~Chapter 149~
Edwin, timid as he was, was still a Duke.
He nervously avoided saying anything, only shifting his eyes awkwardly. Brother Vincent, however, twisted his lips in a small smirk.
“No need to explain further. I can tell without seeing.”
“Ha ha…”
“By the way, no reward?”
A reward? Suddenly?
I instinctively tightened my fist, wondering if he meant my beloved gold coins—but he continued.
“You traveled the entire continent desperately to save Elisia. Surely I caught your attention by now.”
“Still full of empty words, I see.”
Thankfully, it was just his usual polished joke. I smiled lightly and asked:
“Do you want anything? You did help a lot this time. If you need anything, say it. Edwin can handle it if not me.”
“Nothing grand. Just…”
Brother Vincent gently touched my chin, as if trying to heal the wounds I got from falling under the emperor’s soldiers.
I realized his intent and held his hand.
“That’s enough.”
“Such a small treatment won’t affect my life span.”
I shook my head. After everything I’d experienced in this realm, I learned an important lesson:
Getting tangled in powers beyond ordinary humans brings nothing good.
If Brother Vincent healed my wounds, I wouldn’t have to apply ointment or wash carefully, which would be convenient. But—
“I don’t want to crave what isn’t my own power.”
“…….”
“The wounds will heal anyway, even if slowly. I may have a high status, but I’m still just a normal human. I want to live according to the world’s natural order.”
Brother Vincent didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he just gazed at me, still holding my hand, lost in thought.
Just as I was about to let go, a familiar, ominous voice reached me.
“Elis…”
I quickly withdrew my hand from him.
“I’ve been counting the days to see Eli again. Was it just my wish?”
“I—I missed Edgar too!”
I hurriedly stood and hugged Edwin, who had been standing frozen. After shaking him a few times, I felt his arms finally wrap around my waist.
I had been ready to scold him for not telling me about Brother Vincent, but burying my face in his chest, a deep satisfaction overwhelmed me, making everything else feel trivial.
I’m not usually this weak-hearted—but around Ed, I become this way.
Suddenly, I sensed Edwin’s attention shift.
Of course—he must be glaring at Brother Vincent with his sharp gaze.
I flailed, hit his shoulder lightly, and said goodbye to Brother Vincent.
It was brief. Perhaps my imagination, but I had a feeling I would see him again soon.
Vincent silently watched the woman pulling the Duke along.
“Ed, you shouldn’t look at others like that.”
“But he’s holding Eli’s hand…”
“I grabbed it first! No, I grabbed it first to stop him from treating her chin!”
The distance between them felt closer than before, and it irritated him.
He remained standing, staring, until Elisia completely disappeared beyond the garden.
‘You always defy my expectations.’
Honestly, Vincent was surprised. The powerful people he had observed were mostly alike: seeing themselves as godlike, using others for their ends, feeling no guilt. Vittorio IV was one of them.
“I don’t want to crave what isn’t my own power.”
“The wounds will heal anyway. I’m still a normal human, so I want to live according to the world’s natural order.”
But Elisia was different. She always surprised him. Not just because her soul was pure—it couldn’t be explained that simply.
‘What am I trying to do with this small woman?’
His mind spun. Looking into her eyes made his chest tighten and heart race, even when not on a dangerous battlefield. Just thinking of her had the same effect.
“Haa…”
He roughly swept his hair back.
The feeling he had denied was now undeniable.
Damn it… God.
He had fallen for Elisia.
Finally, the day came to leave the realm.
I stood with my group at the gates of Valenua.
Considering Katerina’s safety, I wanted to leave quietly—but the news had spread, and many came to see us off.
“Madam Duchess, thank you so much!”
“We will never forget your kindness.”
“May God’s blessing be with the hero of the people!”
I thought leaving would feel like freedom, but I had grown attached to these people. I waved to the crowd, holding back my sadness.
Not only the citizens came—Isabella and other court figures who had grown close came forward.
“Elze…”
“Isabella, I wish we had more time together. I’m sad we must part so soon.”
Even the affairs of the world felt small compared to this goodbye. Her red eyes prompted her to pull out a handkerchief and dab mine.
“Why so sad? We can write letters often. Don’t think today is our last.”
“Yes! I’ll write ten pages a day.”
“Hoho! Then we must publish them as a book someday.”
“Not joking. Really.”
Edwin quietly nodded, aware of the daily love letters I wrote to Nero.
Isabella’s eyes were now red as she held my hand. She cleared her throat and changed the subject:
“Sermon is among the people. He’s proud you sent hundreds of books to Lombard.”
“Why stay in the corner when he knows me? Bring him forward.”
“He wants an objective view to record you. The view of the gate is better from there.”
Truly, it was a fitting farewell.
“I wish I could see the second part of the book finished.”
“I’ll send multiple copies to Lombard once done. Promise.”
Then, a call from the front of the procession:
“Madam, it’s time to depart!”
The crowd delayed us, so we had to hurry to reach the first stop before sunset.
I exchanged farewells and hurried to the carriage. Isabella called out:
“Elze! Remember when we first met at the bookstore?”
“Yes?”
“I asked to be called Rizi. All my friends call me that. It’s a bit embarrassing, but if it’s okay with you, I’d like you to call me that.”
“……!”
To call Isabella La Ferrand by a nickname—it made my loyal fan persona flare to life.
I’m glad I was born. Glad to be reborn.
I nodded, tears of joy welling.
“Wait!”
Someone on horseback cut through the crowd and stopped at the front of the procession.
Crimson hair whipped in the wind.
‘Why is he here…?’
It was Brother Vincent.
