~Chapter 30~

“My lady Count, you have a visitor.”

Judith entered.

“A visitor? Who?”

Society kept sending invitations and visit requests, but Lovelace had ignored them.
She had no time—suddenly becoming a lord meant learning and handling territorial affairs nonstop.

So she had never accepted visits. A visitor now?

“His Holiness the Pope.”

Judith answered carefully.

“His Holiness Nikolai?”

“Yes—His Holiness Nikolai.”

The Papacy was in the capital. Harmelda bordered it, but the distance was still far—at least two days by carriage.

“Show him to the parlor and serve tea at once. I’ll be right down.”

After sending Judith off, Lovelace washed her hands—remembering Nikolai’s fastidiousness. She straightened her clothes and went to the reception room.

Knock, knock.

At her signal the door opened. Nikolai, who had been calmly admiring the room, came to greet her himself.

“The room is very beautiful,” he began. It wasn’t a platitude—Franzic architecture accented with Amerique art; refined, as Arwen had promised. If Arwen had invested this much care, she clearly had an eye on Lovelace—suspicious that she simply left Lovelace alone.

“Your Holiness, have you been well?”

Her voice was as clear as ever. In a violet dress, she looked like a lilac bloom.

“Yes, well. And you, Lady Lovelace? Ah—belatedly, congratulations on inheriting the title of Count.”

He offered a framed scripture as a gift.

I don’t even have a religion…

She didn’t love the present, but accepted it graciously for the sake of courtesy. They sat across a small table.

“Does His Grace Larvihan visit often?”

“You came to see me, Your Holiness, and ask about Larvihan?”

Her answer came out prickly—his purpose was obvious. Realizing she’d been rude, Lovelace dipped her head.

“You said you were my friend, yet it seems you’re Larvihan’s friend. I was discourteous.”

“No, it was my mistake. You always make me aware of my shortcomings.”

When did I do that? He’s good with words. Do they choose popes by eloquence?

Not sarcasm—genuine amazement.
Should I compliment him back? Too late—the silence stretched, until Judith arrived with tea and cakes, easing the mood.

“How is ruling the territory?” he asked.

“It’s hard—I’ve never done it. I should meet the people soon, but I can’t find the time.”

“If you plan to meet them yourself, you’ll be a fine lord.”

“You flatter me—but thank you.”

Nikolai studied her as she sipped. Had her opinion of Larvihan changed?

“If the Papacy can help, say the word,” he offered, then fell silent. But he couldn’t stay silent forever. After finishing his cup, he finally stated his purpose.

“Would you consider leaving His Grace Larvihan’s side?”

“Your Holiness, as you see, I’ve become Count of Harmelda. Where could I go, leaving the land? To run from Larvihan, I’d have to abandon my territory.”

“I’m not telling you to run, Lady Lovelace. How could I ask you to give up what is yours?”

“Then what do you want from me?”

“The attribute power.”

“Pardon?”

“I know those who can extract it. If you would give that power to us—or at least actively help us…”

“You’re telling me to steal Larvihan’s power?”

She went cold—twice.

“What do you mean, Larvihan’s power? It is already yours, Lady Lovelace.”

“No. It’s Larvihan’s. It’s in my body by my mistake, but it’s power he worked to build.”

Over the past days, she’d learned: magic wasn’t easy. Larvihan might be gifted, but such vast power also came from effort.

Pretend not to know and run off with it?
Sure, she’d thought of running—still did—but handing it to someone else? No.

“Your Holiness Nikolai, forgive me, but you should go. I have much to do.”

“Lady Lovelace, he is a demon. He will destroy the world.”

“Then you should stop him. Strange that the god you trust would allow the world to be destroyed. Isn’t that neglect of duty?”

Neglect of duty—very Korean phrasing slipped out. Still, every story she’d read ended with good winning.
If the tale ended with Larvihan destroying the world, then either Nikolai’s god was lazy, had abandoned the world, or was the villain.

“That is why I am doing my utmost,” Nikolai said earnestly. But he did not grab her sleeve when she rose—the ink smudge at her cuff bothered his sense of cleanliness.

“Do you truly believe Larvihan will destroy the world?” she asked.

He nodded heavily.

Well, I saw him destroy it too.
Not entirely wrong—but there was more. The novel ran over 200 chapters; the world’s destruction happened only in the 100s.
Branding him “world destroyer” from that scene alone felt too much.

“Bring proof, Your Holiness.”

It was the most rational answer to shut down the nonsense of “give us the power.” She left the parlor first.

“What did you two talk about?” Judith asked, seeing Lovelace’s dark face.

“Nothing much. Put the frame in my bedroom, and see His Holiness out. I’m busy.”

Rubbing her throbbing temples, Lovelace headed for her room.

“Nikolai paid a visit, I hear.”

Lovelace had indulged in a rare long nap. When she awoke, the sky was orange.

“News travels fast. Where were you?”

“Checked Paolo’s homework. Not bad.”

Of course, Paolo hadn’t finished even half the load Larvihan assigned. What he had done was a perfect grasp of the ten history volumes.
It didn’t satisfy Larvihan, yet he didn’t scold the boy.

“Two days. I can finish in two days,” Paolo had challenged, tired but stubborn.

“What if you can’t?”

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Convince your sister to marry me sooner.”

At that, Paolo squeezed his eyes shut.

“What—can’t do it?”

“I can!”

Larvihan’s taunt hooked him. Sensitive to provocation and fiercely competitive—the siblings were alike. If Paolo succeeded, great. If he failed… even better.

“Sounds like Paolo did well,” Lovelace said, noticing Larvihan’s pleased smile.

“Mm. He’s bright. So—why did Nikolai come?”

“Just to congratulate me on inheriting the title.”

“The very busy Pope, with only a small carriage and a single holy knight, came all this way just to congratulate you.”

His voice dripped doubt and sarcasm.

“Yes. That’s right.”

It wasn’t—but she had to lie. If she told him Nikolai wanted the power, Larvihan would storm there at once.

This time, it won’t end with just the Papal gate in ruins.

“You lie badly—obviously,” he said, but let it slide. Whatever they schemed together was still in the palm of his hand.

“Did you draft the amendment?”

“Oh—right!”

She lifted a fist to thump her head, but his hand was quicker.

“Don’t hit yourself. Treat your body with care.”

For a second she was moved—then remembered his power sat inside that body. The feeling washed away.

“Where are you going?” he asked as she stalked off.

“To write the bill!”

“Before that, Rey—”

He caught her wrist. Maybe he misjudged his strength; she stumbled, and he pulled her into his arms to steady her.

“I need to check something.”

“What?”

A street couple kissing had made him remember—power was supposed to transfer by touch. Yet after their long kiss, he had regained nothing.

Was I too excited to notice? No… I would have felt it.
He had rushed over mid-thought.

“Our method of exchanging power.”

“S-s-sex?” she blurted, overly wary.

“No—kissing.”

At that word, the lost fragments of memory snapped together: lips, trembling lashes, gentle hands—forming the whole picture.

Her lashes quivered. It had been a kiss rich enough to resent having forgotten it. Heat rushed to her face.

Her first kiss—remembered at last.