Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 186
“The heretics have mostly been captured. But the false saintess escaped, and they’re tracking her now.”
“And the false goddess?”
“According to High Priest Grein, she’s been sealed. It seems the goddess intervened. But it won’t last long. We need to come up with a solution before that happens.”
“I see.”
They had been lucky this time, but they needed to be prepared for the next time. Irene gripped the blanket tightly in her hands.
“Lady Saintess, while you were unconscious, Sir Burt was very worried about you.”
Lani began telling Irene about Burt’s actions—how he had run with Irene in his arms, how he’d hastily sought out a doctor, and how he’d stayed by her side until she awoke.
“Sir Burt is a good man, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is.”
He was so good, and that was the problem. Irene couldn’t stop thinking about the vision she had seen. That possible future, so full of happiness, seemed to cling to her, threatening to hold her back.
‘I can’t.’
She needed to keep moving for the sake of the world, for her duty as a saintess.
“I might be overstepping by saying this, but…”
Lani hesitated cautiously.
“What is it?”
“You’re still human, Lady Saintess. Shouldn’t you be allowed to live as you wish, too?”
“Even when the peace of the world depends on it?”
“Well, will the world really fall apart just because things get a little harder?”
Lani spoke as if she understood everything.
“A person who brings happiness to the world shouldn’t be unhappy herself, don’t you think?”
The smile on Lani’s face was full of genuine concern, a far cry from the person who had once tormented Irene. Now, Lani truly seemed to care for her well-being.
“Oh, right. My goodness, I completely forgot. You must be hungry! I’ll go get some porridge right away. Please wait just a moment.”
Lani fussed as she headed toward the door. After that, Irene had many visitors. Starting with King Guy of the East, then High Priest Grein, and Knight Commander Allen—they all came to check on her and express their concern.
If someone had told her before that people would care for her like this, she wouldn’t have believed it.
For a while, Irene had plenty of time to herself. Whenever she tried to do anything, those around her would stop her, so all she could do was lie in bed.
Occasionally, she took walks with the help of Lani and Noah, but that was all.
In the end, Ramiel managed to escape once again. They had captured someone named Luciel instead, but Irene hadn’t been told much about what happened after that. It seemed they thought it wasn’t something she needed to hear.
As Irene slowly moved along, she noticed someone walking in the distance. It was Burt.
Since the incident, Burt hadn’t come to visit her. Because of that, her feelings were mixed—partly hurt, but also relieved in a way.
‘If we drift apart like this…’
Then neither of them would have to suffer, right? That’s what she told herself, but the ache in her chest whenever she saw him didn’t go away. It was like an illness.
In those moments, Irene realized her true feelings.
‘I don’t want us to grow apart.’
No matter what happened, she wanted Burt to stay by her side. But she didn’t have the courage to say it out loud, knowing it would only lead to more pain.
It was Burt who approached her first.
“Lady Irene.”
It had been three days since they last spoke.
“Yes, Burt?”
“I have something I want to say to you.”
“What is it?”
Irene thought she could handle whatever he said without being hurt. She had prepared herself for everything. But the words that came out of Burt’s mouth were completely unexpected.
“Lady Irene, even if I try to stop you, you will still sacrifice yourself for the world, won’t you? If that’s the case, fine. I will go down that path with you.”
“What?”
“I’m saying that if you leave this world, I will follow you immediately after.”
“What?”
That was all Irene could say. She couldn’t comprehend what Burt was saying.
“So.”
Her hands began to tremble slightly. Her chest was overwhelmed, and she let out a shaky breath. She should have told him no, she should have felt sorrow—but her heart was filled with joy.
Irene raised her hands to cover her face. How could she be happy hearing that someone would follow her in death? She couldn’t show such an expression to Burt.
But Burt gently took both of her hands in his, revealing her face full of joy.
“You can’t do that.”
She said, trying to convince him, though her expression betrayed her words.
But Burt wasn’t swayed.
“I can.”
“What about the kingdom?”
“I’ve already chosen a suitable child to take my place as heir.”
That’s what Burt had been doing during the time he hadn’t come to see her.
