Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 128
Burt clicked his tongue softly.
If others could notice, there was no more room to retreat. It seemed he had to start admitting it.
“I have grown fond of her.”
“Fondness?”
“What else could it be?”
“I see.”
After a brief silence, they returned to the topic of the central temple.
“Even High Priest Roxon is at the temple. I don’t understand what’s going on. He’s a man of deep faith.”
“Sometimes, those are the most dangerous people. So, are you going to tell Lady Irene about all this?”
“I’m still considering it.”
He could actually consider things.
“It might hurt her. For now, finding the source of the rumors and stopping them should be the priority.”
“I agree. For now, let’s share only part of the information with her.”
They came to a simple agreement on what to tell Irene. However, even that did not suffice for Irene.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“What makes you think that?”
“I can tell the truth and lies. Just tell me everything.”
“It might hurt you to hear it.”
“It’s fine.”
She had already heard plenty of things that could hurt. Would hearing more now make it any worse?
Faced with Irene’s persistence, Allen and Burt divulged nearly all their information.
“I see.”
She had expected it, but it didn’t wound her anew.
“We are currently tracking the rumors back to their source. Once we catch the perpetrators, we will mete out severe punishment. To slander the Saintess is akin to disrupting the world.”
“We can’t just let this go.”
Though not especially close, the two men’s words aligned perfectly. One would speak, and the other would support him, reassuring Irene.
“Then, while you’re at it, please investigate Lady Ramiel as well.”
“Of course. I was already planning to do so.”
“Then I suppose we should prepare for the welcome party now.”
“Yes.”
She answered without much thought, but then Allen asked.
“Would it be alright if I escorted you today, just in case?”
“What?”
Except for when she met Guy, Burt had handled most of the escort duties. She assumed he would accompany her today as well, so the sudden offer surprised her.
“For safety’s sake.”
Allen stood straight and added an explanation.
“If it’s about safety, I’m enough.”
“I understand that, but when it comes to dealing with malevolent forces, a Holy Knight can handle them more effectively.”
Neither yielded as they stood in a tense standoff.
“Which of us would you prefer to escort you, Saintess?”
“Please answer.”
“Well, I…”
Irene raised her hand with a troubled expression.
“I don’t mind who does it.”
“Then it should be me.”
“How can you say that?”
Had two men ever fought over her in her lifetime? It was becoming a bit interesting.
And just then, Lani returned.
“Oh my, what are you all doing?”
“They’re choosing who will escort the Saintess.”
“Isn’t it supposed to be Lord Burt? I thought so and prepared clothes to match his.”
Allen’s brow furrowed slightly at those words, while Burt smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting.
“But do you know?”
“Know what?”
“Lady Ramiel came here to get engaged to Sage! They say the two are in love.”
It wasn’t surprising. Sage had always followed Ramiel around in the past.
“That’s not particularly strange.”
“Right? It’s not strange. But now that he’s got what he wanted, maybe that’s why? I hear Sage has changed a bit.”
“How so?”
“He was originally a gentle person, but now he often gets angry. He gets mad over trivial things, and he’s draining the national treasury to lavish Lady Ramiel, so there’s a lot of discontent.”
“The national treasury?”
“Yes, even the kingdom’s treasures have already been given to Lady Ramiel?”
“Is that so?”
What is love, to change a person so much?
“Anything else?”
“Not much. The welcome party is being properly prepared, and it will be on a grand scale.”
“How long have the king of the west and Lady Ramiel been here since arriving from the center?”
“About three days. They contacted us in advance to prepare for the welcome party.”
“So they drained the national treasury in just three days?”
“Oh? It seems so?”
Something’s strange. No matter how much Sage likes Ramiel, his actions are excessive.
A king typically cherishes and loves his country. Yet, he’s pouring everything meant for the country into Ramiel?
Irene wasn’t the only one who sensed something was off.
“I need to get closer to Lady Ramiel.”
She hadn’t observed closely during their first meeting, but this time she intended to take a proper look. Something must have happened to Ramiel and Sage.
