Chapter 7 (Part 4)

After finishing her conversation with Rasilia, Cecilia went to see Viscount Bucklew. Now that her first plan was complete, it was time to move on to the next one.  

“Baron Huntley told me he gave you money for me to use. Please give it to me. I think I have the right to enjoy my future husband’s money.”  

As soon as she entered his study, Cecilia boldly demanded money from the Viscount.  

In truth, she didn’t need money from such an unpleasant man. However, if she appeared to accept the marriage willingly without any resistance, others might find it suspicious. She needed to make it seem like she was after the Baron’s wealth.  

The Viscount’s face twisted in disbelief, as he hadn’t expected Cecilia to openly demand money.  

“Where do you think I’d have such money to give you?”  

“I just heard from the Baron. He told me to get what I needed from you. So, you’ll also need to allow me to go out.”  

“There is no such money.”  

“That’s strange. He clearly said he gave it to you. If you didn’t receive it, then it must be a mistake. Should I ask him for it again?”  

“…No, I already received it earlier. What do you want?”  

Only after hearing that Cecilia might directly ask Baron Huntley for the money did the Viscount change his attitude.  

“He said my dress was tacky, so I’ll start by buying a new one.”  

“You’re just as shallow as your mother. How disgusting.”  

The Viscount spat out harsh words, perhaps hoping that insulting her mother would make Cecilia change her mind.  

But Cecilia had no intention of falling for his provocation. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and met his gaze directly.  

“Here.”  

When she didn’t react as he expected, the enraged Viscount barely managed to speak through clenched teeth. Avoiding her piercing gaze, he angrily tossed one of the pouches of money the Baron had left behind and gestured for her to leave.  

Having obtained what she wanted, Cecilia left the study with a triumphant smile. Now, all she had to do was spend the money Baron Huntley had given her.  

That money would become part of the compensation Viscount Bucklew would have to repay after Cecilia left on the day of the engagement ceremony.  

If that happened, the Bucklew family would face financial difficulties. The Bucklew family was never particularly wealthy to begin with, only managing to live modestly, so they wouldn’t have the means to repay the debt.  

As a result, Viscount Bucklew would lose the daughter he supposedly cherished so much and fall into bankruptcy at the same time.  

It wasn’t a grand revenge, but it was enough for Cecilia to repay the years she had spent suffering under his control. Thinking about how well this outcome suited the Viscount, a smile naturally spread across her lips.  

***

“Thank you for everything.”  

Standing before the High Priest and the Bishop, Ian bowed gracefully to bid them farewell.  

He was still wearing his priestly robes. Normally, he would have changed out of them, but knowing he would never wear them again made him reluctant to take them off.  

Understanding his feelings, neither the High Priest, the Bishop, nor any of the other priests pointed out his attire. Instead, they simply looked at him with eyes full of regret.  

“Are you truly leaving?”  

Bishop Chris, who looked the most sorrowful, asked Ian once more.  

“Yes. My decision is final.”  

Even after speaking with Bishop Chris, Ian had remained conflicted. Time passed, but he couldn’t come to a decision, continuing his daily life as usual.  

However, that was only on the surface. In reality, his mind was consumed with thoughts of Cecilia, not God.  

Even though he knew she wasn’t at the temple, he would glance around, hoping to run into her. Passing by the accommodations for the believers, he couldn’t help but feel distracted.  

At night, when everyone else was asleep, he even came close to pleasuring himself while thinking of her. Though he could calm himself down by self-punishment as he had in the past, the mere thought of Cecilia would cause his body to stir again.  

At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Ian’s life revolved around Cecilia. Yet, he still refused to acknowledge his feelings.  

He tried to convince himself that he needed her only to cure his insomnia, desperately suppressing his growing desires. But deep down, he knew the truth. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he couldn’t.  

Eventually, Ian reached his limit and had to admit it. He loved Cecilia, and he couldn’t live without her.  

Realizing this only after she had disappeared from his life…  

At last, Ian understood his feelings. He had to compare his life before and after Cecilia entered it to decide which was happier.  

After days of agonizing over this, he came to a conclusion.  

His desire to see Cecilia again outweighed his devotion to serving God. If he could see her once more, he felt he could give up being a servant of God.  

Now that he thought of Cecilia more than God, he no longer deserved to remain a priest. That’s why he was leaving the temple.  

“It’s a shame I can no longer call you a priest. But seeing the peace on your face, I’m glad your inner turmoil has been resolved.”  

“It’s all thanks to you. I’m grateful for everything.”  

After bowing respectfully, Ian left the temple. He stopped and turned back to gaze at it one last time.  

This is really the end.  

The thought of returning here as an ordinary believer left him feeling bittersweet, but he had no regrets.  

Determined to leave behind all lingering attachments, Ian stared at the temple for a long time before finally turning away.  

There was only one place he needed to go now: wherever Cecilia was. Ian planned to meet her and confess his feelings.  

***

With sleek and elegant movements, Ian climbed into the carriage and gazed out the window. The thought of meeting Cecilia soon brought a natural smile to his lips.  

His mind naturally wandered to the time he had spent at the Bucklew estate. He recalled the time she had mistakenly entered his room, thinking it was his brother’s, while he was asleep.  

Everything had started that day…  

Though he still didn’t know why Cecilia had tried to seduce his brother, he thought he might have an idea now.  

To stop her younger sister’s engagement.  

Looking back at her actions at the time, it made sense. For someone supposedly trying to seduce his brother, her efforts had been clumsy, and after that day, she never attempted it again.  

At the time, he had found her behavior unpleasant, but now, just recalling it made him smile. It was an absurd memory that he couldn’t help but laugh at.  

What else had happened?  

As Ian reminisced about the time he spent with Cecilia at the temple, he realized that aside from the fact that she was the daughter of Viscount Bucklew, he knew nothing about her.  

Why didn’t I ever learn anything about her?  

All he knew was that she was an honest and cheerful woman with clear eyes and a bright smile. Reflecting on this, Ian realized how indifferent he had been toward her.  

He couldn’t meet her with such shallow feelings. At the very least, he needed to make an effort with his appearance. So, he decided to stop at the shops in the square closest to the Bucklew estate.  

He planned to take off his priestly robes and buy something stylish enough to catch Cecilia’s attention.  

As he stepped out of the carriage and nervously headed toward the shop, he spotted a familiar face before even entering. It couldn’t be her, he thought. There was no way they could run into each other so easily.  

“Priest Ian? What brings you all the way here?”  

However, when Cecilia spoke to him first, he realized this wasn’t a dream but reality.  

Although he knew she wouldn’t be happy to see him, her surprised expression still left him feeling a bit disappointed. Just as he was about to honestly say he had come to see her, the words got caught in his throat when he noticed her appearance.  

It had been a long time since he last saw Cecilia, and she looked completely different from before. She had always dressed modestly, but now she wore a glamorous dress.  

Unlike the graceful beauty she exuded before, she now looked radiant, yet, for some reason, Ian felt the dress didn’t suit her.  

“You seem very different.”  

“This isn’t the temple, after all.”  

Cecilia shrugged and turned her gaze to the side.  

“Ah, load that onto the carriage. Oh, and that… um, Jack, could you carry it by hand?”  

Ian had heard about the Bucklew estate’s financial troubles, but Cecilia seemed to be indulging in luxurious shopping. It was as if she were consumed by vanity, spending money recklessly.  

Is this really the woman I’ve been searching for?  

In that moment, Ian felt an inexplicable sense of unease. For some reason, Cecilia felt unfamiliar to him.  

Could something have happened to her?  

In the past, he might have been disappointed, thinking he had misunderstood her. But now, Ian didn’t think that way.  

She was a woman with unexpected depths—possessing extraordinary skills despite being a noblewoman, and an air of purity. So, he thought there might be some hidden reason behind her current appearance.  

At times like this, he needed to ignore her changed appearance and say what he came to say. That he had left the priesthood to see her…  

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Cecilia was hurriedly trying to end their conversation.