No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

 

So the divine power that lingered in Anrize is now with me.

“Argh!”

I clutched my head in frustration.

How do I get it out? Did I really swallow it!?

Carlothian spoke cautiously, unlike his usual demeanor.

“…It should come out naturally with time.”

“Be quiet.”

I cut him off abruptly. Given the situation, the only option is to find Dorothea as quickly as possible. Surely, it won’t come out there!

I had to suffer through nightmares all day on the way back to the capital. What kind of nightmares? That’s a secret. A secret!

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

The night before arriving in the capital, Carlothian left the carriage, leaving Ariadeline asleep inside. The knights who had stayed behind in Anrize and departed later had safely joined them today.

As soon as they saw Carlothian, they began to report what they had seen and experienced.

“The divine power in Anrize has disappeared.”

“…I see.”

It was expected since the relic that was in Anrize was now with Ariadeline, causing the divine power there to vanish.

However, despite all the efforts Ariadeline made over the past few days on the way back, the relic had not been found.

He had sent a request for an audience with Crown Princess Dorothea, and the acceptance letter was now in his hands.

“As soon as we enter the capital, I will head to the palace with Ariadeline.”

“Understood.”

At that moment, a knight raised his hand cautiously and asked.

“…Have you found the relic?”

“No.”

Carlothian answered immediately, without hesitation.

He truly hadn’t found it yet. He recalled Ariadeline, who had been tossing and turning alone on the bed, holding her head.

He could only laugh. Where had that mischievous girl come from?

The knight looked at his superior, who seemed oddly amused, with puzzlement.

“Ah, I see.”

“Keep this matter confidential. Anyone who speaks of it will face severe punishment.”

“Understood.”

The knights then returned to their posts, and Carlothian climbed back into the carriage.

He saw Ariadeline, sleeping soundly.

Carlothian stared quietly at her face and then watched her, lying comfortably, in the opposite seat.

Her lips were small and pouty. He was reminded of the hot mouth that had once been filled with his tongue.

Now he could have a peaceful night. But why did it feel so unsatisfactory?

Unable to understand his own feelings, he kept gazing down at her sleeping face for a long time.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Crown Princess Dorothea, who had resigned from her position as saint and decided to become the wife of the man she loved.

Yet she was still called a saint among people. She has immense divine power and a beautiful voice.

Even though she held the position of crown princess, she regularly went out onto the streets to practice her divine powers, embodying the image of a saint watching over the world.

“Your Highness, the time for the audience requested by Duke Denaves is approaching.”

“Oh, I know.”

Dorothea spoke in her usual gentle tone, but for some reason, she had been pacing anxiously around her room all day.

The maid, observing her, cautiously brought in tea.

“Ah.”

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Dorothea sighed and took her seat. The maid skillfully poured tea into her cup and asked,

“Is there something troubling you?”

“Well, more like worried. Something strange has happened.”

“Something strange?”

“The divine power…”

“Divine power?”

“I’ve been feeling divine power continuously since this morning.”

“But isn’t divine power something you always felt?”

“That’s the divine power I possess.”

Dorothea gazed out the window; her focus blurred as if she were seeing something unknown.

“It’s neither mine nor the high priest. Not even that of the relics stored in the great temple.”

“Why are you so sure of that?”

“There’s no reason for the high priest to release divine power like this. Given his age, it’s beyond him to wield such a large amount of divine power.”

“What about the relics?”

“The relics are securely stored in a specially designed space to prevent any divine power from leaking out. So, it couldn’t be from it.”

“Then…”

“Exactly. The divine power belonging to someone else is reaching the palace.”

Dorothea tapped her head.

“Could it be that a new saint has emerged?”

That hypothesis seemed the most plausible. A saint is a being who can appear unexpectedly, and with the absence of a saint, it’s possible that God has appointed a new saint.

Then the time came.

A maid knocked and entered, announcing the arrival of the guests.

“Oh, I should head to the audience room right away.”

“Please, this way.”

Dorothea followed the maid’s guidance and headed toward the audience room where Duke Denaves was waiting.

As Dorothea approached the reception room, she felt something increasingly unusual. The divine power became stronger the closer she got.

Unconsciously, Dorothea quickened her pace, passed the maid, and flung open the door to the audience room herself.

“Oh, hello, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“A-Ariadeline?”

Dorothea’s eyes widened. If it were anyone else, it might be different, but as a saintess, she could discern where this immense divine power originated.

“Your Highness, the tea…”

Dorothea cut her off.

“No, I don’t think it’s needed. For now, make sure no one comes near here.”

“Yes? Yes, understood.”

Her loyal maid cleared out all the other servants from the vicinity of the audience room.

Having confirmed this, Dorothea closed the door behind her and turned to quietly observe Carlothian. Carlothian spoke,

“You recognized her as a saintess right away.”

“What’s that?”

Ariadeline responded, surprised. Dorothea took a deep breath, sat on the opposite sofa, and placed her hands on her knees.

“What exactly happened?”

Ariadeline fidgeted and wiggled her fingers, seemingly indicating that explaining was difficult.

But who was by her side? The Duke of Denaves, Carlothian, who would speak his mind even in front of the Emperor.

“She swallowed a relic.”

“What!?”

Dorothea jumped up from her seat. Ariadeline immediately shrank back. Dorothea briefly touched her forehead and then slumped back into her seat. Then she motioned to Ariadelin.

“Ariadeline, come here.”

“Ah, yes. Yes.”

Ariadeline went over to her side, and Dorothea reached out and took her hands. She then closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

“…What are you doing?”

“Just a moment.”

Dorothea slowly used her divine power to probe into the divine energy within Ariadeline’s body.

Unlike magical power, divine power has a consistent nature for everyone, so there was no particular risk involved.

Dorothea confirmed that the divine power within Ariadeline was so abundant that it was even radiating outward, then opened her eyes.

“It seems the holy relic has fully settled within Ariadeline’s body.”

“Is that so? Can it be removed or taken out?”

“A holy relic is something beyond ordinary understanding. From the way your body is now filled to the brim with divine power, it seems that rather than being absorbed…”

Dorothea looked directly at Ariadeline.

“Ariadeline, it would be more accurate to say that you have become a relic yourself.”

“Pardon?”

Even Carlothian, who had been quietly listening, raised his eyebrows at this.

“Just like me.”

Dorothea placed her hand on her chest.

“Like Your Highness?”

“A human holy relic. We commonly refer to such beings as saints. They usually take up the position of high priest or saintess.”

Saintess Ariadeline.

Ariadeline touched her forehead at the incongruous combination of titles.