TOTNMLP 45

Chapter 45

Before long, Father Robert, one of Gabriel’s fellow priests, came running toward him in a hurry.

“…Father Robert?”

“Huff… huff…! Father Gabriel, are you all right?”

“What…?”

Gabriel blinked. The question made no sense.

When Gabriel looked at him blankly, Robert thumped his own chest in frustration. Then he pointed toward the direction where the man with red hair had gone.

“The man who just passed by — that was His Lordship, the Young Duke Douglas!”

“…The Young Duke Douglas?”

Douglas. That title was far higher than Gabriel had expected.

“So he wasn’t just some strange man, after all.”

As soon as the thought came, his heart sank like a stone.

“Yes. When His Lordship asked after you, I feared something terrible had happened. Truly, are you sure you’re unharmed?”

Robert gripped Gabriel’s shoulders, anxiously looking him over from head to toe.

“What on earth is going on?”

Gabriel nodded dumbly, still not understanding.

“Yes, nothing happened. But… what do you mean by ‘something terrible’? Did I do something wrong to him?”

“You mean—you really don’t know?”

Robert stared at him, wide-eyed with disbelief.

Thump, thump, thump…

The look on Robert’s face made Gabriel’s heart pound faster and faster.

A creeping unease began to spread inside him — so strong that he wanted to jump up and run away that very instant.

Then, as though unable to believe what he was hearing, Robert burst out:

“His Lordship the Young Duke Douglas is Lady Ariadne’s fiancé!”

“…What? F–Fiancé…?”

“You mean you truly didn’t know?”

It felt as if a massive boulder had struck Gabriel squarely on the head.

His mind went blank in shock.

“Lady Ariadne… has a fiancé…?”

Of course, for nobles of high rank, that wasn’t particularly unusual.

But Gabriel had never once thought about it.

No—perhaps he had thought of it, and simply refused to face it.

Because he could no longer control the feelings growing inside him.

Because he couldn’t stop wanting her.

“But if she already has a fiancé… then this is wrong…”

The Scriptures of Lovenia were clear on the matter:

The sacred bond of marriage must never be betrayed, for breaking it would destroy the peace of a household.

And yet—he, a priest, had allowed his heart to stray toward another man’s betrothed.

His own ruin didn’t matter. But if his sin were to bring unhappiness to Ariadne—

He could never forgive himself.

He could never forgive the one who made him lose control like this.

So Gabriel chose to flee.

If he could no longer hide his heart… if he could no longer silence his desire for her…

Then the only answer was distance.

Yes—Gabriel’s feelings didn’t matter.

What mattered, always and forever, was her.

That night, Gabriel couldn’t sleep a single wink.

Whenever he closed his eyes, Ariadne’s face appeared. Whenever he opened them, he could still hear her voice.

Perhaps it was because he knew he would never see her again. Her image wouldn’t leave his mind all night.

Gabriel let out a weary sigh and rose from his bed.

“I should at least tidy up before dawn.”

He couldn’t just freeload off the lady of the house forever.

He picked up a broom and opened the door to the stable. He decided to start by sweeping the yard.

But then—

“Found you.”

Startled, Gabriel fell flat on his backside.

Standing in front of the stable door, arms crossed, was Ariadne.

Her large green eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.

“…Y–Your Grace, the Young Duke?”

Gabriel stared at her in disbelief.

How on earth had she found him? He hadn’t told a soul where he was hiding.

Seeing his bewildered face, Ariadne smirked.

Then she spoke.

“My, Gabriel. What a cute little stunt you’ve pulled.”

“Y–Your Grace… how did you…”

“How did I find you? Please, finding one man is hardly a challenge for me.”

“Th–That can’t be…”

The color drained from Gabriel’s face.

So much for his plans—all of it, gone in an instant.

He had made such a painful decision to give her up.

He had abandoned his position as a priest, thrown away everything, and run away here—

Yet cruelly, Ariadne had found him again.

And now, she extended a gentle hand toward him.

“Gabriel, stop resisting and come home.”

“…”

“Come on. There’s a carriage waiting outside.”

Gabriel stared at her outstretched hand.

If he went back, he could once again serve as her personal priest.

He could see her every day, just like before.

Her words felt sweet—like the temptation of the devil himself.

But…

But I mustn’t.

Ariadne already had a fiancé.

To harbor feelings for another man’s betrothed—no priest, no man of faith could be forgiven for that.

That was why he had left the Lovenia Temple in the first place. And now she was asking him to return?

Gabriel slowly shook his head.

“Your Grace, I… cannot go back.”

“What?”

Ariadne’s expression froze for a moment.

The Gabriel she knew would have done anything to please her.

But now, he bowed his head like a man awaiting judgment.

This time, he could not yield.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. But I will not return to the temple.”

“What? Why not?”

“My heart… can’t bear it anymore…”

His vision blurred—tears welled in his eyes.

He let them fall freely as he bent low before her.

Yes, all of this was his fault.

If only he hadn’t fallen in love with her. If only he’d remained faithful to his vow to admire her from afar.

He wouldn’t be in such agony. He wouldn’t feel so damned.

But how could he not fall for the kind, warm woman who had saved him?

He had fallen hopelessly, irredeemably, in love with Ariadne.

And for that, he could no longer remain by her side.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Please forget about me.”

“…”

“There are many capable priests at the temple. You’ll easily find another who will serve you better than I ever could.”

“…”

“So please… forget me, and…”

Gabriel lifted his head, his gray eyes meeting hers.

“Please… live happily.”

“…”

Yes, this would be the last time he ever saw her.

He gave her a faint, sorrowful smile.

He was sad—heartbroken, even—but it was enough.

As long as Ariadne could be happy, that was all that mattered.

“…”

Ariadne said nothing for a long while.

Her expression was unreadable as she looked down at him, those deep green eyes flickering with some unknown emotion.

Finally, she bent her knees so their eyes met.

“Gabriel,” she said quietly. “Are you saying… you’ll leave me without my permission?”

Her calm voice echoed in his ears.

Gabriel swallowed hard. A chill crept down his spine.

“Ha… Gabriel. If you want to leave, go ahead.”

“…Your Grace?”

“But don’t expect me to sit still.”

Ariadne’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

Gabriel stared at her, alarmed.

“Gabriel, if you run away, the first thing I’ll do is hold the temple accountable.”

“…W–What?”

“They failed to properly manage my personal priest. Naturally, the blame falls on the Lovenia Temple. Imagine the chaos you’ll cause there.”

“Th–That’s…”

Gabriel’s face turned pale.

He was worried for the temple, yes—but even more so, for her.

She couldn’t be serious about making enemies of the temple for his sake. That was unthinkable.

He knew all too well what kind of woman the High Priestess Helen was.

She would never overlook an offense against the temple. She would do everything in her power to destroy Ariadne’s reputation.

Gabriel frantically tried to stop her.

“N–No! You mustn’t—please, don’t do that—”

“And that’s not all,” Ariadne interrupted smoothly. “Next, I’ll punish everyone who helped you hide.”

Her tone was disturbingly calm.

“Do you know what happens to those who abduct a priest of the Lovenia Temple? At least twenty years in prison… maybe more.”

“Th–That’s not true! I left of my own accord—”

“Oh? Do you think the temple will admit that?”

“…”

Gabriel fell silent.

Of course not. The temple would never acknowledge their own failings. They cared only for their own interests.

W–What should I do…?

Seeing the despair in his eyes, Ariadne smiled faintly.

Leaning close to him, she whispered, her voice low and dangerous:

“Gabriel. If you’re not by my side… I really might go insane.”

“…”

“And who knows what I’ll do then? Something far worse than what I just described, perhaps. I’ve already gone mad—what else am I capable of?”

“…”

“If you’re curious, by all means—keep running.”