Chapter 07
“Miss Kosart!”
Irina, who had nearly lost her balance, was quickly caught by Casey.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Are you all right? Should I take you straight to the hospital? Or would you rather return to the mansion?”
Irina quickly waved her hand.
“Oh, it’s fine. Sometimes I get a bit dizzy when the ringing in my ears gets bad. It’s nothing new. I’m used to it. Let’s just head out right away — we can’t be late.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
Casey couldn’t hide the worry in his expression. Irina gave him a small smile and nodded.
“Really. It happens all the time.”
The road to the temple was rather quiet — very different from the noisy central district of Voltier.
When she leaned out the carriage window to feel the breeze, the hat she’d bought from the dress shop nearly flew away.
“I guess a bonnet would’ve been more practical.”
The hat did look elegant and stylish, but it wasn’t her usual style, so it just felt awkward.
Eventually, Irina took it off and laid it aside, tucking her windblown hair behind her ear.
After quite a long climb up the gentle hill, a pure white temple came into view in the distance.
Before long, the carriage came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived.”
“So this is the place.”
White pillars stood tall, surrounded by fresh greenery that seemed to embrace the sacred temple.
The atmosphere felt so different from where they’d come from that even the air seemed charged with holiness.
“Welcome. May the blessing of the gods always be with you.”
A young priest with wheat-colored hair greeted her warmly.
Inside, she offered a short prayer and dropped a gold coin into the donation box.
When she explained her purpose, however, the priest let out a small sigh.
“Oh dear… what should we do?”
“Oh, um.”
Correction.
Not divine — just disappointing.
Irina’s expression grew strained.
Of all times, she had come during the pilgrimage period, when only a skeleton crew was left to maintain the temple.
The one who had greeted her was, unfortunately, the youngest trainee priest.
“It can’t be helped.”
He had said it would take at least a month, so there was no point in waiting around.
This was all Howard’s fault.
Yes, Howard’s.
Irina muttered irritably under her breath and fiddled with the keepsake in her small bag.
She’d gathered so much resolve to come here — only for this.
Her fingers brushed something else, and as she pulled her hand out, a single silver coin slipped free, rolling right to the young priest’s feet.
“…Ah.”
“…Uh.”
“…Well…”
The first to speak was Irina.
The second, the priest.
And the third was Casey, who had lunged to pick up the runaway coin.
“Haha… ha…”
Of all times — and with how broke she was right now!
The silver coin came to a stop right at the priest’s toes, gleaming like a jewel in the sunlight.
Why now, of all times?
As if this were some fairytale moment — a silver coin!
This was definitely Howard’s fault.
Their eyes met, and the young priest smiled radiantly — like a man who had just found happiness itself.
“Haha. Ha…ha. Priest, I just thought my earlier donation might’ve been a bit lacking, so—”
Before she could finish, the young priest bent down and picked up the coin with lightning speed.
Casey, who had been halfway down, straightened up, bewildered.
“Thank you. We’ll make sure it’s used for a good cause.”
“…Right. I-I should be the one thanking you.”
Once upon a time, she wouldn’t even have blinked over such a small sum.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Please go safely. May the gods watch over you.”
With his hands clasped in prayer, the young priest gave a feather-light bow and disappeared into the temple.
Left standing alone, Irina stared up at the sunlight before turning around with a deep sigh.
‘Ugh! This is all because of that damned Howard!’
She roared inwardly, unable to voice it aloud.
Hoo—
With a sigh, she glanced at Casey for help.
“Is there another temple nearby?”
At the look in her eyes, Casey flinched.
‘Just now… I saw killing intent in her eyes.’
He quickly straightened up and nodded.
“There is another temple, but it’s outside the capital. If we leave now, we can get there before sunset. But if it overlaps with the afternoon prayer time…”
“Ah, I get it. Meaning, we might waste our time again? Hmm…”
Irina looked up at the sky.
It had been noon when they left the city center, and now the sun was already slanting west.
“Then let’s hurry.”
With that, she climbed into the carriage once more.
* * *
When they returned to the mansion, Howard was waiting for her.
Irina froze halfway out of the carriage, spotting him.
Her expression hardened as she looked straight at him.
Howard stood still, as though he’d been waiting just for her.
Irina stepped down slowly, each movement heavy, like walking through water.
“You.”
She stopped right in front of him.
“For a moment… can you go back to being the old Howard?”
And with that pleading line — she threw herself into his arms.
—Only to get enough momentum to drive her fist into his gut!
“Ugh.”
She slammed her fist into his stomach with all her strength.
Then she lifted her chin defiantly and glared up at him.
Howard winced slightly, one brow furrowing as he looked down at her.
“Do you have a death wish?”
Irina’s voice dripped venom.
“The person who just assaulted someone is the one saying that?”
“Assault? Assault?”
Who was he calling the assailant?!
Grinding her teeth, Irina recalled what had happened earlier.
At least in the second temple, things seemed to go well — at first.
She followed every instruction the priest gave her, performed the vows and rituals necessary for transferring the magic stone, and even felt herself letting go of lingering attachments.
When she turned to leave — that’s when things went wrong.
The moment her name and identity were confirmed, the priest’s expression stiffened.
He awkwardly smiled and said they couldn’t accept the item.
He returned her mother’s keepsake with both hands.
It was a high-grade magic stone.
Why refuse it?
When she asked why, he only gave her a strained smile and blessed her future.
Then, a familiar name flashed through her mind — chilling her to the core.
She’d gotten back in the carriage immediately after that.
“You want to laugh at me, don’t you?”
“I haven’t said a word.”
At that, Irina glared daggers at him.
A faint smile flickered across Howard’s lips.
“How was your visit to the temple?”
Of course.
The stalker knew everything.
Irina turned slightly, glaring at the guards who still stood at attention behind him.
They suddenly found the distant mountains very interesting.
“You said you’d only remove dangerous elements.”
“The biggest danger, Irina, is you running away.”
“Oh, really? Says the man with a record of doing just that?”
Howard’s gaze flicked toward the servants, who immediately vanished like lightning.
“Let’s talk inside.”
“You’re changing the subject, aren’t you?”
Howard only shrugged.
“Why did you stop me from repaying my debt?”
“I told you this morning.”
“To repay it by your side? I said I didn’t want that.”
“How cold of you.”
“Hmph. Who’s the cold one here? You’re the one who—!”
Grrrrrrruuuuuumble.
It wasn’t thunder outside — it was her stomach.
Both of them froze.
Irina’s face flushed red.
She suddenly remembered she hadn’t eaten properly all day, too busy trying to get everything done.
Even earlier, when Casey had suggested stopping for lunch, she’d refused.
And now, of all times—
“Seems we should have dinner first.”
“I’m not eating with yo—!”
Grrrrrrruuuuuumble.
She tried to argue again, but her stomach growled even louder.
Damn it.
“F-fine! We’ll eat first, then talk!”
* * *
The clinking of silverware echoed lightly over the dinner table.
Normally, Irina didn’t eat much — but hunger made her unusually focused tonight.
“I need your help, Irina.”
“You need my help?”
So much for finishing the meal and storming off — that plan vanished.
With her stomach full, her temper had softened just enough to listen.
“Yes.”
“What kind of help?”
“Being of humble birth brings… certain difficulties.”
Howard, who had reappeared out of nowhere and often acted a bit arrogant, was now asking for help — politely, even.
“You have difficulties? Who’s giving you trouble?”
At the mention of his background, Irina’s tone sharpened slightly.
Not toward him — but toward whoever might look down on him for it.
He could be infuriating, but no one else had the right to treat him that way.
“Various people.”
His vague answer made her put her fork down.
“Are you dodging the question on purpose?”
“No. There are just… several issues.”
Still evasive, but Irina could guess what he meant.
Even in Arendor, those who rose from commoner origins to nobility faced prejudice.
How much worse must it be for a foreigner who had climbed even higher?
“Hmm, I see. But you’re a Ringester now.”
To represent an entire noble house — that was no small thing.
Surely, he wouldn’t be mistreated anymore.
Howard merely shrugged.
“I once helped someone… involved.”
“Saved their life or something?”
“Well… something like that.”
Again with the vague answers.
No point pressing him further — he was stubborn about such matters.
Irina sighed softly.
“All right. Fine. So, what exactly do you want me to do? I still owe you, so—”
She popped another bite of salad into her mouth and spoke through a thoughtful chew.
Howard said plainly,
“Please marry me.”
