“This marriage isn’t only for my benefit.”

“……”

“Just as you thought over the conditions I wanted and agreed to them, I would like to hear your conditions and think them over as well.”

“……”

“If there is truly nothing you want, we can simply move on.”

Even after she said as much, Declen’s mouth did not move for a long while. Did he truly want nothing? Why would a man who wanted nothing have gone to the trouble of identifying the subject of the prophecy and come running before anyone else? And this marriage, which would bring him no benefit at all.

“……”

“……”

She waited until the steam rising from the soup had long since faded and the bowl had gone cold, but Declen’s mouth did not open. So he has no conditions. Well, then there’s nothing to be done, she thought, and was about to sign her name in the space provided when a large hand reached over and stopped the hand holding the fountain pen.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“I do have a condition.”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

She straightened up from her slouch and tried to meet his eyes, ready to hear him out, but Declen looked away.

“Your Grace?”

“If.”

“Yes.”

She called his name again with a hint of impatience, and after a long hesitation, he finally opened his mouth. What kind of condition could it be that he was hesitating this much? She had never seen him like this before. He had always kept his edge sharp, never letting anyone come close. This was a side of Declen she had never seen.

That he would hesitate. Even when he had returned to the grand ducal estate covered in blood from carrying out the emperor’s commands. Even when he had been with Aria and glared at her. In all the time she had known him, he had never once hesitated. He had always been resolute and unwavering in everything, moving as though he could see the future laid out before him.

“Whenever you want to call me.”

“……”

“By my name.”

“……”

“Please call me.”

“……”

His name.

“Any time is fine. It can take as long as you like. Just, if there is ever a single moment when you want to call me 「Declen」 with those lips of yours, please don’t hesitate. Just call me.”

“……”

“That is my condition.”

His name. Declen Clerc. Did he know? In her past life, Isabella had called Declen by his name. Not Your Grace, but Declen, that name. In those moments when she was in love and he was not, Isabella had called him by his name. With love, with affection. But Declen had never liked hearing that name from her lips. He had even told her outright not to call him by his name. After that, she had called him Your Grace in front of Declen and everyone else, but when she was alone, she would quietly let his name pass her lips.

And now he was asking her to call him by his name? Why was he doing this now, of all times, when she was ready to give everything up and leave? Now, when she was planning to disappear naturally once Aria appeared and he was safely with her. What had gone wrong to make things turn out this way?

“Is it all right if I never say that name at all?”

“Yes.”

“If this contract ends without you ever hearing your name from me even once, what then?”

“Then it would mean I failed to change your heart in the end.”

Declen gave a bitter smile and nodded, as though he was prepared to accept that. She wanted to. Even now, right now, she wanted to call that name again and again, but she could not. Even after she left him, she likely would never let his name pass her lips again.

“Please ask for a different condition instead.”

“No. I’ll keep this one.”

Even at Isabella’s suggestion, which was as good as an outright refusal, Declen shook his head. As though he had no need for any other condition.

“Are you truly all right with never hearing your name from me even once?”

“I am.”

Declen smiled as though he truly meant it and picked up the fountain pen again, pressing it back into Isabella’s hand. Was this really all right with him? This unfair contract from which he would gain nothing at all.

“Thank you.”

But Isabella had nowhere left to retreat. She did her best to hide her trembling hand, shaking with fear and guilt, and finished signing. Declen took the contract from her.

“I will keep this safe.”

“Yes. Of course.”

The unfair contract was concluded, and they resumed eating. By the time the soup, already cold, was becoming a chore to get through, Declen spoke again.

“Isabella.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask you one thing?”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

She had been debating whether to set down her spoon anyway, so she did, and met his eyes.

“……”

She saw the same gentle smile on his face as before. Had he always been a man who could smile like that? He must have always smiled that way for Aria. A dull ache spread through one corner of her chest.

“By any chance.”

“Yes.”

“How do you know High Priest Liams?”

High Priest Liams? Reymon Liams. Isabella paused to think at the name. How should she put it? Reymon already knew everything about the past. That past she had thought only she remembered. So she would be seeing him often going forward, and if she wanted to naturally become involved with Aria when she appeared in time, there was no reason to speak poorly of him. And she had no desire to speak poorly of Reymon regardless.

“We’ve been friends since we were children.”

“Since you were children?”

“Yes.”

Isabella thought back to the day she had first met Reymon.

— Hello?

— Who are you?

— I’m Isabella Piper. And you?

— I’m…

— Yes?

— Reymon Liams.

The day she had first come face to face with Reymon, his eyes brimming with glistening tears.

It had been a very long time ago. On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Isabella had gone to the temple to pray. Even with her father’s words that it was not her fault, that her mother had not died because of her, and that she should not feel guilty, Isabella could never easily shake the guilt, and so whenever the anniversary came around, she went to the temple.

— Welcome, My lady. Shall I show you to your usual place of prayer?

— Yes. Thank you.

The priests who knew this well would set aside a small prayer room for her whenever she came. No one stopped the tiny daughter of a noble house from coming to pray for her late mother. They only watched her with quiet sympathy.

— Wait here, Bailey.

— Yes, My lady.

Leaving behind the maid who always accompanied her on outings, she entered the familiar prayer room and soon knelt before the great stone statue of Avilion, carved from marble.

“……”

She pressed her small hands together and prayed.

Please let Mother have gone somewhere good. Please let her suffer no more. Please let that place be filled with nothing but happiness. And if, just if, she had been reborn, please let her be born somewhere close to her. She wished and wished for these things.

Mother. I miss you. I miss you so much. Praying like that, the tears would come. Isabella had never once seen her mother’s face. Her mother had died giving birth to her. She had only ever seen her through a portrait, and even looking at that portrait had become too painful. She felt sorry seeing her father Henry sometimes murmur her mother’s name in his sleep after drinking. She felt sorry for the head maid and head butler, who had been left to take on everything with no mistress of the house.

She wanted to grow up quickly and help them. She wanted to comfort her father so he would stop crying. When would she grow into someone they could be proud of? When thoughts like these made her feel more downcast than usual, she would rise from her knees, slip out of the prayer room without anyone noticing, and make her way to a quiet corner of the temple.

The temple of Avilion was vast and sprawling. Vast enough to conceal a small girl like Isabella without any trouble. The priests knew she usually prayed for a couple of hours before coming out, so neither Bailey nor the few escort knights would come looking for her before she opened the prayer room door.

Leaving them behind, Isabella walked slowly forward on small feet. Walking and walking, she would eventually come upon the largest lake on the temple grounds. Large, yet so clear it could make you think you were looking into a mirror, the lake always welcomed her. Being here gave her a feeling of warmth, like being held in her mother’s arms.

She had always wondered why. But young Isabella set aside difficult questions and moved slowly toward the edge of the lake to sit in the soft grass and let the lake comfort her. She would have, if not for the voice she heard.

— So do you really think you can pass the priest examination?

— ……

— You should just do our chores for us. Don’t go getting ideas about becoming a priest.

There were quite a few voices. She thought about leaving, but from what she could hear, it sounded like someone was being bullied.

— All the other priests already hate you too.

— They said they can’t accept that you’re a trainee priest at Avilion’s temple.

— Don’t you think the high priest made a mistake? How did someone like you ever get recognized as a trainee priest?

— I heard your family is poor too. Did you bribe the high priest to get in?

— Don’t go around telling people you’re a trainee priest like us.

Isabella had been about to move away from the one-sided torrent of insults and accusations when her feet stopped where they were. Several people were saying all of this to one person? And to a fellow trainee priest, at that.

The priests of Avilion were selected through a rigorous process. Regardless of whether they were commoner or noble, once a child passed the age of five, they were required to visit the temple and have their divine power assessed by the high priest. Those whose divine power was stronger than others had to decide whether to become a priest or continue living as they were.

Most nobles had no desire to become priests. With a comfortable life already assured, there was no reason to become a priest and live under constant restrictions. But commoners were different. When a child’s divine power was found to be higher than their peers and they were deemed eligible to become a priest, the parents would discuss it with the child.

Priest training that began from a very young age was one of the most grueling things a child could endure. They could not see their parents, and they had to live with every desire stripped away. Having even their basic human needs controlled made for an agonizing life, yet most children still chose the path of the priest.