For a moment, Theodore’s gaze turned downward as if reacting to Rosenta’s voice.
Theodore’s eyes naturally met Rosenta’s, who was on a lower floor.
‘Did Theodore also recognize me at a glance, as I had quickly recognized him by his hair color?’
He thought Theodore recognized him. Of course, he could also be mistaken.
But his intuition told him that Theodore was calling him.
He pointed down just in case.
Then, he could see Theodore bending down to look where his finger was pointing.
Rosenta turned right away.
"Duke, everything’s finished."
When Rosenta entered the room, Enoch, who had finished organizing the luggage, was waiting for him in front of the window.
"Enoch, I’m going out for a moment. Oh...."
Enoch snatched his wrist when he tried to pass him.
Enoch said slowly, "This is sudden. I'd like to follow the duke and get some fresh air."
If he took Enoch out, he didn’t know what type of fight he’d have with Theodore.
He shouldn’t do anything to draw attention.
This was a place where people from all over the country had gathered, and there would be many high-ranking wizards who had been commissioned to accompany guests.
Rosenta had to be extremely careful.
"I'll be back."
"You’re leaving me behind?"
He sounded like he was being abandoned.
If it were before, Rosenta would have ignored it.
But not now. When Enoch said something like that, Rosenta felt a sense of sadness for some reason.
He could see how much Enoch craved affection from him, even though his emotions were underdeveloped.
Therefore, he could not ignore Enoch with a dismissive tone.
"Don't use magic while I'm away. And... I'll be right back. Wait for me."
***
The hall on the first floor was like passing through a busy market. It was so crowded that he couldn't even properly see where to step.
He searched for gaps, being careful not to bump into others as much as possible.
As he escaped from there, he felt himself gasping for air.
He took a deep breath.
"Whew."
He moved forward after roughly smoothing out his crumpled clothes.
He went toward the opposite castle, which boasted the highest and most splendid exterior there.
Gradually, he approached it.
But from behind him, in the distance, he could hear someone calling him.
"Rosen!"
There was only one person who called him by that nickname.
Vivian, who was supposed to be the last to arrive, finally arrived there.
He didn't expect such an event to occur when he came down.
He couldn't hide his joy.
He quickly turned and rushed toward Vivian, who was running.
At first, he reflexively tried to embrace Vivian, but he quickly lowered his arms. This was because the Marquis couple's eyes were watching.
In particular, it was obvious that the Marquis would grind his teeth as soon as he saw that scene.
"Rosen, what about Lennox?"
"The young lord is resting in his room, so you don't have to worry."
"Then where were you going by yourself?"
"I thought I saw His Majesty, so I was going to go there to check."
He deliberately looked at the marquee's face.
Since he was a close confidant, he would naturally understand Theodore’s movements.
Seeing the Marquis of Marigold nodding calmly, as expected, it must have been Theodore whom he’d seen.
But the Marquis asked him a question with concern.
"I think it would be chaotic if His Majesty appeared here. If the Duke has descended here, I am sure His Majesty...."
The Marquis was right.
If Theodore appeared, it was clear that this place would become crowded.
First of all, Rosenta thought it would be better for him to get into that castle as soon as possible.
Then he could ask him about Yura's location.
"I'll have to get going. Then I'll be on my way."
He greeted the Marquis.
He also sent Vivian a friendly look.
He couldn't waste any more time, so he strode away.
As he stood before it, the door began to open by itself, as if it were waiting for him.
It was Theodore who opened the door.
***
Even after arriving in the Holy Kingdom, Yura could not relax.
Even before leaving for the Holy Kingdom, Theodore never visited her.
On top of that, he hadn’t even looked at her when they used the magic circle. He was deliberately avoiding her.
No, it would be more accurate to say he pushed her away.
"What about Conitel?"
"He is now preparing for the succession ceremony in the prayer room before the meeting."
"Take me there."
"What? So suddenly..."
"Do you know who I am?"
"What?"
The priest looked at Yura with a puzzled look. Yura's black eyes grew more and more intense.
Soon Yura shouted furiously,
"Is it ok to treat your saint like this? You say I'm your only saint, and yet you're ignoring me this way?"
"That's not it...."
"Then guide me."
It was difficult to reject Yura's words any further.
In the end, the priest guided Yura with a tearful face.
Yura was staying in the same castle as Theodore, but they were on different floors.
Coming from a higher floor, Yura deliberately slowed down on the stairs. She was wondering if she'd run into Theodore.
Then she happened to see it.
"Excuse me, then."
"It's a pretty good-looking room. For a holy building, it has a pretty good design."
The Duke of Estella and Young Lady Marigold were casually entering Theodore's room.
Yura's hand, which was holding the railing, gradually increased the strength of its grip. Without realizing that her fingernails were breaking, Yura applied as much strength to her hands as possible.
The priest called Yura, worried as they observed her appearance.
"Saint, Holy Lady?"
Nevertheless, Yura's eyes never left the closed door.
"He rejected me…"
Yura had already tried several times to enter Theodore's room.
However, even when they had arrived at the Holy Land, Theodore's iron wall showed no intention of collapsing.
Rather, it had become more solid.
"But why..."
Yura was confused.
She was just staring at Theodore and had seen a strange scene.
Theodore was smiling like the warm sunshine, looking at the Duke of Estella.
***
"Saint, didn't I tell you that it would be difficult for you to come to me like this? Now I have to apologize to others….”
Although his tone was friendly, Conitel spoke like he was scolding Yura.
However, such courtesy was not important to Yura now.
Yura interrupted Conitel and shouted out unexpectedly.
"The emperor is cold!"
"…What?"
Conitel's expression cracked for a moment.
"Even though Conitel gave me his blessing before leaving, there was no change... no, he’s grown even colder. What am I going to do?"
"Impossible...."
Conitel reached out to Yura, trying to pour a blessing of light into her body in the same way as last time.
But there was no response.
It just wandered around and died out. It was not absorbed or anything like that.
Conitel's eyes began to gradually become distorted as a result.
"What the hell have you done?!"
"Why are you yelling at me!? Rather, what did Conitel do?! You've got the ability to...."
Conitel grabbed Yura by the shoulder. His grip was so strong that Yura twisted her body as if in pain.
Nevertheless, Conitel did not pay much attention to Yura's pain.
Rather, he shouted loudly and urged.
"What I gave you couldn’t be the problem! My abilities...."
Conitel closed his mouth mid-sentence. He kept quiet as if he couldn't spit out the words that followed.
Yura's shoulder was released.
He sighed heavily as if he were trying to control his chaotic mind.
"Whew."
Then, he changed his expression quickly and smiled at Yura.
"Saint, I am so embarrassed right now that I may need some time to think. First, please go back to your room and wait."
Even before Yura's answer fell, he pushed Yura's back as if he were kicking her out.
"Co-, Conitel?"
Conitel firmly closed the door despite Yura's voice calling him as if embarrassed.
And when he was left alone, Conitel made no longer hid his distorted expression.
His voice was still trembling with anger, irritation, and anxiety.
"The only person who can solve this… … There’s no one else. I need to send a letter quickly……"