Refusing Your Ex-Husband’s Obsession: A Guide - Chapter 197

Chapter 197

Translator: Yonnee

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Also…

Whether I am truly your saintess…

There is so much I’m curious about. Please answer at least one of my questions.

Not knowing any formal prayers, I prayed simply and sincerely to the Goddess Asteras.

As I sat quietly, it seemed as if bells were ringing softly from somewhere, and a sweet, rich scent of roses pricked my nose.

Reflexively, I opened my eyes. Everything around was the same, yet the sound and scent continued to provoke me.

As if being beckoned to follow, I found myself rising without realizing it.

Ignoring the watchful eyes around me, I moved my feet. I followed the direction where the bell sounds grew louder and the scent of roses intensified. Even though I heard voices from behind, I ignored them and kept walking forward.

Somehow, it felt like the right thing to do.

I walked down an empty corridor and found myself outside. I walked along a path lined with ornamental trees. As I moved forward, the bell sounds intensified, and the scent of roses grew stronger.

Where the path ended, a dense forest began. I moved forward without hesitation. The ringing in my ears didn’t feel loud or disturbing. As I went deeper into the forest, I saw a large stone door.

Engraved on the door were characters I had never seen before, but I could understand them. It felt strange. Was this really my own will leading me here?

While I was thinking, the door opened on its own. Intense light streamed through the opening, then calmed down. I resumed walking. The stairs leading downward were deep, and it seemed like the bell sounds and rose scent were emanating from there.

I could only stop my steps when I faced another small door.

“…May I enter?”

I was led here by the bell and scent, but I wasn’t sure if I should enter.

Or more precisely, fear settled within me.

Am I really the saintess?

If so, how should I live?

Should I live as a saintess? Really?

As I hesitated, a voice came from behind.

“You may enter.”

Startled, I turned around to see the high priest standing there. He looked kindly at me, his forehead beaded with sweat, as he had been watching me nervously all this time.

“……”

“If the Goddess has led you here, you have already received permission. So, do not worry and go ahead.”

I looked at the high priest for a while and then slowly replied,

“I haven’t decided yet.”

I couldn’t easily bring myself to enter.

I remembered how the Stern Empire was a strictly class-based society, and that Ciel was the only one who had asked for my opinion first before.

He had asked me what I wanted to do.

I wondered why he asked that, concerned about him.

In a hierarchical society, modern ideas could be poisonous.

And then I remembered my husband from the past, who struggled moving to a modern society from a class-based society.

I spoke to the high priest.

“There’s someone I need to meet first. Then I will come back.”

To my response, the high priest looked at me blankly for a moment, then smiled and replied,

“Do as you wish. All of this may be the will of the Goddess.”

* * *

“We’ve arrived, Your Grace.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, it’s one of the locations mentioned in the reports.”

“Is there really an Esper here?”

Standing in front of a mansion that radiated no special aura, Ciel hummed quietly to himself.

“Hmm…”

He had travelled to a domain not far from the capital. Led by his subordinate, he visited a noble’s house, and as they arrived, the master of the house came out as if waiting for them.

“Duke Leopardt, it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

Following the household head, a beautiful woman greeted Ciel.

“Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I am…”

But Ciel, without listening to her complete introduction, turned his horse around and shouted.

“Arrest those who made the false report!”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

“Duke? Duke! I have a close relationship with Count Ashur, your uncle…”

Before the household head could finish, Ciel had already left the place.

His irritation was evident.

Nothing seemed to have changed. He remembered meeting this household head and his daughter in his past life. Back then, it was a match set up through his uncle’s schemes, which he had vehemently rejected. Yet, his uncle seemed relentless in his efforts.

Using the emperor’s direct command for such trivial personal matters was outrageous.

Then as now, he was irritated by the ignorance regarding Espers.

Until now, he had been distracted by his concern for Irene, so he had ignored his uncle and a few other vassals.

But now, he thought it was time to deal with them.