Diana lifted her chin with a flushed face. Just imagining the two of them standing together made her feel good.

“You’ll be surprised when you see him. They look just alike.”

“Like me?”

Raoul narrowed his eyes and raised his eyebrows slightly. His neat and long eyes that wriggled according to his mood overlapped with Luce’s image.

Diana gently stroked the back of Raoul’s head as she would do to Luce, smiling contentedly.

“Yes. You could even believe they are father and son. That child is also a Lycan.”

Long eyes, jewel-like blue pupils, a straight nose, and cherry-like lips.

“They really look alike…”

As his cheekbones rose up, Raoul couldn’t hold back and kissed her.

“Why are you so pretty.”

“What, what is it. You’re pretty too. Luce in the castle is also pretty. I like both of you so much…”

Raoul, who was breathing hotly on her cheek, pulled away when he heard the words ‘both of you’.

“…Did you say he’s a Lycan?”

“Yes. I secretly hid him after the Vaihar unit leader captured him.”

Raoul, who was mulling over the word Lycan, made an ‘Ah’ sound as if remembering something he had forgotten.

“Could it be… from the monastery…”

“Huh? That’s right. How did you know…?”

“Because I’m the one who threw him into the monastery?”

Diana untied her braided hair and jumped up.

Suddenly, what Luce had said came to her mind.

Diana, who had fallen out of his arms, poked Raoul’s chest with her finger and asked.

“Was the bad man Luce mentioned Raoul?”

“Bad man?”

Raoul narrowed his eyes as if dumbfounded and bit Diana’s finger.

“Even if I don’t expect to be treated as a benefactor, being called a bad man is going too far.”

Diana muttered to herself, ignoring his displeased face.

“It was Raoul… The person who saved Luce.”

Raoul, who pulled her distant body back into his arms, blew his breath into Diana’s ear and tickled her waist, distracting her concentration.

“Anyway, if he’s a Lycan, there’s no need to worry. No matter how young, he can easily survive on his own for three or four days.”

“Hmm… Still, I should go see him. If I don’t return on the promised date, he might think he’s been abandoned and feel sad.”

Raoul sighed deeply and rubbed his lips against her neck.

“Why do you keep making precious people. I only have you.”

“…Are you disappointed?”

“Yes, I’m disappointed. I want to receive your love alone. I don’t want to share it with that cheeky kid.”

Diana giggled, recalling the young Raoul.

“…Why are you laughing.”

“Because that aspect is also exactly the same. When you were young, you were just like Luce…”

“Me?”

“Yes. Even when I tried to treat you well, you would bristle up like you were terrified, so I had to be very careful. You were just like a frightened hedgehog or a chestnut…”

“A chestnut… Is that a compliment.”

“It’s a compliment. Isn’t it cute.”

“Then try to express it worse. Don’t go easy on me.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Diana shook her head.

“Still a chestnut. Because you were cute even when you acted heartless.”

Diana buried her face in his broad chest and muttered.

“…Of course, only when you were young.”

“Somehow I feel disappointed.”

“Don’t be disappointed. I’ve come to know the kind and gentle Raoul now. If you treat me heartlessly, I might not be able to bear it. I think I’d be too sad…”

Taking away what you gave is the worst thing in the world.

As Diana, who had been chattering excitedly, deflated and became gloomy, Raoul was startled and kissed her forehead.

“There’s no reason for me to act heartless.”

“Okay.”

“I swear.”

“I understand. Let’s stop talking about this now.”

Is it because I love you so much…? Just imagining it made my heart ache as if it was being torn apart.

Diana hugged his thick body tightly and acted a little spoiled, unlike her usual self.

It was more than half an hour later when the two of them got out of bed.

Unable to endure the lingering desire, Raoul showered her with small kisses, and it didn’t take long for the playfully started bird kisses to deepen.

If it hadn’t been for the knocking sound waking them up in the morning, they probably wouldn’t have stopped for a long time.

Diana sent away the maid who had come to prepare the bath water and immersed herself deep in the bathtub.

The red fever flowers that rose along her neck and collarbone were so vivid that they were embarrassing.

When she returned to the castle, Angela would be surprised, but she had no idea how to make an excuse.

“I can’t live…”

Well, Diana wasn’t in a position to talk about others either. Maybe it was because of the elation of their hearts connecting, but she also had no intention of letting Raoul go.

Rather, she even chased after his lips when they parted, not letting them go…

You’re crazy, Diana de Arnel! You’ve gone crazy!

Her face, red like a radish, sank beneath the water surface with a splash!

She wasn’t thinking straight because of Raoul. Wanting to press her lips against his as soon as their eyes met, this was a severe case.

No matter how tightly she closed her eyes in the soapy water, the embarrassing afterimages remained deeply and didn’t disappear.

The sound of breathing lingering in her ears and the sensation of his hot hands clenching the fabric were all vivid.

Ah, I want to disappear…

Diana didn’t come out of the water until her nose was filled with the stinging sensation. As if pouring water on the fluffy feeling floating in her chest…

“Phew… Get a hold of yourself. There’s a lot to do when you return.”

She had to find the orb, take care of Luce, and prepare a nest for her loved ones.

Diana held her throbbing forehead and quickly crossed the corridor.

A servant opened the door to the reception room, and Dilaia was seen sitting at the tea table set up near the terrace, drinking tea.

“You’ve come.”

Diana bowed her knees lightly in greeting and sat on the chair across from her.

Dilaia was also wearing only a thin priestess dress today.

Wouldn’t you be cold…?

Diana, who was very sensitive to the cold and had to hide the marks on her neck, had no choice but to wear a coat. The two of them looked like people living in completely different seasons.

“The weather is cold…”

“Because it’s winter.”

For a saint, her empathy and social skills were extremely lacking.

Diana observed Dilaia, who seemed insensitive like a transcendent being, as if looking at a strange animal, but then realized she was being rude and quickly lowered her gaze.

“You seem surprised by my answer.”

“Oh, no. It’s natural to be cold since it’s winter… I said something silly too.”

“You’re being considerate of my feelings. Thank you for your kindness.”

“It’s nothing…”

“Since becoming a priestess serving God, I’ve been trying to exclude emotions as much as possible while living. So now, even in ordinary conversations, I have no idea how to react.”

Do all saints have to live like that?

Diana felt somewhat uncomfortable after being chosen by the goddess.

“The fact that the goddess called me… does it mean she wants me to become a saint too?”

“Do you not wish for it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have the confidence to live as nobly and faithfully as you, Dilaia. Great power comes with great responsibility, right? I’m not sure if I have what it takes to wield such power.”

Dilaia, who had been staring at Diana, turned her gaze away with a somewhat bitter expression.

“Not all saints have to live like me, excluding emotions… I am a saint with the power of foresight, and my personal opinions should not be included in God’s will, so I am fulfilling my role in my own way… That cannot be said to be a fixed responsibility or duty given to saints. How you take responsibility is something you have to think about and decide for yourself. Lady Diana can take responsibility in her own way.”

Diana pondered for a moment and asked.

“Could quietly disappearing from this world be a way to take responsibility once everything is over…?”

“Of course. Keeping that power safe from those who seek it can also be a way to take responsibility.”

Hearing those words, Diana thought for a moment and made up her mind.

“I’ve decided to follow the goddess’s will. If the time comes to go out to sea, I’ll quietly follow along so as not to be noticed by the rebels. Just getting on the ship fulfills the conditions for finding the sacred object, right…?”

Dilaia, as if puzzled by Diana’s faster-than-expected decision, asked again with a hint of suspicion.

“Do you truly mean that? It may be an arduous journey. If you’re discovered, your life may be in danger, Lady Diana. Are you really prepared for that.”

“…Yes.”

Diana, who answered with determination, clenched her hands placed on the table.

It’s all or nothing anyway.

With my personality, even if I take only Raoul and flee to the Eastern Continent, there’s no way I can live with peace of mind…

Rather than suffering with guilt, I’ll pour all my energy into a future where I can live happily!

We’ll liberate the slaves… And we’ll quietly disappear with just the money!

The moment she made up her mind, a bright light burst out from Diana’s hand.

Surprised by the sight of the colorful light exploding like fireworks, Diana jumped up from her chair.

Dilaia also stood up and gathered the bright light, and the scattered light formed a small whirlpool in Diana’s hand.

“What… on earth…!”

“Congratulations. Your divine power has awakened.”

“D-Divine power?”

“The moment you decided to become a hero, the goddess promised to illuminate your future.”

The clear energy circulating throughout her body gathered and burst in her palm repeatedly. And before long, it disappeared back under Diana’s skin.

As the light shimmered transparently, Diana sparkled like a jade stone reflecting light in the water.

“My goodness… Divine power…”