~Chapter 86~
Some time passed.
I went to the High Temple, desperate for any hope.
‘Marriage registrations… I remember they’re managed separately in the Main Hall.’
I headed straight for the Main Hall.
At the entrance, a smiling priest blocked my way.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
“Hello, I’m Laritte Ansie. I’m the heir of the Ansie Viscounty.”
I was so desperate that I skipped all formalities and said what I needed right away.
“I want to check my marriage registration papers.”
“Oh… You want to check the marriage registration filed under your name?”
The priest stepped back a little.
“Could you wait in the waiting room for a moment? We need to check first.”
Back then, I thought there would be no problem checking the documents.
After all, I was the one involved. Why wouldn’t they show them to me?
But things didn’t go as I expected…
After a while.
A handsome man with a neat appearance came into the waiting room.
‘Huh? That person…?’
He had tidy, light brown hair and clear, sky-blue eyes that almost looked transparent.
He was wearing a freshly pressed, pure white priest’s robe.
He looked exactly as he was described in the original story.
“Chief Priest Evans?”
I called out to the man with a doubtful voice.
The man, Isaac, smiled softly at me.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Ansie.”
…Why is the second male lead of this world suddenly appearing?
Of course, the marriage paperwork was important, but only two people could be Chief Priest out of all the priests.
‘This is a bigger deal than I expected…’
At that moment, Isaac spoke gently.
“I heard you came to check the marriage registration that the temple keeps.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I nodded.
His light blue eyes turned toward me.
While staring at me, Isaac suddenly asked,
“Come to think of it, Lady Ansie, you know Lady Claudius and the Duke as well, right?”
Why was he bringing up the Lady and the Duke all of a sudden?
I answered, confused.
“Yes? Yes, I do, but…”
“Did they perhaps tell you that the temple also keeps a copy of the paperwork?”
What was this about?
For a moment, I felt a slight sense of discomfort.
His voice sounded kind, but his words felt a bit like he was interrogating me.
Also—
‘Is he blaming the Claudius family for revealing confidential information?’
I couldn’t believe it.
He wouldn’t show me the marriage papers but started talking about the Claudius family?
“Chief Priest Evans, I’m the heir of the Ansie Viscounty myself.”
I was so shocked that my voice came out sharper than usual.
“Of course I’d know such confidential things.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Isaac smiled smoothly, not looking sorry at all.
Then, as if nothing happened, he got straight to the point.
“Well, as you asked, the marriage registration was properly filed with our temple.”
“….”
Ah, damn it.
I sighed inwardly.
I had hoped, even just a little, that maybe the paperwork wasn’t filed at the temple.
But that tiny hope was crushed…
Unable to hide my disappointment, I asked,
“Then, can I see the documents?”
But Isaac lightly shook his head.
“Sorry, but that’s not possible.”
What?
For a second, I couldn’t believe my ears.
Why not?!
“Recently, the temple decided to be stricter about the security of marriage registrations,”
Isaac explained quietly.
“There have been too many disputes among nobles over marriage contracts, right? We decided it’s best to prevent any possibility of trouble.”
His neat eyes curved into a pleasant half-moon.
“So now, at the temple, we only confirm whether the documents are filed.”
“Even for me, the person involved?”
“Yes, it’s hard to let just one party check.”
Isaac’s tone was gentle but firm.
“If you really want to see the papers, you should come together with your fiancé, young master Gusto.”
“But…!”
“That’s the only way.”
Isaac stood up lightly, declaring it as final.
His pale blue eyes remained warm as he looked down at me…
“It was nice meeting you today, Lady Ansie.”
“I hope next time, we can meet in a more personal setting, not just for official business.”
The words were polite but also clearly telling me to leave.
While I was still flustered, Isaac bowed lightly.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
He left the waiting room without the slightest hesitation.
Left alone, I felt the urge to scream.
‘What the heck is this?!’
In the end, I, Laritte, had to leave with nothing.
‘…Chief Priest Evans.’
Laritte narrowed her eyes.
‘What’s that guy up to?’
Even though his attitude was gentle and his smile was kind…
He was strangely hostile.
He had firmly refused to let her see the documents, even though she was the one involved.
And his words sounded like he was blaming the Claudius family.
And somehow, everything seemed to be working out in the Gusto family’s favor…
Just then.
“Laritte!”
A sharp, feminine voice rang out.
It was a familiar voice.
When I turned around, I saw Seraphina glaring at me with a furious expression.
‘Ugh, I’m already stressed about the marriage papers, why is she making a fuss now?’
I couldn’t help but look tired.
Seraphina looked like she was about to hit me as she marched over.
“What is going on?!”
She didn’t bother calling me “Lari” sweetly as usual.
Seraphina shouted,
“Did Gregor really propose to you?!”
“Why are you asking me? Go ask your precious young master Gusto.”
At my blunt reply, Seraphina’s face turned bright red.
She was angry that Gregory had dumped her and proposed to me!
But her rage was so strong, she couldn’t even speak clearly.
“You, you…!”
Seraphina’s shoulders shook with anger.
Just then, someone called out to stop her.
“Serah!”
A loud voice echoed.
Gregory marched over quickly and stood between us.
He acted like he was protecting me.
‘Is he… protecting me instead of Seraphina?!’
Seraphina’s eyes widened in shock.
But the surprises weren’t over.
Gregory glared at Seraphina and raised his voice.
“What are you doing to Laritte?!”
Meanwhile, my expression soured a bit.
Every time Gregory called me “Lari,” I felt like I would throw up the steak I ate yesterday…
Seraphina’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Gregory.
“G-Gregor…”
Her trembling voice showed she couldn’t accept what was happening.
“You’re… taking Laritte’s side over me?”
Seraphina hesitated and moved toward Gregory, asking in a shrill voice,
“Did you really propose to Laritte? No, right?!”
“Sigh, Seraphina.”
But Gregory just ran his hand through his bangs, annoyed.
He snapped at her,
“What does it matter to you who I propose to?”
“How, how could you say that?!”
Seraphina’s shoulders drooped like a wounded bird.
But things kept getting worse for her…
“Seraphina.”
Count Gusto appeared.
