CH 58

“I went through each report. Many things happened while I was resting. The King of the Incubus.”

The Cardinal frowned.

“How did such a disaster come without any warning?”

“We are trying to figure out the situation. Please Your Eminance focuses only on recovering.”

Ian said in a low, formal voice.

The Cardinal smiled.

“Why don’t you come closer instead of just saying such formal words?”

The high priest’s tone changed.

It wasn’t the Holy Cardinal looking at the Commander of the Holy Knights but the voice of a caregiver who had spent a long time watching a patient.

Ian approached the Cardinal’s bedside without saying anything.

“How was it? The King of the Incubus.”

“It wasn’t a very difficult guy.”

“Hmm. I’m remembering the good old days. I once met one of those tribes. His coquettish voice bewitched me, and I almost fell for it.”

The Cardinal who watched the Holy Cardinal’s outspoken behavior that almost fell to the demon broke into a cold sweat.

Ian opened his mouth casually.

“Half of the continent would have been blown away if the Your Eminance had fallen for it.”

“Whoa. Blown away. Well, I was in my prime at the time, so I won’t deny it too much…… Come on, give me your hand.”

Ian obediently extended his right hand.

The Holy Cardinal examined his outstretched hand with care.

“These hands are too pretty for a boy holding a sword. Hmm… … Did the saintess like this hand?”

“Your Eminance.”

When Ian scolded him in a firm voice, the Holy Cardinal laughed.

“Isn’t that something I’m not supposed to say? Please understand if I make a fuss. It’s because I’m sad that I can’t see my grandchildren.”

“You will feel better soon. Didn’t I tell you not to talk like that?”

“Oh, you must have the plan to give me a grandchild.”

“Your Eminence……”

When the Cardinal saw Ian’s solemn expression, she shook her head.

“I know there is a reason for your marriage to the saintess. The relationship isn’t made of love, just as the world is excited and fussing around.”

“However, aren’t you, who never confronted anyone, still plotting something with the saintess?”

The Cardinal laughed when Ian didn’t deny it with silence.

“Irene Grace. I’ve only met her once, but she’s a lively young lady.”

“……Yes.”

Ian’s brow furrowed slightly, as if thinking of Irene.

It was a problem because his contract partner was so lively.

He also heard that she was invited to her new friend’s mansion today. It was amazing how she kept making friends in a place where she had no connections.

“Oh boy, do you think you can trust her?”

“Did you see who I believe in?”

“I’ve never seen it. Don’t you have any faith in me? A man devoid of humanity.”

The Cardinal grumbled. 

“That’s why it’s more strange.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I’ve never seen you go round and round with someone you don’t even believe in.”

“It’s because she’s like a ticking time bomb.”

Ian responded promptly.

“I don’t feel safe unless she’s by my side.”

“Fufu.”

The Holy Cardinal laughed suspiciously.

A few seconds later, Ian, who had previously been silent, suddenly said.

“That girl…… She can cast a commandments.”

“Is that true?”

The Cardinal was startled and shaken for the first time.

Ian nodded firmly.

“It was not my sword that ended the king of the Incubus, but her words.”

“This… … This is amazing. Is it just me who knows?”

“Yes. Even she doesn’t know.”

“Huft.”

The high priest let out a sigh.

“The last person with the ability to commandment was my great-great-grandfather. As you know, he was cast into the battlefield alone after being deceived by a cultist’s trick, where he consumed all of his divine power with his words and died.”

“Yes. I remember.”

“You must protect that child.”

The Cardinal looked straight up at Ian.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t tell her she could use the commandments. When she discovers it for herself, she will further awaken her ability. That would exponentially increase the risk. Ian, please take care of her.”

The Cardinal stated firmly.

“The commandment’s power can only be used against evil things, i.e. against the Goddess’s will. In other words, if you keep them at bay, you will undoubtedly protect the child.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Ian thought of Irene, who should have fallen asleep in her bedroom by now.

His suspicious contract wife was something to be wary of, but she also needed to be protected.

Has he ever had a more contradictory existence in his life?

When he sighed, the Cardinal smiled as if she had read his thoughts.

“I don’t want you to be lonely.”

The startling statement elicited no response from Ian.

After saying those words, the Cardinal closed her eyes and fell asleep again as if she were unconscious.

Ian stared at her silently for a moment.

“Commander.”

Lucian cautiously approached Ian’s side.

“I have some strange information for you, but I think you should listen to it.”

“……Let”s go.”

After taking his gaze away from the Holy Cardinal, Ian left her bedroom.

As they made their way down the hallway, Lucian whispered.

“There was information that a cultist group was hiding in this underground ball.”

“Cult.”

Cultists are those who serve the Demon Pereas.

They were people who would not even kill for a religious ritual.

“What brings them to the underground ball?”

“We haven’t been able to figure out the exact reason yet, we are still investigating the matter because we have heard that things connected to the Great Devil will be auctioned off. We will get results in a short time.”

“Sure, anyway.”

A sly smile crept across Ian’s lips.

“The time has come to wipe out that fucking perverted gathering once in a while.”

“……Are you trying to come forward yourself?”

“Isn’t it great? I haven’t been stuck in the capital at this time of year in a long time, but I’ve got a good prey.”

As summer approached, the commander of the Holy Knights had a tradition of going on inspection trips to remote areas where the church had been untouched for generations.

However, this year’s inspection was postponed because to the Rycalion Incident.

The underground ball was a welcome new prey for Ian, who was almost buried in administrative work again.

‘They’re also really unlucky.’

Lucian nodded, briefly lamenting the people who would participate in the underground ball.

“Yes, I intend to infiltrate. Do you want to get some shut-eye tonight?

“……Right.”

A beat later, Ian recited his response.

The woman was in the bedroom.

Lucian approached quietly and whispered.

“I’m glad you and the saintess seem to be getting closer. It must have been a significant influence for both of you to march together, right?”

“Why don’t you stop talking nonsense and get back to work.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but I think it was truly fortunate out of misfortune that Madam Irene was truly fortunate out of misfortune to fall on the commander’s bed that day. Who would have thought she was that strong and capable?”

Instead of responding, Ian clicked his tongue.

That’s right. That’s the problem.

Irene Grace’s abilities far exceed expectations.

“Then I will take my leave. Have a restful night, Commander.”

Lucian nodded and walked away from the bedroom.

Ian took a moment to contemplate the closed door.

The feeling that someone else was already in his bedroom was just strange.

Ian waited a short while before opening the door cautiously and sighing.

“……Ha.”

As though she were sound asleep, he could hear her breathing normally.

Ian took a moment to contemplate the pink hair that had to be all over the pillow.

She, the world’s only person capable of commandments, was sound sleeping.

“Are your nerves made of iron cord?”

Even though you know it’s a bedroom where an extramarital man will soon enter, it’s a dreamland with no knowledge of the outside world.

Ian let out a chuckle and began unbuttoning his sleeve cuffs.

Then a small voice came from the bed.

“You are here……?”

Ian tilted his head toward the bed.

“…… Did you say something for me?”

Although they temporarily made a relationship, they don’t remember letting go of the conversation.

Instead of responding to his absurd question, Irene responded with an absurd response.

“…… No, nothing…… I did not wait.”

Ian raised one eyebrow.

Irene Grace did nothing and waited for me?

It was a blatant lie. Because he saw and heard that she had just visited her new friend’s mansion.

“So, tomorrow too……come. Huh?”

Ian paused, undoing the cuff after hearing her muffled voice.

A stretchy voice could be heard coming from the bed.

“Duty…..Because we can be……”

Ian stared at the bed for a moment.

Wrapped up in a huge blanket, Irene was trembling with her tightly closed eyes.

As if a bad dream had crushed a child.

Soon after, Ian let out a low sigh.

In the Rehart Empire, there is a superstition that nightmares devour human souls.

Of course, Ian didn’t believe that. However, seeing his contract wife suffocating on a long blanket was difficult.

“Irene.”

Reciting quietly, Ian pulled the blanket over Irene.

However, the blanket that had become a lump with Irene did not move.

Ian, who was about to mutter again, abruptly stopped his hand.

A clear stream of water ran down the side of Irene’s tightly shut eyes.

“Leave it, don’t go…….”

A single tear ran down Irene’s cheek and wet her pillow.

“What bad dreams are you having? You’re not answering to me.”