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Chapter 34
While I was wondering whether it was a rare item from this world, Arsen cautiously asked,
“Are you really sure it’s not?”
“Sigh, I told you it’s really not.”
His constant suspicious gaze felt unfair. I folded my arms in protest and scrunched up my face, and Arsen slightly softened his eyes and nodded.
“…!”
Suddenly widening his eyes, Arsen turned his head toward the window and quickly moved in that direction.
“Is something wrong?”
“I just sensed a strong aura of black magic!”
“From where?”
“Not very far from here. I’m sorry, but it seems we’ll have to postpone our conversation.”
Arsen, who had been staring sharply out the window, turned back to me with an apologetic expression. Feeling the seriousness of the situation, I quickly nodded.
Arsen carefully picked up the cocoa powder that was on the table as if it were precious and tried to leave, and I shouted at him.
“Be careful!”
‘Because I think it’ll hurt my heart if you get injured.’
Swallowing back the last part, I said that much, and Arsen suddenly stopped walking. Then he turned around and came back to stand before me. After staring at my face intently for a brief moment, Arsen put the cocoa powder down and removed the necklace hanging around his neck.
As I stared at the silver necklace with a teardrop-shaped gem, he extended the hand holding it toward me.
“This necklace will protect Lady Harna. Even if you don’t wear it around your neck, always keep it with you.”
Like Sehara’s magic bracelet, the necklace Arsen handed me had a jewel emitting a mysterious light. It looked precious, so I hesitated, but under his urging gaze I had no choice but to reach out my hand.
The necklace that Arsen had been wearing was still warm with his body heat. I carefully wrapped it in my hands and asked,
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s in return for this powder.”
With that, Arsen picked the cocoa powder back up and smiled brightly. He looked so cute that I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh. Then I grabbed his hand as he was about to leave.
“How about going with the Marquess’s knights? It’ll be better than going alone.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I will be fine. Instead… may I come visit again after I finish investigating?”
“Of course. I’ll eat carrots for you, and I’ll prepare delicious refreshments too.”
On purpose, I replied playfully to his hesitant question. Laughing aloud at my answer, Arsen bowed politely and disappeared soon after.
Leaving behind the words that he would come again, the uncomfortable guest named Arsen left the Marquess’s residence.
After leaving House Juren, Arsen urged his horse forward, using healing magic as it was already beyond its limits.
He had to hurry to the eastern Bron Forest.
Bron Forest, adjacent to the capital, was a place often visited by those who hunted small animals or gathered herbs to make a living. Despite being a large forest, it wasn’t rough terrain, and there were no dangerous beasts, making it a peaceful forest—yet he had clearly sensed black magic there.
Until now, he naturally believed Harna was the one responsible for this mess. The fact that her body suffered under holy power was undeniable proof.
However, if she had used black magic of that level, then even her soul should have been corrupted. The soul and the body were supposed to coexist, bound together.
But to Arsen, who could see the light of souls, Harna’s soul was purer and clearer than anyone else’s. As if the owner of the body and the owner of the soul were two different beings.
He knew such a thought was absurd. Even so, he believed Harna, who cried out that she was innocent, was not lying.
Was that why? Arsen had given Harna the necklace he treasured so dearly, infused with his holy power.
The holy power contained in the gem did not directly harm the body but possessed a special ability to protect its wearer from external harm.
The reason he gave Harna the necklace he thought he would keep his whole life without hesitation was because he didn’t want her to suffer from the holy power of any other priest.
He might have been deceived by Harna, and with time, he might regret his decision. But this was the first time he acted not according to the Pope’s teachings, but according to his own will.
Just this once, he wanted to follow where his heart led him. He wanted to believe in Harna and protect her.
Thinking of Harna saying she would eat carrots for him when he returned from his investigation, Arsen faintly smiled.
Neigh! His horse suddenly reared up on its hind legs and cried out in terror. Barely avoiding being thrown off, Arsen calmed the horse. Then, when he lifted his head, he saw it—something growling as it appeared before him.
A monster was approaching, its grotesque skin melting and dripping as it stepped forward, its horrifying form completely unfitting for the peaceful name of Bron Forest.
After Arsen hurriedly left and I returned to my room to get ready for bed, I fiddled with the jewel on the necklace he’d given me. The thought that Arsen, barely having just reached adulthood, was heading off to deal with something terrifying related to black magic weighed heavily on my heart.
Even though I knew he was a high-ranking priest, I couldn’t help but worry about him. I didn’t even believe in God, yet I offered a short prayer.
‘Please, help him return safely without anything happening.’
I didn’t know whether God would answer such a short prayer, but it seemed like Arsen’s necklace around my neck shimmered a little brighter.
Worrying about Arsen like that, I eventually fell asleep—and bright sunlight was already streaming through the window when I opened my eyes. Squinting, I sat up.
After stretching lightly to loosen my stiff body, I pulled the bell string, and as if she’d been waiting, Vera entered the room.
“You’re awake?”
“Yeah. You should’ve woken me.”
“It seemed like you were sleeping soundly for the first time in a while.”
Smiling at Vera’s consideration, I then noticed the white envelope in her hand.
“What’s that?”
Since I couldn’t think of anyone who would send me a letter, I asked, and Vera hesitated before holding out the envelope.
“The Duke of Retorno sent it.”
“W-what?”
Startled, I instinctively asked back.
My plan to invite Cardin and May and bring them together had completely failed. I remembered that day when I learned that the object of their obsession was actually me.
With trembling hands, I hesitated to open the envelope. Thinking I hadn’t heard her, Vera spoke again.
“Your fiancé…”
I raised my hand to cover Vera’s mouth. I knew, so I begged her with my eyes to please be quiet, and reluctantly opened the envelope. The moment I checked the letter, I practically shouted.
[To my fiancée, Harna.
The last tea party was a disappointing time, as we couldn’t have a proper conversation due to an uninvited guest. Thinking about it, it seems we’ve never actually spent time alone together. As your fiancé, I felt guilty thinking about that tonight.
So, I would like to ask you out on a date. If you could spare me your precious time, I would like to spend an enjoyable time together. I’ll be waiting for your reply.
Your fiancé, Cardin Retorno.]
“A… a date?”
Derrick Juren, as commander of the Empire’s Second Knight Order, was one of the few Swordmasters on the continent. He rarely smiled, always wearing a cold expression—but today was different.
He was on his way back after completing the regular training of the palace-affiliated knights.
A voice made him stop walking quickly, as he had been rushing to see his beloved daughter, whom he hadn’t seen for several days due to the long training.
“So Lady Harna Juren came in! Wow… I honestly thought she was a goddess. I didn’t realize someone could be that beautiful.”
Derrick’s expressionless lips twitched. Palace workers returning from work were chatting quietly.
Realizing the topic of conversation was his daughter, Derrick quickly hid behind a pillar and listened closely.
“I don’t care. What’s the point of being pretty? Her personality is terrible.”
“You’re behind on news, huh? Rumor has it she’s changed lately.”
“What do you mean changed?”
“They say she doesn’t bully her servants anymore and even cherishes them now.”
“No way.”
‘No way what! You have no idea how much my child has changed.’
Seeing the brown-haired palace worker react in disbelief made him want to step out from under the tree in indignation, but he barely restrained himself with great patience and continued listening.
“That’s not all. They say she treats her personal maid like family. My friend Vera is Lady Juren’s personal maid, and she looks so much brighter these days.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? Because she doesn’t have to worry anymore. And recently, she’s been wearing an expensive bracelet, so I asked where she got it. She just smiled and wouldn’t say, but I’m sure Lady Juren gifted it to her.”
“Really? Lucky her.”
“Right? She even begged me not to spread any bad rumors about Lady Harna among the palace staff anymore.”
“Sigh, I want a gift too.”
“Same here.”
The two palace workers giggled together as they walked away. Hearing people praise his daughter, Derrick stepped out with a proud smile.
‘I should give Vera a bonus.’
Recalling the name he remembered because she was the maid Harna cherished the most, Derrick began walking with a lighter step.
In truth, this wasn’t the first time he’d heard good things about Harna. Even from his perspective, rumors about his changed daughter had spread everywhere. Even the Emperor had casually asked about Harna not long ago.
Derrick smiled, thinking of his late wife Helena.
He remembered the thin hand that asked him to take care of their daughter. On the day that hand lost its strength and fell, he had held young Harna and sworn to the heavens. That no matter what happened, he would protect her.
Now that the daughter who had always caused him headaches had turned over a new leaf and was receiving praise, Derrick felt he could die without regret even tomorrow.
‘No, why die? I need to stay by Harna’s side until I die of old age.’
Wearing a satisfied smile as he left the palace, his face suddenly hardened. It was because he had spotted a completely unwelcome face.
“Retorno Duke…”
Cardin Retorno, the man Harna liked, asked Derrick to break off the engagement every time they met. Because of that, Derrick had been swallowing his pride and running away just to maintain their engagement.
Meeting him like this in an unavoidable situation was despair itself.
‘I let my guard down.’
Normally, he would have already escaped down another path the moment he sensed Cardin’s presence, but because he’d been listening to the palace workers’ conversation, he hadn’t noticed him approaching.
Just as Derrick was about to glance behind him, searching for an escape while thinking up excuses, Cardin casually spoke to him.
“It has been a while since the ball, Marquess Juren.”
“Yes, it has.”
Even Derrick, who wasn’t afraid of the Emperor, felt slightly tense facing Cardin.
‘What should I say this time? Can I run?’
He tried to think of a way to get away without having to talk about breaking off the engagement and hurry back to Harna, when Cardin asked in a slightly different tone than usual,
“Lady Juren… what does she like?”
