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Chapter – 16
Who Will Become the Lady’s Fiancé?
Who would become the young lady’s fiancé?
Would he be handsome?
Would he be tall?
Would he have a gentle personality?
Duke Krüger adored his daughter, so he would surely choose her an excellent fiancé. It wasn’t something I needed to worry about. I imagined a tall, handsome man standing beside the young lady. Salome smiling brightly, happier than ever.
The two of them would be married under the blessings of many people. And when that day came, I would bless their marriage in the name of God. I would sincerely wish for their happiness.
Then, suddenly, an image surfaced in my mind.
It was me standing at her side.
I was smiling radiantly, dressed not in a priest’s vestments but in the clothes of an ordinary noble, extending my hand to the young lady. I lifted her veil, kissed her under God’s blessing. In Lady Salome’s violet eyes, there was only me.
I shook my head violently, snapping myself out of it.
Had I gone mad?
A priest marrying—how could I harbor such irreverent thoughts? I was a man who had already devoted everything to Ataras.
Moreover, Lady Salome and I were practically in a teacher–student relationship. To have such fantasies about her made me feel like a sinner. Perhaps the aftereffects of the cold I’d caught still lingered.
While I stood lost in thought, the young lady tilted her head. She waved her hand in front of my face.
“Sir Priest, what are you thinking so deeply about? You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”
“Ah—my apologies. What did you say?”
“I said that you look wonderful enough in your vestments, so I’ll be satisfied with that. Even if I told you to wear something else, you wouldn’t listen anyway. You’re stubborn in those matters. Still, please escort me on the day of the party.”
“…Why ask me instead of a young nobleman from an aristocratic family? Even if you’re famous as a troublemaker, with your status you could easily extend your hand to any number of noble heirs.”
My voice sank without me realizing it. I avoided her gaze. This wasn’t a good choice for either of us.
A watchdog and a partner were entirely different roles. I understood my position well. I only needed to faithfully carry out my duties as the priest responsible for her education.
Suddenly, the young lady reached out and grabbed my cheeks with both hands, forcing me to meet her eyes. She spoke firmly.
“I don’t want anyone but you. I won’t ask any other young lord. And if you refuse my request, I can’t guarantee what kind of trouble I might cause.”
“……”
She was far from an ordinary stubborn person. If I refused and she caused an incident at the party, my role as her escort would be meaningless. My head began to ache.
When on earth would this young lady finally grow up?
I let out a shallow sigh.
“It can’t be helped. Very well. On the day of the party, I will escort you.”
“Good. Then I’ll be looking forward to it. I’ll dress up so beautifully that you’ll faint in shock.”
“No matter how you dress, I won’t faint… but do as you like. It is an important party.”
She didn’t even listen to my last words. She grinned, released my face, and said she would be leaving since her business was finished. Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, she suddenly turned back, strode toward me, and kissed my cheek before leaving with a satisfied expression.
I could only stare at her blankly.
Did she have eyes in the back of her head or something?
“Is the young lady still not ready?”
“They say she’s almost finished. Please wait just a little longer.”
If we didn’t leave soon, we might not arrive at the Imperial Palace on time. I waited anxiously near her room.
At first, I thought it was taking so long because she had overslept again. But it seemed she had woken at dawn to prepare. Apparently, she kept redoing her hair because she wasn’t satisfied with it.
After about ten more minutes, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes for a moment. I hadn’t slept well after staying up late reading scripture out of restlessness.
Then I heard the door open.
When I opened my eyes, Lady Salome was standing before me.
All drowsiness vanished instantly.
No matter what words I tried to use, they felt insufficient to describe her beauty. Her hair, which she usually left loose, was elegantly pinned up with a diamond hair ornament. The violet dress that matched her eyes shimmered with crystal embellishments every time she moved.
It felt as though flowers had been woven into silk, and stardust from the night sky sewn into fabric.
As she approached, a faint lilac scent drifted toward me.
“Well? Beautiful, right?”
She spun around once with a bright smile. Sunlight seemed to embrace her.
Her claim about dressing so beautifully that I’d faint hadn’t been an exaggeration. To be honest, I nearly did.
I nodded slowly and turned my gaze away. I was afraid I’d say something foolish if I kept looking.
“No, you have to look properly.”
“L-Lady, please let go of my hand.”
She grabbed my face again, forcing me to meet her eyes. Those amethyst-like pupils threatened to steal my soul. My heart pounded wildly. I bit my lip, struggling to maintain my composure.
My head spun. What on earth was wrong with me lately? Perhaps I truly needed to see a physician after the party.
“I might be clumsy since I’ve never escorted anyone before…”
“You really have no experience being close to ladies, do you? That’s part of your charm, though.”
I cleared my throat and took a step back, then awkwardly extended my hand. She placed hers atop mine.
Just the thought of sitting beside her in the carriage made my heart race even faster.
Throughout the ride, I barely managed to hold a proper conversation. She tried to talk to me, but my heart was pounding too loudly for me to focus. I couldn’t even remember what little we talked about.
She must have thought I was motion-sick, because as we neared the palace, she stopped speaking almost entirely.
Soon, the majestic Imperial Palace came into view through the window. It was my first time visiting it in person. Before long, the carriage stopped.
I stepped out first and offered my hand. She took it and descended gracefully. The surrounding gazes all turned toward her. I heard murmurs of admiration and hushed whispers, but I pretended not to notice.
We walked through a long corridor. The palace truly was on another level—every flower and painting adorning the halls looked unimaginably expensive. I’d thought the Salute Temple was fairly ornate among temples in the capital, but it couldn’t compare to this.
“Are you nervous, Sir Priest?” she whispered.
“…Yes. I’ve never attended a social party like this before, so I’m worried I might make a mistake.”
She covered her mouth and laughed softly, saying she’d handle any trouble I caused, so I shouldn’t worry.
Ridiculous. If anything happened, it would be her causing trouble, not me. When I looked at her, she shrugged shamelessly.
As we chatted idly, my tension eased, and before I knew it we were standing before the doors of the ballroom.
“His Excellency High Priest Johann of the Salute Temple and Lady Salome Krüger, second daughter of Duke Krüger, enter!”
The servant’s voice rang out as the doors opened. The first thing that caught my eye was the brilliant chandelier. A wave of murmurs filled the room. A priest attending the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet was unusual enough—especially as her partner.
My body stiffened and my expression froze, but she looked completely at ease. She truly was a noble lady, well accustomed to such gatherings.
“Lady Salome, it’s been so long. Have you been well?”
“Oh my, and who might this be? Isn’t this the famous Lady Salome of the Terium Empire?”
People swarmed around her instantly. No matter how much of a troublemaker she was, she clearly remained popular in high society.
I was naturally pushed aside by the crowd, drifting away from her. She wore a bright smile, but I could read the emotion hidden beneath it.
I wish all these bastards would just disappear.
I was certain that’s what she was thinking.
The longer I’d been with her, the more easily I could read her emotions from the slightest change in expression. I just hoped she wouldn’t voice those thoughts out loud.
I stood nearby like a pillar, watching her closely.
