Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 137
The Northern castle had a different atmosphere compared to other places. A gray fortress standing amidst endless snow; the royal palace that came next had the same feel.
It was more rugged and sturdy than delicate and ornate. It resembled Burt in that way.
‘How fascinating.’
Castles and palaces often resemble those who rule over them. That was the impression it gave.
As they passed through the castle and moved further inside, they could see people dressed warmly in heavy clothing moving about.
“It’s the king!”
“Your Majesty!”
As soon as they spotted Burt, they knelt on the spot and called out to their king.
“Welcome back!”
“Glad to have you home!”
There was a sense of affection towards Burt in their voices. Burt waved in acknowledgment of their greetings.
His expression remained stern, but the emotions within were similar to those of his people. He appeared far more spirited here than when he was outside the castle.
“Welcome, Lady Saintess.”
As soon as they entered the palace, a middle-aged woman greeted the group.
“I am Bella, the head maid of the royal palace.”
Bella smiled as she looked at Irene.
“We will make sure you are well taken care of and lack nothing.”
Unlike other kings who had always provided a separate palace, Burt had offered a place for her in the main palace.
The large room felt different from what she had seen elsewhere, but it had everything she needed.
In particular, the most essential item, the stove, was quite impressively built. The flames burning inside it warmed the room thoroughly.
But Bella didn’t stop there.
“This is a hot water bottle.”
She wrapped the hot water bottle in cloth and placed it in Irene’s arms.
“Holding it while you sleep will keep you warm on a winter night.”
There were other thoughtful touches as well.
Because of this, Lani seemed to feel a sense of urgency and worked even harder, running around more diligently. In many ways, this was not a bad outcome.
“Please rest well until the welcome party,”
Bella said, leading other maids in, making sure Irene didn’t have to lift a finger.
When Irene came to her senses, she found herself sitting in a rocking chair, draped in a shawl. A hot water bottle was nestled in her arms, and at her feet lay a dog that someone had brought in from somewhere.
Beside her, on a small table, was a cup of warm cocoa. The warm, sweet chocolate drink, something she had never tasted before, melted Irene’s heart.
“Uh, I’ve gotten too comfortable.”
“You do seem quite relaxed,”
Noah replied, brushing the dog with a comb he had found somewhere.
“What if I become lazy like this?”
“No one will say anything if you become a little lazy.”
“I can’t let this happen. I have to get up and do something!”
Irene declared, as if making a firm decision, and tried to stand up from her seat, but she failed.
The puppy, which had approached without her noticing, nudged Irene back into the chair with its damp nose.
‘Is there a person inside this dog?’
It seemed unusually clever.
“They say it’s the king’s dog.”
“Burt’s dog?”
“Yes. It was chosen among many dogs, so it’s smart and impressive.”
“It certainly looks that way. Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard its name.”
“They call it Cerberus.”
“…Like the gatekeeper of hell?”
Naming a dog like that seemed out of character for Burt.
“Cerberus is actually an old dog. Burt named it when he was very young.”
Only then did Irene realize why the name was so grandiose. Well, a child might choose such a name.
It didn’t quite fit with the image of Burt, but it wasn’t incomprehensible either.
As she sat back in the rocking chair, basking in the warmth of the stove, there was a sudden knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
Noah asked, and a reply came.
“It’s Luna, the maid. I’ve brought some light snacks.”
Irene nodded at Noah.
“Come in.”
As soon as she spoke, a woman with uniquely styled blue hair entered.
She was carrying a tray filled with an assortment of delicious-looking snacks.
Cookies, tarts, warm milk, and more. As Luna spread them out on the table, it was a feast for the eyes.
Even after placing the snacks, Luna didn’t leave immediately. She explained the items she had brought while subtly glancing at Irene from the corner of her eye.
It wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling, but Irene was used to such looks and chose to ignore them.
“You may leave now,”
Noah said, seemingly picking up on the atmosphere, and gently ushered Luna out.
“Yes, have a good time,”
Luna replied as she exited the room without resistance.
Luna thought to herself,
‘What’s this? She’s supposed to be a Saintess, but she’s unimpressive.’
Her well-groomed hair and fair skin were passable, but that was it.
She was too small and thin, with a body devoid of any appeal.
‘And above all, she carries that ominous symbol. Everyone will surely oppose it. Any children born afterward might have black hair and red eyes, too.’
No matter how much perceptions had changed because of the Saintess, no one would want to keep an ominous symbol close to them.
‘He must be staying close to her out of necessity.’
That’s how Luna interpreted Burt’s proximity to the Saintess.
