Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 12
His subordinate stated in a serious voice.
“No, that child cannot be the saintess!”
The Duke of Rostelle shook his head. But that didn’t change the reality.
“Your Grace, you must face reality.”
“Reality.”
Repeating the word, the Duke of Rostelle let out a deep sigh. His head spun.
Though the will of the goddess was inscrutable, the new saintess was his daughter, Irene.
Not Ramiel of the Maras Ducal family, who seemed more saintly than anyone else, but Irene.
In the Duke of Rostelle’s mind, numerous benefits that could arise from this situation began to emerge.
Perhaps Irene becoming the saintess was a gift from the goddess for his enduring faithfulness throughout the years.
“Ah, the goddess!”
The Duke of Rostelle praised the goddess, looking as though he might cry at any moment.
“Father!”
Seeing his eldest son, Lexion, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, he smiled brightly.
“Lexion! The goddess has recognized my efforts!”
“Is that really true?”
Lexion asked back with a surprised expression.
To him, Irene was a child he wished did not exist in this world. A disturbing and gloomy little child brought into the house after his mother’s death.
Unlike Ramiel, whom he occasionally saw, a child bearing two symbols of misfortune on her body felt utterly repugnant.
Naturally, these thoughts seeped into his actions, but he paid them no mind.
Irene was considered a child and it was acceptable to treat in such a manner. Simply bringing such a child into the Ducal family and caring for her was seen as an act of generosity.
And yet, that child was nominated as a candidate for the saintess.
‘Such a manifestation of ugliness?’
He thought it impossible.
The saintess he knew of was supposed to be a more radiant and noble being, much like Ramiel.
With her sunshine-like blonde hair and blue eyes, she seemed perfectly suited for the position of the saintess.
Believing so, the idea that Irene, not Ramiel, was the saintess? It inevitably raised doubts.
Hearing such news, he found it impossible to focus on anything else. Normally, it would have been time for his diligent sword practice, but he rushed to his father in shock.
But then it was confirmed as the truth. The values he had staunchly believed in were shaken to their core.
“Father.”
Do you believe it? He wanted to shout but swallowed the words instead.
The father was so overjoyed that it made it difficult to dampen his spirits with such news, even if it was surely based on false rumors.
“Yes, Lexion. This is not the time to just stand around! We must go to the temple immediately.”
The Duke of Rostelle seemed to have realized something belatedly.
Now that Irene had become the saintess, she would be alone. With no knowledge of what to do as a saintess and unlikely to guard against others’ approaches since she was uneducated in these matters.
Since the goddess had guided her to this role, it was his place to look after the saintess. He couldn’t just stand by idly.
“Prepare to leave at once! We’re going to the temple!”
At his command, the servants moved quickly. The preparations for departure were swiftly made, and the carriage was readied in front of the mansion.
Lexion also canceled his other plans to accompany his father. He still did not fully believe the rumors.
“Tch, the carriage is too small.”
The Duke of Rostelle, who had until now maintained only the minimum dignity of his carriage, mindful of those around him, clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“We must change the carriage soon.”
Until now, he had been cautious because of his sins, but that was no longer necessary. He planned to switch to a larger and more splendid carriage.
He felt a sense of liberation, as if his chest had been cleared.
* * *
Despite the goddess’s assistance, falling from a high tower was serious. Moreover, potions were ineffective, so it was unreasonable to expect her to get up and be active immediately.
Priests and physicians clung to her side, doing their utmost to save her, yet the situation was far from good. Therefore, they treated Irene as if she were a glass that could shatter at any moment, with extreme care.
All sorts of health ingredients and medicines were rushed to the temple. They were exceedingly cautious, fearing that the saintess might die at any moment.
Was it because of this careful attention? Irene was slowly but surely recovering. Looking out the window quietly, she wrapped her arms around herself.
