IMNTI CHAPTER 37

“Um… Are you alright?”

As he lifted his head, a small woman, who looked just barely an adult, was holding out her hand to him.

Swoooosh— Though it was midday, the world looked dark and gloomy.

The vice-captain instantly stood up with wary eyes.

“I’m fine.”

It wasn’t exactly an unfrequented forest path, but for a woman to be alone in such a downpour—there was something suspicious about it. The woman, cloaked and hooded, held a basket in one hand as if she had just returned from somewhere.

The vice-captain took a step back and swept the ground with his eyes. More than the strange woman before him, the box he had been cradling in his arms took priority.

“Were you looking for this, by any chance? I thought you might’ve dropped it earlier, so I picked it up.”

His head whipped toward her. He had seen the basket but not the box—how careless of him. He silently chastised himself and approached the woman.

“But the lid was open, so some of the flowers fell out.”

His face filled with horror. The moment the divine object touched the woman’s fingertips, the miasma began to dissipate.

KWA-KANG—! Thunder cracked loudly overhead. Under the flickering sky, the woman’s innocent green eyes shimmered for a brief moment.

It had to be miasma. That was the only explanation.

As soon as she returned to the mansion, Louisa frowned at the gift box that greeted her.

“So… you’re saying the Second Prince sent this?”

“Yes, my lady. There was also a card enclosed.”

“…Why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why would he send this?”

“That… I’m not sure either…”

She glanced at the butler, who shrank back awkwardly, then looked down at the box in his hands.

“Did you have some connection with Saint-Pierre?”

You’re still here?

Startled by the sudden interjection, Louisa turned her head. There was Raphael, eyes narrowed, staring intently at the gift box.

“No, I just greeted him once.”

“At the engagement ceremony?”

“No. I didn’t even greet him there. We met at the Dallio family estate.”

“Ah, if it was then…”

Raphael trailed off and looked at her, recalling that it was the day he first found her vomiting blood.

“But is there some kind of special occasion? I’m curious why Saint-Pierre would send a gift now.”

“I have no idea… Maybe he’s just being considerate because I’m the Crown Prince’s fiancée?”

Louisa replied indifferently. Her first impression of Saint-Pierre at the garden party wasn’t particularly pleasant, so she didn’t have high hopes for the gift.

“Fiancée… Right, fiancée.”

But Raphael seemed fixated on something. He nodded slowly, muttering to himself. Seizing the opportunity, Louisa turned and quickly headed to her room.

The butler followed behind, opened the door for her, and carefully placed the box on the table before disappearing.

‘I’d almost forgotten, but what is this guy scheming?’

Frowning, Louisa picked up the card.

“Wishing you a swift recovery.”

Short and to the point.

Recovery? As far as anyone knew, she had only accompanied her family to the North. Was there a rumor going around that she had come for convalescence?

Louisa’s mind grew tangled with thoughts.

‘Come to think of it, he did say he sensed divine power in me.’

That forgotten detail suddenly resurfaced. She thought he’d fade from her memory once out of sight, but it felt like he had sent the card just as she was starting to forget—to remind her not to.

What on earth is his angle? No wonder his smile that day left her uneasy…

Clicking her tongue, Louisa tossed the card aside. She had no interest in opening the gift, but she also didn’t want to be accused later of insulting a royal, so her hand moved unwillingly.

She tore the wrapping paper off without hesitation, the pieces scattering across the floor. With a reluctant expression, she slowly opened the small box.

“…Would someone usually give this kind of gift to their brother’s fiancée?”

Louisa picked up the ruby necklace with just her thumb and forefinger, as though handling something disgusting.

The ruby was nearly the size of her eye—clearly an expensive piece.

“Ugh, this is definitely cursed.”

With a shudder, she tossed the necklace back into the box as if shaking off filth.

They could all just behave themselves until the real female lead showed up—why did they have to mess with her like this?

It wasn’t like they were contrary by nature. In the original story, none of them paid her any mind, yet now they were showering her with unwanted attention.

Whatever the reason—whim or otherwise—dealing with situations like this was starting to become exhausting.

‘I should just go out and find the female lead myself at this rate.’

Sighing with a tired face, Louisa headed toward the bathroom. First things first—she needed a bath and a long nap.

And so, with that determination, two weeks later, the news that a Saint had appeared spread throughout the Empire.

“You seem to be in a good mood lately, my lady!”

“Do I?”

“Yes! Is it because you’re heading to the capital soon?”

At Mary’s cheerful question, a moment of silence fell. Louisa, who had been happily eating cake just moments earlier, set her fork down lifelessly.

“The capital… Do I really have to go?”

“Yes. I heard it’s a banquet personally hosted by His Majesty the Emperor, so you must attend. Don’t you want to go?”

“It’s such a hassle. Ugh… when do I have to leave again…”

Louisa frowned as if she had lost her appetite.

The subjugation of monsters in the North was nearly complete, and with only a few left, the Holy Knights were preparing to withdraw. Raphael was also scheduled to depart.

Sure, it was a bit of a shame that a bundle of divine power would be leaving, but she had gotten better at controlling her own abilities and no longer needed him around to maintain balance. She was actually looking forward to a more peaceful northern life.

But now there was going to be a banquet celebrating the Saint? Of course she was happy for the girl, but having to go all the way to the capital for it felt like punishment.

She had hoped to just observe the female lead from afar, but now it seemed like she’d be seeing her up close.

‘Still, I’m relieved the Saint appeared sooner than expected. Any later, and I might’ve had to go look for her myself.’

Louisa tried to calm her annoyance. For the sake of her future peace, she only needed to endure a short trip.

‘If I’m going all the way to the capital, I might as well get some business done too.’

Meeting with Albert Rosé and Countess Dallio again wouldn’t be a bad idea. Since Rosé Wine had done so well, she was thinking of branching out into other products and wanted to discuss it with them.

‘Damn it, I’m thinking about work again… Sigh… I’m hopeless. I must be a workaholic to my core. But still, for my retirement fund… Wait, do I even need to earn that much anymore without the Holy Water business? Hmm…’

It was a dilemma. After the success of the wine, she realized belatedly how fun it was to earn money.

In her previous life, earning money felt like digging a hole just to fill another. But now, watching her wealth steadily grow felt completely different.

‘If things get too annoying, I’ll just quit everything for real next time.’

Right now, she wasn’t used to resting, which made her keep working out of habit—but eventually, she’d learn how to stop and walk away.

‘Now that the female lead has shown up, I don’t even have to worry about the miasma anymore.’

Louisa let out a small sigh and looked out the window.

Just then, she spotted Raphael speaking with the knights in front of the mansion, probably preparing to depart the next day.

A week from now, at the upcoming banquet, he would meet the original female lead. Was it love at first sight? How did he even fall for her? She couldn’t remember.

Come to think of it, she didn’t even know the heroine’s name.

‘My memory really is strange.’

She was blankly staring down, trying to recall details about the female lead, when suddenly Raphael looked up.

Their eyes met. Louisa froze.

Under the rare clear sky, his eyes—blue like the heavens—sparkled brilliantly.

Maybe it was the natural lighting, but his features looked especially sharp today. For someone she usually didn’t think much about, he looked unusually handsome now.

He opened his mouth as if to say something.

‘Is he talking to me?’

Louisa narrowed her eyes. It did seem like he was saying something, but she couldn’t read his lips.

‘How am I supposed to know what he’s saying? If it’s urgent, he’ll come up and say it himself.’

She gave up quickly and shrugged at him. Then, resting her chin on the table, she continued watching. Eventually, he looked away first.

Guess it wasn’t urgent. Not that there could be any pressing business between the two of them anyway.

Louisa turned her gaze away from the window. Today was cool enough that the fireplace, which had been lit daily, was off.

It really did feel like summer. Though the North was chilly, the capital’s blazing sun would surely scorch her skin. She wondered if her body could handle the heat.

Still, thanks to the divine power training, she was in better health now and could even faintly sense miasma. That was real progress.

Once she reached the capital, physicians from the East with special treatment methods would be waiting, but that was a problem for later.