IMNTI CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 30

“Captain?”

At Luisa’s puzzled voice, Raphael’s eyes flinched slightly.

Their eyes met — hers wide with confusion, looking up at him blankly. For some reason, his throat felt parched. He swallowed hard and opened his mouth slowly.

“I thought it might be better to decide this in advance.”

“…Decide what?”

Luisa blinked, tilting her head. Raphael glanced briefly at her hand before speaking again.

“If it’s difficult to match our meal times, like today, perhaps coming to the temple together might be a good alternative.”

“Pardon? But I don’t come to the temple that often… It’s just once in a while. Wouldn’t it be a hassle to match schedules every time?”

“On the contrary, that makes it easier to match. Since it’s only a few times, we just need to sync up on those occasions.”

Ignoring the clear discomfort on Luisa’s face, Raphael turned around. As he passed the bewildered vice-captain who was staring at him, he added firmly:

“Then, I’ll take it that we’re agreed. I’ll be going now.”

Convincing himself — quite irrationally — that since she had been a nuisance to him, it was only fair she be troubled too.

**

‘Ah, this is going to be a pain.’

Luisa clicked her tongue as she watched Raphael walk away.

Whatever wind had blown through him, he kept trying to meet with her. But she knew that if she simply dragged things out in silence, he’d eventually get bored and distance himself.

Had she known things would get this complicated, she would’ve just stayed in the capital. This had taken a turn she hadn’t foreseen.

“Milady, it’s cold. Why don’t we go inside?”

“Yes. But what were you checking just now?”

“I was wondering if your body reacts to external divine power.”

Following Priest Yoran into the temple sanctuary, Luisa glanced around before lowering her voice.

“And what did you find? Is it a problem?”

“It’s not a problem. In fact, it’s quite a positive sign. Drinking holy water is helpful, but directly absorbing pure divine power has a stronger effect.”

“Ah… but isn’t absorbing divine power difficult for the other person?”

“Yes, and that’s what I was curious about — whether just being nearby would cause a reaction.”

Luisa tilted her head.

“Your body currently suppresses the divine power inside you. Because of that, you can’t fully use it. So when you come into contact with demonic energy, your body instinctively rejects it, which is why you cough up blood. The issue is… your divine power is steadily increasing.”

“What?”

“It’s grown since the last time we checked. And just now, when you were with the Holy Knight Captain, your energy stabilized noticeably.”

“You don’t mean… I’m absorbing the Captain’s divine power…?”

“Not at all. It would be more accurate to say your divine power reacts and strengthens in the presence of external divine energy.”

…That was a development she had not anticipated.

“So if possible, being around the Holy Knight Captain often would be beneficial for you.”

Luisa’s jaw dropped. He, of all people? The one she could hardly stand? And now she’s supposed to stick close to him again? The idea alone was exhausting.

She shook her head quickly, narrowing her eyes with determination.

“Wouldn’t drinking holy water regularly be enough?”

“It might help, but we’re talking years — maybe even decades. Holy water merely prevents deterioration. You shouldn’t see it as a cure.”

So holy water wasn’t the ultimate answer. She’d only assumed it was because of what she’d read in the original novel. Clearly, her plans were already veering off course.

Was it because she had come to the North with Raphael, unlike in the original? Or because Yoran had seen them together?

Life truly was unpredictable.

“Then isn’t external divine energy the same? Who knows how long I’d have to stay near him?”

“Sir Raphael possesses divine power almost on par with the Archbishop. The level of purity is incomparable to holy water. Just now, even standing next to him caused your divine energy to react.”

“Ah…”

So unless she stayed beside someone high up in the temple, Raphael was her only option. Luisa barely held back a laugh.

She could dismiss it as nonsense, but Yoran had always been one of the few who genuinely tried to help her — even in the original story.

“And since he’s your fiancé, I believe you’ll see better results being close to him than relying solely on holy water.”

Luisa stared silently at the kind smile on Yoran’s face. He looked truly concerned for her. She forced a small smile in return.

Maybe she was just fated to never live an easy life — no matter where she went.

KWA-BOOM!

Even as thunder cracked loudly above, Luisa didn’t flinch. She sat on the window ledge, silently staring at the pure white flower in her hands.

“What should I do with this…?”

Priest Yoran had returned the flower to her, confirming it had been completely purified of the demonic taint.

To avoid raising suspicions, they had agreed to pretend the flower was being stored with other temple plants — while secretly giving it back to her.

Shaaah— The rain began to fall in steady sheets. As droplets tapped against the window, Luisa turned her gaze absently outside.

Though it wasn’t yet sunset, the dark, clouded sky made the world outside seem gloomy.

If she just hid the flower, it might wilt. Destroying it would rid her of a lingering unease, but since Yoran had insisted on giving it back, it felt wrong to discard it.

Not to mention, she had no idea how to care for it properly. At the very least, she should try to preserve it… but it wasn’t exactly the kind of flower you stuck in a vase.

‘Should I just plant it outside? If it rains like this, it’ll get water on its own… Huh, that’s actually not a bad idea.’

Luisa sprang to her feet. As she stepped outside her room, she spotted Mary bringing tea.

“Mary, is the Duke in?”

“Not yet, miss. Ah, but the young master is.”

“Really? In his room?”

She quickly started walking. But after just a few steps down the corridor, Luisa came to a halt. Mary, following behind her, leaned forward curiously.

“Shall I guide you, milady?”

“…Yes, please.”

Luisa answered awkwardly. She realized she didn’t know where Damian’s room was. She’d never gone to his room, not even back in the capital, so of course she had no idea where it would be here in the North.

“This way.”

It was on the opposite side. As Luisa stood in front of the door, Mary knocked gently.

“What is it?”

Luisa motioned for Mary to leave and answered his question herself.

“It’s me, Damian.”

“Luisa?”

The door swung open in surprise.

“Luisa? What’s wrong? You… came to my room?”

“I had something to ask.”

“Oh? What is it? Ah — come in. Want some tea?”

“I’m fine. I just need a quick answer.”

“Ah… okay. What do you want to ask?”

“I saw an empty clearing in the back garden. Why is that area left bare?”

Damian flinched. The unexpected question caught him off guard, and a shadow passed over his handsome face.

“That area was left open because our mother liked to plant flowers there herself. No one really goes back there, so we’ve just left it untouched. But… why do you ask?”

Mother? Luisa bit her lip. Maybe that was a place she shouldn’t mess with. She had asked too hastily.

“Oh… no reason. Just curious.”

“Luisa.”

“…Yeah?”

“It’s okay. You can speak freely. You don’t have to hold back.”

“I was just wondering if I could use the space. But it doesn’t have to be that spot!”

“You can use it. Father never said we couldn’t. It’s just that no one’s stepped up to care for it.”

Damian smiled warmly and reached out to gently ruffle Luisa’s hair.

“If anything, I think she’d be happy to see you using it.”

He didn’t say exactly who “she” was, but Luisa could guess. He must’ve meant the Duchess. That thought made her heart ache a little.

She wasn’t truly family. Just a pitiful soul who had ended up living here by accident.

Luisa slowly blinked and took in the sight of Damian again.

The unwavering gaze directed solely at her, those eyes full of unfiltered affection — they felt almost illusory.

The more she saw them, the more uncomfortable she felt. She wanted to run.

Her gaze shifted past Damian to the rain blurring the view outside.

“…Thank you. Then, can I keep that place private? I’d like it to be just mine.”

“I’ll speak to Father. He’ll set up a boundary for you.”

She knew she couldn’t stay here forever. The sooner she recovered, the better it would be to create a space of her own — somewhere she could live freely.

“You want to do it yourself, miss?”

Mary asked, surprised, as she watched Luisa change into a simple dress. Luisa adjusted the wide-brimmed hat on her head and turned around.

“Yeah. I want to take care of it quietly, just by myself.”

“But it’ll be hard to do alone… at least let me help with pulling weeds.”

“It’s fine. I’m not planning to do it all at once. I’ll just take it slow.”