CH 87

Having secured refuge from the emperor, Evan set off for the Aplen Temple. 

The carriage arrived at its destination with a thud. 

‘It took about three days.’

Evan casually glanced at the scenery. This place was a sacred nation where the Aplen Temple was located. 

Despite being winter, the landscape appeared vibrant as if the goddess of spring only visited the temple due to its sacred power. The leaves shimmered brightly beneath the sky and the sound of flowing streams filled the air with vitality.

[Indeed, it’s the Aplen Temple. It’s truly beautiful.]

Evan’s aide, Felicia, exclaimed in admiration. 

[And the saint herself said it’s so beautiful… Oh! Let’s go together, Your Grace!]

Felicia excitedly exclaimed, but Evan, seemingly uninterested, had already taken his steps forward. “

‘Riett must have arrived in the northern part of Parman by now.’

He heard it was very cold. She doesn’t catch colds easily, so the cold shouldn’t bother her.

[What are you thinking?]

Felicia asked. Evan’s mind was filled with thoughts of Riett. It was a common occurrence, but this time it was different. 

He had written and brought a petition for impeachment before coming here, and he worried that Riett might misunderstand if she saw it. However, he couldn’t explain the situation in advance. Evan felt a deep sense of weariness from his role as a spy.

Riett was a logical person, but her thinking when it came to human relationships was very simple. 

Especially in politics, she didn’t let personal emotions interfere, even with enemies. Evan knew this about her personality and that’s why he readily accepted the role of a spy. 

However, this time was a bit different. Even someone like Riett, who didn’t care about political disagreements, would be hurt if she found out that he had written the petition.

‘Darn it.’

How did they end up here? Was it since the time Riett rejected his confession when they were young? 

He had thought this kind of relationship was fine until now. He believed that Riett would eventually come to know. He had always been by her side.

But now, he wasn’t so sure. 

[Your… Grace.]

Felicia cautiously spoke up at that moment. Evan snapped out of his thoughts and raised his head. 

In front of him stood a woman with long, pastel-pink hair. Instead of answering, Evan examined her with a guarded gaze. The woman’s cheeks blushed.

Then, Felicia whispered, 

[Your Grace… She’s the saint.]

Evan realized it. He didn’t expect the saint to be here alone. Her attire was much plainer than he had anticipated, so he hadn’t recognized her. 

[It’s a pleasure to meet you, Saint.]

Evan finally nodded with proper etiquette. 

Recently, despite the weakened power of the temple, there was an increase in commoners suffering from diseases in the empire. The temple, with its ample medical resources, was needed for assistance. 

Evan came here to fulfill a medical support request.

While there were separate individuals responsible for managing the temple, it wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression on the saint. 

[I was taking a walk and noticed the carriage, knowing a guest had arrived.]

[I see.]

Though he knew he should create a favorable impression in her mind, a curt response slipped out of his mouth.

When the saint hesitated and seemed a little uneasy, Felicia awkwardly smiled and spoke up. 

[Your Grace must be tired from the long journey.]

Finally, Marys smiled gently. 

[In that case, it would be best for you to rest quickly.]

[Thank you for understanding.]

Evan bowed his head and parted ways with the saint.

[Why are you acting so uncharacteristically, Your Grace?]

[…]

With no response, Felicia changed the subject to lighten the mood. 

[By the way, isn’t the saint incredibly beautiful? Rumor has it that princes from neighboring countries have all pursued her.]

Despite Felicia’s efforts, there was only one person in Evan’s mind. 

‘Riett must have those annoying flies buzzing around her.’

It was hard to divert his gaze even for a moment. Just how many bothersome individuals were there?

Evan suddenly realized that no matter what he thought, it always came back to Riett. 

‘I’m seriously ill.’

He sighed and rubbed his temples.

* * * 

Late in the evening, Evan finished having dinner with the temple staff and returned to his room. 

Despite his best efforts, he could concentrate on the conversation to some extent. However, there was one thing that bothered him— the saint kept looking at him with a nervous expression. 

‘Does she have a habit of staring at people.’

Evan thought the saint was quite impolite when suddenly Felicia approached him with an envelope.

[A letter has arrived for you, Your Grace.]

Felicia glanced at the letter and murmured. 

[The sender… it’s from Duchess Marren.]

[What…?]

Perhaps due to thinking about Riett all day, he was hearing nonsense again. Evan received the envelope. Riett’s handwriting was written on it, ‘Riett Marren.’

Evan quickly opened the envelope. The contents of the letter were brief. 

[I plan to take refuge in the northern part of Parman for a while. I will return once things settle down here.]

Evan’s expression contorted. Take refuge? Not like a deployment to the north like Perante… 

[Felicia, is there a telecommunication device here?]

The telecommunication device was a magical tool that allowed communication with someone far away. It was a precious item, usually used only in the imperial palace or by wealthy nobles, and large institutions.

[It’s a temple, so I suppose there must be one.]

[Inform the temple administrator. I need to use the telecommunication device immediately.]

Evan connected the telecommunication device to the imperial palace. The recipient was the emperor. 

[Is it true that Riett has gone into exile?]

[…I intentionally didn’t tell you.]

[Tell me everything. Every single detail.]

[…Haah… That’s the story…]

For a while, Evan listened to the emperor as he recounted everything that had happened. The more he listened, the darker Evan’s pupils became. 

Thud! 

After ending the conversation with the emperor, Evan roughly put down the telecommunication device.

‘Darn it!’

Evan quickly sought out Felicia. 

[I need to go to Parman right away.]

[What? Why all of a sudden?]

Felicia looked at Evan, surprised. 

[What about the medical support request?]

[I informed His Majesty. Someone else will handle it.]

[But what about the saint’s blessings…]

[I’m not interested.]

The saint’s blessings meant nothing. The most important thing now was that Evan learned about Riett’s situation.

[What did His Majesty say?]

[Nothing.]

Naturally, the emperor would be furious. But Evan had no intention of asking for permission in the first place. 

[Haah… Should I call a carriage to take us to the harbor?]

Felicia asked, giving up on the matter. 

[Carriages are too slow.]

[Then how do you plan to go…]

Even the distance to the harbor was considerable. They couldn’t walk there.

[Prepare a horse for me.]

[You can’t be serious…]

Going to the harbor on horseback… Felicia looked at Evan with disbelief. 

[Right now.]

Evan’s voice was resolute.

* * *

In the end, Evan rode a horse to the harbor. As he rode hastily, Evan realized that his mind was in disarray. 

The night wind was quite chilly. Parman was probably much colder than this. When he finished the conversation with the emperor through the telecommunication device, his mind went blank for a moment. 

‘Exile…’

Evan tightly closed his eyes. Just thinking about Riett being alone in a cold and unfamiliar place made his heartache.

Fortunately, there was a ship departing even though it was nighttime. It was a ship heading to a harbor near Parman. The sea breeze carried a sharp chill, dispersing the inner turmoil. It was a relief to go and see Riett, even under these circumstances.

Before departure, Evan contacted his father and requested a knight to be sent to guard the mansion where Riett was staying. He asked for a skilled knight to ensure Riett’s safety. 

With that, there shouldn’t be any issues regarding her well-being.

‘Haah…’

Evan lifted his head and gazed at the sky. The crescent moon gracefully illuminated the night. 

There were times when Evan had such thoughts. If Riett was a blazing sun, he considered himself a moon that reflected her light.

Without the sun, the moon had no value and couldn’t shine. 

Evan chuckled bitterly. He had always believed that someday he would stand by Riett’s side. But now, he wasn’t so sure.

Evan recalled the recent conflict he had with Riett. 

“By any chance… Are you being threatened by Count Terrator? If that’s the case, tell me right now. Otherwise, I’ll be greatly disappointed in you.”

Unbelievably, Riett’s voice trembled as she spoke those words.

Honestly, it didn’t feel good to think that Riett was trembling because of him. But that thought only lasted for a moment, as he realized that if things went further south from here, their relationship could be completely shattered. 

That would be an outcome he couldn’t allow.

Evan had recently taken Count Terrator’s side too far, even going as far as preparing for assassination as a last resort if the impeachment failed. 

Once he found out that the Count was planning to hire an assassin, he had no intention of writing the petition, no matter the excuse he made for himself. But what good would his justifications do in this situation? 

It felt suffocating as if he couldn’t breathe.

That’s why Evan made up his mind. When he met Riett in Parman, he would reveal everything that had happened until now. 

‘And..’

He would also reveal his hidden feelings. Just waiting for everything to be resolved by Riett understanding and accepting him wouldn’t work. He wanted to become closer.

He wished there were no secrets between them. 

When Riett had worries, he wanted to be the first person she trusted and confided in. Once greed takes hold, it grows uncontrollably. 

“I mean it, if anyone spreads rumors that you’re a spy, I won’t let them get away with it.” 

Interpreting Riett’s righteous personality as he hoped.

Evan understood. Like the ebbing and flowing waves, their stagnant relationship would change.

* * *

Evan disembarked from the ship and rode a horse for another full day. 

On the way to the mansion where Riett resided, there was a village. As Evan hurriedly rode by, he noticed a commotion where a child was trapped under a tree. Despite his urgency, he couldn’t just pass by. 

Eventually, Evan stopped his horse and went to rescue the child.

[Thank you so much. I’ve been avoiding unfamiliar outsiders recently, but I realize now that it was just prejudice.]

The child’s parents expressed their gratitude, bowing to Evan repeatedly as they held their child in their arms.

A young girl, who seemed to be a friend of the child Evan just saved, poked her head out from behind the adults. Her chubby cheeks were flushed red. 

[I told you! Not all outsiders are bad. The redhead lady bought me a lot of beef jerky!]

The girl cheerfully shared.

Evan’s eyebrows twitched slightly. 

[…A redhead?]

[Yes! She’s really pretty and kind. I hope she comes to the village again today since the weather is nice!]

The child replied with a bright smile.

Upon hearing traces of Riett, a pang of pain hit Evan’s chest. 

He wanted to see Riett as soon as possible. However, when he arrived at the mansion, Riett had already left. It felt like all the strength drained from his body in an instant. Even though he knew she would come if he waited, he couldn’t just stand still.

Evan mounted his horse again. According to the maidservant, Riett had gone to the village, but Evan hesitated. 

‘On a nice day like this…’

Riett often went for a ride near the Atrenta River on days with good weather. 

As he was passing by, he noticed a serene lakeside. It was a place that Riett would appreciate. Evan headed towards the lakeside without hesitation. Somehow, he had a feeling that Riett would be there.

And if he met Riett there, he would resolve any misunderstandings and confess his true feelings. 

Evan reaffirmed his determination. 

End of Evan’s story.