Chapter 72
Arden gasped at the breathtaking scene before him. It was so peaceful and beautiful that it felt like a different world altogether. Despite the pouring rain, all he could see were the unique charms of Arcelion.
Apart from the sound of rain, there was no other noise. The heavy downpour that filled the silence calmed his excited heart. Surrounding the white buildings were green vines, and blue roses in full bloom were catching the raindrops.
Dense forests cast their shadows around the area, and as Arden looked at the fortress-like protective walls of the building, a faint smile appeared on his face.
“No wonder the Emperor was reluctant to antagonize the Pope.”
If war were to break out, it would surely be a tough battle. Arden brushed back the rain dripping onto his head with his hand. Blue roses… they did resemble the image of the Papacy.
As he walked toward the main gate in the rain, his steps came to an abrupt halt when a shadow fell in front of him. Looking up, he saw a man of similar height standing there.
“Follow me.”
“And why should I? Doesn’t Arcelion teach its people basic manners?”
“I am Eren Kith, the third wing of His Holiness. He has ordered me to bring you in. Please follow me.”
Eren spoke with a displeased expression. His monotonous voice made Arden narrow his eyes. As the rain intensified, Arden frowned and spoke.
“Lead the way.”
Eren was wearing a cloak that obscured his face. Arden wasn’t particularly interested in him, so he averted his gaze.
The man standing still handed him a cloak. Arden looked at him with an expression that asked what the point was since he was already drenched.
“Wear this.”
“No need. Just guide me quickly.”
“You’ll stand out. Arcelion doesn’t have blond hair. It would be better if you wore it.”
How troublesome.
Reluctantly, Arden took the cloak the man handed him and draped it over himself. Surprisingly, despite the heavier rain, he felt as though no raindrops were falling on his head.
He followed Eren, walking behind him. Taking a detour to the back gate rather than entering through the main one implied many eyes were watching the place. If not that, someone who shouldn’t see him might be present.
Arden hoped that Leticia, the one he had been desperately searching for, was beyond that wall.
The mere thought of Leticia caused his heart to beat fiercely. Though he tried not to expect too much, once the thought crossed his mind, it wouldn’t quiet down. Instead, her vivid, longing face appeared even more clearly.
When the bridge to the back gate lowered and opened a path, he finally entered Arcelion.
Once inside, Arden kept his cloak on and continued following Eren.
The Papal building was stark white. Its untainted purity and dignity were reflected in the architecture, prompting Arden to look around with his head raised. The golden accents in the interior design caught his eye.
The sound of water-soaked shoes echoed through the hallway. Wherever Arden walked, water dripped and left traces, but he didn’t care. Remembering the remark about his hair standing out, he didn’t remove the cloak and kept walking down the corridor. As he passed, the priests turned their heads to look at him.
“Even with the cloak, it seems I stand out.”
“…You’re tall.”
“You don’t look much shorter than me.”
“His Holiness’s Wings number four. They are all tall, but others are not. It might make them think a new Wing has arrived.”
Wings, huh. How childish. With four people capable of wielding divine power, who would dare challenge the Pope? Arden, receiving stares from people in white priestly robes passing by, suddenly turned his head to one spot.
“…I feel a bothersome gaze.”
He didn’t know why. His head just turned on its own. But there was no one where his gaze landed.
Then why did he feel as though someone was watching him?
“Why did you stop?”
Eren turned his head and asked. Arden shook his head as if to say it was nothing and quickened his steps. Once again, the sound of his footsteps echoed through the hallway.
I almost got caught.
“I didn’t think he’d really come…”
Leticia covered her mouth with her hand and leaned against the wall to hide. Her heart pounded violently, the sound of its rapid beating thundering in her ears. The irregular rhythm grew faster and louder as if it wouldn’t stop, making her worry that others might hear it. She quickly clasped her hands together and pressed them to her chest, curling up slightly.
He was still looking for her. She wondered what was in his heart. As the Pope had said, seeing and hearing for herself wouldn’t be too late. But now that she faced him, she couldn’t stay calm. Despite having waited patiently for his arrival, Leticia now acted like a startled girl facing an unexpected situation.
Her flushed cheeks and racing heart mocked her. She had hated him so much, yet Dandelion’s single remark had rekindled hope in her. Perhaps, deep down, she had wanted the Pope’s words to be true.
She felt as though she had reverted to the person she was when she first met him, making it nearly impossible to calm her emotions.
Was it because it had been so long since she last saw him? Or was it because she needed to tell him that the child growing in her belly was his? Could it be, as the Pope had suggested, that Arden didn’t express his feelings but still loved her?
“No, that’s not it.”
This was a feeling she couldn’t quite define, something only she could truly sense. The anticipation of finally having a proper conversation with him—that seemed like the most reasonable explanation.
Leticia traced back through her memories.
Holding hands, sharing a kiss, the warmth of his breath on her skin, the gentle touch of his large hands brushing up her curved waist. The veins standing out on his steady arms, the firmness of his chest muscles, and the ridges of his sculpted abdomen.
But it wasn’t his breathtaking looks or his mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes that she sought in her memory. It wasn’t his physique that mattered—it was his gaze, his touch, and whether his heart matched hers.
As she reached deeper into the memories she had buried, details she hadn’t recalled before started to surface. Did his blue eyes, which seemed to pierce through her, hold affection? She couldn’t quite remember. There had been plenty of good memories, yet they refused to resurface.
“That’s not important now. If we talk, perhaps some of it will come back.”
The fleeting hope she held turned into endless despair, and that despair ignited only resentment and hatred.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Leticia turned her head to see Arden’s retreating back. It was undeniably him. She didn’t need to see his face to recognize him.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him, seeing him again after so long. He looked a little thinner, somehow gloomier. Yet his broad shoulders, tall stature, steady stride, and confident gait remained unchanged. His sea-like eyes sparkled faintly, even under the dim light. She recognized him instantly because of the aura he exuded.
“Has he been in the rain?”
Leticia cautiously stepped out from the hallway when Arden’s steady footsteps were no longer audible. The floor, wet from his passage, was quickly wiped clean by priests, erasing all traces of his presence. Leticia clutched the hem of her dress tightly.
She blended in with the priests to follow Arden. As she walked, his retreating figure played repeatedly in her mind.
She was tired of watching his back. There was no longer any need to run, only to confront him. In truth, she was curious about his reaction—how his expression would change when he heard that she was dying.
Would he falter? Would he be pained? Would he grieve for her?
For the first time, Leticia felt a thrill on the path leading to Arden. Whatever the outcome, their conversation would undoubtedly bring a significant change to their relationship.
