all his patience to refrain from rushing to the Grand Duchy to find Eden.

After finishing the monster extermination, he darted straight to the Grand Duchy without even stopping by the Imperial Palace.

“The Saint would never do that. I can’t believe it.”

Karon kept repeating these words in his mind as he clenched his jaw.

Karon knew well the likes of Jepar. Those with power beyond reckoning.

“I will become a knight of the Great Temple.”

Having graduated top of his class from the academy with unprecedented victories, countless great opportunities lay before him. Choosing to be a knight of the Great Temple wasn’t purely from faith.

“The power of the Great Temple and the Imperial Palace must be balanced to prevent the Emperor’s tyranny. A nation without concentrated power would be the ideal place.”

Karon’s father, Count Sitriel, no longer offered him the position of Commander of the Royal Knights after hearing this.

Thanks to his efforts, the status of the Great Temple had increased severalfold over the years, and for a time, Hesimoro began to resemble the ideal nation he longed for.

However, it had been a while since that balance started to crack.

Thus, Karon loathed the seeds trying to shatter the solid foundation, and Jepar was always one of them.

But now Eden was siding with such a person.

Furthermore…

“After adapting to the Yuren Grand Duchy for a while, she will marry the Grand Duke.”

Just recalling that dreadful rumor made something inside him surge up, searing hot, then it quickly turned as cold as ice, clinging to his insides.

Of course, a Saint could marry legally and continue to serve as a Saint even afterwards. Being the next noblest after the Imperial family, she could achieve anything she desired.

Yet, he still couldn’t shake off that gut-wrenching feeling.

Was it the immeasurable anger and anxiety he felt, knowing Jepar was unworthy to stand beside Eden as the Saint of Hesimoro Empire?

Or was it…

“…”

No, Karon knew the identity of what was goring into his insides and crumbling his reason.

It was the impure feelings he had for Eden that he hadn’t properly acknowledged.

“Stop right there!”

Finally, upon reaching the Great Mansion, Karon saw the gatekeepers trying to block his path but didn’t pull the reins.

“Ahhh!”

Realizing something was off about Karon, the gatekeepers leaped away in all directions, and Karon surged through, drawing his sword.

With a mighty swing, the sword energy erupted and crashed into the massive front door of the mansion.

“Haaah!”

The door, tainted with all kinds of magical power, couldn’t withstand the force and shattered pitifully, allowing Karon’s mount to leap over it, heading towards the mansion’s garden.

“Stop him!”

“Halt!”

The sudden intruder caused chaos in the garden. Soldiers armed with weapons swarmed in.

No matter how many of them there were, if Karon aimed to leap over, no one could stop him. But once inside the mansion, he paused, showing his last pity.

“Who goes there?”

“W-Wait, a Holy Knight?”

“Isn’t that the Commander of the Holy Knights?”

Karon looked at them with calm eyes that seemed almost unbelievable after all the havoc he had caused, his dry lips parting.

“Where is the Saint?”

His voice, cool and devoid of breathlessness despite the chaos, was chillingly chilling. The soldiers, hesitant, didn’t reply, but from afar came a serene voice.

“Why are you searching for the Saint?”

As Karon turned his head, he saw Jepar, casually walking towards him with an unbothered look on his face.

Seeing that shameless face reignited a calm flame in Karon’s chest. He leaped down from his horse to face Jepar.

“I must see the Saint.”

“The Saint is currently resting. She seems tired from the late hours we kept last night.”

With a sly smile, Jepar made an ambiguous remark, causing Karon’s eyes to chill.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow anyone to disturb the deep slumber of my fiancée. You’d best come again another time.”

Karon said this while eyeing his disheveled clothes, a result of rushing back from exterminating monsters.

“It would be even better if you could come more properly dressed next time. By then, the Saint won’t just be a saint; she’ll be the Duchess of the Yuren Grand Duchy.”

As Karon stared at him thoughtfully, he smirked.

“Clearly, this marriage is not the Saint’s desire.”

At his pointed words, Jepar’s eyes briefly hardened.

“The certainty that the Saint wouldn’t choose a man like the Grand Duke is now swelling within me.”

Karon’s soft and gentle voice spilled out rude words.

“Looks like you’ve cowardly taken hold of the Saint’s weakness.”

 

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