Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 167
“Please call me Ramiel.”
Ramiel began her conquest from small villages untouched by the central forces. Initially, people were suspicious, but once she demonstrated her miracles, they quickly became captivated.
Even if someone appeared claiming she wasn’t the true saintess, convincing others otherwise was not difficult. Although prejudices against the ominous symbols had somewhat improved, it was only relative to the past.
Moreover, with the help of other heretic members aiding in brainwashing, things proceeded smoothly.
Luciel, watching the people wave at Ramiel, whispered to her,
“They will soon begin to suspect us in the capital.”
“We need to move faster then,” Ramiel responded calmly.
“But did you hear the rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“They say the king of the East proposed to the saintess.”
At those words, Ramiel’s expression began to falter.
“How fitting, for the likes of them to be together.”
As a sneer crept across her lips, Luciel gently advised her,
“Saintess, you must keep smiling kindly.”
Only then did Ramiel adjust her expression.
“So, did she accept?”
“Of course, she refused. Even a false saintess has that much sense, doesn’t she?”
“True, the position of saintess should never be carelessly entrusted to anyone else.”
From the beginning, Irene was never suited to be a saintess. Ramiel smiled as she watched a child run toward her, swallowing the bitterness in her heart.
The story of Guy proposing to Irene began to spread around the capital. Irene hadn’t spoken about it, so it seemed that someone must have witnessed the event and spread the rumor.
Burt looked at Guy with displeasure.
“Sometimes, that ‘someone’ could be the person involved themselves.”
With a smirk, Guy responded,
“Did you know?”
“There was no one else around but us at the time. How could I not?”
“Do you think pulling such a trick will make Irene come to you? If I were to mention this to her, it would only cause distrust.”
Guy calmly replied,
“I know that won’t happen. The saintess has endured many wounds throughout her life. Do you really want to cause her more pain?”
“You’re just like Garan, your blood. Sneaky like a snake.”
“Indeed, I didn’t know I had such traits myself. But, Burt, even if it takes this, I want to spend my life with the saintess.”
“A king can’t spend his life with a saintess. There will be heavy opposition.”
If it had been a commoner, easier to control, the opposition would have been less. Burt gritted his teeth as he spoke.
“You know that.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Guy responded with an effortlessly composed expression.
“I can always give up the throne.”
It was an unexpected statement. How could he give up the throne that he had worked so hard to obtain? Guy’s determination was much larger and grander than Burt had anticipated.
“You’d give it up?”
“Absolutely. After all, I wasn’t born to be a king. If I’m not Guy Ellengtro Demian, the king, wouldn’t I be a more suitable partner for her? Of course, you wouldn’t understand, having been born and raised as a king yourself.”
Guy’s taunting words made Burt’s head ache.
Burt had feelings for Irene. The world would call it love. But even so, he couldn’t easily propose to her.
‘Because I understand the weight of the crown.’
But Guy was willing to abandon even that if it became an obstacle.
‘What have I been worrying about all this time?’
Burt chuckled bitterly. Come to think of it, he had heard once about a talented child from a side branch of the family. At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention, but by now, that child had probably grown enough to ascend to the throne.
Burt’s expression hardened.
“…It seems I made a mistake in speaking.”
Seeing Burt’s reaction, Guy furrowed his brow.
“Did you?”
“I believed that no matter what, you wouldn’t give up the throne. Every prince raised to be king has always been like that.”
“That’s true.”
He knew that to propose to Irene, he would have to give up many things. The snow-covered lands of the North, the castle, and the many people he was accustomed to meeting wouldn’t be as easily accessible as before.
He closed his eyes and imagined the future—fulfilling his duties as king, with someone he didn’t love by his side.
‘I wouldn’t be happy.’
In that case, he thought, it’s better to live as I wish.
