CH 190

“Are you okay?” Ridrian asked, a look of concern on his face. “Your lips are blue.”

“I’m fine, just a bit nervous,” I replied, trying to brush off his worries.

“Your face is pale, too. Maybe you used too much of your power?” he said, still studying my face. “It seems like divine power has its own set of side effects.”

“Really, I’m okay,” I insisted. “I’m not feeling tired or faint, so there’s no need to worry.”

Despite my reassurances, Ridrian took my chin in his hand and felt my forehead, checking my temperature.

I was a bit flustered as I wasn’t expecting this reaction, but I calmed him first. But is he really not curious about nothing else but my health?

“Aren’t you curious?”

“About what?”

What does he mean? Was he listening?

“Me suddenly claiming that I’m a Saintess.”

“Mm.”

He rolled his eyes. It looked like he was thinking about something, but it didn’t seem to really bother him.

I expected Ridrian to have some reservations about my claims of being a saintess, or about Theres helping him as the savior of the world, but he seemed unfazed.

“I thought you knew what you were doing,” he teased with a smile. “Even if you were lying, I would have believed you.”

“I’m not!” I replied, feeling my cheeks turn red from embarrassment.

Ridrian chuckled at my reaction. “Don’t worry, I’m just teasing you,” he said, a twinkle in his eye. “It was funny that Theres is looking at me like I’m a savior but if you’re the one who said it, I welcome it.”

Ridrian gently brushed my cheek with his hand, causing my heart to flutter.

“Rian…” I whispered, feeling a warm rush of gratitude for his understanding. I had gone ahead with my plan without consulting him, so I was ready for a scolding. But the fact that he believed in me this much was truly touching.

Ravis chimed in, bringing me back to reality. “Honestly, I’m more worried about how the Theres group will react to this, rather than the speech itself,” he said, his voice serious.

“I agree,” added the other cardinal. “His Holiness definitely won’t let this go without consequences.”

Ravis seemed uncomfortable with the idea of going against the Pope, who had been like a father to him. It was understandable, considering he was offered to the church as a baby and had been raised as a priest.

Ridrian, however, was quick to respond with determination. “I told you before, he’s not taking Iona.”

“But now that she’s claimed to be a saintess, the Theres group won’t give up that easily,” replied Ravis.

I nodded, knowing that I was their lifeline. That was why I had made the speech, even though I was cringing at the embarrassment. But I knew it had to be done if I wanted to save the continent.

“That’s why I said my duty is to help you, not to revive the Theres group, but to save the continent,”

“That was your intention?”

“Yes. If the group deny that I’m a saintess now, then their statement itself will be a lie, and if they accept that I am, then denying my duty is denying God’s will itself.”

Ridrian brushed my hair back and added.

“The group denying God’s will is destruction itself.”

“That simply cannot happen at all.” As Ravis added, I nodded. People also nodded as they finally understood the purpose of my whole speech.

“The group will soon react. They’ll send someone in secret.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Kraman smiled and agreed with me.

“Honestly I’m a bit scared how they’ll react, but I’ll trust you, Your Majesty.”

I approached Ridrian and tugged at his sleeve, my nerves fraying like a tangled ball of yarn. A cornered mouse will fight back against the cat, and I was worried about the group’s reaction to losing their supposed saintess, though I was far from being one.

“With the amount of divine power you displayed in the open,” Ridrian said with a casual shrug, “they won’t be able to touch you so easily.” He then wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close, half-hugging me. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but at the same time, I felt a sense of relief.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered in my ear, “I’ll protect you. I’ll make sure they never come near you again.”

“But you can’t kill them,” I replied, voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t. I promised.”

Ridrian planted a kiss on my cheek, taking me by surprise in the middle of our serious conversation and surrounded by people.

I tried to hide my blushing face, but as he promised to protect me, I could feel my anxiety melting away.

I smiled lightly and he returned the smile, looking relieved. “Anyways, it was touching when you were showing your divine power.”

My eyes widened as he suddenly changed subject.

‘Hm?’

He continued to say things I didn’t even imagine.

“To think you’d use that kind of dramatic effect for speech. People couldn’t close their mouths. Since everyone likes your speech so much, I’m seriously thinking about letting you do speeches for me.”

He smiled teasingly.

“Ah, right,” Ridrian continued, still teasing me. “You might hate it once you become the queen. If you have to do my speeches too.”

“Rian!” I cried out, my cheeks turning red at the mention of becoming a queen.

Such a distant future was beyond my imagination.

But surprisingly, no one came to my defense. Raven stood expressionless, observing our conversation.

“I think there’s no other way as His Majesty can’t sleep without you. We can’t all work overtime, so as your senior, I suggest you take it.”

“Sir Estaban!”

Kraman also was all smiles.

“Wow, I felt like you were His Majesty’s half when I heard that speech. I think many will think that. I think there’s no other way but becoming his wife.”