I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 1.4
“More seem to be coming. Since you’ve done me a favor, it’s my turn now.”
He picked up the sword lying on the floor and grinned at me.
The previously ineffectual man seemed to have come alive a bit.
In the end, I was left in the room. He smiled like a handsome hero and closed the door.
Loud noises could be heard from outside.
‘Why did they come to interfere?’
Something was definitely wrong. I needed to return to the temple to assess the situation.
I escape through the window.
Priests who receive directives usually undergo separate training. Since we were an organization that moved in secret, it was difficult to receive help from others.
Since I had healing abilities, it wouldn’t be a big deal if my body got a bit injured.
“Well, I’ve finished my task, so I should return.”
It was regrettable that I couldn’t say goodbye properly, but if I stayed longer, the temple’s secrets might be discovered. He seemed quite certain that I was someone connected to the temple. That was probably because of my abilities.
I approached the window and opened it wide. Being on the second floor of the mansion, the injuries wouldn’t be severe.
Without hesitation, I stepped onto the windowsill. Just as I was about to jump down, I heard the door opening behind me.
“What are you…!”
Hmm. Duke Blake seemed to be someone very curious about others’ actions.
“It was nice meeting you.”
“I told you! Those people came to kill me. If they see you leaving this mansion, they’ll harm you!”
I landed lightly on the ground and looked up at him shouting.
“They can’t harm me. It seems there’s some problem, so I need to go. Besides, didn’t you resolve everything so I wouldn’t get hurt?”
I tilted my head. Wasn’t that why it had been so noisy?
Since there was no fresh blood on his body, he probably just made them faint like I did. There was no obligation to save them.
Outside the temple, everyone had to survive on their own.
At my words, he flinched and lowered his head briefly. Whatever it was, I couldn’t waste time and tried to leave the mansion behind him.
“…At least tell me your name!”
I stopped abruptly at his shout. Then I turned my head and took in his black hair swaying in the wind.
‘How pretty.’
His black hair matched perfectly with the dim sky. His red eyes were beautiful.
This would probably be an unforgettable day. I returned the same smile he had shown me earlier.
“That would be troublesome. By the way, it’s better to forget about today.”
I left him behind and escaped from the mansion.
Still, I felt good that my first mission wasn’t bad.
***
Severus looked at those sprawled in the hallway after she disappeared.
Among those who had collapsed coughing blood, he found the one she had thrown down and knocked unconscious.
“Was this one also sent from the temple?”
The image of her, who suddenly appeared, helped him and disappeared, lingered in his mind.
Not only was she incredibly strong, but a priest with healing abilities.
It was something he had never heard of during his time in the Empire. That’s why his interest was piqued.
Above all, she was his benefactor who saved him, so he couldn’t just let this go.
“The Imperial family seems to be playing another interesting game.”
If it weren’t for her, it might have been a bit overwhelming. They had sent so many that he was getting tired.
He couldn’t even count how many assassins they had sent. Despite knowing he was alone in the empty duchy, they endlessly sent people to kill him. The mansion’s staff were already staying elsewhere. The only reason he remained in the mansion was simple – he was curious if the Emperor would really make a move.
And Keberos didn’t miss the opportunity. All the corpses in the mansion were those sent to kill him.
The moment his lips met with the unknown woman’s, vitality surged through his body. She was a savior he met when he thought he was truly about to die.
Severus lightly hoisted up the person lying on the floor.
If the woman who healed him went straight to the temple, she would be in danger. Though she seemed to want to hide that she was a priest, only priests could use holy power. Severus had a poor impression of the temple. It was a place that conducted various dealings with the Imperial family.
Finding an unexpected person there was new information.
“She should have arrived by now.”
The sun was rising. It would have been better if he could have seen her against the sky with its rippling golden waves.
He would never forget that red wave that shone even in darkness. It was more intense and beautiful than any evening sunset.
He swiftly mounted the horse he had tied behind the mansion.
Red hair – he wanted to meet that nameless woman again.
***
I arrived in front of the temple. An inexplicable sense of unease came over me.
‘The atmosphere feels strange.’
The lights moving back and forth seemed to be searching for something.
“Has something happened?”
I suddenly stuck my head out and asked the gatekeeper.
“Waah! Lady Irene!”
The gatekeeper was startled as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
“Where have you been? Everyone’s in chaos. The High Priest is very angry.”
“…Huh? I just came back from my mission.”
“Well, I said the same thing, but they said that’s impossible and the whole temple is in uproar.”
“So all this commotion is because everyone’s looking for me?”
“Yes! Please go to the High Priest quickly.”
Something felt strange, but I nodded first. Since he had given the mission, the High Priest should know about it, so why was there such chaos?
It was something I could find out directly by asking, so there was no point in giving myself a headache thinking about it.
As I was about to go to the High Priest’s room, I stopped in my tracks when I saw a figure standing at the end of the corridor.
“High Priest.”
“Irene!”
He strode toward me. His long silver hair seemed to shimmer like silver thread with each step.
Finding myself suddenly enveloped in his embrace, I asked with wide eyes.
“Why were you looking for me?”
“…What do you mean why! Do you know how shocked I was when I heard the absurd story that you went on a mission?”
“There was a directive on the desk. I was happy to receive my first mission – was there something wrong?”
“That’s impossible. I would never send you outside the temple.”
“But I did go out today.”
“…What kind of directive was it?”
“That’s against the rules. Even if it’s you, High Priest, I can’t disclose it. Since you gave the directive, you should know.”
I shook my head. Those who work in secret never disclose their missions to anyone after completion, even to the High Priest who issued the directive.
That was the second rule. It was a safeguard to protect oneself in case something went wrong with the task. Above all, Michaelo, who issued the directive, couldn’t possibly not know what mission was given to me. Perhaps he was testing me.
“…If there’s any problem, make sure to tell me.”
“The mission was simple and enjoyable. I was happy to finally be of use.”
I saw a handsome man, and the kiss and conversation with him were pleasant.
Above all, I was happy to feel like I was repaying my debt to the High Priest. I admired him. It wasn’t easy to take in those who had nowhere to go. Plus, my hair was red.
“I see. Seems you completed the mission well.”
I nodded.
He gently stroked my hair. Since childhood, he would occasionally do this when I did something well.
