Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 164
* * *
The Duke of Rostelle once again left the temple today without any results. Even his status held no sway in front of the temple knights, for it was the Saintess who was blocking him.
‘Yes, the Saintess.’
Irene, his daughter, was both the Saintess and the Duke of Rostelle’s child. Yet, as her father, he couldn’t even meet her! His insides churned with frustration, but there was nothing he could do.
“Father, please stop.”
Lexion would sometimes try to dissuade him, but the Duke of Rostelle wouldn’t give up. How could he give up the glory he had worked so hard to regain? That was unthinkable.
“Irene resents us. She won’t see us.”
Even if they met, nothing good would come of it. Lexion knew this well.
However, his father did not hear his son’s voice. The Duke was relentless, knowing nothing of giving up.
“Lady Goddess, please look upon me.”
The Duke of Rostelle muttered to himself, repeatedly crossing himself as he prayed alone in his study. So absorbed in his prayers, he didn’t notice the window opening midway.
“Duke Rostelle.”
It wasn’t until a thin, feminine voice called out that he realized someone was there. Startled, the Duke rose urgently and looked toward the window.
There stood a girl with a pale complexion—a familiar face.
“Lady Ramiel.”
The Maras family had fallen. In one night, many servants, including the Duke and Duchess, were killed, and several others went missing. The guards and temple investigated, but the culprit was still at large.
“What is the young lady doing here?”
Though they hadn’t found the perpetrator, there were a few suspects who could have committed such an atrocity. One of them was Ramiel—the heretic who had corrupted and killed the king of the West.
The once-beloved girl was gone. The Duke of Rostelle cautiously took a step back, wary of Ramiel.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
Her face, asking so innocently, nearly made him falter despite the danger he knew she posed. While his guard was still up, a sudden knock interrupted them.
“Father, I’m coming in.”
It was Lexion. As soon as he entered, he too was taken aback by the sight of Ramiel.
“Ramiel!”
“It’s been a while, big brother Lexion.”
Lexion started to approach her in relief, but the Duke stopped him.
“That… that is not human!”
Only then did Lexion halt in his tracks.
“So, you’ve figured it out?”
Ramiel said with a bright smile.
“I am the true saintess, appointed by the Goddess herself. I thought the Duke of Rostelle would recognize that.”
“No, no!”
The Duke, his face pale with fear, pressed himself against the wall. The thought of being branded a heretic terrified him.
“Kill her! Kill her, Lexion!”
Lexion had his sword with him, having just returned from training. But even with his father’s desperate command, he couldn’t act. How could he? Ramiel still looked so lovable—had she truly done all those terrible things?
Such thoughts clouded his judgment.
“This is troubling.”
Ramiel began twisting a lock of her hair around her fingers.
“I had hoped the Duke of Rostelle would understand.”
She then extended her hand, and with that simple motion, the Duke clutched at his own throat, writhing on the floor. It wasn’t long before silence filled the room.
“You’re different, aren’t you, brother?”
At her words, Lexion could not utter a single reply. Only then did he realize his father’s cries had been right all along.
But what now? Regret came too late.
“Yes.”
For now, the most important thing was to somehow get through this situation. As Lexion gave his answer, Ramiel softly approached him and gently placed both hands on his head.
“I trust you, brother, but just in case, let me take a simple precaution.”
From that moment, Lexion became nothing more than Ramiel’s slave.
“Let’s save this world together.”
Her blissful smile as she said those words was disturbingly horrifying.
* * *
“The Saintess has returned.”
At the words of his subordinate, Luciel rose from his seat.
“I will go meet her.”
One late night, a young girl appeared at the headquarters where the heretics hid. Her name was Ramiel, and she claimed to be the Saintess.
At first, they didn’t believe her, but once she displayed her powers, it became clear.
Ramiel was indeed the true Saintess. God had finally sent down a Saintess. This was a good omen.
“Have you returned?”
“Yes, everything went smoothly. Lexion, my brother, has agreed to cooperate with us.”
“That’s great news. Ever since you arrived, Saintess, it seems everything has been going well.”
“You flatter me.”
Ramiel shyly waved her hand, smiling.
“More importantly, is everything progressing as planned?”
“Yes, everything is moving along steadily. Currently, we are supporting one of the branches of the western king’s family, and we have also quietly placed people in other nations. They will be of great help when the time comes.”
“Excellent.”
The two exchanged smiles, continuing to praise each other for quite some time.