I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 1.6
“The temple is supposed to protect people, isn’t it? Did you send priests to harm the Duke?”
I hoped not. Perhaps Duke Blake had misunderstood and spoken incorrectly to me.
Michaelo said that wasn’t what the temple was about.
Michaelo said that the temple wasn’t that kind of place.
“I don’t understand why you have such a misunderstanding. Haven’t you been watching me and this temple more than anyone else while staying here until now?”
I firmly grabbed one of the arms that was confining me.
“Irene, I don’t harm people. I only protect them. However, he is not a person but a monster. You will eventually be corrupted too.”
Severus Blake, he was definitely human.
I furrowed my brows at Michaelo’s ambiguous words.
Why did Michaelo order to harm people?
When I harbored doubts, everything seemed strange.
“So stay by my side. Irene, only I can protect you.”
His twisted desire for me was briefly revealed.
I had served my purpose. I received the order and carried out the mission. Wasn’t that enough?
“If you plan to keep me confined here….”
Then I must escape.
I tried to remove his hand. However, an agonizing scream was heard from outside the door.
Then, BANG!
The door was smashed.
While lying on the bed, I turned my head to see who was standing at the door.
“…Huh?”
It was Duke Blake, who had been so helpless back then.
Unlike before when he smiled brightly, his face was now completely distorted.
The doorkeeper was instantly thrown to the floor by his hand. It seems he had excess strength after being saved.
‘But why is the Duke here?’
I wore a puzzled expression.
“Duke Blake. What is this about? Not only did you enter the temple as you pleased, but you’re also harming people?”
Michaelo stood up. Thanks to that, I could break free from his embrace.
Actually, I had enough strength on my own, but both Michaelo and I seemed confused by the sudden situation.
“I’m looking for someone. I heard they were here… and ended up witnessing something unpleasant.”
“Duke. Do you realize how rude your actions are?”
“I’d like to ask the opposite. Was this a situation you wanted?”
His gaze turned to me. While he spoke informally to Michaelo, he used honorifics with me.
It was truly ironic.
“It wasn’t a situation I wanted. But it was something I could handle on my own.”
“That’s why I told you not to go back.”
He dusted off his hands. Michaelo blocked me and said.
“It seems you have business with this child. Though I don’t know how you found out.”
“When someone wants to live, they show the way. I heard quite an interesting story – would the High Priest be interested?”
The Duke’s eyes curved prettily.
“The Imperial family would find it quite interesting too.”
“…State what you want.”
“My benefactor.”
He looked at me as he spoke and smiled broadly with unwavering eyes.
“She’s invaluable to me as my benefactor, yet the High Priest is treating her roughly. That doesn’t make me feel very good, you see.”
The Duke, who had been nearly dead, displayed considerable dignity. He slightly raised the corner of his mouth and continued.
“What will you do? Will you hand over my precious benefactor, or would you rather watch the temple get destroyed?”
***
Severus sat at the table and looked at Michaelo. His fists clenched as he recalled the image of him on top of her.
‘What kind of relationship do they have?’
She looked calm. She just looked up quietly as if she could handle something like that anytime.
Though his grip on her wrist wasn’t tight, it was firm. She could have broken free herself if needed.
‘Well, with that strength, it might have been enough.’
Even considering that he was exhausted at the time, her strength was far greater than an ordinary man’s. She could have probably subdued even the High Priest.
Severus recalled the memory of that time. Those green eyes twinkled with innocence.
Unlike those who came to kill him, there was no hostility or killing intent.
She was just bound by some sense of duty. When he realized that she had tried to save him, he felt something stir in his chest.
It was a first.
Of course, at that time, he thought she had helped him without expecting anything in return since he didn’t think it was the temple’s order but seeing the High Priest’s behavior now, there seemed to have been some misunderstanding. However, in the end, she had treated him and left quietly.
Although there was some misunderstanding at their first meeting, he couldn’t forget her. So he threatened what appeared to be an unconscious priest and obtained information. As he expected, she was indeed a priest. Eventually, he came to the temple to find her. Of course, he hadn’t intended to see such a scene.
Severus’s gaze changed instantly. His raised head slowly turned toward Michaelo, who was staring at him.
People praised him.
Michaelo was someone who took in children with nowhere to go and conveyed God’s will. Kind and gentle to everyone, a giving person.
But Severus knew the ugly side he harbored within.
“Is it because of Irene’s ability?”
Michaelo asked while tilting his teacup. He seemed curious about the intention behind his sudden intrusion into the temple.
Severus was more caught up in the name he uttered than his question.
Irene? So that’s her name… What a pretty name.
‘Irene, Irene… I wonder what her family name is.’
He repeated her name several times, memorizing it. He was curious about everything.
Why she was in the temple, why she stayed here quietly… There were countless questions.
“Duke. I’m not sure if you’re listening to me. I asked if you’re trying to take her because of her ability.”
When there was no answer, Michaelo spoke up, seemingly frustrated.
Severus laughed lowly and answered.
“It seems the High Priest is keeping her because of her ability.”
“Isn’t that the same for you, Duke?”
“Even if I say it’s not, you wouldn’t believe me.”
Severus had no intention of telling Michaelo his true motives. After all, being unable to guess anything would make him more anxious.
“What do you plan to do after taking her?”
“I plan to protect her more safely than anyone else. I’ll protect her from those who harbor impure thoughts too.”
“Do you think you can bring the temple to its knees if we don’t comply?”
“You must know that I’ll accomplish it no matter how long it takes. You don’t seem to know where I just came from.”
As he said, Michaelo had already heard the story.
The Duke had obtained a document from the Emperor stating that he would no longer interfere in his affairs. This happened the morning of the day Irene carried out her mission. The Duke seemed to know that the temple had received and carried out the Emperor’s order to kill him.
“I cannot simply hand over a priest.”
“No, it shouldn’t matter since no one knows of her existence.”
“…The public will question Irene’s status.”
“That’s for the High Priest to worry about.”
Severus didn’t care what abilities she had or what her background was.
Irene was his benefactor and someone who had reached out to him. Nothing else mattered.
“She’s a lowborn child. If you’re thinking of taking her as a slave…”
“Has the High Priest ever seen someone take their benefactor as a slave? Ah, right. Someone who brings children with nowhere to go and creates a secret organization to clean up dirty work probably can’t think beyond that.”
When Severus mocked him, Michaelo’s brow furrowed.
“The children merely serve their purpose. I was trying to teach Irene…”
“You’re talking too much. I intend to take Irene as my wife. So you’ll have to be a witness.”
“…You’ll regret it.”
He seemed wary of the Imperial family learning about Irene’s ability.
“That regret is also mine to bear.”
Severus stood up and looked down at him as he spoke.
“Don’t ever lay your hands on her again. I’ll be taking Irene.”
“I can’t just hand her over. Unless there’s a condition that she’ll help when needed…”
“That’s not for me to decide either. If she wishes, I’ll help anytime. Let’s consider this conversation over.”
He briefly stared at Michaelo’s hand gripping the teacup before leaving the room.
He needed to hurry, she would be waiting.
