Yes.
I had a reason to be certain that Iscariel would come to this mountain.
“The people of Donovan used to bury all the dead demons here.”
The corpses of the demons decay quickly, leaving only bones. Their black bones, different from those of humans, eventually transform into a type of stone over time. Although they contain abundant magic power, they were not as easily usable as ordinary magic stones.
“But if the user is Iscariel…”
The story would change.
In other words, the reason Iscariel came to Donovan in the first place was not out of goodwill towards Shuzhechin.
Iscariel flashed a wry smile.
“I won’t deny it. I do have an interest. But you will allow me to feed some herbs to my poor horse, won’t you?”
Still making excuses for the horse, he was as shameless now as he was when he was alive.
“Envoy.”
Before I could even argue, Hades spoke up rigidly.
“What were you planning to do with the demons buried here?”
Surprisingly, Iscariel’s gaze was directed at me.
“It’s for the Saintess.”
“…For Angel?”
Hades raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. I may not be able to cure the Saintess’s illness right away, but I have been looking for ways to help her.”
“A way to help, you say…”
I snorted inwardly. There was no way Hades would fall for an excuse obviously made up on the spot.
“To reinforce the divine power? With demons?”
The problem was that Hades’ voice sounded too interested. I grabbed his sleeve to warn him, but Hades didn’t even glance at me.
“Yes.”
Iscariel nodded.
“As you might guess, the Saintess is weak due to her divine power. She is also severely affected by the curse. If we strengthen her divine power, the curse won’t be lifted, but she will at least be able to live more comfortably.”
I swallowed dryly. Iscariel’s words sounded too convincing.
There was no way Hades would grant permission to investigate this sensitive area, thinking it was a lie from the start…
“I understand.”
Hades responded seriously.
“If it’s to save Angel, you can research this land as much as you like. I’m counting on you, Envoy.”
I opened my eyes wide.
Was it because of goodwill?
Or sympathy for a dying person?
Hades handed over the right to investigate this sensitive territory to the Empire’s envoy, not to save me but to make my life more comfortable.
I tightened my lips. It would be foolish to refuse. Certainly, Iscariel’s research would be effective and my condition would improve.
If I improve, it would be easier to defeat the Demon King along with Leto and his group.
‘Wait a minute.’
I opened my eyes wide.
In the actual game, Iscariel did not participate in the Demon King’s subjugation. But what if he does? The probability of not only defeating the Demon King but also surviving myself would increase exponentially.
“What are you thinking about, Angel?”
“…Just offering a prayer of thanks to the Envoy.”
“Prayers are offered to the Lord, Saintess.”
The eyes of Iscariel softened.
“It seems I’ll have to start by teaching my own kin about the clergy.”
If I could ignore the annoying tone, Iscariel’s words were worth listening to. Yes, the reason I am weak as a Saintess is due to my divine power but also because I didn’t have the opportunity to properly learn the skills.
The setting of Angelica itself was like that.
A Saintess from the countryside.
Without any master.
But if I could properly learn from Iscariel?
While my mind was confused, Hades gently grabbed my arm and turned me around.
“We should go now.”
“So soon?”
I blinked at him. I couldn’t outright ask if he didn’t doubt Iscariel, so all I could do was hope he’d catch my drift.
“Yes. We can’t disturb the Envoy.”
Hades’ voice was unusually tender.
“I hope you feel more at ease than you do now.”
“…….”
I was momentarily at a loss for words. It felt like Hades’ voice carried genuine emotion. We no longer needed to play the roles of ‘a duke smitten with his government and a government smitten with its duke.’
“But until that time comes, you need to take care of yourself.”
This time, I descended the mountain without refusing Hades.
It wasn’t because I was touched by Hades’ words.
I wanted to ask about his intentions as soon as possible.
“Aren’t you worried that the Governor will do something rash?”
“I’m not worried.”
Hades lowered his head.
“But I do feel he might do something rash. I don’t like his nature.”
“This time, it really is Croitner, my lord.”
After a long time, Denesor’s voice rang out.
“Listen to him. The moment you become suspicious of such a man, hell begins.”
I couldn’t agree with that opinion.
“If you think he’s going to do something suspicious… why did you come down? Shouldn’t you keep an eye on him?”
Hades laughed.
“He will behave and consider treating you if we are around. We have to let the Governor’s guard down to learn his secret.”
I swallowed dryly. In fact, it felt like I knew what Iscariel’s secret was.
‘I want to become stronger.’
If the demons buried in this land could enhance my divine power, Iscariel’s divine power could be multiplied.
He, who was already strong, would become even stronger.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
