CH 142

Damon frowned as he listened with bated breath to the conversation between Anissa and Hermann. He only showed up after confirming that Anissa had hurriedly left the room. 

“You were also here?”

“I couldn’t prevent you from being kidnapped, but I could stop the Grand Duke from killing you.” 

Damon grinned at Hermann as he answered shamelessly. Hermann shook his head and let out a sigh. 

“Is it true that Vassago’s contractor was Lady Vallandia’s mother?”

“The Marquis is really like a rat who listens secretly at night.”

“Isn’t information Faber’s weapon?” 

Damon answered briefly and skimmed his chin.

Charlotte was quite famous for being the only saint in Vallandia, but the process of how the temple selected her was unknown.

“I will ask you again. Was what you said to the Princess the truth?”

“I heard it from Charlotte herself.”

“If that is true then it is strange.” 

It was not impossible because there was no law that required people who could handle the powers of the shadows to be born only in the north.

The questionable part was that Charlotte was the price for terminating a contract with the demon. 

“If Vassago had received the child’s soul in return for the contract, he would have not offered Charlotte to Hera.”

“Wasn’t Vassago the most notorious for being crazy even among all demons? We don’t know.” 

It was obvious to everyone that the relationship between the apostles of the sun god and the demons was not very friendly, but Hermann's words also made sense.

Because Vassago was the one who pretended to be with the other demons in the first place. 

“That’s true but….”

“Even if I’m wrong, is it of any concern to the Marquis?” 

Damon’s face stiffened at Hermann’s harsh words. His words hit the nail on the head.

“If your plan is to balance the South and the North and usher a republican era, then it would be better without the Grand Duke of the North.” 

He thought to remind him that the southern hero wasn’t what he needed either, but he briefly nodded his head and chose not to respond. 

Hermann, who was staring at Damon who did not answer, pressed his wrist on his forehead.

“Don’t tell me you’re also interested in Anissa?”

“You’re talking nonsense. Please go back to sleep.” 

Hermann, who managed to barely come to his senses, fell into slumber again at the flick of Damon’s fingers. 

He looked down at Hermann who was fast asleep and began to turn his suspicions in another direction. 

‘The child that Camille brought is definitely……’ 

The prophecy of the woman who would be the savior of the North and the woman who would bring doom was brought down at the same time. 

Along with the priest, both renowned scholars and intellectuals were called in to interpret the prophecy. 

Naturally, requests for help also came to Faber, but Camille was the only one among Faber’s colleagues who heard the prophecy in person. 

Because she was the only member who was a believer of Hera in a group of profane intellectuals. 

Unlike Damon, who liked to be prudent, she heard the prophecy, said one sentence, and disappeared. 

‘It said that the fate of the Duke of Lagrange changes depending on who he meets.’ 

Damon was an irreverent man who didn’t believe in God until then. He had listened to Camille without paying much attention. 

She, who was devoted to interpreting oracles, soon caught the eyes of Derek Lagrange and harbored a grudge against the North. 

‘I’ll bring the child who will bring death to Lagrange.’ 

Camille, who was so determined, succeeded to kidnap Anissa Euclid with the help of Damon.

However, she died before she could take her revenge against Derek. 

He couldn’t say they were close but Damon respected Camille’s pride and goals. 

He didn’t think there was no good reason for her grudge and so he wanted to comfort the death of his colleague. 

Therefore, the child who was predicted to bring despair and death to the North was brought into Lagrange disguised as a child of a nanny who did nothing wrong. 

‘Should I have not done that?’ 

As he left the hallway, he found a slender girl who seemed to be buried in the shadow. He never dreamed that the child who was dyed pitch black by the night would come to love Lagrange this much. 

“Princess.” 

She, who was standing in the hallway, turned around at the low call. Her small shoulders, which couldn’t be seen clearly, were trembling.

Her bitten lips were scarlet, and her cheeks were as pale as peaches hit by the cold wind.

Even more than that, tears welling up in her bright red eyes flowed sorrowfully and wet the floor.

“Are you crying again?”

Damon let out a little sigh. 

He thought it was because he got too involved in the prophecy too hastily out of sympathy. 

“I’m not crying.” 

The tears that were flowing out of Anissa’s eyes glistened. She soon recovered her emotions. 

For a person who grew up in Lagrange, being able to express her emotions was something commendable, but Damon judged she wasn’t as weak as her delicate appearance.

“Marquis, I have to find Charlotte. Perhaps, do you know where she is?”

“.......If it’s her then she would either be at Euclid’s estate or staying at the temple.” 

Anissa nodded at Damon’s hesitant answer.

After confirming that her face was distorted as if she was in trouble, he let out a low sigh and spoke. 

“If you want to leave the territory without the Grand Duke knowing, I will help you.”

“.....Why?” 

Anissa asked, opening her eyes wide. Damon smile bitterly and scratched his cheek.

“I'm guilty of committing a crime against the princess.”

“Then, I’ll accept it without hesitation, the Marquis’ help.” 

If she had asked what he did wrong, he would have difficulty answering, but Anissa grinned as if she didn’t care about such trivial things.

Her face which was still wet with tears shone brightly under the moonlight. 

“Please take me to Charlotte.” 

────── 〔✿〕──────

Unlike the temple, I visited last time – the one where I stole Hermann’s holy sword – the temple where Charlotte stayed was very simple. 

To the point where it looked like a summer vacation house for aristocrats. 

“You can wait here.” 

Even though I didn’t reveal my identity, the priest smiled kindly and pointed to the sofa.

“Thank you.”

I bit my fingertips nervously as I wandered around the drawing-room window which overlooked the barren garden. 

‘It’s really been a long time.’ 

It was the first time I waited for Charlotte. Although I had met her many times who thoughtlessly came to find me. 

We didn’t have a very good last memory. 

I remembered the traces of betrayal, sadness, and disappointment in Charlotte's eyes as she looked at me rejecting Donna Euclid.

‘A normal person wouldn’t help but……’

But she was a saint. 

Furthermore, she was the original’s female protagonist. If I hadn’t intervened, she would have been Dietrich’s destiny.

‘That’s why she will help.’ 

She might know the way to help Dietrich.

‘She was the one who saved him from being sealed.’ 

Although he was already more deeply eroded by the shadows than the original, she must have a way. 

Wasn’t it some kind of setting that Vassago’s contractor was her mother?

The setting that tied Dietrich and Charlotte together by fate. 

My heart throbbed at the thought but I tried to ignore it. 

‘Since they were destined, then she would help.’ 

Without letting go of the thin string of hope, I looked back at the drawing-room door that opened gently.

“Anissa.”

Charlotte, who was more beautiful than the last time I saw her, called me with a beaming smile.

Her eyes were as blue as the summer sky as if she had completely awakened her divine powers.

‘The bride with blue eyes.’ 

I mumbled her nickname in my head. 

“It’s really been a long time.”

“I know. Charlotte, thank you for letting me in.”

“Of course. I am happy to welcome guests, even if they are enemies.” 

At first glance, they were words that were thorny, but Charlotte’s smile was as kind as always.

Unable to wait for her to approach the sofa, I came closer to her. 

“I came here because I have a favor to ask you. Since I don’t have much time, I can’t properly say my greetings.”

“Pardon? You have a favor to ask me, Anissa?” 

Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise.

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I took a deep breath watching her delicate eyelashes blinking slowly.

“Yes. I have a favor to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“I heard that your mother was a demon contractor.”

“......Did Hermann tell you?”

“Yes.” 

As I was unintentionally touching Charlotte’s family history, I observed her. 

Fortunately, as if she wasn’t offended, she had a gentle smile on her face. 

“Uhm, well. It’s not particularly a secret. My mother had once signed a contract with a demon named Vassago.” 

“Then, you must know about the shadow demons well.”

“Of course. Apart from what happened with my mother, I am the saintess of Vallandia.” 

I was hopeful about Charlotte’s answer and held her hand.

“Then, please help Dietrich.” 

I didn’t explain the details, but she let out a long sigh as if she knew what I meant. Soon, her pretty lips moved. 

“I can’t do that, Anissa.”

“......Why?”

“I changed my mind about good and evil. I believed in the concept of edification, but I realized it when I saw you.” 

“...........”

“An evil that has already been defined can never change. The same goes for goodness.” 

I am good, and he is evil. Therefore, why should I help him? 

I couldn’t believe what she quietly whispered to me.