‘He is the Grand Archbishop of the Master Temple?’
Thought it was just a suspicious man, but unexpectedly it was the Archbishop. Irel thought perhaps there had been some mistake. However, Varkan had different thoughts.
"Ramon Fernandes is not an ordinary name. You know, the name Ramon originally belonged to a Saint."
“Ah.”
"This is a name that can only be accepted as a Holy Name by those who dedicate their lives to the Temple. Yet a lowly scholar is named Ramon? How absurd."
Varkan smiled, dimples appearing, as if he had just heard a joke. She guessed that Ramon in this place had the same meaning as John the Baptist in Christianity.
Originally coming from the modern world, this was the first time she heard this story in her life. Irel tried to laugh along with Varkan, who was talking about common knowledge, but inside he was startled. Even if you've played that game before, actually living inside it is so different.
"But why does a figure of the Archbishop's stature? Why does he have to hide his identity to come see me?"
Irel changed the topic, returning to the original problem to ask. As always, when talking about unwanted things, the corners of Varkan's seductive lips were slightly distorted.
“Who knows.”
His lips containing secrets and darkness replied softly, while gently pressing on Irel's hair.
"Probably curious about the woman who is about to become my wife. Curious to see how beautiful she is."
Faced with those meaningless words, Irel looked up at him with dissatisfied eyes. When looking at his smiling eyes, it was clear that Varkan had guessed something.
'He just didn't tell me.'
Absolutely. Irel thought to himself with a sigh.
Varkan's favorability, which started from a negative point, has now surpassed 60. This is not a low number, but it is also not a dramatic enough number to change their relationship.
He never discussed anything with Irel. Why does he sometimes send his subordinates to capture innocent people for torture, and what is he targeting in this corrupt kingdom to plan to overthrow it.
‘This is absurd.’
I'm about to get married but Irel still doesn't know anything. She just tried to endure and be patient because she knew that Varkan's plot would succeed.
But what if, unlike in the game, Varkan fails? From the beginning, it was she who completely changed the life of 'Irel Elorance'. Is there any guarantee that other things will not change?
Irel once again realized the seriousness of the situation. This is an extremely absurd thing. If she marries Varkan and the rebellion fails, the Irel family will also be irreversibly destroyed. She didn't even know how to participate, but she would be punished "fairly" like everyone else.
It's true that disaster is not one-sided. This damn game, has the difficulty been adjusted?
“Are you really not going to tell me, Varkan?”
“Irel.”
This time, resentment overcame fear. Irel asked firmly even though he knew he wouldn't be happy.
"You are the son of the Lord, Varkan Ha Marsh. But why does the Master monitor your every move? What are you planning?"
“Curiosity is what killed the cat, honey.”
Varkan sighed, then placed a sweet kiss on her cheek. But when his eyes left his lips, they were as cold as moonlight.
“……What do I have to do for you to talk?”
Irel asked in a very tragic mood. Even if everything failed, she at least wanted to know what she was ruined for. Is that too much of a wish?
“I know you don't trust me, Varkan. But I have chosen you. So, you should also trust me a little……”
“Ha.”
To interrupt her lengthy persuasion, just a cold laugh was enough.
"Why? Every time I hear you say that you 'choose' me, I get an unbearable feeling."
His cruel and unreal yellow eyes looked down at her. That look was both mocking and pitying Irel.
“Sometimes, you're so adorable that I want to pull you back and kiss you.”
His hand gently caressed her cheek, then slid down her delicate chin, and finally clasped the back of her neck as if to strangle her.
“Sometimes, you are so obnoxious that I want to strangle you.”
The voice in her ear was gentle as if confessing love. That made Irel feel even more tragic.
"Don't be mistaken. Irel Elorance. You didn't choose me."
His voice changed to a plain, oppressive way of speaking, weighing heavily on her. Just like the times he periodically flaunted his superior position.
"The choice is mine, and you cannot refuse for fear of retaliation. Calling it a choice, I'm afraid..."
Isn't that a bit cowardly? He returned to speaking politely, backing away. His unblinking eyes stared at Irel, as if waiting for her next reaction.
Facing that cold gaze, Irel felt tears welling up behind her eyelids. Tears were colored by tragedy and anger, threatening to swallow her vision. But…
'I don't want to cry.'
That was nothing more than a declaration of failure. If you cry here, Varkan will gently comfort you, as if he had never cornered you. He might even apologize for talking too much.
But that's just cheap pity that the victor gives. Varkan will confirm her weakness, and he will forever remain silent like he has done until now. Because no one cares about the loser's mood.
And Irel and her family will lose their lives without understanding the reason if everything fails. She absolutely cannot accept that.
“…… No. You are wrong. I have clearly made a choice.”
Irel tried to hold back her tears with her will and responded decisively.
"It's just like you said, I'm weak, and the options available to me are not many. Perhaps in your eyes, they are the same as none. But even within those limited options, there are many different turns, and among them, I chose the path to go with you."
Even though her voice was a bit shaky, she could still speak clearly. Because she knew the different path that the real ‘Irel Elorance’ had chosen.
"Do you know? If I really hated and feared you, I would have bitten my tongue and committed suicide. Or maybe you would have escaped in the night. Even if I failed and had to stay by your side, I could still tremble and cry like I had a seizure every time I saw your face, making you angry."
Having finished speaking, she lowered her wet eyelids. Then he reached out and grabbed the hand he was holding around his neck.
“But I ‘chose’ not to.”
The feeling of small hands gently clasping his fingers was very special. Varkan's eyes widened slightly, perhaps he did not expect Irel to react this way.
"That's right. I don't have the power to refuse you. But I can make other choices."
Irel looked straight into Varkan's face, which looked angry or confused. Then she smiled sadly.
“It's a choice to be happy with you.”
At those words, Varkan's lips tightened. He looked at Irel, feeling as if he had been hit hard on the head with a hammer.
"I don't know about the others, but Varkan Ha Marsh. You are not allowed to mock that choice of mine."
At least you. Irel whispered, her lips moving slightly when facing his gaze.
Surprisingly, Varkan didn't say a word. Or perhaps, he was unable to speak. In any case, his silence allowed Irel to continue.
"I know you can't trust me right now. I also understand you don't want to reveal anything to me."
“……”
"But I also have no intention of giving up. I know that begging is useless, so I will gradually prove to you later that I am a trustworthy person."
Irel smiled again, saying she wasn't sure if she could do well, but at least she would try. That smile seemed less sad than before, but Varkan couldn't laugh along.
"By the way, I have something to ask. Can you help me?"
She almost forgot her main purpose because of the argument. Irel changed the subject as naturally as possible.
Varkan remained silent, but as soon as she looked into his eyes, she knew that no matter what she asked, this time he would grant it.
To banish morning discomfort, there's nothing like a sweet afternoon tea at midday. Irel was ecstatic at the refreshing scent of tea, which was washing away the rich, creamy taste that remained in her mouth.
However, unfortunately, the guest she invited seemed to have no intention of leisurely enjoying tea.
“I heard you have something to discuss.”
Raising her head, she saw Pessuss looking at her with an expressionless face. The amount of tea in the cup placed in front of him had not decreased at all. Confirming this, Irel sighed.
'As expected, this little trick doesn't work.'
The plan of trying to ease his guard with gentle conversation had failed. So Irel decided to get straight to the point.
"Nothing else, I want to talk about Lane. How is Lane these days?"
Irel asked, remembering Lane, who almost died because he couldn't get rid of it all
Masaka
of last time. Pessuss probably also remembered the seriousness of that time, so he hesitantly replied.
“The girl is much better…… thanks to you.”
Even though his mouth said so, his face did not show any gratitude at all. Irel silently looked at Pessuss's face full of rejection. He is not a fool, he clearly realized early on why Irel called him here to talk about this.
"We're both busy people, so I'll get straight to the point. Lane needs help, Pessuss."
To that, Pessuss did not respond but just stared at her.