<Chapter 42>

“Look at the man at the front holding the flag—isn’t that Sir Klein? But I thought he lost an eye…?”

“Mom, Mom! Look over there! That’s Mister Connie! Didn’t they say he couldn’t walk? How is he riding a horse?”

“Oh my God… Am I really seeing this? All those knights marching over there… Aren’t they the ones who retired due to severe injuries?”

Knights who had been relegated to desk jobs due to debilitating wounds or retired altogether from critical injuries.

They were the very people who had once protected the North and were now neighbors living among the northern folk.

Thus, the crowd that had gathered to watch the parade recognized face after face among the honor guard and ceremonial troops.

“Look over there! The young man with red hair carrying the flag at the front—that’s my son! Just look at him holding that flag with both hands!”

“How is this possible? Your son was…”

“He lost his arm! Last year, when he first climbed the walls to fight the monsters, he lost one of his arms and shut himself in at home. But the Saintess… She healed my son! It’s a miracle, truly a miracle!”

“The Saintess? But hasn’t this generation’s Saintess yet to awaken?”

“Aha, you’re clearly not from Winstein. Listen to this. His Majesty the Emperor sent one of the Saintess candidates to be the Duke’s bride…”

Word of mouth spread like wildfire, rumors traveling faster than the wind.

The lady who had come to the North to become the duchess wasn’t merely a Saintess candidate but had already awakened as the Saintess. She was said to have been sent to the North by God’s will to restore the faith.

“Then, could it be… that the divine barrier will return to the North?”

“There’s no doubt about it. The Saintess will save our northern region.”

If the divine barrier was erected, there would no longer be a need to risk lives fighting monsters. There would be no fear of monsters sneaking over the walls and attacking villages.

“Long live the Saintess!”

“Long live the Duchess! Hurrah!”

“Dear God, please continue to watch over the North!”

People trailing behind the carriage carrying the Duke and Duchess to celebrate their marriage and express their gratitude to God did not notice one peculiar phenomenon:

The more fervently they called out the name of God, the more a faint radiance began to spread across the clear blue sky.

*  *  *

The parade concluded amidst thunderous cheers. By dusk, the banquet had begun.

After changing into lighter attire with his bride, Temenos returned to the banquet hall, once again wearing his mask.

It was the same half-mask from the wedding ceremony, one that completely covered his left eye.

In public settings, Temenos always wore a half-mask that concealed his left eye. People feared and abhorred his vertically slit reptilian pupil more than the scales that marred his skin.

But hiding it didn’t solve the problem. People already knew what lay behind the mask, and the nickname “Monster Duke” was deeply ingrained in their minds.

Just the sight of the stark white, inorganic mask clinging to his face was enough to evoke instinctive revulsion in most.

However… today was different.

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Inosensia Winstein, now officially the Duchess. I look forward to getting to know you.”

“Oh my! Duchess! Hello, do you remember me? I’m Clara! You helped me on that mountain path!”

“Of course I remember. The gentleman next to you—could he be…”

“Apologies for the late introduction. I’m Phineas Curtis. You saved my life back then. I’m deeply grateful.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I’m just glad you’re safe. But wait, are the two of you here as an official pair? I remember the atmosphere between your families being… quite hostile back then.”

“That’s because Finn risked his life for me back then. It became the turning point that led to our families reconciling!”

“Thanks to that, our engagement was formally recognized. All thanks to you, Duchess.”

“My goodness, how wonderful! Be sure to invite me to your wedding—I’ll definitely attend!”

Normally, no one dared approach the Duke, let alone speak to him. People avoided even stepping near him, overwhelmed by an instinctive aversion and by the Duke’s own aura of hostility that warded off others.

But today was different.

Though the Duke’s icy expression and unapproachable demeanor hadn’t changed, the young woman clinging to his arm and smiling brightly shifted the atmosphere entirely.

It was as though even the fiercest predator appeared less menacing when adorned with a delicate butterfly ribbon.

And people began to notice something anew.

“Actually… doesn’t he have quite the striking features?”

“How did we not notice before?”

“Well, obviously! Who in their right mind would dare to comment on the appearance of the Grand Lord of the North?”

The first person bold enough to break that unspoken rule was now overwhelmed by greetings from well-wishers. Inosensia responded to each one with such care that she appeared utterly absorbed.

By the time the banquet had gone on for an hour, dozens of people had already spoken with the Duchess. Yet many still lingered nearby, waiting for their turn to talk to her.

Though Inosensia was visibly tiring, no one rushed her, thanks to two reasons:

First, the man standing firmly by her side was none other than the infamous Monster Duke.

Second, those who wished to speak to Inosensia harbored gratitude toward her and didn’t want to cause her trouble.

“She healed dozens of people all at once… Is that really true?”

“Not just those on the brink of death but even people who had lost limbs. Look over there at those knights.”

“Goodness… It’s hard to believe.”

“My friend’s wife has been frail since childbirth. Could she perhaps heal postpartum fever as well?”

“Why not ask? You’ve got nothing to lose.”

Although the banquet was meant to celebrate the Duke and Duchess’s marriage, the attention was focused solely on the Duchess.

To an outsider, it might have seemed more like a welcoming party for the Saintess. Even Bishop Roam felt that way.

‘Northern folk… They’re all fools.’

Standing in a corner, sipping wine, he listened to the chatter around him.

Inosensia wasn’t merely a Saintess candidate—she was the Saintess. The proof was in the dozens of lives she had saved and the miracles she had performed. God must have decided to bless the North once more…

‘Nonsense!’

If only a few people were spouting such absurdities, Bishop Roam would’ve stepped forward to enlighten them of their ignorance.

‘Restoring sight to the blind? Hearing to the deaf? Regenerating lost limbs? That’s something even the Pope can rarely achieve!’

There’s no way a mere Saintess candidate—especially one with such weak divine power as Inosensia—can perform such miracles.

The only logical explanation is fraud: Inosensia must be deceiving the North’s ignorant populace.

‘Using God’s name to spread such lies… This is blasphemy! And as a Saintess candidate, no less!’

This is an unforgivable sin, one that demands retribution.

…Roam had made up his mind.

“You there.”

“Yes? Oh, Bishop Roam. Is there something you need?”

“Indeed. His Holiness sent a congratulatory gift for the Duke and Duchess’s marriage—a special wine. Could you fetch it from my quarters? It’s the apple wine.”

“Of course. I’ll bring it right away.”

Calming his racing heart, the Bishop awaited the servant’s return. When the servant arrived, he carried a box of wine in his arms.

“Is this the wine you mentioned?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Could you also prepare two glasses?”

“Right away.”

Apple wine and two glasses. Everything was ready.

Bishop Roam approached Inosensia, swallowing nervously as he held the bottle. His tongue brushed the roof of his mouth, recalling the taste of the antidote he had consumed earlier.

‘The plan is flawless.’

He was utterly convinced. Unaware of the impending events that would shatter his expectations entirely.
 

<To be continued>

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