I Returned as the Obsessive Duke’s Wife Once Again

Raphael and Kristin traveled to the Papal Palace to meet with Pope Henry Edward.

Fortunately, they learned the Pope was praying in the palace’s great cathedral. Raphael approached one of the high priests stationed nearby.

“Greetings. I am Raphael Rodney, Duke of the Empire.”

“It’s been a while. Didn’t you once make a generous donation to the cathedral? If I recall correctly, you frequently visited this place with your mother when you were younger. Am I right?”

The high priest’s words prompted a faint smile from Raphael as he responded slowly.

“That’s correct. My mother loved this cathedral above all others in the Empire.”

Raphael had been to this place before—Noah Cathedral, a grand and majestic church frequented by nobles for worship. Some aristocrats continued visiting it from childhood to adulthood.

Raphael had accompanied his mother here every weekend during his youth.

His mother had volunteered her time at the cathedral and prayed there whenever possible. To Raphael, Noah Cathedral was a place filled with fond memories.

However, he had rarely visited after her passing, save for his yearly donations. After inheriting the title of Duke, life’s demands had kept him too busy to find time for prayer.

Standing before him with a kind smile, the high priest seemed to understand without an explanation.

“May I ask, is the young lady beside you Lady Kristin Edith?”

“Do… Do you know me?” Kristin asked, startled by the recognition of the high priest’s question.

He nodded and continued.

“I visited Grace Hall several months ago to observe your wedding ceremony. Although I wasn’t officiating—it was another high priest—I remember seeing you enter the hall. I couldn’t stay long, but I noted your name and face.”

Kristin recalled her wedding day.

Back then, she had been desperate to avoid Raphael and had done everything to distance herself from him. But now, her feelings were entirely different.

She stood beside him, her hand resting gently on his arm, radiating warmth and closeness as if all was well between them.
“Honestly, I had heard rumors that there were difficulties in your relationship. But seeing you both here so harmonious now brings me great joy,” the high priest smiled.

“Haha, thank you,” Raphael replied, chuckling softly.

The high priest looked at them curiously, his eyes suggesting that he had questions.

“What brings you here today?” the high priest asked.

“His Holiness is currently offering prayers for the people of the Empire. He should finish in about thirty minutes. If you’ve come to attend a service, I’d be happy to guide you to the cathedral.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it,” Kristin interjected.

The high priest tilted his head curiously, observing her closely before nodding as though understanding something.

“You’ve come seeking help you cannot easily discuss,” he said. “Understood. I’ll inform His Holiness that you’ve arrived. Please wait outside for a moment.”

“Thank you,” Kristin replied with a slight bow.

Raphael also expressed his gratitude. “Yes, thank you.”

—

After thirty minutes, Raphael and Kristin were escorted into the audience chamber, where they finally met Pope Henry Edward.

The Pope greeted them warmly.

“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to see you here.”

“Greetings, Your Holiness. I am Raphael Rodney, Duke of the Empire,” Raphael said, bowing.

“Greetings, Your Holiness. I am Kristin Edith of the Edith family,” Kristin followed.

The Pope smiled kindly at them but directed his words toward Kristin.

“I know much about you, Lady Kristin Edith. You’ve accomplished quite a lot in your station. A few months ago, you saved the workers at the Levi Mine, and recently, you resolved the matter at Vincent Orphanage, did you not?”
Hearing this, Kristin flushed with embarrassment and bowed her head slightly.

After a moment, she reached into her pouch, pulling out a collection of letters she had brought. Her hands trembled slightly as she prepared to speak.

“I-I came here today because—”

Before she could finish, the Pope interrupted, his tone reflecting his fond recollections.

“Your mother, Viscountess Elesia, often visited this cathedral. You may not know this, but Viscountess Elesia and the late Lady Riana, Duke Raphael’s mother, were acquaintances. It was before either of them married, so I assume neither of you would know.”

“Pardon?”

“Excuse me? My mother and Lady Kristin’s mother knew each other?” Raphael exclaimed, clearly shocked.

The Pope, his face bearing the lines of over eighty years of life, seemed momentarily lost in memories as he stared into the distance.

“Yes, that’s correct. Before their marriages, they volunteered here and often prayed together. I remember it well—I was already over sixty at the time. Both were upright and compassionate young women. And now, to see their children standing before me—it’s quite touching,” the Pope remarked with a nostalgic smile, sipping delicately from his teacup.

Then, recalling why Kristin had come, he turned his gaze back to her.

“You had something to discuss with me, did you not? Forgive me; reminiscing made me forget myself. Please, go on.”

At the Pope’s invitation, Kristin placed the letters on the table before them and showed them individually.

As the Pope read the contents, his expression hardened. He had never encountered letters like these before.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice grave. “When did you start receiving these letters? Who in the Empire would dare perpetrate such acts?”

Henry Edward seemed deep in thought.

After a moment, it appeared he was considering Lucas Aedon, the Emperor of the Empire. Cautiously, he began to speak.
“Does the Emperor know about this?”

“I’ve already informed His Majesty,” Raphael replied, “asking him to protect Lady Kristin Edith and to investigate the culprit behind these threats.”

“I see. And yet…”

The Pope glanced at both Raphael and Kristin in turn.

He thought capturing the culprit behind such incidents should not be difficult for the Emperor. The Empire had numerous means at its disposal—there were noblewomen known for secret surveillance, and marquises often answered the Emperor’s summons to resolve various incidents across the land.

Furthermore, the judiciary was known for delivering severe punishments to criminals, leaving no room for mercy.

Yet despite all of this, the Pope found Kristin’s predicament baffling. Lowering his head, he appeared lost in thought, his expression heavy.

Kristin, noticing his struggle to understand, broke the silence.

“Despite this, the one trying to kill me continues to pursue me. And now, the Duke himself is also in danger. Do you happen to know the Crown Princess of the Praga Empire?”

“The Crown Princess of Praga?” the Pope said, raising an eyebrow.

“I haven’t met her personally. If I traveled to their neighboring kingdom, perhaps I might encounter her. However, as of now, there’s been no contact between our nations. Though, come to think of it, I did hear something recently.”

Kristin couldn’t hide her surprise.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, looking at him intently.

The Pope continued, his voice measured.

“A noble who visited the Noah Cathedral recently mentioned something peculiar they saw during a trip to the Ericha region of the Praga Empire. It was… an unexpected sight, to say the least.”

“What kind of sight?” Raphael interjected.

“They said they passed a training ground and saw soldiers engaged in a very peculiar activity. It seemed as though they were preparing for an assassination. They had a portrait of someone on display, and a group of archers was lined up, practicing coordinated volleys aimed at the image.”

The color drained from Kristin and Raphael’s faces at the Pope’s revelation.

Archers?