Chapter 066……………………………………….
Raymond leaned back against a fallen tree on the ground.
He watched Cardin heading into the barracks, then slowly lifted one corner of his mouth.
He had sensed it even when the Saintess was still here, but…
he hadn’t expected Cardin to be this interested in her.
Perhaps it had gone beyond mere fondness.
Back when they attended the academy together, Cardin had never even glanced at women.
That was why this situation was almost hilarious.
The way he reacted to the letter from the Saintess, the way he grew jealous—it was so unlike him that it made it twice as entertaining.
He had come all the way here, only to stop short of entering the barracks, as if that last shred of pride was all he had left.
Raymond lowered his smirk and unfolded the letter in his hand.
He was still curious about what it said.
“Oh. So it’s about the rampage.”
That was the most likely explanation.
There was nothing else she would have to say to him.
Lowering his gaze, he slowly read the neat, delicate handwriting that resembled her so much.
To His Highness, the Third Prince,
This is Shallen Melissa. Are you still guarding the border?
Thanks to you, I have returned safely to the temple.
While I was there, I was able to complete my second pilgrimage with Your Highness’s help. Thank you.
There are many things I am grateful to you for, but I feel ashamed to ask this…
Still, I have one request, and so I write to you without much hesitation.
……
Above all, Your Highness’s opinion matters most, but I sincerely hope you will consider it positively.
Once again, thank you for the kindness and concern you showed me at the border.
May Gloria’s blessing reach you.
Saintess, Shallen Melissa
Raymond let his arm drop loosely onto his knee.
This wasn’t what he had expected.
It wasn’t a difficult request.
And in truth, he was in no position to refuse anything the Saintess asked.
After all, he still carried guilt toward her.
But something about the letter bothered him.
The former Saintess—Aria.
Melissa was asking whether it would be possible to prepare a place for her to stay…
And whether it could be hidden from Melissa’s own sight.
Everyone knew that Melissa’s grand temple produced Saintesses.
But no one ever wondered what happened to the former Saintesses afterward.
Even the believers likely didn’t care.
It was the same even in the Kingdom of Nicholas.
If Raymond refused, she would have asked Cardin instead.
Was she asking him first because the temple was watching the relationship between Cardin and the Saintess?
Or was it because she knew Melissa’s temple would not be visiting Nicholas?
He couldn’t know for sure.
But the fact that she asked someone she had only met once meant it must have been urgent.
He sensed someone approaching and lifted his head.
Cardin was walking toward him.
Raymond couldn’t help but chuckle.
The look on Cardin’s face—unable to hide his curiosity—was almost worth watching.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Cardin stared down at the letter in Raymond’s hand, narrowing his brows.
“Did something happen to the Saintess?”
“……”
Did she want it kept secret even from Cardin?
Raymond couldn’t tell, so he only smiled and shrugged.
“Did something happen at the temple?”
This time, concern surfaced clearly in Cardin’s twisted expression.
Raymond glanced down at the letter, then slipped it into his chest pocket.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask her yourself?”
“I see.”
The answer came too quickly.
Raymond clicked his tongue internally and corrected himself.
“No… it might be better not to ask.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Aren’t you planning to go see her?”
Cardin looked at him as if that was an obvious question.
Raymond shook his head.
“Then speak through a letter instead.”
Cardin hesitated, then looked up toward the messenger bird resting on a branch.
“When will Your Highness send a reply?”
“It seems the temple sent it at dawn… so I suppose after dinner would be fine.”
“I understand.”
Without hesitation, Cardin turned and walked away.
Raymond watched his back and let out a hollow laugh.
Could someone make it that obvious?
* * *
“Saintess?”
Aria’s voice pulled me out of my tangled thoughts.
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
Sitting across from me at the table, she asked with worry,
“It’s alright. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“No. I was just organizing my thoughts.”
Aria smiled bitterly, as if my expression looked too troubled.
She must have assumed I hadn’t found her a place to go.
I was about to correct her when—
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door, and I closed my mouth.
The door opened, and Amy entered, pushing a tray.
“I will serve the tea.”
Unlike how she behaved around me, her posture was perfectly formal.
Amy quietly watched her.
Soon, the table was set for tea time, and I smiled gently at Amy.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Please, continue your conversation.”
After closing her eyes briefly, Amy bowed and left the room.
When her footsteps faded, Aria finally looked away from the door.
“Saintess… is there a reason you called for me today?”
I nodded slowly.
She seemed unprepared, taking a deep breath.
“Shall we drink before the tea gets cold?”
Her fingertips trembled as she held the cup.
“Aria.”
“…Yes, Saintess. Please speak.”
“Yesterday, I sent a letter to the Third Prince of Nicholas.”
“The Third Prince…?”
“Yes. And this morning, his reply arrived.”
I placed my hand gently over her trembling one and smiled softly.
“His Highness said he would gladly help.”
“…How… then… that means…”
For once, she looked truly shocked.
Aria bit her lip, trying desperately to hold back the overwhelming emotion—
But she couldn’t stop the tears that welled up.
“He is someone we can trust.”
She couldn’t even part her lips as she struggled not to cry.
I soothed the back of her hand.
“We’ll need to discuss details, but for now… His Highness said you may stay as long as you wish in one of his private vacation estates.”
“It’s in a quiet place, so you won’t have to meet anyone.”
“The Third Prince’s estate…?”
“Yes. It’s located within his territory.”
Aria lowered her head slightly.
In the surface of her trembling teacup, her face reflected countless emotions.
Was that why Raymond added those words?
“His Highness also said he owns many estates, so you shouldn’t feel burdened.”
Aria lifted her head and met my eyes.
Her gaze was so full it looked like tears would fall at any moment.
Looking at her, I felt as though I was seeing myself from a past life.
The overwhelming relief of finally having somewhere to go…
When I was able to leave Melissa.
Perhaps I had worn the same expression when Cardin spoke of marriage to me.
In truth, she might be confined within that estate.
And yet she cried, simply because she was grateful.
If I can change this place…
Then she, too, will gain true freedom.
Until then—
Even if it feels suffocating—
I need her to endure just a little longer.
After receiving Raymond’s letter today, I kept thinking of ways for Aria to leave Melissa.
Fabivan knew the constraints of the “prison.”
Even if Aria left, he likely wouldn’t stop her…
Though he might follow.
I told her the plan I had in mind.
It was dangerous—
But Aria still thanked me, once again.
I took a deep breath…
Because now, it was time to say the most important thing.
