Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 169
“Irene.”
Burt’s voice grew a little closer.
“I’m not expecting an answer right away.”
Then what? Cautiously, she lowered her hand and saw Burt’s face nearby. Seeing him this close, she was struck again by how handsome he was. The thought that someone like him loved her felt surreal.
“You can take your time to give me an answer. Just… please, don’t refuse me.”
At his words, Irene couldn’t help but smile.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It’s exactly as I said.”
“And if I do refuse?”
“Well… what if I kidnap you instead?”
She laughed, thinking it was a joke, but as she looked at him, his expression was serious.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Who knows?”
Burt responded calmly. His demeanor was so earnest that his words didn’t sound like a joke. Yet, what did it matter? She found herself liking this man who couldn’t even joke properly.
‘No, it’s more than just liking him.’
The truth was, Irene’s feelings were similar to Burt’s. Even so, she couldn’t easily express them, held back by something that weighed on her mind.
Could someone like her, aside from her position as the Saintess, truly take everything from a man like him? Though she had improved since becoming the Saintess, her negative self-image hadn’t completely gone away. That was why she couldn’t bring herself to answer.
She opened her mouth several times, but no words came out. Seeing her struggle, Burt spoke first.
“Then, I’ll take my leave. Please think about it seriously.”
“…Alright.”
That was all Irene could manage to say. Burt left, and she immediately threw herself onto the bed.
Rolling around without even taking off her shoes, she kicked her legs in frustration, pressing her flushed face against the back of her hand to cool it.
She had never imagined someone would want to stay by her side. Yet now, there were two people who had openly said they wanted to be with her.
‘Is it because I’m the Saintess?’
Probably. If she weren’t the Saintess, she wouldn’t have even dared to dream of such happiness.
‘What if I weren’t the Saintess?’
As she pondered this, someone approached her quietly. Peeking over, she saw Noah.
“Are you still here?”
At Irene’s question, Noah nodded. So, Noah had seen everything. A wave of embarrassment washed over her again. Irene straightened her clothes and slowly stood up.
“You saw everything?”
“I did. But it’s alright.”
“What’s alright?”
“You didn’t look bad at all.”
“…Really? That’s a relief.”
Noah remained quiet for a moment before suddenly asking a question.
“But why didn’t you accept?”
“Accept what?”
“The proposal.”
Irene stared at Noah in surprise, her expression flustered. Seeing her reaction, Noah continued.
“You like Lord Burt, don’t you? Or am I wrong?”
“…You’re right.”
“Then why?”
“Wait, hold on. Noah, that’s my business. I don’t think it’s something you should be asking.”
“That’s true.”
Noah nodded obediently. Then, as he resumed tidying the room, an urge to speak surged within Irene.
“Noah, how do I look to you?”
“The great Saintess.”
“No, besides that.”
“You’re pretty and kind.”
“Me? Not ugly?”
“Look at it objectively. Maybe you’re misunderstanding because of your hair color?”
Since when had Noah become so articulate? Irene made a sheepish expression and stood in front of the mirror. Even after looking closely, she couldn’t figure out which part of her was considered pretty.
‘The pretty one is Burt.’
More precisely, he leaned toward the side of being beautiful, but as for herself, she wasn’t so sure. While she pondered over this in front of the mirror, a sudden, urgent knock echoed through the room.
“Saintess!”
It was Grein.
“Come in.”
Sensing it was something urgent, she allowed Grein to enter quickly, who hurried inside and spoke.
“A priest on pilgrimage along the outskirts saw something strange.”
“Something strange?”
“He saw a woman who claimed to be the Saintess, and she looked exactly like Ramiel.”
“Ramiel?”
“Yes, that wicked woman.”
Once a candidate for Saintess, brighter than anyone, Ramiel was now regarded as a demon in the central region. It was because she had taken the lives of countless priests, including her own parents.
At first, people thought it strange how quiet the Maras Duke’s estate had become, so they investigated and reported it to the temple. The temple sent people to search the estate thoroughly.
That’s when they discovered the horrifying murders, realizing that the culprit was none other than Ramiel.
“My goodness! To think that while no one had seen her for so long, she was pretending to be a Saintess in some remote place!”
Grein crossed herself. She had once adored Ramiel. Seeing her now, Irene felt something strange.