HRNGDS 86

~Chapter 86~

Kassen could see from Delphina’s eyes that she no longer had any feelings for him.

No—in truth, she’d been looking at him like an object for a long time, as if he were an inanimate thing. She had no emotions toward him at all.

“Don’t misunderstand, Kassen. Nothing I do is for you.”

A sudden, unjust feeling welled up in Kassen. He had, at least in his own mind, intended to try for her.

So why was she pushing him away so completely? He spoke slowly.

“You must be very happy since going North, Delphina.”

Without hesitation, she replied,

“Yes. Elcayan is truly a good man. You can’t compare to him. I’ll live happily with him for the rest of my life.”

Kassen ground his teeth. He had no intention of watching her live happily without him.

“You think I’ll just sit back and watch you be happy? If you’re not by my side, you’ll be miserable for life. I’ll make sure of it!”

At that moment—

Bang!

A loud noise cracked the window.

Thud!

A sharp impact struck Kassen’s head.

“W-what?”

He couldn’t think straight—the pain in his skull throbbed and his ears rang. In shock, he turned toward the source.

A stone had flown in from the window and hit him squarely in the head. Blood trickled down his forehead.

“Aaargh!”

Kassen clutched his head and rolled on the floor, screaming.

Meanwhile, Pepper flitted happily above, hopping lightly along the head of a man perched in a tree.

‘What skill! Hitting him perfectly from that far away—amazing! You’re not human, you’re a monster. If Delphina knew you did this, she’d be terrified!’

Elcayan was up in the tallest tree at the Fuat estate, watching Kassen roll on the ground in pain.

He flicked his hand again, and Pepper chirped at him.

‘I’m going to tell Delphina you’ve been following her around!’

Elcayan didn’t understand the words, but he knew Pepper could communicate with Delphina.

He gently tapped the bird’s beak. “I hope you understand, bird.”

‘My name’s not “bird,” it’s Pepper! If you don’t say it right, I’ll tell on you!’

“I couldn’t just sit by while that man was with Delphina.”

‘Hmph. I’ll let it slide this once since it was for Delphina.’

It wasn’t that Elcayan didn’t trust her—he just worried what outrageous thing Kassen might do.

So he had opened his senses to eavesdrop on their conversation. As he expected, Kassen was being rude.

Elcayan had never agreed to Delphina staying here without intending to protect her himself.

This can’t be the end of it.

For Kassen to say he’d make her miserable forever—it was far too arrogant.

Elcayan gripped the sword at his hip. He knew Kassen and Ivelina wouldn’t stay quiet—they’d try something. And if Kassen kept troubling her, Elcayan would not let it pass.

High Priest and Sestia arrived at the Fuat estate. To greet them, Kassen, Ivelina, Delphina, and Elcayan came forward.

Kassen looked at Elcayan with displeasure. His own head was now wrapped in bandages—he claimed an intruder had attacked him, worsening his bald spot.

The moment Sestia saw Delphina, her eyes welled up.

“Lady Delphina, it’s been so long.”

“Saintess.”

“Call me Sestia! I like it more when you speak to me warmly, ‘Sestia~,’ instead of so formally.”

“Is that alright, High Priest?” Delphina asked. Sestia was now the Saintess—someone she couldn’t casually speak to without permission.

The High Priest, sweating, glanced between them, clearly taking cues from Sestia.

“Of course it’s alright. Please do as you wish, Lady Delphina.”

Ahin whispered to Delphina, “Sestia has completely taken control of the temple. No one dares go against her.”

Kassen and Ivelina were shocked—both the High Priest and the Saintess were acting as if Delphina outranked them.

“Saintess,” Kassen called.

Sestia turned her gaze toward him and Ivelina.

“I am Kassen, soon to inherit the title of Duke of Fuat.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I’ve heard you are praised as the most gifted Saintess in history. I’ve been eager to meet you. Could you perhaps look at my injury? The high priests couldn’t restore my hair, but maybe you…”

He extended his hand for the Imperial greeting.

Sestia immediately scowled and ducked behind Delphina.

“No!”

“…What?”

“I don’t like him! I hate him—he’s the worst!”

Kassen’s face twisted as she stuck her tongue out at him from behind Delphina.

Before he could speak, the High Priest stepped in.

“Haha, our Saintess is shy. Ever since she had an incident with High Priest Hadin, she’s wary of strangers.”

Then, turning serious, the High Priest addressed Kassen,

“If the Saintess says she dislikes you, you should stand back, Young Duke. You’re far too close—you’re frightening our gentle Saintess!”

“M-me?”

“And besides, your request was very rude. Making the impossible possible is the realm of the gods. Regrowing your hair would require her to bear that burden—it could even shorten her life. How is that not rude?”

Kassen instinctively stepped back under the High Priest’s forceful tone.

“Since our Saintess isn’t in the mood, we’ll retire to our rooms. I trust you’ve prepared the best?”

Kassen ground his teeth but said nothing.

Sestia and the High Priest went with Delphina and Elcayan straight to see Jerian.

Sestia had come early, before the ceremony, at Delphina’s request—to check on Jerian’s condition.

As Kassen had boasted, Sestia was indeed an exceptional Saintess, highly sensitive to the foul power that the god Frad despised.

When she saw Jerian, she swallowed hard—his condition was truly serious.

Jerian said flatly, “Even you can’t do anything, can you?”

Sestia couldn’t answer.