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On John’s face, there was not the slightest twitch. Only his fierce gaze, filled with red eyes, revealed his unpleasant mood.

“Wasn’t the Saintess’s partner the Crown Prince?”

“You knew that too, Duke?”

The Saintess’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s right. My current partner is His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Carlos. It’s thanks to His Majesty the Emperor considering my situation, since I have few acquaintances in the empire.”

The Saintess, lowering her long eyelashes, smiled sadly.

“…But I didn’t have my doctor with me there.”

The Saintess stepped closer to John, lowering her voice. As she swept her radiant blonde hair behind her ear, her elegant, untroubled neck was revealed.

The sweet scent of lilies grew stronger. John’s gaze fixed on the Saintess turned red as he looked at her.

‘John. You must survive. Promise me.’

The smell of blood, spreading desperately, and the blazing flames, as if consuming everything, flooded his mind. His ears felt muffled, and his throat tightened as if he were suffocating.

Memories invaded his entire body.

‘John Blanchet. Do you know what burning pain feels like? Your skin melting away, and it might make you wish for death instead.’

‘You’re so lucky. To survive without experiencing such agony. In that regard, your family was very unlucky.’

John clenched his fists. He wanted to erase everything around him immediately. The screams of his family fueled his suppressed violent urges.

“John?”

The Saintess called his name softly. John’s red eyes pierced her face with an intense stare.

‘As expected.’

Stella, hiding her joy, barely smiled.

‘He instinctively realized who his true partner was.’

John Blanchet seemed genuinely confused—caught between the fake who coveted the position he lent and the true wife, Estelle, who deserved respect as his real spouse.

‘But everything is predestined. I will save him—’

John could no longer hold back his hatred.

Unnoticed by Stella, the man’s large hand suddenly shot out as if to strangle his opponent.

‘Kill that woman.’

Just as his hand was about to tighten around Stella’s neck,

“Please stop there.”

A calm yet firm voice, seemingly inconspicuous but carrying strength, intervened as someone grasped John’s hand.

Councillor Ortega, smiling thinly with a subtle squint, placed his hand on Stella’s shoulder.

John’s cold gaze turned toward Ortega. The councillor, with a gentle expression, was like a serpent ruthlessly purging the emperor’s enemies.

“I’m sorry, Duke Blanchet.”

Unexpectedly, Ortega bowed politely to John, even bowing deeply.

“It seems you’ve forgotten that the Saintess has a dance partner. Since she was raised properly in the temple, she sometimes shows such immature behavior.”

He spoke elegantly, belittling the Saintess.

John slightly furrowed his brows. His attitude was uncharacteristic of a close aide to the emperor, who valued his relationship with the temple.

‘This is what the emperor ordered.’

Ortega’s voice was warm, as if sympathizing with John’s feelings.

“Her partner is His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. That’s been decided. If you, Duke, overlook her mistake, I will take her away and teach her strictly about the court etiquette.”

Stella pouted and argued back at Ortega’s words.

“…Even if you say that, I was already talking properly with the duke. We were becoming friends without any ulterior motives.”

“I’m not your friend.”

John warned sharply, his tone edged with menace. Unknowingly, a fierce deadly intent flickered.

“Saintess, I told you.”

Ortega gently patted Stella’s shoulder and warned in a low voice. Though it seemed like protecting her, in truth, Ortega was threatening her.

“Mind your manners. Especially you, Duke Blanchet, a guest of the royal court.”

Stella couldn’t act out any further.

John felt dizzy amid the deep murderous intent he sensed from Ortega and Stella.

He even thought about killing her.

Ever since that day he couldn’t act, he had only looked forward to cruelly punishing all his enemies.

He had even tried to kill her. But he had never felt such murderous intent as he did now.

‘What on earth is that woman?’

A woman who touches the deep-seated hatred within John more profoundly than Libertan.

A headache started pounding again. But John didn’t find the pain so terrible. He ignored the Saintess and walked away.

Instead, he learned something new, something more valuable than that woman.

‘What I am truly searching for.’

John’s goal had always been clear: to kill those who had caused his family’s ruin.

‘Estelle…’

Unlike those enemies, Estelle was different.

He could insult her by dragging out the memory of his deceased biological daughter, Yesstella, but he could not lay a finger on Estelle, now his wife.

John headed straight for the room where Estelle was waiting, without a backward glance. He had missed her desperately from the moment he left the room.

But now, this moment—unable to see her immediately—felt like hell.

He needed Estelle.

Too desperately.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

“Prince, Duke Blanchet!”

Stella watched John leave without turning back, her eyebrows drooping.

‘He must still be so confused.’

Ortega gently patted Stella’s shoulder.

“Saintess, could you explain what happened today?”

“…I only checked his intentions because I was curious. I didn’t want to cause trouble for him. I can ask him again, after all.”

Stella pouted playfully.

“I understand the duke’s intentions. I also don’t want to trouble him. But regardless of what the duke wants, I want you to know there’s always someone praying for you by your side.”

Warm sunlight poured through the window on the palace wall. The Saintess’s blue eyes sparkled nobly. Her modest hands clasped in prayer-like manner showed no trace of selfish desire.

“Councillor Ortega, you understand my feelings too, right?”

“Ah, yes. I do.”

Ortega’s eyes grew cold and calm.

‘The Saintess is very interested in Duke Blanchet.’

But the duke himself seemed very hostile toward her.

‘If I use this well, I can achieve the result I want.’

Stella, favored by the kingdom, was the Saintess.

Her divine power was significant, but in an empire with many followers of Athena, she held enormous influence in her own right.

‘That’s why her lie at the Royem Kingdom’s presentation went unnoticed.’

From the believers’ perspective, it was difficult to doubt the sainted saintess officially recognized by the kingdom.

Ortega smiled kindly as he looked at Stella.

“I fully understand the Saintess’s feelings. However, as your guardian, I worry that others might misunderstand your innocent heart.”

“Oh my, that’s true. Such people might exist.”

“But don’t worry too much. I will do my best, especially since Cardinal Simon asked me to look after you.”

Stella brightened and smiled happily at Ortega’s words.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

I checked the tapestry given by Queen Royem.

‘It’s Isidor.’

And I even felt the fairy’s power near that name.

-Do you want me to try tearing this tapestry apart?

“Yes, you want me to tear the tapestry?”

-Yes. That fairy, named Isidor, must have left something for another fairy. We need to find out what it is.

“But…”

This tapestry was a gift from Queen Isabella.

“Is it okay to destroy someone else’s gift?”

-Hmm, aren’t you a fairy? You don’t need to worry about human etiquette.

-Exactly. It’s something necessary, so what can I do? The human who gave you this tapestry probably hoped it would help you.

It wasn’t an ordinary tapestry; it was a treasured item that Queen Isabella herself kept in her office.

‘If anyone tries to find out where I’ve hidden this tapestry…’

Even though I am treated as a benefactor in Royem, provoking feelings could be dangerous. But priorities come first.

“I have no choice but to find something similar again.”

I grasped the tapestry and tore at the part where ‘Isidor’ was written.

[Isidor.]

The tapestry was gradually torn apart, but the name ‘Isidor’ in the center became clearer. Between the shimmering, sparkling fairy energy, a fleeting illusion-like image flickered.

‘Young John?’

I saw a young John sitting with his mother and sister in the imperial palace bedroom. His mother, the former Duchess, was folding animals out of a towel for Lily.

“Look, Lily. See? It’s a bunny.”

“John, did you see? Mom made a bunny out of a towel!”

“Yeah, I saw.”

“Mom, can you make other animals too?”

“Of course. John, you can do it too, right? Lily, do you want to try?”

Young John seemed somewhat annoyed, but when Lily whined, he folded the towel and made a swan.

“There, done.”

“Wow! John, you’re amazing! How can you make something like that instantly? Can I do it too?”

“If you fold roughly, the shape just appears.”

But despite his confident tone, Lily didn’t seem very skillful. Unlike John, who made a perfect swan at once, she kept failing.

“That’s not how you fold it. Just follow along and try.”

“Hmm… it’s too hard…”

At that moment, John’s mother, watching the siblings with a satisfied look, stood up.

“Lady Duchess, His Majesty is calling you.”

“Oh, really?”

Suddenly, the face of the former Duchess paled. But she nodded gracefully and straightened her attire.

“Lily, John. Mom will be back soon. Stay quiet and be good.”

Then I noticed something strange.

‘Is that an emerald earring?’

The former Duchess was carefully hiding one of her emerald earrings inside her sleeve. But her restless touching betrayed her.

“Why is she doing that?”

Suddenly—

John entered with a cold, expressionless face. His aura felt so intimidating that it was hard to approach.

In that moment, the illusion I saw before disappeared like a bubble.

‘Huh? The tapestry too—’

Strangely, the torn tapestry had returned to its original state in the blink of an eye.

‘Is this the power of a fairy too?’

But what mattered most now was John. I smiled brightly as if I had been admiring the tapestry.

“John?”

John stood silently, staring intently at my face. Somehow, his expression seemed strangely exhausted.

“…Estelle.”

He bit his lip and suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. His broad arms encircled me without a hint of hesitation.

It was a desperate gesture.

John held me tightly as if he couldn’t bear it for a moment longer, brushing his high nose against the back of my neck. The thick chest scenting my body trembled as he inhaled my scent.

He seemed to have just caught his breath after a long time.

‘What happened outside?’

But asking seemed risky, as John’s reaction was unusual.

‘John wouldn’t react like that unless it was… Libertan.’

But his revenge related to Libertan was nearly complete. There shouldn’t be anything that could make John this distressed.

I silently patted his back.

John, breathing heavily, slowly lifted his face and looked at me. His red eyes were dark and sunk deep.

“Madam.”

He relaxed his grip and gently intertwined his fingers with mine.

My heart began to race.

I couldn’t even blink properly, just staring at John’s handsome face. His red eyes shone with an aching light.

“Stay with me forever.”

He whispered softly, still looking at me, then pressed his lips against the back of my hand.

A relaxed, natural movement. His hot lips pressed gently against my hand.

Now, John’s gaze was burning not just with longing but with fierce desire and love, as if starving for a lifetime.

The pounding of my heart, the crackling sound of the bedsheet, even the silent air seemed to tickle my ears.

“Yes.”

Even then, his persistent gaze continued to burn intensely on me. I was captivated by that calm yet powerful stare.

“I’ll stay by John’s side, no matter what.”

I answered, feeling as if he was speaking to me—or perhaps to myself.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

A lively social gathering was ongoing. Diana looked bored as she dealt with the young noble ladies.

‘How long is this going to go on?’

When she was just a noble maiden like this, she remembered the times when she received a knightly title and rode horses and trained with swords freely.

‘I don’t mind losing the title…’

At that moment, Lady Luise approached Diana with a friendly smile.

“Oh, Princess Diana. It’s been so long.”

“Ah, Lady Luise.”

“I heard about what happened. Losing your knightly title because of Duke Blanchet, right?”

Lady Luise muttered as if sympathizing.

“Honestly, I can’t believe such a thing. Princess Diana didn’t do it on purpose; she was just tricked by that wicked woman. And now she’s lost her title too?”

“That was my fault.”

“Oh dear, Princess. The Duke Blanchet isn’t around here right now.”

Lady Luise lowered her voice as if sharing a secret.

“We can’t just call anyone with lowly common blood. You understand, right?”

Suddenly—

Luise was slapped, and her eyes widened in surprise. Of course, everyone around was the same. Diana, too, looked at her hand in shock and muttered.

“Lady Luise. I’m sorry.”

“Wh-what…”

“I… I just reacted without thinking after hearing such unreasonable words.”

Of course, Diana was sincere.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!