~Chapter 89~
Leah brought the back of her hand to her flushed cheeks.
Her face was burning hot.
What the heck, why would he suddenly say something like that?
That guy’s seriously weird.
‘…He’s been acting like he has feelings for me lately.’
That can’t be real, right?
But if he doesn’t like me, why is he being so kind all the time?
I guess if I want him to stop saying those cringy things, I need to ask him directly.
“Duke.”
Leah finally opened her mouth.
“…Do you like me?”
“If I said I liked you, would that make you uncomfortable?”
The answer caught her off guard.
‘I thought he’d brush it off or say he’s just being nice because of Raphaella…’
But asking if she’d be uncomfortable was totally unexpected.
“…I wouldn’t be uncomfortable. But please don’t like me, Your Grace.”
Her voice came out a little cold.
“Why not? Can’t I like you?”
“I have nothing to give you in return.”
I already decided I’d never give my heart to you again.
‘…So don’t come shaking me up saying you have feelings or whatever.’
Even if you get your memories back, I can’t bring myself to love you again.
While you were gone, I spent too long resenting you and missing you, and it exhausted me.
That’s why I made a promise when I died in my last life—
‘If I get to live again, I’ll never love you—the one who hurt me so badly.’
Leah bit her lip and tried to swallow the sadness rising in her throat.
“If I don’t expect anything back… can I still like you?”
Johann asked in a slightly desperate voice.
“…Don’t do anything that foolish.”
Leah shut her eyes tightly, unable to face him.
“…”
He said nothing.
A heavy silence settled inside the carriage.
Leah stared out the window until they arrived at the temple.
Eventually, the sound of hooves stopped, and the coachman announced their arrival.
Johann stepped out first and held out his hand to help Leah down.
“…Let’s go inside.”
“…Okay.”
There was an awkward tension between them.
Leah turned her gaze to the Grand Temple, which she was seeing for the first time.
It was made of white marble and looked majestic and sacred.
Just looking at it made her feel more devout.
On both sides of the entrance stood statues of lower gods who served the goddess Hecate, guarding the temple.
“Welcome, Duke von Blumhardt.”
As they walked toward the temple, someone approached them.
“I’m Sven, a priest-in-training. I’ll guide you to the High Priestess who’ll oversee your vow.”
They followed the priest inside.
Several nobles inside the temple glanced at Johann and Leah.
Some noblewomen covered their mouths with their fans and whispered.
Leah felt a little intimidated.
“Don’t worry about them.”
Johann gently squeezed her hand and whispered.
“…Okay.”
Leah looked straight ahead and followed the priest.
“Please go in here.”
The priest stopped in front of a large open space with no door.
“May the goddess Hecate bless your future together.”
With a blessing, the priest stepped away.
Johann walked in first, and Leah followed.
In the center of the room sat a grand statue of Hecate on a chair with a large serpent coiled beside her, looking down solemnly.
And in front of the statue stood a priestess in white robes.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Erna, the High Priestess overseeing your engagement vow today.”
The priestess, with warm brownish-orange hair, smiled softly.
Johann and Leah nodded politely in greeting.
Leah glanced up at the statue of Hecate.
The serpent made her think of the mark on Raphaella’s neck, and she shivered.
‘…I still haven’t removed the snake mark from Rafi’s neck.’
The goddess’s gaze almost felt like she was blaming Leah for not being able to change her daughter’s fate.
“We’ll now begin the engagement vow. Please stand facing each other.”
Johann and Leah stood facing each other.
The priestess held a holy book and began reciting the engagement rites.
Johann and Leah repeated the words in turn.
“Johann von Blumhardt, do you accept this sacred engagement?”
“Yes,” Johann said, placing a hand over his heart.
“Leah, do you accept this sacred engagement?”
“Yes,” Leah said, doing the same.
“With this, your engagement cannot be broken unless by divine intervention.”
The priestess lightly pressed her holy-water-soaked thumb on their foreheads.
Johann had gone through engagements twice before,
but this was the first time he made the vow with a sincere heart.
The first time was political,the second was forced.
“May the goddess Hecate truly bless your future together.”
The priestess joined her hands in prayer for them.
Johann and Leah prayed too and left the room.
“Leah.”
Johann handed her a document stamped with both the Emperor’s and the High Priestess’s seals.
“You’re now Leah von Blumhardt.”
“…Leah von Blumhardt.”
Leah repeated the name quietly.
“From now on, no one can look down on you for being a commoner.”
Even if he wasn’t around, he hoped the family name he gave her would protect her.
“Not even royalty.”
He emphasized the word royalty.
“So be confident—wherever you are. As my fiancée, as Leah von Blumhardt.”
“…Okay.”
Leah nodded at his firm reassurance.
Now that the Duke had openly gone to the Grand Temple with a commoner and made their engagement official,news would spread throughout the capital.
The nobles would whisper,and the royal family would be on high alert.
And that’s exactly what Johann wanted.
Only then could he protect Leah—and keep better track of his enemies.
“Let’s go now.”
Leah handed the document back.
“Leah.”
Johann stopped her with a heavy voice.
“…Yes?”
Leah answered, slightly tense.
“Even if it’s foolish… I can’t help it.”
Leah felt uneasy.
‘Wait, is he really bringing up what we talked about in the carriage?’
“Even if you never return my feelings, I just can’t stop loving you.”
“…”
“I already love you.”
“…How can you say you love me when you don’t even remember me?”
Leah asked in a strained voice.
“Love and memory… they’re two different things.”
He was telling her he loved her again—regardless of his memories.
Her throat tightened.
“…”
Tears welled up in Leah’s eyes.
“I think I was always meant to love you.”
“…Well, I wasn’t. So do whatever you want.”
Leah held back the tears and turned her head away.
Then she quickly walked out of the temple.
‘…You think I’ll fall for you just because of that?’
I’m never…
…never going to love you again.
—
Meanwhile…
“What?!”
Princess Partizia jumped up from the sofa after hearing what her maid said.
“The Duke von Blumhardt went to the temple and made an engagement vow with that wench?”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“And they dressed properly and walked in like they owned the place?”
“Yes.”
The maid answered carefully, watching Partizia’s reaction.
“AAAAAARGH!”
She knew they’d eventually get engaged, but now that it had actually happened, fury exploded inside her.
She threw and smashed everything in the drawing room in a rage.
The maids could only try to calm her down, praying the tantrum would end soon.
“What do you think people will say about me now?! That I lost a man to a lowly commoner?”
“No one would dare compare Your Highness to such a woman.”
“They will compare us! I would’ve done the same if it was someone else!”
—
While Partizia was throwing a fit, the Empress also got the news.
“…So they really went and got engaged.”
Empress Narcissa paused, her fragrant tea cup halfway to her lips.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Her attendant bowed deeply.
“…Hah.”
Narcissa slammed her cup down hard enough to clink.
The Duke had deliberately made a spectacle, choosing the most crowded time to go to the temple with that woman.
Word must’ve spread all over the capital already.
“…”
The Empress chewed her lip in frustration.
By now, people were probably gossiping about what the newly titled Leah von Blumhardt looked like.
‘I should’ve had her killed before she got this much attention!’
Even Carmen, whom she trusted, had failed.
Narcissa massaged her throbbing temples with slender fingers.
‘When has anything ever gone this wrong before?’
As much as she wanted to crush that woman right now,
with all eyes on her, she had to be patient for now.
She lifted her teacup again, trying to calm her rising anger.
