episode_0017

Renia’s birthday is just around the corner.

I worked really hard until this day came.

He worked under his father like a worker, not a child. There was no such thing as favoritism. Rather, because I wanted it.

As a result-.

“If this is enough… !”

Inside the pocket.

It was full of gold coins, the fruit of hard work.

Of course, it was not an amount that an ordinary worker would receive for several months. Well, I’m the son of a merchant. I benefited a little.

There was no favoritism when it came to work, but it was nice to show favoritism when it came to money.

In fact, since I had already revealed why I wanted to make money, I had a strong feeling that my father had contributed a little.

Anyway, with this money, I headed to the jewelry store.

Because we arrived at the capital of the empire at the right time. I feel like I can buy a good product. I had that feeling.

And was that prediction correct?

“Give me this.”

I was able to find a ring I liked right away. A ring with a simple, silver frame and a detailed flower shape.

It was a ring that felt like a fresh flower.

In particular, the blue gem embedded in the center of the flower shape even looks like Rhenia’s eye.

I would go as far as to conclude that I couldn’t find anything better than this.

I liked it that much.

however-.

“Hmm… , this is a bit expensive… .”

The merchant was not very pleased with me as a customer.

Since I had just finished my ascent, my appearance was a little shabby. Therefore, the merchant who took a look at me seemed to ignore me.

But this was a really good thing for me. At least this merchant won’t think of raising the price from me.

Even if they didn’t raise the price, they seemed confident that I wouldn’t be able to buy it.

I deliberately made a servile expression.

“I… , how long has it been… Are you slurring your words like this?”

The merchant spread all ten fingers and spoke.

“Ten gold coins.”

Ten gold coins.

Isn’t it relatively cheap for an average ring?

When I thought about it carefully, I guess this would only be the case from a nobleman’s point of view.

Ten gold coins would be a very burdensome amount for a commoner.

I smiled once.

“That’s good. Here it is.”

I immediately gave him ten gold coins and quickly left the store. With a ring in his hand.

I couldn’t forget the embarrassed expression on the merchant’s face as he accepted the gold coins. For some reason, I feel like I got hit.

Since you ignored me, should I say that you look good?

anyway-.

“You’re lucky!”

I bought the ring at the right price. I was kind of lucky.

“First of all, there is no need to buy a separate necklace.”

There was a necklace my father gave me. It was the necklace she had given to her mother when she proposed engagement. Now that the price of the necklace had solidified, I had to wear a new outfit.

I stopped by a tailor shop and bought the latest trendy outfit.

Black and white livery.

When I put it on, something felt foreign. At first glance, he looked like a high-ranking nobleman. It felt somewhat foreign.

Still, it looks like I’m growing quite a bit.

It was clear that the reason was not my control, as beggars came around me to ask for alms.

Well, everything is ready.

“Now… I need to find a carriage and driver.”

After completing his journey from the capital of the empire, my father was the first to return to his family. It was an inevitable choice.

That’s right, if you stop by the house and then head to Ruberyeong, there’s a high chance that you’ll be late for Renia’s birthday.

Rachel happened to catch a cold and had to recuperate here for a few days.

So, I had to go to Ruberyeong alone.

Well, at least I got used to riding a carriage while traveling up and down the country. Traveling alone was also possible.

Therefore, we quickly rented a coachman and carriage, and set off for Ruberyeong.

.

.

.

“Hey… , Looks like there was an accident ahead.”

The coachman says that he is close to arriving, but there seems to have been an accident.

I got off the carriage and checked the situation ahead.

middle of the road.

There was a carriage with a missing wheel, and a worker was working hard to replace the wheel. It looks like the wheel of the carriage fell off as it was going.

I approached him to ask if he could move to the side of the road for a moment. As I got closer, I realized what kind of carriage it was.

A carriage with the church’s symbol engraved on it.

It looks like a very high-ranking member of the religious order rode the luxurious thing.

It would be a big problem if an argument broke out for no reason, so I decided it would be better for me to just avoid it. Even if it’s a little rough, you can just ride the hill on the side road.

The moment you turn around like that -.

“Hey, you dropped this.”

When I turned around, I saw a necklace with a flower-shaped ring that I bought. The man holding it in his hand was standing there.

Gold embroidery on a pure white outfit.

It was a monotonous pattern, but it was immediately recognizable. This person is a high-ranking member of the church.

however-.

“Now, you should take it.”

A man from the church approaches me.

Long, dull gray hair and horizontally slitted eyes. Perhaps because the corners of his eyes were drooped, it looked as if he was squinting.

The corners of the mouth are also naturally curled up, creating a typical smiling face.

But why?

There was no light in the slightly visible eyes. It feels like looking into an abyss.

Although he seemed kind on the outside, he was in a bad mood.

I carefully approached the man and took the ring necklace back.

And lowering his head -.

“Thank you.”

I said thank you and quickly left the place.

I got back on the carriage and-.

“We had better turn around and go.”

“Yes… ? However, the carriage may be damaged for no reason.”

“I will give you more money for the repair costs, so please do that for now.”

Hearing that he would give him more money, the coachman took a slightly rough road without saying anything and avoided the man’s carriage. I looked back carefully and checked the man’s movements.

Why on earth was that?

“This is my first time feeling like this.”

He was a man with an ominous energy.

So much so that I don’t even think of myself as being involved in religion.

As I traveled up and down the country and met many people, I developed an eye for people. However, this was the first time that I had no idea what was inside like that man.

I guess that naturally caused fear.

Anyway, he was a man I never wanted to meet again.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at Ruberyeong.

“Umm… .”

But then something strange appeared again.

Normally, it would have been normal for Renia to come meet us.

however-.

Entrance to the Ruber family mansion.

The only person waiting for me there was a knowledgeable maid. Renia was nowhere to be seen.

“Did you go somewhere for a moment because of something urgent?”

I can’t believe I’m thinking this because Renia never came to meet me. I felt embarrassed for no reason. Once I got off the carriage.

however-.

It was really strange.

The maid’s expression was extremely gloomy.

It wasn’t just the maid’s expression. This is the energy that emanates from the Louver Mansion. There was something dark about those energetic things, too.

Suddenly, the man I saw on the way came to mind.

A man who looked like a high-ranking member of the church.

Why did such a man come here?

Could it be that he had some business to do in Ruberyeong?

then… .

As my thoughts expanded, the ominous feeling grew stronger.

I asked the maid with a trembling voice.

“Le, where is Renia?”

I hope I’m wrong…

“… I do not know. Maybe Chris knows.”

Even the maid doesn’t know where Renia is.

For some reason, I was shaken by the feeling that my thoughts were turning into facts.

I hoped not.

There was a place I guessed, so I headed there. Even as I was going, a sense of foreboding kept eating away at me.

As I walked, I stood for a moment and encouraged myself.

‘Yes, this is a chronic problem of mine. Thinking too deeply about simple things.’

Isn’t this why you and Renia had a bad relationship when you first met?

Yes, what I am thinking right now is my mistake. It’s just my overthinking.

However, my steps gradually became faster.

***

As I guessed, the place Renia was heading to was Lumia Hill.

Renia stands with her hands crossed in the large tree on the hill.

Golden hair fluttering in the wind. I felt like if I didn’t grab it right now, it would disappear before my eyes.

“Renia?”

Erasing the ominous thoughts that were trying to occupy my mind, I tried to smile.

Renia turned her head at the sound of my voice.

Did he keep crying? Renia’s eyes were severely swollen. I prayed that I was overthinking things and asked how Renia was doing.

“Why are you like that… ? What happened?”

Renia said in a tearful voice.

“I… A saint… .”

Please don’t lie like that.

The thought that I denied several times on the way was about to be revealed as fact through Renia’s words. No, it turns out.

“Le… Nia. You can’t lie like that… .”

I was hoping you would tell me it was a joke.

But my wish did not come true.

“Someone from the church came this morning. They say I am a saint. At least tomorrow… Let’s leave for the capital.”

I couldn’t deny it anymore.

Everything that is happening now is real.

It was a reality without a single lie.

A reality that does not change even if I deny it.

It was harsh.

tomorrow… It’s Renia’s birthday. And I was going to get engaged to Renia on this birthday. No, I had to.

why.

why.

Really why?

Why would God grant such a fate to Renia?

Is this really the destiny given by God?

Why- why-.

Did God abandon the faithful and choose Lenia? I couldn’t believe it. It would be the same for Renia.

Renia looked at me intently. Two eyes filled with fear. The story of the saint that Renia had told me before came to mind.

The fear of not being able to see the world with two eyes.

It was clear that Renia was afraid of that fear.

Renia’s lips were trembling.

And the mouth opens.

“Chris, can you please take me and run away…? .”

Something I’ve never seen before -.

Such a pitiful tone came from Renia’s mouth.

At those words, I had no choice but to remain silent.