Chapter 073……………………..
As Kardin said, there was nothing wrong with the carriage, and I returned safely to the temple.
Those who heard about the accident came over, and I had to repeatedly assure them that I hadn’t been hurt.
By the time Alec arrived at Melissa’s, it was quite late at night.
He came to see me after reporting to Fabivan.
“I heard there was an accident.”
“Yes. I think it was to see whether I could handle holy power.”
Alec frowned.
“Are you sure you weren’t injured anywhere?”
I gave a faint smile and nodded. I had expected at least a bruise on my back, but there wasn’t a single mark.
“His Highness the Prince personally escorted Lady Aria to the Kingdom of Nicholas.”
“I see.”
It was reassuring because it was Raymond. Alec looked puzzled.
“Did you know the prince would come?”
“No, I heard about it too.”
“You mean His Highness, Duke Ferdian?”
“Yes.”
“So it was the Duke who appeared suddenly to help?”
It was an unexpected encounter for me as well. Seeing my expression, Alec didn’t ask further.
“It seems you are known as a noble knight who has come to the temple.”
That was fortunate. If the truth had been revealed, Fabivan would have been certain.
“Commander.”
“Yes. Please.”
“Did you anticipate the carriage incident today?”
Alec shook his head firmly. Of course, if he had, he would have told me before departure.
He didn’t fully trust the knights, so he warned me just in case.
“Luckily, your caution prevented it from being discovered.”
Had I not remembered his words, I would surely have used holy power before reaching the village.
I didn’t know how my holy power might have been altered, but in the village, it would have been discovered if not for Kardin.
Alec’s expression was complicated.
“Commander, do you have anything you’d like to say?”
“No. His Highness the Third Prince said he would send a letter soon. I will bring it to you once I receive it.”
“Okay. I’ll leave it to you.”
He collected his expression and gave a brief salute.
“Well, rest now.”
After Alec left the room, silence returned. I walked to the desk and picked up Kardin’s letter, rolled and tied neatly in the drawer.
‘And I was a little disappointed that you didn’t reply to me alone.’
The scent he had when he was close still lingered in my nose.
Thinking of him saying such things so casually made my heart flutter, yet it also ached as if pressed down.
The words Kardin had spoken to the Flower of God haunted me like they wouldn’t let me go.
‘With just your greed, you killed the one you love over and over.’
‘After killing them so many times, do you even deserve to love and miss them?’
His eyes were so different from how they looked at me now that I wanted to run away from meeting them again.
Because I loved him, his every word made my heart race to the point of sleeplessness.
It was the same today.
A complicated feeling. A relationship with him, where I couldn’t just be greedy and couldn’t envision the future, hurt my heart profoundly. Very, very much.
I untied the string holding the rolled-up letter, and the paper unfurled proudly.
I read his letter, calling my name in neat handwriting.
Each time I read it, my heart thumped inexplicably.
I was only reading it now.
I had deliberately avoided it before. I had read Raymond’s letters but couldn’t bring myself to read Kardin’s.
I had been too weak, afraid of what I would say to him.
I hadn’t realized that Kardin would be concerned while exchanging letters with Raymond.
I had heard he returned to each kingdom. I never imagined I would meet him today.
Still, as I continue the pilgrimage, we probably wouldn’t meet again, so his interest in me would fade.
I wished he wouldn’t miss me or long for me like I do, caught even in a passing breeze—let him simply be carried by the wind.
I selfishly hoped that I wouldn’t speak harshly to him again or put distance between us.
Because if you smile at me, I won’t be able to say a word.
A few days had passed since Aria received Raymond’s letter saying she had arrived safely.
Amy walked toward the carriage carrying her luggage, unusually slow compared to her usual pace.
Was it because it had been a while since we went on the pilgrimage together? Yet she didn’t seem nervous.
I glanced at her, noticing her slow pace, as if she still had some lingering attachment.
Her face was flushed.
She tried to compose herself, a look that felt strangely familiar.
Perhaps it was because she was attending a banquet, not facing monsters.
At that moment, Amy glanced toward where the Holy Knights were.
Her cheeks reddened as she tried to avoid looking that way.
Yet, unable to control herself fully, her eyes darted a few times.
My gaze also followed hers to the preparing Holy Knights.
One person appeared in Amy’s eyes—a man I hadn’t seen before.
No, he was the knight I first saw yesterday.
Though she may not have remembered seeing him, she now recognized him from yesterday’s escort.
He was called Jace.
Jace did not look toward us.
I alternated glances between them and smiled slightly. Seeing Amy like this was new and amusing.
Shaking her head, she quickened her steps again, which was adorable.
A girl in love—simply that.
As we neared the carriage, Fabivan, who had been talking with Alec, approached me.
Amy stiffened along with him. I gently held her hand briefly to reassure her.
“Temple Master.”
“It will be a long journey. Are you feeling well?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“I have contacted the temples along the way, so I hope your journey won’t be too hard.”
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll be back safely.”
Because it was a long journey, everyone from the temple came out to see me off.
I smiled as I scanned them all, lingering briefly on Philip and Harold.
“Saintess.”
When Alec called me, I held his hand and climbed onto the carriage.
Amy followed, placing her hands on her chest and letting out a deep breath.
Being tall, she must have been tense.
To ease her, I kept my gaze out the window and said,
“Amy, do you have someone you like?”
Startled by my words, she lifted her head sharply.
Seeing that, all my tension eased, and my lips softened into a smile.
“Um, Sir Jace, perhaps?”
“Ah!”
She covered her mouth with both hands, looking back and forth between Jace and me, then let her hands fall.
Perhaps she wanted to keep it a secret.
Surprised by her reaction, I tilted my head.
“Amy?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
I must have guessed correctly. Her gaze turned to Jace.
“I couldn’t not notice.”
“Eh? In what way?”
I shrugged slightly and said,
“That you like him?”
“When did you… know?”
“Um, just now?”
Amy tapped her head as if scolding herself.
I held her hand and lowered the corner of my eyes.
“I should have pretended not to know.”
“Oh! No! I just thought it was obvious…”
As the carriage slowly departed, I leaned lightly against the seat and said,
“How can you hide feelings for someone you like?”
Even if you can hide resentment or dislike, it’s impossible to conceal feelings of love.
Your attention is entirely on that person.
I smiled faintly and turned my gaze out the window.
If you want, I can also make a polished, natural English adaptation that reads like a finished light novel rather than a literal translation. That would preserve the emotional nuances better.
Do you want me to do that?
