IWBCAS 22

Episode 22

Some of the things being said were a bit annoying,
but since Raina could see that Randerson was shaken by Carhail’s subtle threats, she decided to stay quiet.

After thinking for a moment, Randerson nodded and stepped back. Then he looked at the priest.

“…Let’s go back now, priest.”

“What? After coming all this way?”

“If you touch someone from the imperial family, it could be considered treason.”

“The imperial family? What do you mean? Lady Raina is part of the imperial family?”

The priest looked confused. Randerson quickly leaned in and whispered something into his ear.

“…Oh.”

The priest looked at Raina strangely and then nodded with a deflated expression.

That look annoyed Raina, but since they were backing off, she kept quiet.

“…We apologize, Lady Raina of the Philon family, and Grand Duke Carhail.”

Randerson gave a formal bow and left with the soldiers. The priest slowly followed behind.

“Whew.”

That was close.

As Raina let out a sigh of relief, the butler Maron came up to her.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

“I’m fine. Thank you, Maron.”

When she thanked him, Maron smiled warmly.

“No need to thank me. Even if they were searching for the Saint, barging into a noble’s house and trying to take the young lady? I, Maron, would never let that happen.”

Seeing Maron beat his chest proudly made Raina smile.

Even though it might not be necessary, next time she prayed, she thought she’d include Maron’s name too.

“Oh… where should we take the Grand Duke?”

Carhail was standing in the distance like a statue.

‘Why is he here again…?’

Sure, she was thankful he helped—but still…

“Father and Mother aren’t back yet, right?”

She already guessed that, since they hadn’t come out during all the commotion, but asked to be sure.

“No. They left a few days ago to visit the Marquis of Lient and haven’t returned yet.”

Nikolai and Grace had gone east to visit Raina’s grandfather, looking for marriage prospects. It seemed they were still there.

“…Bring the Grand Duke to the drawing room. It’s actually a good thing my parents aren’t here. They would’ve made a big fuss if they saw him.”

Maron nodded in agreement and went to guide Carhail.

Raina followed them into the drawing room.

Even before the tea finished steeping in the teapot, Carhail spoke up.

“You were the one who went to the temple that day, weren’t you?”

“Uh… um…”

“I heard the Saint was practically glowing, drawing attention to herself.”

Even before Raina gave any real answer, Carhail seemed sure it was her.

Tsk tsk.

He clicked his tongue, and Raina looked gloomy.

“I really only meant to get some fresh air.”

She meant it. How was she supposed to know the Saint statue would actually react like that?

‘The statue glowing when touched… That wasn’t even in the books!’

If you could draw out divine power from just that, what was the point of the Holy Grail?

‘Was the statue the stationary version and the Grail the portable one?’

‘I risked everything to steal the Grail for nothing!’

“How could this happen?”

Raina muttered in shock.

It really felt like the world was pushing her over a cliff.

‘Why did a divine prophecy have to come down now of all times?’

If not for the prophecy, people wouldn’t be going wild about the Saint.

“Damn prophecy.”

Carhail flinched and looked away as if guilty.

‘Why did you have to go there?’ he thought.

In the slums, rumors were always floating around. Some true, but most false.

There wasn’t even a real prophecy. Just a rumor.

If Raina hadn’t gone and literally glowed like a lamp…

Carhail just wanted her to panic and come running to him for help.

Not to blow things up so much that even the emperor got involved.

“You’re really good at making things worse.”

He wanted to scold her, but seeing her looking like she was about to cry, he kept his mouth shut.

‘Well… might as well turn this into a chance.’

That’s the way of a true strategist.

Carhail looked at her carefully and asked,

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean…?”

“I managed to get them to leave this time. But they’ll come back. Do you have a plan?”

Of course she didn’t.

Raina’s face darkened.

“…I think there’s something you should be saying by now.”

‘Something I should say?’

Raina tilted her head in confusion.

Was she really this clueless?

“There’s one way to solve all your problems at once.”

“There is?”

The way her face instantly lit up proved she had never once thought about marrying him.

“Lady Raina, do you know why Randerson backed off so easily today?”

“Of course… it’s because…”

She looked at Carhail and hesitated.

“…Because you’re scary?”

At that, Carhail’s eyes instantly turned cold.

‘Wait, that’s not it? But he is scary…’

Raina looked confused.

Carhail tried to hold back his irritation and explained.

“…You know the imperial family has immunity, right, Lady Raina?”

She didn’t know. But she nodded as if she did.

“That’s right. Except for treason, we’re exempt from all investigations and laws. I’m included in that.”

Raina frowned.

“Are you just bragging about your immunity?”

Carhail rubbed his forehead in frustration.

“No. Randerson backed off because he thought you might become part of the imperial family.”

“Become part of the imperial family…?”

“Yes. Through marriage.”

Carhail said “marriage” like it was a curse word.

Raina blinked, slowly understanding.

“Marriage… so the person you mean is…”

“The one you had a scandal with recently. Me.”

He pointed at himself with his thumb.

“Oh!!”

“Now do you get it, Lady Raina?”

“…”

His sharp blue eyes stared into hers.

“So, don’t you have something to say to me now?”

Raina looked at him, confused and overwhelmed.

His smile showed he was very satisfied with how things were going.

‘Why do I feel like I’m being trapped?’

It was true she was chosen by the prophecy, and she did touch the statue and glow.

But Raina couldn’t shake the feeling that she had walked into a trap.

A very attractive trap.

Gulp.

She swallowed nervously.

“If I marry you… can I really avoid being investigated?”

Carhail nodded confidently.

“That’s why they left earlier.”

“What if I don’t marry you…?”

“Who knows.”

He didn’t say it, but his sly smile said everything.

Carhail leaned back in the couch, looking down at her with a smug face.

He looked way too pleased.

“Hmph…!”

Raina folded her arms and started thinking seriously. Seeing this, Carhail laughed like it was ridiculous.

“You really need time to think in this situation?”

“Of course I do.”

“If you marry me, you won’t have to deal with priests or soldiers anymore. You almost got dragged off today.”

“That’s true, but…”

Seeing her hesitate, his eyebrow twitched.

“I even said I’d triple the supply of magic stones to your family.”

“That’s my father’s business, not mine.”

The Philon family was already rich. More business didn’t matter much.

“You don’t have any other marriage proposals, either. I’m the only one right now.”

“Well… my parents went to visit my grandfather to find someone for me. He’s very influential.”

Why?

‘Why won’t she just say yes already?’

Carhail thought by now she’d be begging to marry him.

But instead, he found himself trying harder and harder to convince her.

The confidence drained from his face.

He leaned forward, suddenly aware he was the one pleading.

“What’s the problem, Lady Raina?”

“Good question…”

Raina wasn’t stupid. She understood everything.

She knew marrying Carhail would solve her problems. She knew she had a lot to gain.

But still… sometimes emotions just take over reason.

And right now, that was happening.

‘Why do I feel like something’s missing?’

As she got lost in her thoughts, Carhail asked dryly,

“…Lady Raina. Why are you rejecting me?”

“Why do you want to marry me so badly?”

She was genuinely curious now.

This man who claimed to have everything—why was he so desperate to marry her?

If he answered, maybe she’d finally understand this strange feeling.

‘Could it be… does he like me?’

Her question seemed to surprise him.

Carhail opened his mouth, then closed it. Opened it again… but said nothing.

“What is it? Why do you want to marry me so badly?”

She asked again.

Carhail’s face twisted like he didn’t know how to answer.