COARV Chapter 25

4. Laurel Tree Manor

"The High Priest took Lina away?"

"That's what I said."

"When?"

"Just now?"

The next morning, Linon arrived early with unexpected news. I stared at the clock on my bedroom nightstand with a bewildered expression.

It was 7 AM. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the curtains. Was I still half-asleep and dreaming? Then again, I should have been sleeping at this hour anyway.

Balls typically continued until dawn. The day after a ball, nobles usually slept well past lunchtime. Of course, I'd left early yesterday, but I'd waited until the ball ended at 3 AM. We'd needed to completely change the castle's decorations in a hurry.

Nothing looked worse than yesterday's party decorations left behind. And we'd had to transform everything into an atmosphere appropriate for the High Priest's visit. If I was paying the price of Lesche Berke's first marriage—that remarkable man—I at least wanted to be a perfect hostess.

Thanks to advance preparation, switching the decorations took only an hour. I was freshly grateful I'd decided to give the servants special allowances. People working at night deserved compensation—it would be unjust otherwise.

I'd personally supervised and inspected everything here and there, so I hadn't fallen asleep until dawn broke. Even so, I'd strictly instructed a maid to wake me in the morning.

The maid had faithfully followed my orders. But the moment she woke me, she said the chief aide was waiting outside. Naturally I was flustered. I told her to let him in immediately, thinking the High Priest's visit schedule had changed. Then Linon hurried in with his news.

"The saint and the High Priest just left the main castle."

"...?"

For a moment, the simple, elegant dishes and teacups the servants had diligently polished for the High Priest's reception flashed through my mind... But that wasn't what mattered now.

"You said High Priest Amos was coming."

"Yes."

'That's strange.'

Among the nine High Priests, Amos was someone who operated relatively outside the Grand Temple rather than within it. That's why even Seria, who rarely visited the Grand Temple, was fairly acquainted with him. Seria didn't cause trouble at the Grand Temple—her power base. Given her personality, the best way to avoid causing trouble was simply not to go at all.

If it was Amos, he surely would have stopped to see Seria once. I didn't understand why he'd just taken Lina and left without a word.

"High Priest Amos visited the main castle 30 minutes ago. After briefly sharing tea with His Grace, he immediately took the saint and departed. He didn't even eat—barely touched his tea before leaving."

Pure curiosity struck me.

"Did Lina go along obediently?"

"Well..."

Linon hesitated for the first time.

"High Priest Amos arrived extremely angry..."

"What?"

'That man got angry?'

The Amos in Seria's memories wasn't someone who got angry easily. Even when Seria caused trouble during her terrible phase, rather than getting angry, he'd handled it with a firm expression according to the Grand Temple's rules. He wasn't kind or warm either, but he definitely wasn't someone who got angry. Though of course, we'd never spent enough time together for him to experience such intense emotional changes.

"At first, the saint showed reluctance to leave, but High Priest Amos was so angry he suggested they talk alone... Then the saint boarded the High Priest's carriage crying heavily. And they left just like that. Oh, and the saint's mysterious seizure from last night settled down by dawn."

'He did have quite a strict personality and demeanor.'

High Priest Amos already seemed like a stern old professor, but having a private meeting with him while he was angry—no wonder Lina cried her eyes out.

I nodded at the fact that the other priests had all departed together. I'd expected that. The Stern wedding was already over, and the priests Kallis had invited from the Grand Temple for my cold had no reason to stay once I'd naturally recovered.

'I should write to the priestess later. I need to find out why they left so suddenly.'

But then doubt struck me.

"You came to my bedroom this early in the morning just to tell me that?"

Linon cleared his throat. Because he'd barged in so early, I was currently sitting on my bed in my nightgown. Though calling it a nightgown—it wasn't much different from a chemise dress. Long sleeves, the skirt fell below my knees. Between acquaintances, nothing objectionable. Still.

"Well... um."

"What is it?"

Because Linon rarely hesitated, I sensed something was wrong. I was about to ask again when Linon made a pained sound and rubbed his face—

Knock knock.

The bedroom door burst open with a knock. Kallis. I could see a flustered maid following behind him. He strode forward and stopped in front of my bed.

"Seria, give me time before you leave. I have something to say."

I looked up at him. Kallis had an overbearing attitude, determined to force this conversation, yet simultaneously seemed slightly cowed, as if afraid I might tell him to leave.

Talk. Talk, was it? Fine. I had something to return to Kallis anyway.

"Marquess Haneton. Pardon me, but am I invisible by any chance?"

At Linon's words, spoken with a bright smile, Kallis glanced back.

"Leave us for a moment."

"I'm sorry, but I came on orders from His Grace."

"Did His Grace order you to chase away all the guests in this annex?"

"Of course not. He told me to attend her well. And if any person displeased my lady's eyes, to remove them on her behalf."

Only after hearing Linon's words did I understand why he'd come to my annex so early in the morning. To remove 'Marquess Haneton,' you really did need at least someone like Linon. The Grand Duke's chief aide. Anyone lower would find it difficult to actively remove a marquess.

But could Lesche Berke keep assigning his chief aide to me like this? I knew Linon had many responsibilities. Without Linon, wouldn't Lesche Berke end up shouldering more work himself?

I let that minor question pass and gestured slightly to the maid. The maid bowed quickly and left—

"Then stand there. Do as you please."

Kallis looked more drained than usual. As if too tired to keep arguing with Linon, he swept one hand over his face.

Then, regardless of Linon's presence, he strode closer to me. Sitting on the bed, I raised my head. Kallis stood before me, looking down. Up close, with shadows under his eyes, he definitely looked several times more exhausted than usual.

"Seria."

With that familiar call, Kallis Haneton knelt before me. My eyes widened involuntarily.

"I'm sorry. This apology can't encompass all the wounds I've inflicted on you..."

"..."

"...Could you give me one more chance, Seria?"

I watched him silently, then spoke.

"If we remarry like that, what would change? Kallis Haneton. Are you confident you wouldn't run to Lina again if she called?"

"I am. I—"

"No. Kallis. If Lina calls, you'll run to her again."

I spoke firmly. Saying those words wounded me too. The thought felt like self-harm, cutting across my mind sharply, but yesterday, staring at the glittering crystal chandeliers, I'd chewed over nothing but these words.

"Yesterday you asked me—did I push Lina? Not even the servants suspected me, but you suspected me first. I understand. You suffered too much because of me. My infamy was too notorious."

Intellectually, I could understand. Kallis had nearly lost an arm because of Seria. Above all, Seria was the acknowledged villainess in the original story. Though I felt wronged—this wasn't karma I'd created—what could I do?

I was already Seria Stern. I wanted to survive somehow, differently from the predetermined original story. So I'd thought it right that I bear this karma. But my heart?

Even watching Kallis treat Lina excessively well, I'd always told myself it was inevitable. He was the sub-male lead—being drawn to the original female lead was an irresistible force, I'd thought. Still, I'd believed his words that he loved me.

But believing didn't mean I could ignore all the surrounding circumstances. To avoid a miserable death, I'd often swallowed miserable feelings.

Knowing the situation was unfair, yet having to persuade and convince myself it was inevitable because the original story's leads were entangled in it—how long was I supposed to keep doing that?

How long.

Just how long was I supposed to keep doing it?

"I... was hurt too badly by you. I don't want to live on edge anymore. I don't want to worry about you going back to Lina at any moment..."

As I spoke those words, tears suddenly pattered down onto the blanket. I wiped my wet cheeks with my hand.

"Let's end this now, Kallis."

"..."

Knock knock.

Just then, with a small knock, the maid I'd sent away returned. In her hands was a small ring box. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she very quickly and carefully placed the ring box before me and left the room.

"Kallis."

I accepted it and held it out to Kallis. This was the ring I'd received from Kallis as a token of engagement—the ring of the Marchioness of Haneton.

"I'm returning it. Take it."

Kallis stared at the ring box quietly, then slowly accepted it. The moment our fingertips touched, he suddenly gripped my hand hard.

"Seria."

Kallis's eyes blurred as if holding back tears. I realized it suddenly. After possessing Seria, after my long life of reading the room, I'd become good at reading others' expressions. I'd thought he liked me too. But he'd broken the marriage vow far too easily. Even if I could skillfully read expressions, I couldn't fathom the depths of his heart.

"..."

So many emotions surfaced on Kallis's face that their meaning was difficult to read. I simply watched him silently. Then, as if making some decision, he squeezed my hand tightly before finally releasing it weakly.