Time-Limited Saintess, You've Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 97
Chapter 49.1
“Why on earth are you doing this to me?”
Elena’s words were met with silence from Arkan.
The ornate gowns meant for the Empress lay scattered across the floor, untouched. As the newly crowned Empress, Elena had refused them all.
“You could’ve just said you support me! But why?! Why are you keeping me here?”
It was shortly after their marriage.
“Answer me, Arkan!”
Her voice cracked.
Anger.
Elena had learned anger.
On her way to the northern temple for training, she had been kidnapped and forced into this marriage.
Arkan’s gaze shifted to the discarded garments strewn across the floor. Her pale complexion stood out starkly, with only her lips—chapped and bleeding from her relentless biting—showing any color. His crimson eyes bore into her, silently acknowledging her vehement rejection.
The white garment she stubbornly clung to was a testament to her defiance.
“If you take off those clothes, will you wear something else?”
“….”
“Elena.”
That call.
Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. There was a strange resonance in his voice, and she rejected it. The face she had occasionally stolen glimpses of now seemed utterly terrifying.
“You don’t like the temple either, do you? That’s why you sent His Holiness away, isn’t it?”
“….”
“Aren’t you tired of this? I’m supposed to be someone chosen by the god they worship, and yet you’ve married me?”
“….”
“There were other ways!”
Arkan, a Normaty, was born with what they called “cursed blood.” People like him always faced doubts about their legitimacy. Rumors claimed that even natural disasters like droughts, floods, tsunamis, and fires were caused by his ‘curse.’ And so, Arkan had chosen to marry the saintess.
She understood. She knew the reasoning behind it. And that only made her feel like she was going insane.
“You could’ve just married someone from a family with a high priest!”
In Nicaea, most of the temple’s high priests were descendants of high-ranking nobles. Families that produced high priests were treated as sacred. If he had married a daughter from one of those sacred families. If only things had turned out that way…
Arkan silently watched Elena, who was consumed by despair and anger.
Perhaps this might have been the first time. The very first time she had ever shown him such intense emotion.
His crimson eyes gleamed as though he felt a thrill as a heat seemed to rise within them. His eyes curved brightly, almost as if he were smiling.
“Well, why do you think I did it?”
“….”
His crimson eyes gleamed as though he was basking in joy, and heat radiated from them. His gaze seemed almost alight with pleasure.
“You… you looked straight into my eyes.”
“Are you saying our first meeting was insolent?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
She didn’t understand what he meant. Nor did she want to know.
Their first meeting.
The naive, foolish saintess had approached a man who carried the sins of the world on his shoulders and dared to look him directly in the face. Was that truly the reason she had to end up like this?
“Elena?”
Was that truly the reason she had to be bound like this?
Tears fell from her eyes.
The saintess, who had once loved everyone, now began to hate just one person in the world.
And the man watched her searing hatred with delight.
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
Ellin watched Arkan as he approached Charlotte and kissed her gently on the forehead.
“Disgusting.”
Harald muttered, crossing his arms as he observed the scene.
His daily routine consisted of sword training, sparring with knights, and, despite his young age as a prince, leading the knights on inspections of the capital. From what Ellin had heard, he wasn’t incompetent at his duties. Still, no matter how busy he was, he always found time to visit Charlotte after finishing his work.
“Now he suddenly cares? I really can’t stand it.”
Harald still hated Arkan. The only reason it hadn’t turned into outright contempt was because Charlotte hadn’t died. Regardless, their relationship was anything but amicable.
Perhaps Harald’s muttering caught Arkan’s attention as he glanced briefly in their direction.
“Hey, hey, he’s looking. Turn your head away quickly.”
“….”
Surprisingly, Harald and Ellin grew closer much more easily than expected.
Despite his foul mouth and hot temper, Harald strangely accepted her nagging without complaint. He even began to follow her advice as if she was right. As a result, he no longer took out his frustrations on subordinates or drew his sword impulsively. Everyone marveled at the prince’s transformation.
Of course, he still had his odd tendencies, like going hunting and bringing back live animals to startle Ellin and Charlotte, but that was the extent of it.
“I can hear everything, Harald.”
Arkan said in a cold tone.
“Oh-ho, you heard me? Do you still have something to say?”
“Something to say? Do I need to say anything to you?”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
Arkan’s eyes narrowed.
“Ellin, come with me. I need to talk to you.”
“Don’t take her away.”
“Quiet.”
“Understood.”
Ellin dissuaded Harald and followed Arkan.
After leaving Charlotte’s room, Arkan walked alongside her until they reached the corridor, where he finally came to a stop. Turning his head to look at her, his gaze lingered on her flawless skin and gentle expression.
“Ellin.”
“Yes?”
“Is there anything troubling you?”
“There’s nothing in particular troubling Her Highness. She’s even able to read to some extent now. She’s intelligent, so she’ll catch up to her peers within a year.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Ellin blinked, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. Arkan let out a quiet sigh.
“I thought I had eased your anger.”
“You apologized, so there’s no issue.”
“Then why do you have that expression?”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
Arkan didn’t say anything else and sighed again.
“Your Majesty?”
“….”
“I’m not uncomfortable with anything. If there’s anything I need, I’ll inform Sir Bronn.”
“….”
“Or is there something you’d like me to do?”
“No, nothing.”
At his words, Ellin bowed her head and disappeared down the hallway.
Arkan watched her retreating figure.
Strange. Why does watching someone walk away leave such a sense of regret? He felt an odd urge to say something more.
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