“What if someone defeats the Rockdragon and offers its heart to propose to the Saintess?”

Bellota had no choice but to look up and face Geril. The reason everyone in the empire knew about the Rockdragon, despite no one having seen it, was because of the prophecy Geril mentioned.

A hundred years ago, right after the war with the demons ended, the god gave humans a prophecy. Whoever goes to the land where the demon god fell and brings back the heart of the Rockdragon, which contains His power, will have the holy opportunity to propose to the noble saintess.

Many ventured into the land of demons to claim the noble and beautiful saintess, who had made great contributions in the war, but none returned alive. Thus, people began to interpret the prophecy differently.

Perhaps the true meaning of the prophecy was that those who dared to covet the saintess would only receive a disgraceful death. Over time, that land became forbidden, and the prophecy became a forbidden prophecy.

Geril was now asking about that forbidden oracle. Bellota, looking at the eyes filled with vague expectations, slowly opened her mouth.

“I have never thought about it….”

At the sound of that calm voice, everyone’s gaze turned to Bellota. Seiden stared at her with a cold, hardened face. Bellota seemed to ponder for a moment before answering clearly.

“What’s important is not the qualification for proposing, but the heart of the Rockdragon itself. The gods do not give meaningless oracles.”

A strange silence descended over the table again. Seiden immediately understood Bellota’s subtle words. The purpose of Macron, Geril, and all those who went to the forbidden land was merely to gain the qualification to propose to the saintess, but what was truly important was the heart of the Rockdragon and the power contained within it, which Bellota believed would somehow save the empire. It was truly a thought typical of Bellota.

Geril broke the silence with a small laugh.

“So, you’re saying that if someone brings that magnificent heart, there’s no reason the Saintess wouldn’t recognize them.”

Despite the oddly twisted interpretation, Bellota just smiled politely.

“Of course, it doesn’t apply to me. Such a thing won’t happen, and I will never encourage such a reckless challenge.”

Bellota’s answer was soft but firm. Geril nodded, looking at Bellota with a peculiar gaze.

“I see. That’s true. The Saintess is right. Now, let’s stop this talk here. Our benevolent Saintess does not wish for reckless lives to be sacrificed.”

Geril made a frivolous joke and smiled broadly.

In the chaotic atmosphere, the meal resumed, but Seiden no longer touched his food and just stared at Bellota.

Seiden was well aware of the Rockdragon oracle. However, going to the forbidden land had been prohibited a long time ago, and he had never considered applying that oracle to Bellota. It was something he had never thought about. Someone proposing to Bellota and her accepting it.

Suddenly, it felt like something had hit Seiden hard in the stomach. Just the thought twisted his insides and made his throat burn.

“…….”

And as always, it didn’t take long to realize that he was in no position to be involved in such matters. Today, that realization came sharply, stabbing his heart, so Seiden could eat no more. Unlike Seiden, who was in intense pain, Bellota quietly resumed her meal with an indifferent face.

“I’ll get up first.”

In the end, Seiden stood up before anyone could stop him and quickly left the dining room. Bellota, who had been eating with a calm face, also slowly stopped moving.

Bellota quietly watched Seiden’s back as he walked away with a blunt stride, and only after he disappeared did she pick up her fork again and stab the cold roasted vegetables.

* * *

After dinner, Geril wanted to enjoy a cup of tea alone with Bellota, but Bellota used the excuse of being unwell to send him away. After lying to send Geril off, Bellota immediately sought out Seiden. Seiden was in a secluded stable under the castle. After finding him, Bellota approached the silently tending Seiden and spoke.

“I want to go with you.”

At the quiet voice, Seiden, who was lost in thought, turned to look at Bellota. Her face, quiet but stubborn, showed a determined expression as if she had made up her mind. Seeing Bellota’s face, flushed and uncomfortable, made the tightness in Seiden’s chest from dinner even more constricting.

Seiden saw a woman who didn’t fit at all with the old, smelly stable.

“No.”

A firm answer came back, cutting off the conversation. Disappointment filled Bellota’s eyes again. Seiden, as if the conversation was over, turned his gaze back to the horse.

“Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

A very clear answer came in reply to her. Bellota, with a face that was both incredulous and angry, looked at Seiden resentfully and poured out her true feelings that had risen to her throat.

“There’s no way it would be dangerous with you.”

Seiden’s movements stopped abruptly at the stubborn voice. When Seiden slowly turned his head again, he saw Bellota looking at him with a flushed face; she’s not regretting her words at all.

“I want to be with you.”

Her quiet plea made Seiden’s heart, which was tightly bound, ache sharply. Even though he knew those words were not a confession to him, he had a moment of foolish delusion. His throat moved low with tension.

The story of the Rockdragon oracle, which had been floating in his mind, swelled again and wreaked havoc in Seiden’s chest.

If someone found the heart of the Rockdragon and proposed to Bellota.

If he could be with the woman in front of him forever.

Seiden’s eyes darkened at the unbearable thought. If he could no longer watch over Bellota from her side, he had never thought about what he would do then.

Seiden looked at Bellota, who was waiting for his answer with tense eyes, looking at him earnestly. The bright moonlight poured down on Bellota’s flushed face.

It was then. Seiden’s eyes, staring at her dazzling figure as if she would disappear if he blinked, suddenly froze. Seiden dropped the reins he was holding and urgently ran out of the stable, looking up at the sky.

Bellota, who was startled by Seiden’s sudden action, turned to look at him, and her breath stopped almost simultaneously. Bellota collapsed.

“Ah….”

With a thud, Bellota lost strength in her legs and fell, and Seiden turned to her like lightning.

“Saintess!”

Seiden immediately ran to Bellota and supported her trembling body.

“Sir….”

Bellota called him desperately with a voice of disbelief. Seiden couldn’t believe the situation either. Seiden looked up again at the moon shining through the broken ceiling of the stable.

What was floating high in the sky, shining like a lie, was a full moon. Round, as though it was drawn, and twice as big as the original moon, so clear that it was impossible not to notice.

Seiden’s breath got caught. There were still days left until the full moon. The calculation was accurate. But, but how? And what is that size…?

“Ah….”

Bellota gripped Seiden’s chest tightly and let out a painful groan. Seiden urgently looked down at Bellota. Every part of her skin that he touched was burning hot. The curse had manifested. This meant that the full moon above was not only mimicking the appearance of a full moon but also its energy. Bellota was now suddenly facing the curse of the full moon.

As this thought reached him, Seiden’s rigid mind started to race. The question of how the full moon had risen days early was not important right now.

Bellota also realized that something was wrong. Her gaze, like Seiden’s earlier, turned to the ceiling. Seeing the full moon through the broken roof of the stable, Bellota’s eyes froze. So, the heat that had been rising since earlier was because of…

“The moon… the full moon… ugh…”

“Don’t speak. I’ll handle it.”

Seiden held the suffering Bellota tightly and comforted her while looking around urgently. The stable not only housed Seiden’s horse but also the horses of the holy knights, so there was no telling when another knight might arrive. They needed to leave immediately. No one could witness Bellota in this state.

They had to go inside the castle. Seiden mentally traced the map of the castle’s layout that Kabillon had given him earlier. His room was surrounded by the rooms of the holy knights, and he didn’t know which rooms were vacant as he hadn’t explored the castle thoroughly.

The only option left was Bellota’s room. Her room was somewhat isolated from the others. Geril had intentionally placed Bellota’s room in a secluded spot. Seiden, at least, clearly remembered the location of Bellota’s room, so finding it wouldn’t be difficult.

But Bellota’s room was located high up in the castle, and he couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t encounter anyone on the way there. In that case…

After a brief moment of contemplation, Seiden propped Bellota against a pillar in the stable and stood up. He quickly grabbed a white cloth covering a pile of hay and spoke.

“We are going inside the castle.”

Bellota looked at Seiden with feverish, reddish eyes. Her face showed that she agreed this was the best course of action.

“I will wrap you in this cloth so no one can see inside from the outside.”

With that swift and clear explanation, Bellota nodded weakly.

Seiden immediately wrapped Bellota in the white cloth and lifted her up. He then headed straight into the castle and quickly started climbing the stairs.