Chapter 38
Olentia cautiously spoke as Daphne took her seat.
“I’m worried I might be taking up your time, Saint.”
Daphne lifted her veil and shook her head gently.
“Not at all. I was curious because I heard that the Grand Duchess possesses divine power. I also have something I need to tell you.”
“That’s a relief. If there’s anything uncomfortable, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Olentia was willing to adjust anything. The Saint was a righteous person who had saved countless lives through her premonitions. Olentia herself had experienced premonitions a few times, but compared to the Saint, hers seemed insignificant.
Daphne lifted one corner of her mouth and said,
“You’re very kind.”
Olentia clasped her hands together and gazed at Daphne with sparkling eyes. It was truly amazing to have the Saint here in front of her. The Saint predicted and saved people through her premonitions—how had she managed to face such terrifying events with such composure? Her mental strength was incredible.
“That’s because I respect you, Saint.”
Olentia could easily say she respected her, not only because of the premonitions but also because she had spent a long time contemplating divine power. She had no choice but to respect someone at the pinnacle of that ability. The only people capable of confronting Satan would be the Saint or the Pope.
However, Daphne didn’t look particularly pleased. With a bitter smile, she said to Olentia,
“While premonitions may seem like a blessing from God, they’re not necessarily so.”
Olentia nearly agreed out loud but restrained herself, nodding instead.
“Yes. You can’t always see a good future.”
“Exactly. You usually see many unfavorable futures. And there’s no guarantee you can change them.”
“That’s sad… having to witness a bad future without being able to prevent it.”
In the Odor territory, Olentia had changed the futures of Ancedo and Morin. In her premonitions, Ancedo had been thriving as a smuggler but had become a criminal, while Morin appeared to survive and live well. That had been a relief.
Deep in thought, Olentia was startled when Daphne suddenly spoke something shocking.
“Actually, you appeared in my premonition, Grand Duchess.”
Olentia was so surprised that she hiccupped without realizing it. She patted her chest with her clenched fist to stop it.
“Me? How did I appear?”
Daphne paused for a while before answering, her furrowed brow indicating that it was not good news.
The thought that she had appeared in Daphne’s premonition felt serious. Daphne’s visions had never been wrong.
Impatient to hear more, Olentia blinked rapidly several times.
Finally, Daphne spoke.
“You were crying after being betrayed by His Grace, the Grand Duke. I saw you losing everything and collapsing. Your married life didn’t look happy.”
Olentia paused. The idea of being betrayed by Dimidius was hard to believe. They had maintained a peaceful contractual relationship so far. Even if he occasionally said harsh things, he was not someone untrustworthy.
Feeling uneasy, Olentia pressed one hand to her forehead and asked,
“How exactly will I be betrayed? Can you see that as well?”
Daphne answered seriously.
“I don’t know the details. But I clearly saw that you would lose everything and end up living as a maid. If you continue the marriage, that is what will happen.”
Olentia’s mind raced. Losing all her inheritance and becoming a maid? Could Dimidius really take her fortune? The idea of collapsing after losing everything seemed to suggest that. But she couldn’t believe it.
Yet, there was no reason for Daphne to lie. She had always used her divine power to prophesy for the benefit of the Bonus Empire. Hearing that such a great person had a dream about her made Olentia feel fearful.
She fiddled with her hands on the table, now ice-cold from anxiety. She couldn’t think clearly and had forgotten to ask about strengthening divine power or handling premonitions.
Then Daphne smiled faintly.
“Nervous? I think this premonition is a future you can change. That’s why I felt relieved. You can just get a divorce.”
Olentia had already planned to divorce in five months, yet Daphne’s words made her uneasy. Something felt like it might happen before the divorce.
She spoke with eyes darting anxiously.
“Please keep this premonition just between the two of us, Saint.”
Daphne readily nodded.
“Of course. It’s a private matter between husband and wife. I hope you make a wise decision.”
After that, Olentia’s mind went blank. She kept thinking about how to prevent the events in Daphne’s premonition from happening. Even small actions could change the future.
But the more she thought, the stranger it seemed.
Long ago, Olentia had dreamed of living happily with her masked husband. She had looked so happy in that dream. If that had been a premonition, it conflicted with Daphne’s. Their visions showed very different futures.
‘What on earth is going on?’
As Olentia unconsciously gripped her hair, Daphne said,
“I should be going now. It’s time for me to offer prayers.”
Olentia quickly rose and bowed.
“Thank you for your time.”
Even after Daphne left, Olentia couldn’t leave the room. Daphne’s prophecy lingered in her mind. It seemed she had come to tell her about the premonition. Olentia felt grateful yet uneasy. Daphne’s visions had never been wrong.
As Olentia sighed deeply, Crown Prince Regalis entered. He looked puzzled, sensing the strange atmosphere.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
Olentia couldn’t share Daphne’s prophecy, so she shook her head.
“Nothing. But Your Highness, why are you here?”
Regalis closed the door sharply.
“I thought it was appropriate to attend, since I was the one who arranged this meeting. How was it?”
Olentia hadn’t expected to hear Daphne’s negative prophecy so suddenly. Her heart was still racing. She needed to compose herself.
She forced a smile.
“Yes. It was very pleasant. Thank you for arranging this meeting.”
“You don’t seem very spirited.”
“That’s not true. I’ll speak with all my heart. Thank you sincerely.”
Only then did the Crown Prince nod, satisfied, looking quite pleased.
“Then please return safely.”
Olentia felt that he had come all this way just to hear her thanks.
She walked back slowly to the Grand Duke’s carriage, feeling sluggish. Bobby, waiting inside, looked at her with eager eyes.
“What was the Saint like?”
Olentia replied with a dazed expression.
“She was… strange.”
Crown Prince Regalis watched Daphne, who held a teacup gracefully. His gaze was quite obvious.
Daphne sipped her tea and said,
“She seemed quite unsettled. I hope she makes a good choice.”
Regalis nodded, arms crossed.
“Yes. The Grand Duchess seems very confused, so I withdrew quickly today.”
“I see.”
“By the way, you’re helping me without expecting anything in return?”
Regalis thought it was time to ask what Daphne wanted—money, body, or heart—but she only stared at him firmly. Her gaze was sharp enough to be intimidating.
After a moment, Daphne spoke.
“I wish for Your Highness to safely ascend to the Emperor’s throne.”
“Then I welcome that wish.”
Although Regalis had accepted her help once, he still planned to watch Olentia closely. If she didn’t decide quickly, next time he might even pretend to be affectionate. Daphne’s premonitions were formidable; long ago, she had accurately predicted wildfires and earthquakes.
‘I must stop this.’
Regalis resolved to ensure Olentia and Dimidius would divorce.
It was the last night Olentia spent at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Unable to sleep, she wandered the garden. In the darkness, it took a while for her eyes to adjust.
Then, she was startled by someone appearing before her.
“Grand Duke?”
It was him—the man Daphne had said would betray her and take everything. Dimidius still wore his sharp suit. He must have been working late in his study.
Olentia blinked in surprise.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Dimidius placed a hand on his waist and said,
“Don’t you have something to tell me?”
‘How did he know that?’
Olentia widened her eyes in shock. She had many things she wanted to say to him, yet he somehow knew.
Dimidius mirrored her earlier actions in the garden. Crossing his arms tightly and sighing, it looked almost identical. She blushed, embarrassed.
He stopped and said,
“I wondered if you had something to say because you were walking in such a visible place in the study.”
“Oh! Did you think I was copying your actions from the Odor estate garden? That’s why I came down from the study?”
It seemed she had made a ridiculous assumption.
Dimidius cleared his throat with a fist in hand.
“Well, it’s understandable to be mistaken once in a while, isn’t it?”
Indeed, there was nothing strange about that. Olentia had much to tell him, and seeing him made it even harder to hold back. She almost wanted to tell him everything.
Seeing her fidget, Dimidius tilted his head.
“Do you really have something to say?”
Olentia, exasperated, shouted at him.
“Are you going to betray me? Do you want my inheritance?”
Her eyes glistened as she looked up at him. If that were true, it would feel like the sky was falling. But Dimidius looked bewildered and immediately held out his hands, objecting.
“What are you talking about? Betray you? Covet your inheritance? That’s absurd…”
Before he could finish, Olentia added,
“I think so too. I don’t see why you’d betray me, and you already have plenty, so coveting my inheritance makes no sense. Unless there’s some twisted love involved, that’s impossible.”
“Twisted love?”
“Yes. When someone has feelings for another, abnormal things can happen. But our relationship is strictly contractual.”
Olentia firmly believed that their relationship was transparent and cooperative.
Dimidius was silent for a moment.
The strange silence made Olentia clutch her shawl tighter. She felt tense for some reason.
Finally, Dimidius looked at a rose blooming in the garden and spoke.
