“Wow, what should I do?”

That… having a child would require many steps, wouldn’t it? A child isn’t born on its own.

This is something I can’t even imagine. Satin shuddered. There was no significant connection with Rublier from the academy. At best, they had a few trivial disputes, and even those were because Rublier spoke first.

If she had spent a long time with him like she did with Gjorn, deepening their friendship, it might have been different, but she had never thought about Rublier. She only thought that, as a member of the guardian families, they might occasionally meet at events.

He would live his life, and she would live hers as Gjorn’s wife. That’s what she thought.

Suddenly, the wedding started to go awry, and as she left the wedding hall, she held Rublier’s hand. She became Rublier’s wife, something she never even dreamed of, and her family already had high expectations, bringing up the topic of an heir.

“…This is crazy.”

It was fortunate that Rublier wasn’t here. Satin was once again grateful for Rublier’s long business trip.

‘Two months? Two and a half months?’

Yes, two to two and a half months is long. By the time he returns, the promised divorce will be imminent. So there’s no reason to worry unnecessarily.

Anyway, there’s no answer to be found by worrying alone now.

Satin pushed the box under the soft pillow and lay down on top of it. Even on the day Rublier left after spending just one night in this house, they had used separate rooms. Judging by his attitude, it didn’t seem like things would change in the future either.

That’s fine.

Satin pulled the blanket over her head and tried to sleep.

Two months and twenty-some days until the divorce.

Even now, time was steadily passing day by day.

* * *

Rublier entered the diocese governed by the archbishop.

People turned their heads with interest at the sight of the Holy Knights in their dark navy uniforms. The Holy Knights, who protected the Pope and stayed in the capital, were rare visitors in the distant provinces.

Behind the cathedral of the diocese was the bishop’s residence where the archbishop stayed. The residence opened its doors wide to welcome the guests representing the Pope. The archbishop, with his white hair, was an old man over eighty.

“You must have had a hard journey.”

The archbishop greeted Rublier politely.

Although Rublier was much younger, his status, straddling both the guardian family and high-ranking clergy, was higher than that of most archbishops.

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

“I heard you recently got married. Congratulations.”

Considering the long distance and the quiet nature of this town, which was so different from the bustling capital, Rublier was inwardly surprised that news of his marriage had reached here.

“Has the news spread already?”

“Of course. Word of mouth travels faster than feet. The Del Mare family has always been known for their loyalty and responsibility towards His Holiness. The Ka Dillon family, with Sir Paladin already establishing the highest prestige, has made a great marriage with another excellent family.”

The archbishop’s sincere attitude was unexpected.

People in the capital often commented on how unfortunate it was for Sel Wio to lose Del Mare, how the balance of power among the five families might shift, and how problems might arise if the equilibrium was broken.

Such uncalculating congratulations were rare. Rublier nodded in acknowledgment.

“Thank you.”

The archbishop continued.

“In fact, it’s news we’ve been eagerly awaiting. Now that at least two of the five guardian families are united, we feel more at ease.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I even hope that the five families will continue to form marriages or alliances, becoming like one big family. Even if it’s a strategic marriage, it’s the easiest way to unite forces.”

The old archbishop turned his body slightly and looked into the distance.

Unifying the forces… In the current state of the guardian families, it was an impossible story.

Two hundred years ago, when the ancestors of the families fought against the demons with one heart and soul, risking their lives, the five families were said to be like brothers.

But as Caldeblanca became peaceful and the guardian families accumulated wealth and honor, now, after many generations, each family was only focused on expanding their own power.

Once the time for mutual development passed, the only option left was to weaken others through checks and balances. Thus, the brotherly spirit disappeared, leaving only rivalry.

“Is there a reason why the five families need to unite as one?”

Rublier, who had been listening, asked. As he asked, it became clearer to him.

“Your words just now sounded as if you were particularly worried about something, Archbishop.”

The archbishop replied.

“Perhaps those who have spent their entire lives in the capital or its surroundings may not understand. But living out one’s remaining years in such a remote place, away from the bustling cities, one occasionally encounters things best not seen.”

Rublier did not interrupt the archbishop’s story.

“In the founding legend, demons were terrifying in themselves, but where there were demons, evil spirits roamed. Most of these evil spirits perished when the demons were sealed, but a few scattered and fled. So, very occasionally, when inexplicable phenomena occur, we attribute them to the work of evil spirits. However, without any evidence and not wanting to unnecessarily alarm ordinary people, we remain silent. Still, once every ten or twenty years, just when we are about to forget, we see them again.”

Rublier suddenly recalled a lesson from the academy.

The professor’s first words, which he had thought were just part of a legend and would remain so.

‘Demons slip in when people are careless. They are like shadows. Before you know it, they are at your feet. They are not noticeable in the dark, but under the light, they are more distinct than anything else.’

A foreboding feeling that the business trip, which started with a sense of formality, might be longer than expected crept in.

Certainly, being in the capital made one complacent. The capital, with the Pope and the Holy Knights, was safe. But according to the archbishop, in the remote areas, ‘things best not seen’ appeared once every ten or twenty years.

The phrase ‘the work of evil spirits’ lingered in his mind.

Rublier undressed and lay on the neatly made bed. While other knights were assigned two or three to a room, Paladin Rublier had a room to himself. So, whatever he said or imagined now, there would be no one to disturb him.

“I promised to return early.”

Thinking that the business trip might be delayed, the first face that came to mind was Satin.

‘It’s okay. Don’t rush at all, take your time. It’s national business, so you should be careful.’

It was so like her.

Rublier pulled his lips into a smile. Isn’t she adorable? Satin had been cute during their days at the academy, and she was still cute now.

At twelve years old, Satin and Gjorn gave the impression of similar children sticking together. Both were small and pale.

Gjorn barely met the average height, but being so skinny, he looked much smaller. Moreover, his typical bookish style gave him a pale aura. Satin, genetically fair, was also very white.

But a little closer observation revealed their different temperaments. Gjorn was gentle, and Satin was determined.

Despite being the same age, Satin, who seemed younger, often looked after Gjorn. If Gjorn was dozing during morning prayers, Satin would shake him awake, and if he caught a cold and coughed, she made sure he took his medicine.

Satin even carried toffee candies because Gjorn disliked bitter medicine.

Freshmen caught colds like an epidemic due to the stress of the new environment and people. Gjorn and Satin caught colds, and so did Rublier. No matter how healthy one was, there was no avoiding the germs being spread everywhere.

If one had a fever, they skipped class, but a mere cough wasn’t enough to miss lessons with exams looming. Unless they were seriously ill, everyone attended class. Satin even brought a large cup of water. However, Gjorn, who sat next to her, wasn’t as prepared.

During class, Gjorn started coughing. He quickly covered his mouth, but the sound only slightly diminished, and the coughing didn’t stop.

At that moment, Satin discreetly handed him a toffee candy from her pocket. Gjorn hastily unwrapped it and put it in his mouth.

But coughing was contagious. Other students, also suffering from colds, began to cough here and there. Rublier, sitting behind Gjorn, was one of them.

Without looking back, Satin placed a candy near Rublier’s desk. She couldn’t help students farther away, but she seemed willing to help the one right behind her.

Rublier, who usually didn’t eat candy, ate it because of his cold and because of Satin. The candy Satin gave was sweet enough to make his head spin. It made him a bit dizzy.

He couldn’t tell if it was because of the candy, the cold, or Satin.

She probably didn’t remember the act itself. For Satin, it was a minor act of kindness to share one more candy while caring for a sick friend. It was an unconscious act she forgot immediately.

But Rublier kept glancing at Satin’s silver hair and her back, sitting upright and facing forward, throughout the class.

People usually remember others by sight, smell, or sound, but Rublier realized some memories also include taste.

Thinking of Satin made his mouth sweet. Even now, the taste of candy came to mind. That was his memory.