I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 7.1
I was sure I had entered the temple…
I tried to move my body, but it was useless. When I said I was looking for Michaelo, the door opened, and I walked with the priest to where he was. Then, when the door opened and I faced him, my consciousness cut off.
‘My head hurts.’
My head was throbbing and hazy. Opening my eyes without knowing how much time had passed, I looked around.
“…Where is this?”
It looked similar to the underground space I had seen before.
“It seems you’ve regained consciousness.”
“High Priest Michaelo?”
“You’ll fully regain your senses soon.”
“Please untie this. It hurts too much… My body feels heavy, I can’t breathe well.”
Michaelo approached me and gently brushed my hair back. His touch made my skin crawl. His gaze toward me contained a deeper desire than usual.
“You don’t know how happy I was when you returned. I heard that the Imperial family learned of your existence. Thanks to that, the temple has been put in a difficult position.”
“…Are you thinking of handing me over to the Imperial family?”
No. That’s not the reason. The place where I was lying was an altar. That meant I would walk the same path as the children I had seen. Michaelo was now trying to absorb my holy power, no, all of my abilities.
“Do you think I would hand you over to the Imperial family? Irene, stop deceiving me.”
“So you knew all along.”
“I’ve spent more time with you than anyone else. How could I not know you? Just by looking at your eyes, I know what you’re thinking.”
Nausea rose as he gently cupped my cheek. When I sharply turned my head to the side, I felt strong pressure on my jaw.
“Ugh.”
“Don’t turn your eyes away from me. Irene, I’m tired of being lenient. Severus cannot protect you. Look at yourself now, coming here alone and ending up like this.”
“What do you plan to do with me? I don’t see the children who were here.”
“So you did see this place. Still, you shouldn’t have come here. If you had known what feelings I have for you.”
Michaelo’s breath touched my neck. Is this what it feels like to have insects crawling on your body? His soft tongue licked up my neck and moved downward.
“Stop it.”
“The Duke’s lips must have touched here. Thinking that he explored every part of your body that even I couldn’t have… it makes me angry. If only you had not left my side, this wouldn’t have happened. If you had chosen me instead of him, your life would have been different. Irene, I truly cherished and loved you.”
“This, this isn’t love!”
As I struggled, I felt something hard against my back. Was I placed on the altar I had seen before? It seemed I was about to experience firsthand what had happened here.
“This is my love. Irene, I intended to show you slowly. It was I who created a reason for you all to be fed and live. So isn’t it only right that you return that love to me?”
Plop.
He tore my clothes. I bit my lip tightly and glared at him. I was determined not to yield no matter how much he threatened me or pushed me to the edge.
‘That’s not love. How pathetic of me to have thought of you as family.’
Perhaps I should be grateful to him. With no more expectations, my heart felt lighter. If he wasn’t family, I didn’t need to understand him.
“I’ll give it back. I don’t like this way. At least untie my hands. You wouldn’t want to take me by force, would you, High Priest Michaelo?”
“Are you giving up?”
“If I end up in your arms like this, I won’t be able to face Severus. I don’t want to show him this side of me. If you truly cherished me, at least show some decency.”
I closed my eyes in resignation. It was something I said intending to throw a signal flare. I doubted Michaelo would comply, but he moved away from my body and then stroked my hair. Then he bent down and smiled.
“Irene, I told you earlier, didn’t I? I can tell just by looking at your eyes.”
He reached into the torn part of my clothes. Michaelo pulled out the signal flare that had been in my bosom and waved it.
“What will you do now?”
“Severus will definitely save me. He promised. So, Michaelo, you will end up with nothing in the end.”
“Hahaha. Even in this situation, you still believe in that guy. But the next words from your mouth won’t be like that.”
He grabbed my chin and tried to kiss me. I kept my lips tightly closed, refusing to allow him anything. My lips were about to part under his force.
BANG! CRASH!
Along with the impact that shook the building, a loud noise was heard. The ceiling cracked as if about to collapse.
At the same time, Michaelo raised his head.
“Kuhek!”
He who had been clinging to me was suddenly thrown off. Michaelo, tossed to the floor, exhaled rough breaths while complaining of pain.
“This beast of a man…”
My head turned toward the voice that spat out each word with rage. Was it time?
In my blurry vision, I saw a familiar face.
“Severus.”
The head that had been looking at Michaelo turned toward me. His red eyes burned even more fiercely. He immediately tried to untie the ropes binding me.
“Damn it!”
“It won’t break. Severus, look at me.”
“Please bear with it a little longer. I’ll cut through it somehow and free you. I’m sorry for coming so late. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let you go alone.”
Severus gritted his teeth. I smiled as if I was fine and shook my head. The evidence that had been here was gone. We needed to search quickly before they removed other things.
“Severus.”
“Why won’t this break? Damn it! I will surely kill that madman.”
Even when I called his name, he seemed not to hear, obsessing over the ropes. I guess this is what they mean by eyes rolling back in rage. I understood why he was angry. But what mattered now wasn’t me.
“Severus!”
“Ah…”
“I’m fine, so get a hold of yourself. These ropes won’t break because he infused them with his power to make them strong. How are the others doing?”
“The knights are subduing the priests. However, as you said, it’s not easy to deal with those who have abilities.”
“Severus, I know this sounds absurd in this situation, but kiss me now.”
“…Irene?”
“My power gets stronger when I use my abilities. So to break these ropes, I need your help.”
Severus’s pupils dilated slightly, and then he kissed me as I wanted. Warm energy, gentle hands cupping my cheeks, slow, lingering breaths. From him, I felt nothing but love.
When I, who had been infusing power, applied force, the ropes restraining my hands and feet finally broke.
Fortunately, it seemed Michaelo had only partially absorbed my holy power, not taking it all. There must be a clear reason for that.
“Even if I’m not visible… Irene, you shouldn’t have done that in front of me.”
Michaelo, who had been lying on the floor coughing blood, slowly got up. The flow of air surrounding the space changed. The moment I made eye contact with Michaelo, I felt something was wrong.
“Severus!”
He embraced me and fell to the floor.
There was a dull sound, but I sobbed in his arms. He must have taken the full impact from falling from a height. Yet he didn’t even make the slightest groan.
“Let go of this. I need to see if you’re okay. Please?”
“…Irene, this much is fine.”
“Don’t lie. Quickly… this hand.”
I became desperate, trying to escape from his embrace. I needed to assess his condition to know how to treat him. But he held me tighter and wouldn’t let go.
