episode_0019

Renia is looking at me with a face as red as blush and an expression of embarrassment and not knowing what to do.

Just getting the words out wasn’t easy. I opened my mouth with difficulty and spoke.

“I can’t run away with you.”

This is a fact that cannot be changed.

I couldn’t run away with Renia.

Absolutely impossible.

Renia probably didn’t really want me to do that in the first place.

However, I did not come here to say the same thing again and hurt Renia once again.

What I should have said on Lumia Hill was-.

The answer Renia really wanted was -.

“But… I will definitely be by your side.”

It’s impossible to run away together, but you can stay by his side. I can be of strength from your side. I had to tell this to Renia.

And maybe this was the answer Renia wanted.

However, Renia began to outright deny my words.

“I am a saint! How can you stay next to a saint like that!!!”

It was just as Renia said.

Words that can only be thought of as words.

The distance between the saint and the baron’s son was very distant.

but-.

“Somehow.”

I am the son of a merchant.

I will become a merchant in the future. All I have is the ability to make money. I was planning on using this ability to help Renia somehow.

No matter how much I lose.

And one more thing.

It was something I originally wanted to say, but circumstances arose and I had to say it again.

“I have the most important thing to say… .”

Originally, I was planning to formally ask Renia for engagement tomorrow. However, when Renia became a saint, this returned to nothingness.

but-.

“The day your duty ends. I want to spend my whole life with you.”

Isn’t it possible to make a promise in the future?

I took out the ring necklace from my pocket.

and-.

I hung it around Renia’s neck.

Renia just cried.

There was no reaction whatsoever.

and then-.

“I am a saint. How on earth are you planning on marrying me?”

It was just as Renia said.

A saint is a saint because she is pure. Therefore, it could not be concluded.

however-.

Isn’t there one exception?

“Once your duty is over, Renia, you will no longer be a saint. She returns as Renia, not a saint, but just an ordinary woman.”

The day when a saint’s duties end.

It was clear that Renia would return as Renia Ruber, not as a saint. Even if other beings blocked it, I would somehow turn it around.

Renia’s voice is trembling.

“I don’t know when my duties will end… ?”

“Even when you get to the age where wrinkles start to appear on your face, I will wait only for you.”

I had the confidence to love only Lenia for the rest of my life.

“I… You won’t be able to see what’s ahead and you’ll only be in the way.”

Renia began spewing out self-denying words.

“It doesn’t matter.”

It didn’t matter if Renia was crippled. It didn’t matter if Renia’s beautiful face was distorted. Because the person I love is Renia.

An infinitely kind woman who treats commoners well. The woman who was by my side.

I loved Renia’s inner self. And no matter how much the appearance changes, it doesn’t matter to me.

but-.

Despite my sincerity, Renia did not easily believe me.

“It’s a lie… .”

“It’s true. … Yes.”

I knelt in front of Renia.

and-.

“Renia… You are a saint. Then, I will swear to God in front of the saint. I will be with you for the rest of my life.”

An action that cannot be taken lightly.

A saint who is God’s representative.

It showed that swearing to God in front of her was absolutely not a lie. Who would tell a lie in front of God?

As soon as I finished speaking, Renia burst into tears. I hugged Renia like that. And much later.

When Renia calmed down a little…

“I’m going to sleep.”

Was it because I was relaxed? Renia complained of fatigue. As I watched, Renia’s eyes kept trying to close.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

Tomorrow is the day of separation.

So, I wanted to get some rest today.

however-.

“No… wait for a sec… !”

Renia caught me as I was about to leave.

Renia blushes.

“Please stay by my side for today. Because I’m so lonely alone.”

At Renia’s earnest request, I lay down next to her.

Renia looked at me and held out her hand. I held his hand tightly. Did I feel a little relieved then?

Gradually, my breathing became more stable.

Soon, Renia fell asleep.

And I stayed by Renia’s side all night.

While wiping away the tears that kept leaking from Renia’s sleeping eyes.

.

.

.

And then the morning came.

When I opened my eyes, Renia and her holding hands came into view. Then there was Renia’s face, sleeping with very swollen eyes.

Did I cry even when I fell asleep?

There were tear stains on the sides.

I looked at Renia like that for a while.

yet.

“Ugh… .”

Renia turned over and opened her eyes.

And when he saw me, he was dazed for a moment and then woke up in shock.

“K, Chris?”

“Good morning.”

Renia looked like she was thinking for a moment with her round eyes. Soon, he nodded as if he understood the situation, probably because he was remembering yesterday’s events.

“Yes… . Good morning. Chris.”

However, Renia’s voice is too gloomy to be ‘good morning’. I understood Renia’s reaction.

Today is Renia’s birthday, but-.

It may be a day to rejoice.

At the same time, it was the day of departure for the capital of the empire. A day when I can’t just be happy.

Renia looked at me for a long time. I also made eye contact with Renia.

“What I said yesterday… , You must protect it.”

“Yes. don’t worry. I will absolutely protect you. Even if I die-”

Before I could finish my sentence, Renia lightly hit my forehead. With an angry expression.

“Don’t say things like that, like you’re going to die.”

“Sorry, I made a mistake. don’t worry. I will never die, and I will keep my promise.”

“Yes!”

An expression on Renia’s face that I hadn’t seen all day yesterday appeared.

Renia’s bright smile, with no worries.

With this smile, I made a deep promise in my heart.

‘I will definitely protect it.’

Not only the promise, but also Renia’s smile.

That I will protect it.

***

Around noon.

I let Renia go.

Just before leaving, Renia looks lonely. I couldn’t erase that expression from my mind.

No matter how much I comforted Renia, I won’t be able to hide those feelings.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to see you, but I’ll continue the letter.”

“Yes. I will always wait for your letter!”

So Rhenia left for the capital of the empire.

I am-.

He was called Count Ruber.

Count Ruber’s office.

There, Count Ruber was waiting for me with a serious expression. And I knew why the Count had that look on his face.

yesternight.

The problem is that he slept with Renia.

Of course, I didn’t do anything impure.

Still, I’m worried about my father’s feelings.

I decided not to make any excuses.

“Sorry.”

however-.

Count Ruber said something completely different from what I thought.

“Do you know the alliance your father and I shared?”

alliance?

Are you talking about business?

When I didn’t answer anything, he decided that the Count didn’t know.

“I guess you don’t know.”

Count Ruber spoke about this alliance with an extremely serious expression. However, it was a different alliance than I thought.

“Baron Fletcher and I have formed an alliance. It is no exaggeration to say that thanks to this alliance, I became close to Baron Fletcher and the business situation went well.”

What kind of alliance is this?

Did the two become close friends and did their business go well?

“An alliance to love only one woman. That alliance.”

ah… .

My father and Count Ruber had something in common.

He lost his wife, but did not remarry.

These two had something in common.

however-.

Why are you suddenly saying this to me? In fact, I could roughly figure it out.

“It may be a difficult choice for you who are still young, but what should you do?”

Count Ruber gives me his hand.

“Would you join this alliance?”

In short, the Count was asking me a question.

Will you love Renia for the rest of her life?

To put it bluntly, it was nagging.

I held Count Ruber’s outstretched hand and-.

“Of course I will join. Other than Renia, there will be no other woman in my life that I will love.”

I told you my truth. Of course, it was sincere, without any lies.

Was Count Ruber satisfied with my answer?

Count Ruber nodded several times and then spoke.

“Congratulations. You too are now part of this alliance. and… ”

Count Ruber looked infinitely serious-.

“I plan to help you to the best of my ability.”

He declared that he would become my guardian.

***

After a series of events.

I returned home.

To be honest, I still haven’t figured it out in my head.

Just after this incident.

I just vaguely thought that Lenia and I would become engaged.

Something completely different from that happened.

It may be inevitable that I am embarrassed right now.

but-.

As soon as I returned, I remembered something new I had to do.

I thought about what if several times.

If I had even a little power…

Here, power refers to the power of force, not something like power.

If I was good at swordsmanship, there would at least have been a way to run away with Renia. Or, I could have been by Renia’s side and relieved her of her burden.

Those regrets kept rising.

That’s why I-.

I made a new resolution.

I went to see Rachel.

To Rachel who works, I-.

“Teach me how to use a sword again.”

Someday, when money alone is not enough.

There might come a time when I have to protect Renia, even if it is only with a little force.

For that reason, I once again asked Rachel for sword guidance.