Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 168
“I’ve been influenced.”
“That’s an unpleasant thing to say.”
Guy muttered regretfully, but Burt paid no mind.
“Whatever happens, I won’t give up.”
“Neither will I.”
“So, it seems we’re rivals.”
“It appears so.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have spoken.”
Sighing deeply, Guy turned his back, thus ending their short conversation.
As the busy morning passed, Irene was leisurely enjoying some tea. Sipping her tea while gazing at the garden she had restored made it taste all the better.
“I still prefer my tea sweet.”
She didn’t like bitterness. Even if it was considered childish, she still favored sweetness. Irene savored the tea and the accompanying snacks, enjoying the peace. But that tranquility didn’t last long.
“Irene.”
Burt had come, without any prior notice.
“Burt, haven’t you been busy lately?”
Since the incident with Guy, Burt hadn’t shown up much, and she had secretly been worried. Worried that perhaps he really would marry someone else. That he might drift away from her.
She had always tried to deny it, but now she understood. She knew what her feelings were.
‘It’s love, isn’t it?’
But she also knew it would be hard to realize. After the situation with Guy, the head priest, Grein, had come to her and cautiously said,
‘A king cannot be with a saintess.’
He had told her stories of the past, and the more she listened, the more her heart sank. But she couldn’t argue. It wasn’t wrong.
“Irene.”
Burt called her name again and then asked,
“Do you dislike me now that I am no longer a king?”
“What?”
What was he saying? She blinked, staring at him in confusion as he approached, kneeling beside her.
“If I give up the throne, all that remains of me will be my appearance, my abilities, and the fortune left by my great-grandfather.”
Isn’t that still more than enough? Wait a minute—this wasn’t like him. Burt wasn’t the type to boast about what he had, no matter how much it was.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Irene tried to stay calm as she asked.
“What I mean is…”
Burt smiled at her,
“I am giving up the throne.”
“…Why?”
The world was still filled with heretics, and the role of kings hadn’t disappeared. And yet, now he was saying he’d give up the throne? Her head spun, struggling to comprehend the situation.
“Because there is something more important.”
“Something more important?”
She had no idea what that could be.
“Irene, you’re being quite oblivious.”
“I don’t think I’m that oblivious.”
“No, you are. Right now, I am telling you that I want to stay by your side.”
“But you’re already here, aren’t you?”
“At the moment, we’re just a king and a saintess. I want something more than that. Irene, would you consider dating me? Even better if you’d marry me.”
Irene blinked slowly, then looked over to where Lani and Noah were standing. She wanted to confirm that what she had just heard wasn’t some kind of hallucination.
Lani was shaking her head violently, while Noah’s face was twisted in displeasure and confusion.
“So, what you’re saying…”
Stay calm. Irene pressed a hand against her wildly beating heart, trying to steady it. It was pounding so fiercely, she feared it might leap out of her chest.
“You want to be my spouse?”
“That’s correct.”
“And you’re willing to step down from the throne for that?”
“Yes, that’s also correct.”
“Do you… like me?”
She asked the final question, filled with nervousness.
“Of course. I love you, Irene.”
Oh my huhh?! Irene shot up from her seat, pacing the room with an anxious expression. She needed to organize her thoughts.
Burt simply watched her silently as she moved. Finally, Irene stopped, standing still as she looked at him.
“I am a saintess.”
“I know.”
“I bear the mark of misfortune.”
“I don’t care.”
“I’m not that beautiful.”
“To me, you are.”
As their conversation dragged on, Lani, who had been squirming, quietly slipped out of the room.
“You might regret this later.”
“I won’t regret it. I hesitated to say this, worried it might scare you.”
“Go ahead and say it.”
“In our northern kingdom, the kings have been known for their obsession, passed down through generations. Whether it’s a person or an object, once they become fixated, they never let go.”
Irene’s face flushed bright red. The man standing before her was essentially telling her that he would love her for the rest of his life. How could she possibly remain calm?
‘That’s impossible.’
Letting out a sigh, she covered her face with both hands. She had never imagined something like this would happen to her, and she had no idea what to say in response.
