Chapter 46
“It seems better to just tell them rather than have them misunderstand and think I’m terminally ill.”
Her tone was emotionless, almost indifferent.
“Do you think it’s such a simple matter to resolve? Regardless, the symptoms you’re experiencing now are just as dangerous.”
“As long as I keep managing my divine power like I am now, and drink holy water if something like yesterday happens again, I’ll be fine. I think it’s different from a disease where you don’t know when you’ll die.”
As Luisa spoke, she felt she should at least tell her family what she had told Raphael.
Of course, if they went to the Temple and arranged a meeting with the Archbishop to discuss her symptoms, it could escalate. But with the Saint appearing now, there wouldn’t be time or energy for that.
And once the Saint purified the Empire, these symptoms would naturally subside. That seemed much better than having everyone suffer over a nonexistent illness.
If Bella hadn’t appeared, she never would have said anything. But now that Raphael had partially found out, she had this inexplicable feeling that she could at least let her family know a bit.
“It’s a time when demonic energy is rampant. You never know when danger might strike. Do you really think things will always be resolved as smoothly as they have been?”
Why was this man getting so worked up? Luisa tilted her head slightly, unable to understand him more and more.
“The Saint has appeared, hasn’t she? Peace will come to the Empire soon, so I just have to be careful until then.”
“Hah… And when do you think that will be?”
“Whenever it is, it’s coming eventually. Why are you acting like this? Oh, don’t worry, I won’t misunderstand and think you’re concerned about me. I’m just curious.”
He seemed too concerned. She wondered if maybe he was trying to find a weakness to break off their engagement.
Not that it mattered if he was. What worried her more now was the thought that he might mention her symptoms to the Temple.
She’d gotten caught up in the situation yesterday and spilled too much—was that a mistake? Luisa glanced at him with a hint of regret. She could see his long golden eyelashes trembling.
“Why do you assume I wouldn’t worry about you?”
His voice, low and controlled, finally broke the silence.
“Huh? Because… you don’t like me.”
“That’s no longer the case.”
“…What?”
His expression looked deeply troubled, but his tone was resolute. It was so unexpected that Luisa didn’t react for several seconds.
An awkward silence hung in the air, and just as Luisa set down her teacup with a soft clink, Raphael finally spoke again, his voice strained.
“Like I said yesterday… I find myself concerned about you.”
“…”
“You seem like a completely different person now. And that makes me interested in you.”
“…!”
What the heck was this…? Luisa blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Unlike the startled Luisa, the confusion on Raphael’s face gradually faded. It was as if speaking aloud helped him organize his thoughts—he now looked more certain.
“You really feel like a different person now.”
Luisa stared blankly at him, then turned her eyes away.
…Because I’m not the real Luisa. Of course I feel like someone else.
Her lavender eyes wavered momentarily in the air. But only for a moment—soon they calmed, like still water reflecting the depths of the abyss.
But saying he’s “concerned” feels more like he’s annoyed by me.
Lying all the time was tiring. Even if she could act indifferent, there were limits to her ability to react to surprises.
She still couldn’t tell how deep Raphael’s interest really went.
What had caught his attention so much that he kept bothering her like this? Now that things had reached this point, all the carefully fabricated explanations she had given him just felt annoying.
“That’s right. I am a different person.”
Luisa said flatly, her expression indifferent. If he believed her, fine. If he didn’t, that was fine too. She was basically daring him to respond however he wanted.
Raphael, who had been absently touching his red ears, slowly let his hand fall, his face hardening.
He narrowed his eyes as if just now realizing what she had said, his brows furrowing. His chest rose sharply.
His expression held a mix of disappointment, frustration, and guilt—as if she had dismissed his sincere feelings as a joke.
“…I won’t make excuses for the way I’ve treated you, even after knowing how you felt. I’m sorry.”
Raphael forced out the words. It was a clear and sincere apology. Watching him quietly, Luisa bit down on her lower lip.
It would’ve been easier if he just got mad. Seeing him lower himself like that made it harder for her to say anything flippant.
“No, that was my fault. You don’t have to apologize.”
Her words ended in a sigh. Things were getting a bit tangled, but now that Bella had appeared, it was probably time to start putting distance between them.
“Maybe the reason you feel I’ve changed is because your feelings have changed. I don’t like you anymore.”
“…I knew.”
Raphael opened and closed his lips a few times before finally speaking in a voice that sounded like it might disappear. Though his face remained firm, his voice trembled slightly.
Luisa’s expression didn’t change. She’d suspected he’d realized that, so it wasn’t surprising.
Still, seeing him display so much emotion made her uncomfortable—it was hard to keep watching.
Now that I’ve said it clearly, Raphael won’t have any lingering feelings. It was probably just curiosity, and he has no reason to chase after someone who says she’s no longer interested.
That was a relief, in a way. She had been worried she might have to keep scheming and complicating things again, but maybe now they could end it cleanly.
Back when Raphael had initiated the engagement, she thought he’d probably pay out a generous settlement if he broke it off. But now that she was making money on her own, she didn’t really care.
The question is… how do I bring up breaking off the engagement?
Luisa hoped Raphael would be the one to mention it first.
If she said it, after the Emperor had pulled strings behind the scenes to set up the engagement, Raphael might get angry—even accuse her of insulting the royal family.
That would be a whole new headache.
“Our positions have reversed, haven’t they?”
His voice was bitter. But Luisa wasn’t fooled. Even if he had developed some interest, it was probably just fascination at how a formerly crazy woman now seemed sane.
Maybe he was misinterpreting his own surprise. But now that she had told him her feelings were gone, that interest would surely fade soon.
Yeah. Now that things have flipped, just say it’s over already.
Luisa clenched her hands on her lap and silently rooted for Raphael to do it. Her eyes fixed on his lips as they slowly parted.
“I’m glad my divine power is of use to you. It gives me a reason to stay by your side until I’m sure of my feelings.”
…Huh? What?
“Call it cowardly if you like—I won’t deny it. So please, use me however you need if it helps you.”
Raphael stood up. It seemed he’d said all he needed to. His expression was complicated, but also looked a bit relieved.
Luisa stared blankly up at him as he bowed politely and turned to leave. She glared at the back of his head as he walked away.
“…What the hell?!”
Her dazed voice echoed through the now-empty drawing room.
“Captain, did you take care of that urgent matter?”
Andy caught up to Raphael just as he was entering the Temple. Unlike the world outside, now blanketed in dusk, the Temple was still brightly lit, with people bustling around everywhere.
With the sudden surge in demonic energy and the appearance of the Saint capable of purifying it, the Temple was in constant chaos—no one had a moment to spare, day or night.
The Holy Knights especially were overwhelmed, coordinating deployments and organizing the Saint protection. They barely had time to eat.
Among them, the busiest of all, Raphael, had been disappearing for a couple of hours each day.
“Yes. Nothing happened while I was gone?”
“The High Priest has asked for a brief meeting at 8. He wants to discuss security and positioning for the Saint’s inauguration ceremony.”
Raphael nodded once without looking away from the hall ahead. Andy glanced sideways at his face, noting how his jawline looked even sharper—he’d clearly lost weight.
It had been a while since he’d seen Raphael this distracted, sighing deeply and struggling to focus on work.
In fact, this was only the second time. The first had been just before he left for the north earlier this year.
“Please, eat something. You skipped lunch too.”
“I’m fine.”
“…Did something happen?”
For the first time, Raphael turned to look at him. His face was worse than when he had stormed out of the Temple earlier with such determination, so Andy couldn’t help but ask.
Raphael opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it again. His eyes locked with Andy’s for a moment before he shook his head as if nothing was wrong and opened the door to his office.
“I’ll see you in the meeting room.”
“…Yes, sir.”
