At some point, mentions of the saintess began to appear frequently in his letters.

Today, I heard news about your condition. I heard you’ve stopped taking the elixir for a long time? You’re not… thinking of leaving me behind, are you? I’ll visit again soon, so let’s definitely talk this time. Don’t think strange thoughts. Understand? It seems I can bring her earlier than expected. So don’t think about anything else and just wait a little longer.

The image of Catherine, still stained with bright red blood, flickered before Caesar’s eyes.

Things have gone wrong. It’s my fault for thinking I could reason with that bastard. I think we’ll have to wait longer. I’m worried about how badly she’s hurt, and it’s making me feel terrible.

But Caesar, couldn’t you reply? If you don’t want to write much, just send a dot. I’m coming by again today. I saw on the way that your territory is becoming more of a mess. Pay some attention to it.

They were once friends who shared everything, but now he had no choice but to push him away.

Hey, you son of a b*tch. Are you deliberately avoiding me? I’ll arrive in two days, and if you’re not there this time, know that you’ll die by my hand.

The dark shadow cast over Caesar’s entire body swirled dangerously.

* * *

Click, click. The sound of Estelle’s shoes echoed through the wide corridor.

[I don’t regret it.]

Heading to the breakfast hall while looking at the knight’s back, she recalled Lexion’s last words from her previous life.

What did he not regret?

She had many guesses.

Like assassinating the Emperor for his greed, or causing a meaningless war by killing Jeff.

She couldn’t ask him about events that hadn’t happened yet in this life. Estelle decided to focus on what lay ahead rather than Lexion’s puzzling words.

The holy relic of House Herais hadn’t taken back her regression ability. But she still didn’t know how the holy relics of the other four families would affect her.

‘One of them might have the power to make abilities disappear. It’s still… still too early to give up.’

She couldn’t just sit around lamenting her situation simply because her goal had been thwarted.

“Crown Prince, His Highness, the Saintess has arrived.”

When the servant at the breakfast hall door announced her visit, the door opened from inside.

Estelle composed herself as she walked into the bright breakfast hall. This was a path she had never taken before. Nevertheless, she would continue moving forward to correct the wrong past.

“Miss Estelle.”

Lexion, sitting at the head seat, greeted her with a noticeably crooked posture, making no effort to hide his uncomfortable mood.

“You seem to have a tendency to repay kindness with rudeness.”

His tone was quite sarcastic, suggesting he was upset. The more Lexion thought about it, the more vexed he felt about her. He even wondered if he had been too lenient with her.

She often displayed irreverent attitudes that could warrant charges of insulting the imperial family, but yesterday was something he couldn’t laugh off. He wondered what was different… it seemed he was shocked by her genuine rejection of him.

Shock? Lexion felt like a pathetic, petty man, but he couldn’t control his emotions that kept tilting toward the negative.

“I accommodated your difficult request, yet I haven’t received my payment. It’s hard for me to even bring it up when you treat me like an insect, Miss Estelle.”

“…I apologize for my unsightly behavior yesterday. I think I became sensitive without realizing it, feeling anxious about leaving the imperial palace soon.”

Her voice was gentle, but her eyes still retained an insolence that seemed to say, “What are you going to do about it?”

“I thought I was used to your rudeness by now… Hah, never mind.”

Estelle saw Lexion shaking his head with an expression of surrender, then sat in the chair pulled out by the servant.

“Rather, I’d like to hear your answer to my marriage proposal.”

“I believe I’ve given that answer enough times to make you sick of it.”

Estelle looked straight at Lexion as she spoke.

“If that’s not enough, I’ll answer again. I refuse.”

Her voice was respectful, but the nuance suggested she was tired of this.

“Marriage is also a union between families. I could proceed as I please regardless of your will, Miss Estelle, but……”

Lexion smiled wryly.

“I’m being as considerate of you as possible.”

“If you force it against my will… I’ll kill myself.”

Her purple eyes filled with powerful determination.

“You may be able to watch me now, but what about next? Can you stop me when I’m under the protection of another duke?”

According to the agreement, the saintess would stay in the territories of the Guardians in rotation. The period was 30 days. During this time, purification rituals would be conducted. Other Guardians couldn’t interfere or intrude until their turn came.

This couldn’t be adjusted even by the Emperor, and the goddess’s covenant stood above imperial law.

“Estelle, I’m genuinely curious……”

Lexion rolled the wine glass filled with aperitif in his hand and pulled up one corner of his mouth.

“Are you threatening me right now?”

“If I’m saying I’ll handle my own life, how is that a threat?”

“Hmm… you think highly of Count Arcis.”

At this unexpected remark, Estelle frowned.

“Why are you suddenly bringing up my father……”

“There was once a baron who had convictions as firm as yours. Because of his own twisted principles, neither persuasion nor threats worked on him at all.”

Lexion slowly rolled the glass he was holding.

“Do you know how he changed his mind?”

“……”

“I persuaded him using the person he valued most. Estelle, that’s how threats work.”

For someone speaking such mean words, he showed a handsome smile. Estelle’s eyes distorted and she spoke with a voice full of anger.

“Are you… threatening me using my father right now?”

“Of course not.”

Lexion answered gently as if soothing her and took a leisurely sip of wine.

“I was just giving you an example. You seemed to be misunderstanding me.”

It was maddening. Estelle couldn’t contain her anger toward him for threatening her family.

“I don’t want to marry Your Highness! I hate it terribly! Do you not care about my wishes at all? Why do you keep tormenting me?!”

This insufferable man. How could she get rid of him?

“……”

Lexion stared intently at the excited Estelle. Since his gaze seemed to be properly identifying her weakness, Estelle calmed her temper and appealed to him.

“Your Highness… Your Highness wants to use my holy power, right? I just want to live a comfortable and peaceful life.”

“Would marrying me ruin your life, Miss Estelle?”

Estelle wanted to nod with all her might, but she couldn’t express it rashly. Instead, she bit her lower lip slightly before opening her mouth.

“Your Highness wants to marry me to use me like a tool. I don’t want to live like that.”

“I won’t deny it. I’ve thought about what impact the sudden appearance of a saintess would have on the Empire and on me, and it doesn’t look particularly bright.”

Lexion put down his wine glass and picked up a knife. He made a gesture for Estelle to eat as well, but she had an expression suggesting she had no appetite at all.

Lexion shrugged and cut his steak.

“If the saintess becomes mine, she would certainly be an effective weapon for controlling the other Guardians. And since I would have you—an unpredictable variable—in my hands, no special variables would arise.”

When he confessed so readily, Estelle gave him a strange look.

“But that’s not all. In fact, if I had simply abandoned you when your life was in danger, the problem would have been cleanly resolved without difficulty. The imperial family, which makes elixirs, doesn’t desperately need purification.”

Lexion looked at Estelle while pressing down on a piece of cut steak with his fork.

“I really like you. That’s why I’m proposing marriage with the purpose of keeping you by my side.”

“…So Your Highness wants to use me.”

Lexion exhaled a short sigh.

“Estelle, nothing in this world is defined by just one thing. I am a man who has awakened to a new preference, but I am also the person who will become the Emperor of the Empire. This means I must know how to consider the advantages you provide. What’s important is that I want you enough to do so, and that I’ve deliberately chosen the complicated option.”

“Your Highness… you’re too calculating.”

“I suppose it was my mistake to have you read fairy tales. You see everything too innocently.”

“Your Highness’s heart is difficult for me. I want to marry someone sincere.”

“Right now, I’m being more sincere with you than anyone else could be, Miss Estelle.”

“You’re excessively logical, but I don’t know about such complicated circumstances. Marriage is something you do with someone you love, and usually, there’s no calculation between people who love each other.”

“Estelle, that calculation is also part of love.”

“……”

Sadness pooled in Estelle’s eyes. Was she too simple for him? Is that why she had to feel such pain, being hurt, and having her heart torn before her regression?