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chapter 64,……………….
: I Want to Stay by Your Side
Dietrich was always by Celia’s side.
Whether they were eating, walking in the garden, or staying in the mansion, he never left her alone.
Rumors that Dietrich and Celia were lovers had spread openly.
After the recent masked ball incident, everyone in the royal palace—and even throughout Abelon—knew of their relationship.
Because Dietrich clung so possessively to Celia, complaints against him arose, especially from men who had been eyeing her.
Candlelight flickered on the wooden table around which these men were seated.
“This is unacceptable. The Angel of Brillion must never have a lover. It tarnishes her nobility.”
“Indeed. And considering all the money we’ve lavished on her, we cannot stand by and watch another take her away.”
The men at the wooden table ranged in age from young to old.
The common factor: they were all extremely wealthy.
Some had even seen Celia when the Brillion estate held public courtship events.
Daily disputes erupted among them over who would take her as a wife, yet suddenly, the Royal Knight Commander appeared and swept Celia away.
Their temporary alliance, bound by a shared enemy in Dietrich, was remarkably strong.
“To be honest, even when we secured your release from prison on charges of regicide, it was entirely thanks to us.”
“Correct.”
“But Duke Calypso is the Royal Knight Commander. Not only is he deeply trusted by his knights, he commands military power as well.”
The men furrowed their brows, thinking hard.
Each of them wanted Celia.
Green eyes like fresh leaves, a delicate face with sharp features, and silver hair sparkling like starlight.
Any man would naturally desire such a woman.
“Hmm… Could the Angel of Brillion be a witch, as the rumors say? Doesn’t it seem odd? Duke Calypso, who never keeps a woman close, is supposedly in a relationship with her.”
An old man with wrinkled eyes scoffed at the young man’s words.
“To believe such nonsense created by women envious of ultimate beauty.”
“…But isn’t it strange? Even His Majesty the Emperor reportedly requested a dance first. He has never done that before.”
Bang!
The old man slammed his fist on the table and stood abruptly.
A young man grabbed his arm, trying to calm him down.
“No, what I mean is… we could use this in reverse. If we truly make the Angel of Brillion a witch, even Duke Calypso won’t be able to keep her.”
“…What do you mean?”
The old man sat back down, glaring.
“Just as we made the Angel of Brillion a saint to clear her of the regicide charges and free her from prison, this time we make her a witch to drive a wedge between them.”
“….”
“We have more than enough money to manipulate public opinion through fools’ mouths. Duke Calypso wouldn’t keep a ‘witch’ as a lover if he cared about his reputation.”
Celia watched Dietrich, deep in thought, with calm eyes.
“What are you thinking?”
“Hmm.”
Dietrich looked into her eyes and asked,
“Celia, once all this is over, what do you want to do first?”
“After Abelon is destroyed?”
Dietrich nodded.
Celia thought carefully.
She had never considered what would happen to her after Abelon’s destruction.
She had only imagined a vague death.
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“…Why not?”
Why?
Celia repeated Dietrich’s question to herself.
“Because I’m short-lived? Or because I thought Abelon’s destruction is the end of my life?”
Many answers came to mind.
But when she looked at Dietrich, her mouth went strangely dry.
Even after Abelon’s ruin, would Dietrich stay by her side like now?
“No… would I even still be alive?”
Her body was broken beyond the point where the physicians could help.
Even with Dietrich’s healing ability, he couldn’t fully restore her rotting organs.
He had explained the range of his healing power, but Celia did not know its limits precisely.
More than her broken body, she had a different concern.
“After Abelon is destroyed, will you still stay by my side?”
Dietrich answered her without hesitation.
“If you want me to.”
Celia didn’t like that answer.
It felt like he was only staying because she asked him to.
“Dietrich, I want your opinion.”
Dietrich blinked slowly before answering.
“I…”
He trailed off, then smiled genuinely at Celia.
Unlike Illeon’s forced smiles, Dietrich’s was sincere.
“I want to stay by your side. As long as you let me, always.”
It was a truly gentle voice.
“Wait, can I touch your face?”
Celia nodded faintly at his question.
With permission granted, Dietrich carefully cupped her face.
His large hands traced her cheeks, rounded forehead, and lips in turn.
Celia studied Dietrich’s expression as he touched her face.
The red eyes beneath black lashes were beautiful.
A warm, gentle touch, completely free of any base desire.
Unlike any man she had ever seen.
Like handling delicate porcelain, he touched her with care and slowly withdrew.
Celia felt an emptiness in her chest as his hands left her.
Their alliance, forged to use each other, no longer mattered.
A contractual relationship.
She had thought it was nothing more, nothing less—but now, she felt she couldn’t do without Dietrich.
Being with him had become more than familiar—it felt completely natural.
Perhaps because they shared the same wounds and pain, Dietrich now felt like a part of her.
Celia leaned against his chest, tracing his neck with her hands.
The scar from the dagger she had once left on him was still there.
Though faint enough to go unnoticed without careful inspection, she disliked that it remained.
“Why haven’t you healed your scar? You healed mine when I just scratched my skin.”
Dietrich took her hand and laced his fingers with hers instead of answering.
His hands, hardened from wielding a sword for so long, enveloped hers.
“It’s a mark of your trust in me.”
Celia recalled the past.
The day Dietrich told her to stab him with all her strength, she couldn’t bring herself to harm him and dropped the dagger.
Now, he said that scar was proof of her trust in him.
Celia felt her chest ache.
“Even without scars, I trust you completely now.”
At her words, Dietrich quietly called her.
“Celia.”
When she looked up, Dietrich’s gentle face gazed down at her.
“Same here.”
A soft breeze brushed past Arthur’s platinum hair.
Leaning against a marble pillar, he pulled out a vial from his bosom.
Shaking it, the red liquid, reminiscent of fresh blood, swirled inside.
He had been waiting for the right moment to use the potion, but Dietrich’s constant presence with Celia had thwarted his plans.
“Disgusting fool.”
Arthur glared at Dietrich’s mansion, fear and irritation in his expression.
If Dietrich were not a Swordmaster but an ordinary knight, Celia would already be in Arthur’s grasp.
But he was stronger than expected.
Even when Arthur sent a clone to fight, he had lost.
Though a clone could only wield half of Arthur’s power, losing to Dietrich had deeply wounded his pride.
So Arthur investigated Dietrich and Celia after leaving the palace.
He uncovered a dark, hidden past.
After thorough investigation, he learned she was a survivor of a kingdom destroyed by Illeon ten years ago.
It was then he realized Celia was a princess, bringing him immense delight.
Celia, with her extreme beauty, was actually a princess!
“Perfect…”
Arthur swallowed, feeling a thirst he could not quench.
Unable to bear seeing Celia in that mansion, he stepped forward.
At that moment, a woman with pink, curly hair passed in front of him.
Reina, Illeon’s sister.
Seeing her fidgeting with something in her arms, Arthur’s eyes darkened.
He swiftly approached from behind and snatched the item.
“What?!”
Startled, Reina glared at him.
Arthur examined what he had taken: a needle coated with a powerful sleeping potion.
“Princess, haven’t you heard about me from your brother?”
