Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 98
“Jane, stand up. Why are you trembling like that?”
“H-Hhic… L-Lady Arcanda…”
“It’s not your fault, Jane. Ovid is the one who did wrong. You haven’t done a single thing wrong.”
Yes. It was the Crown Prince who had sinned.
How could he say such absurd things to a fake saint, when the real, beautiful Saint was right here?
Could it be that the fake saint had even gone so far as to learn dark magic and bewitched him?
How else could this be explained?
Jane’s eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light.
“Jane, I have a favor to ask. Could you do something for me?”
“Anything. Just say the word.”
If it was a request from her mistress, she would do anything.
Whether it meant poisoning that despicable woman, or tearing her dress to shreds and humiliating her — anything at all!
“Could you find out Iora’s class schedule?”
When Jane looked back at Arcanda’s face, it was still as gentle and graceful as always.
As expected of the Saint. Jane felt like her heart might burst with joy. The Saint had given her a command.
Like someone entranced, Jane nodded madly.
* * *
“Out of the way, Janus. Don’t get in my way.”
“You! The Crown Prince sent a lett— AAGH!”
Before Janus could finish blocking her path with whatever message he had, Iora swiftly moved her heel.
With a thud, the tall man clutched his shin and let out a strangled grunt as he collapsed. The same went for the composed knight escort and the timid maid who had been following behind.
The two of them—still in shock—watched in disbelief as the son of the Marquis Ribandt let out a shriek and lost his balance, tumbling down the stairs.
They hurried after the irate girl, who radiated irritation with every step. But their minds were still reeling.
What did they just hear in the Saint’s mansion?
The Crown Prince is the one chasing after her? All those rumors about that woman were false? What’s happening…? A broken engagement? A broken engagement?
The knight — who had once wholeheartedly believed in the sanctity of Crown Prince Ovid and Arcanda’s union — seemed especially devastated. His eyes, swimming with confusion, met the girl’s as she strode into the room and sharply turned her head.
The knight opened his mouth as if to ask something and Shana tried to follow, but both were halted by a single pale hand.
“Shana, take the day off. And Sir Guillen, don’t ask pointless questions. Just go home.”
With a thud, the door shut firmly without hesitation. It felt like a chilling warning not to ask anything further.
* * *
In her dream, she was both Iora and Kim Jiyeon. Without taking on anyone else’s face, she sat crouched weakly under a streetlight.
‘Ugh, jerks. There are just too many jerks in the world.’
Iora muttered to herself, sinking into gloom.
‘Sol. I really need to live well. For your sake too, I should live a life where I have everything.’
‘Why so gloomy?’
When she abruptly looked up, her friend was there, crouched just like her, grinning with a goofy smile. Those big eyes, that gentle expression — even though it was a dream, tears welled up instantly. Sol tapped her forehead lightly and said with mock authority:
‘Koreans run on rice power! Didn’t you know? What are you doing starving like that?’
Come to think of it, she really had been starving. At some point, Iora realized that this was a memory, faded and blurred by time. The friend in front of her was from the past, just a dream. Her lips pouted slightly. Sol…
‘Come on, let’s go eat, Jiyeon.’
It had been a time of real hunger. Every day was a struggle to make ends meet, and even thinking about the tuition she’d need after taking a break from school was overwhelming. On top of that, she’d been scammed by her part-time job boss and never even got paid a single day’s wage. When she went to confront him, she ended up being treated like the villain and kicked out. It was a day when the weight of the world felt like it collapsed on her.
There was no one on her side.
She’d been sobbing alone when Sol appeared out of nowhere. Just like in this dream. And just like now, she said, “Let’s go eat.” At the time, Jiyeon had gotten angry. Are you pitying me? You too? Are you looking down on me like the rest?
Even though she had every right to be offended, Sol just smiled softly. As if to say “Don’t be mad,” she gently rubbed Jiyeon’s cold winter hands with her own.
‘I’m not pitying you.’
‘Then what is it?’
‘I love you.’
Tears finally fell from Iora’s eyes.
‘Because I really, really love my friend. Buying you a meal? That’s nothing. I just love eating together with you. I love you so much! When I see you full and happy, I feel full too. Isn’t that what true friendship is all about? So… will you accept my heart? Hehe, it’s cold. Come on, let’s go, Jiyeon.’
‘Meat.’
‘Yup, meat.’
‘Can I eat… three servings?’
‘You can eat ten! My little piggy!’
‘You wanna die?!’
* * *
Iora shot awake, abruptly pulled from the depths of the hazy dream. Her cheeks were damp from the tears shed while asleep. She wiped them away without much thought and slowly sat up. The room was filled with chilly air. The window must’ve been left slightly open.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
This was all the Crown Prince’s fault.
If you’re going to be the male lead of The Saint’s Flower, then act like it, damn it. Sniffling like she’d caught a cold, Iora reached out to shut the window.
“The Crown Prince is a bastard.”
“You’re just realizing that now? Yeah, that asshole is a bastard.”
Iora’s eyes went wide, practically popping out of her head. What on earth?
She followed the direction of the voice and looked down. There, beneath the slightly open window, was a sparrow poking its head through. Its round little head bobbed up and down before it opened its beak with a familiar voice.
“First time seeing a talking bird?”
“…This tone—don’t tell me.”
“Ugh, couldn’t you have opened it a bit more? Not very nice to a cute little sparrow, are you?”
Grumbling, the sparrow pushed its way through the gap with its head and tumbled onto the bed with a soft thud, looking up at her. Iora stared at the bird in disbelief. That voice!
With a poof!, the sparrow vanished, and in its place appeared a person. The first things she saw were flowing robes, a graceful, leisurely wave of the hand, and then…
‘Bare feet.’
