Chapter 49 Part 6: The Wolf Hunt, A Long Night

A month has passed.

During that time, Elchen was turned upside down.

Because an incident happened at the sacred hunting festival.

Fortunately, the attempt against the Archduke and Archduchess ended in complete failure.

A thorough investigation was conducted.

Naturally, Cayron had no intention of showing mercy.

He imprisoned the heads of the four families.

Of course, in the prison tower of the Archduke’s family.

Public sentiment has completely turned its back, and the family heads are captured.

The four families quietly held their breath.

It seemed like a bloodbath would soon occur.

But even in the midst of this, spring came.

Colorful flowers bloomed in the Muriel Abbey.

The garden in the lazy afternoon showed off its beauty.

“Look at this. Lady Rosa. The flowers are so pretty.”

Mary brought a pink flower.

She gently placed it behind Rosa’s ear.

“Ta-da.”

“..Mary.”

Rosa let out a hollow laugh and removed it.

Wavy brown bob hair.

Red cheeks still with freckles.

Mary, who is chuckling, is wearing the uniform of an apprentice nun.

To explain it simply.

Rosa is taking refuge in this abbey.

That night.

The problem Rosa thought about was where to take refuge.

The Count’s estate was too far away.

There was no other place that came to mind.

At that time, a memory that accidentally crossed Rosa’s mind.

It was when Mary and Roadl came to the Archduke’s family.

[By the way. How did you two come together?]

[Well.. It’s a concept of training. To become a formal nun, you have to undergo at least a year of training.]

That was what Mary said.

Muriel Abbey, located in the south of Elchen, is an abbey with a long history.

It is said that many people are training.

[I’ll probably stay for a few months. So, I came with the young master.]

Yes.

The abbey.

Rosa could safely take refuge there.

The world is not easy.

Even the Archduchess was a woman alone.

Rosa ran away from Cayron.

But in the true sense of escape, she knew from the beginning that it was difficult.

It was a few days later that she arrived at the Archduchy.

Rosa informed Hamel, the butler.

[I’m going to the Muriel Abbey. I’m going to get enough rest there.]

She also had the authority to do that.

Eventually, under the burden of an escort.

Rosa came to this Muriel Abbey.

What she realized that night.

‘No matter what I do, I can’t escape Cayron’s sight.’

Because Cayron is the ruler of this land.

If he decided to find her, it would be no trouble at all.

And a real ‘escape’ was difficult for her too.

No matter what route she used, Cayron would notice.

Then, make Cayron not look for her.

In fact, for the past month, he has been very quiet.

Surely he must know that she is here.

‘But..’

Perhaps he has lost all his feelings for her.

She had already left him a letter.

[I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.]

Such a blunt rejection at the beginning.

Saying that being the Archduchess is more difficult than I thought.

Saying that this marriage was not her will at all.

Saying that I tried to act, but I never meant it.

[So. I’m very embarrassed.]

Perhaps it was definitely a misunderstanding.

Mistaking the familiarity of meeting for a long time as a favor for the opposite s*x.

[But even if it’s a misunderstanding, my answer is the same.]

And since Cayron confessed to her, it’s too burdensome to act, so I can’t do it anymore.

[So let’s keep our distance. Cayron. It was a contract anyway. A relationship that will end. Don’t think about looking for me for the time being. I have no intention of accepting your feelings, and surely you will be able to meet a better woman.]

Rosa was the one who stabbed such a well-intentioned dagger.

I know.

That it’s selfish.

I feel disgusted by my own bluntness.

Cayron will surely be hurt.

If the answer to such a fervent confession is this way.

She would have lost all her feelings.

Even the existing feelings would have cooled down.

‘But..’

Rosa.

Is afraid of the relationship with Cayron progressing.

Because I already realized my own feelings.

The future that will come, that I can’t do anything then.

She was just afraid.

It’s not just fear.

‘No matter what I do..’

I can’t revive Cayron.

Because that is a miracle of God.

In other words, it’s the role of the saint.

The role of Freya, the female protagonist who will become a saint.

If, she had no feelings for Cayron.

And if Cayron had no feelings for her.

We could help each other, Rosa could support their relationship.

And if everyone is happy like that, that would be the end of it.

But the situation has changed.

Rosa didn’t have the confidence to do that.

She realized that Cayron was so precious to her that she couldn’t do that.

‘If I acknowledge my own feelings and just accept Cayron..’

So that the two are connected.

And become more affectionate than now.

Cayron has no feelings for Freya, and Freya has no feelings for Cayron.

If Rosa, she can’t give up Cayron to Freya.

When Cayron is seriously injured.

No, when he’s dead.

The miracle that is achieved when Freya prays for Cayron out of love.

If that miracle doesn’t happen.

Rosa’s vision turns dark.

‘..I can’t.’

I’m not confident.

Rosa didn’t want Cayron’s future to be uncertain.

So she ran away from her feelings.

Surely it wasn’t a real escape.

But I gave Cayron a blunt wound.

She also suppressed her own feelings.

And if we keep this distance.

And if time passes.

‘Everything will be fine.’

The contract ends in a few months anyway.

So let’s go back to being friends then.

‘I don’t know if he’ll accept my shameless apology, though.’

I’m worried that the position of Archduchess is vacant.

But I couldn’t help it.

To keep a distance from Cayron.

‘Freya and Cayron..’

The two will get along well on their own.

After all, they are attractive men and women.

Freya is elegant, beautiful.

And she has that feeling of being a heavenly woman.

In the original work, after Rosa Anencia disappeared, she naturally took her place.

Cayron, who has lost all his feelings for her, may recognize Freya’s true worth.

No, he probably will.

Two men and women who are close are bound to be attracted to each other.

‘Yes.’

Good thing.

It’s an ending where everyone is happy.

She will also be fine soon.

‘But..’

Even so.

Why is my heart so empty like this?

“Miss. Are you okay?”

It seems that my expression has become bad for a while.

“Mary.”

Rosa forced a smile.

“You said to call me sister.”

It is a rule within the abbey.

Regardless of status or age, the title is unified as sister.

“But I’m used to this.”

Mary pouted.

“There was a mass in the afternoon, right? Let’s get ready.”

Rosa got up first.

It looks okay, but it’s not.

Mary made a worried expression at such Rosa’s back.

‘No. This can’t go on.’

Rosa never dreamed of Mary’s determination.

Mary Dolores is the only daughter of a viscount.

She came to the Anencia family as a handmaiden when she was twelve.

Starting as an apprentice, she became Rosa’s exclusive handmaiden at fifteen.

Naturally, we have spent a long time together.

Like friends, and like family.

I can tell because we are such a close relationship.

I can tell because I have watched over her for so long.

When Rosa first came to the abbey.

“Miss?”

Mary was surprised.

Because her expression looked so tired and exhausted.

I just hugged her silently.

Rosa said to her like that.

[I think I need to stay here for a while.]

‘Surely. Miss loves the Archduke.’

Mary had known that fact for a long time.

She has also watched how pure and affectionate their feelings for each other are.

But she says she needs to be apart from the Archduke.

She didn’t even tell me the details.

On the outside, she often looks fine.

Even now, her lady was busy listening to mass.

Muriel Abbey with a long history.

This place was located in a small estate called Salonara.

Above is the Archduchy, and below is the famous tourist estate of Schmerzen.

It is also a place with high accessibility.

The chapel, filled with believers, is reflected inside by special glass.

Pink flowers are decorated on each platform.

Long white chairs were lined up at intervals.

Those sitting in the chairs listen attentively.

Rosa is the same.

She is listening to mass in a borrowed white nun’s habit.

A transparent veil draped over her face.

The quietly focused face looks truly devout like a real nun.

“Then, was it a good time today? Anyone with questions?”

The one who just finished speaking is the head nun of the abbey, Isabel.

She is wearing a pink veil.

It is a symbol representing the head nun.

After at least a year of training, one can become a formal nun.

Among them, those who have accumulated more than ten years of experience and vowed to serve God for the rest of their lives become the head nun.

Isabel, who is so devout.

She was quite enjoying the recent mass.

“May I ask a question?”

“Yes. Sister Rosa.”

“”

“I listened well to the story about the divine beast. But the interpretation of the Empire, that is, the south and this place are different. Can we see it as a cultural difference?”

It was quite an interesting question.

Elchen accepts the divine beast as God itself.

A numinous animal is God, and it is thought that it sometimes possesses an animal called a Brurba and observes the world.

And it was believed that through that observation, it naturally fills the 부족 of the world.

In fact, it is said that the time when the divine beast and the Brurba disappeared completely coincided.

“But, the south has a different interpretation.”

The divine beast is one of the many forms that God takes.

The animal itself is not God at all.

God looks down on the world from above.

And when the time is right, it is thought that he conveys his will through an oracle.

“The evidence of the oracle is clear. A white stigmata appears on the forehead of the person who received the oracle.”

Asharan summarized Rosa’s question.

“In fact, both the perception of the north and the perception of the south. They are all correct. It’s just that the way of believing is different depending on the culture of the region.”

The divine beast is God, and if it is God, it will naturally take many forms.

So the ways of implementing his will are also varied.

“Thank you.”

Rosa nodded silently.

There were in the world before transmigration.

The phenomenon where several religions have similar doctrines.

Of course, in the case of this world, it was a little special.

Each following a single religion in the way they want to believe.

The Empire, and Elchen.

Both serve one God, although they are completely different.

“Actually, there is someone who can explain the reason better.”

It is said that a very special guest is coming to next week’s mass.

“He will be presiding over the mass himself.”

And so the mass ended.

In fact, the identity of that special guest was already widely rumored.

Mary, who ran up to him, asked the head nun Isabel.

“Well, Sister Isabel. Is the rumor really true?”

The protagonist of that rumor is a cardinal.

A big shot.

Ashabel looked at Mary intently, then smiled and said.

“Whatever you believe in, sister. It will come true.”

It was practically an affirmation.

‘This.. is definitely an opportunity.’

Mary thought to herself as she watched Isabel walk away.

I don’t know the details.

‘She said the Archduke didn’t do anything wrong.’

And.

It was a chance discovery.

Mary knows that the Archduke came to the abbey.

She was surprised and was about to scream.

But the Archduke signaled her to be quiet and just watched before leaving.

But Rosa was focused on something else at the time.

And after that, she was sick in bed for a few days.

Somehow, Mary missed the moment to speak.

‘But I’m sure.’

The two still have feelings for each other.

At that time, the way they held each other’s hands looked so happy.

So Mary gradually made up her mind.

She decided to willingly play the role of a love helper.

It is a night when the moonlight is falling.

The room was very dark.

“…!

Cayron was quietly lost in thought.

Leaning against the window, he looks tired.

For the past few days, I haven’t been able to sleep properly.

Actually, it’s been a while.

The nervous and cold energy became even stronger.

His cold red eyes looked up at the night sky.

Why did he let Rosa go?

If he wanted to, he could have definitely caught her.

But, the reason I didn’t.

Just.

Perhaps because I was confident that I could catch her.

Cayron let Rosa go.

In fact, he roughly predicted where she would go.

‘If it’s Rosa.. she won’t act without a plan.’

Naturally, she wouldn’t run away alone recklessly.

And as expected.

‘Muriel Abbey.’

She went there.

He also knew that her former handmaiden, Mary, was there.

Officially, it is said that she is recuperating.

She doesn’t know at all, but knights have already been dispatched around there.

Cayron has also visited the abbey in person.

I just watched from afar, though.

Perhaps he knew.

That Rosa would run away once.

Cayron needed her.

He wanted to keep her by his side for the rest of his life.

But more than that, he wants to win Rosa’s heart.

So I let her go.

I have no intention of giving up at all.

More so, I just think I need to find out.

What exactly is the problem.

What is driving her away.

I just thought of it as a grace period.

A time for her to confirm her own feelings, and for him to find out the problem that is binding her.

‘But..’

Honestly, it’s not easy.

Maybe I was too overconfident in myself.

This time is just painful for Cayron.

It was frustrating and stuffy.

Surely all the letters Rosa left behind are obvious lies.

He wasn’t hurt by such words.

‘However, the problem is..’

That’s it.

The fact that she is pushing him away even though she has feelings for him.

The reason for that.

I can’t think of a way to find out the cause.

I’m getting more and more impatient.

I’m angry at myself.

I still had confidence.

Rosa likes him, and he won’t let her go.

But now that I have already known her warmth.

Now that that warmth has disappeared from my side.

It was painful.

It was driving me crazy.

He went to Rosa’s room several times a day.

What greets him is the cold silence, and the illusion of Rosa.

[Cayron.]

Originally, she would have run to him.

Cayron opened the window.

I felt like I needed to get some night air.

Because I miss Rosa so much.

It feels like my heart will crumble.

In fact, this is how it has been for the past month.

Not being able to sleep properly, always leaning against the window and lost in thought.

Trying to squeeze out a reason to meet Rosa somehow.

Trying to find out what the problem that is binding Rosa is.

On the one hand, I hoped that while we were apart like this, Rosa would calm her heart and tell him everything.

‘Could it be.. the ore disease?’

He even thought about that.

If Rosa’s health has a serious problem.

If there is information about the ore disease that he doesn’t know.

With such thoughts, Cayron was also collecting information about it.

But my patience is gradually running out.

Realizing that fact miserably.

Cayron laughs at his own arrogance.

“My lord, it’s Pavel.”

“Come in.”

Pavel, who had just entered the room, began to report to him.

“There are no unusual signs. They seem to know their situation well.”

Of course, it’s about the four families.

Cayron, with a cold expression, said to him again.

“It’s time to leak the information.”

He doesn’t trust those who have betrayed him once.

And, Rosa almost got hurt.

So I’m going to step on them properly this time.

I had no intention of leaving any future troubles.

Noticing his intention, Pavel quietly bowed his head.

“Understood.”

After Pavel left.

Cayron closed his eyes again.

The recent nights were really long.

At least for Cayron.

It was a long night for him.

The next day.

A letter arrived at the Archduke’s family.

The sender is Muriel Abbey.

It was a letter from Mary Dolores.