Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 53
The mood in the Empire has been frosty since the kidnapping of a saint candidate. This only intensified as their 18th birthdays approached. The ceremony to determine the true saint, loomed closer, adding to the tension.
With the possibility of outside forces targeting the saints, everyone was on edge. The mansion responsible for the education of the saint candidates, in particular, felt as icy as a frozen pond.
“Lady Arcanda, how would you like your hair done today?”
Arcanda’s eyes subtly turned toward the newly assigned maid. Jane was a perceptive girl, very tongue-in-cheek, and always caught on to things. However, the new maid seemed indifferent to such nuances. Despite being recommended by Ovid, she didn’t seem to hold any warmth in her heart. Arcanda clicked her fingers impatiently.
“Tie it in half. A blue ribbon for decoration would be nice.”
“Yes, Lady Arcanda. There happens to be a lovely ribbon among the gifts Prince Ovid bestowed upon us.”
“More importantly, was there any word of Ovid coming today? Any letters?”
“No, but Lady Arcanda, your afternoon schedule is open. I can send a request to the palace if you wish?”
Arcanda bit her lip slightly. She didn’t like it. Not at all.
Ever since the kidnapping incident, something seemed to have changed in Ovid. Originally, he always unquestionably listened to her. However, after that day, it felt like he took a step back from her. He seemed to think twice, be more cautious, and step back for confirmation before speaking or acting. It felt as if he was doubting her.
‘That attitude is awkward. It’s not like the Ovid I know, is it?’
She nervously bit at the tip of her fingers out of habit. The new maid, as if soothing a child, murmured softly when she noticed the action, tapping the back of Arcanda’s hand to halt the movement. Arcanda glared fiercely at the maid who dared to stop her.
“Oh dear, you shouldn’t bite it like that.”
“It’ll heal quickly.”
“If you do it wrong, it could leave a scar and swell.”
“I’m not a child. There’s no need for you to interfere to that extent.”
Arcanda closed her eyes tightly and focused on her breathing to suppress the rising anger. It’s okay. It wasn’t bad. It would be fine in the future. Yes, even if everything else changed, Ovid must not change. That was the most important thing.
‘And to do that, I have to remove the distraction that caused him to change, once and for all.’
Just then, a knocking sound came from the door. Arcanda’s eyes twinkled. Perhaps Ovid had come, feeling sorry for his recent coldness. Yes, it had to be Ovid. With a wide smile on her face, she eagerly stood up, opened the door, but the sight that greeted her wasn’t who she was expecting.
“…Iora.”
Arcanda’s eyes turned cold. It was an icy gaze that would make it hard to believe this was the same person who smiled so warmly just a few days ago. The new maid’s eyes twinkled with interest as she watched.
* * *
Arcanda remained silent. Iora felt overwhelmed, unsure of what to say.
After a moment, she looked around the room, and Arcanda quietly stepped back, saying, “Come in.”
Arcanda’s unsmiling demeanor was unfamiliar. Iora wondered if Arcanda might still be dwelling on the incident with the dress. Or, as the rumors suggested, she might believe Iora orchestrated the kidnapping. But that was absurd.
“You seem to look fine.”
“….Huh?”
While watching the maid leave to fetch some refreshments, Iora, surprised, turned her head. Arcanda continued to stroke her hair with a blank face, gazing directly at Iora as if questioning what the problem was.
But now…
“Arcanda, what did you just… say?”
“I said you seem to look fine.”
Iora’s eyes fluttered like a small sailboat in a storm.
“Arcanda, you couldn’t have known, right?”
“Known what? Ah, that you were kidnapped? Or that you were hidden in some underground dungeon?”
“….”
“How on earth did you manage to escape?”
Iora calmly observed the woman in front of her for a moment. Arcanda would never say something like that. It seemed inconceivable. Arcanda had clearly told Ovid that no one else was missing and that she was the only one kidnapped.
“Surely, no one came to rescue you.”
No one had come to rescue her because no one knew she was kidnapped in the first place.
Ovid was in the same boat. He didn’t know either. He had only gone to rescue Arcanda.
“So Ovid went to find you? I can tell by your expression. Is that why he started to doubt?”
Arcanda was right. Earlier that morning, Ovid had personally visited Marquis Ribandt. With an urgent expression, he had asked Iora, “Young lady, what happened?” Then he added, “Arcanda said she was the only one kidnapped.”
However, staring at the stiff-faced prince, Iora asked something else absentmindedly.
“What happened to Duke Elrah? What kind of prey did he bring back?”
The nature of that question seemed to sour Ovid’s mood slightly, and he replied bluntly, “He disappeared suddenly.”
Unlike in the original story, Ovid claimed to have hunted a fox. And, miraculously, the red boar’s horn that appeared in the original was in Iora’s hands that day.
Then… Did Vigros bring proof of the forest’s strongest prey? If so, did Vigros rescue her? But then, why hasn’t he come to find her?
Iora, clasping her trembling hands together, made an effort to focus on the reality before her.
“You didn’t, Arcanda?”
“Didn’t what?”
“You, you couldn’t have.”
“What a strange thing to say, Iora. What do you know about me to make you say that?”
Iora bit her lip, feeling devastated, and hung her head, fiddling with the cuff of her sleeve. She had never truly argued with or protested against anyone before. Her heart pounded in her chest, unsure if she should even say these words.
Still, she didn’t want to just let it go.
“Arcanda, you… you knew that I was kidnapped with you. So why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why did you say I didn’t see you? Are you a fool? Did my words just go in one ear and out the other?”
“….”
“You really are stupid!”
Suddenly, Arcanda started to giggle until she gradually burst into loud mocking laughter.
