Chapter 70
Reina spoke reluctantly.
“…Don’t people usually keep that kind of thing to themselves?”
“Do they?”
Michael looked unbothered, his expression unreadable.
He’s impossible to figure out.
Reina decided she needed to learn more about him, especially since he seemed to want her to find Jeffery.
“Why are you helping me?”
His faint smile returned. “I’m curious to see how far you can go, Reina.”
“…”
“Take care of yourself.”
With that, he escorted her back to her quarters and left without another word.
The next day, unlike his arrival, Michael used a portal to return to the capital.
* * *
Part 7: The Holy Nation
After the delegation left, Reina and Kaiden headed to the Holy Nation.
With the Holy Day approaching, they had a perfect excuse.
Couples seeking children often visited the Holy Nation for blessings during the festival.
As newlyweds, their trip seemed plausible.
Knowing through the Emperor’s secret letter that he desired their child, they had no reason to hesitate.
The Emperor would likely welcome their initiative.
“It’s amazing. The weather turned so mild the moment we arrived,” Reina marveled, gazing out the hotel window after unpacking.
The climate was hard to believe for a place bordering the North.
“It’s the land of blessings,” Kaiden said, stepping closer. “The Holy Nation is under divine protection.”
Leaning in, he whispered near her ear, “I’ve already contacted the Papal Court. They’ll soon confirm the date and place.”
His low voice felt sweet, his lips brushing her earlobe with each word.
The sensation was unfamiliar, and Reina, pretending to adjust her ear, created some distance.
“Then we just wait here?”
“Come all this way just to stay cooped up?”
Kaiden’s tone turned sulky as he closed the gap again.
“Kaiden?”
“There’s a parade for the Holy Day. Don’t you want to see it?”
His coaxing made her hesitate. Was it right to enjoy a festival while searching for her brother’s whereabouts?
“I’ll just stay here…”
As she started to refuse with a glum expression, he grabbed her hand.
“Seeing you smile gives me strength.”
“What?”
“You’ve been so down lately. I want to make you smile.”
Fiddling with her hand, he said softly, “So forget everything for now and come out with me, Reina.”
She realized she’d been overly melancholic, unintentionally making him worry.
When she didn’t answer, he took it as a refusal and added, “If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you. What do you say?”
His gentle eyes awaited her response.
His desire to cheer her up warmed her heart.
It must’ve started after her last talk with Michael—her smiles had faded, her thoughts tangled.
With a lighter expression, she agreed. “Alright. Let’s go have fun.”
His face lit up with a wide grin, clearly thrilled.
His joy was contagious, and she smiled too.
Fidgeting with her hand, he said, “Actually, seeing you smile makes me happy too.”
“Then you should smile more often.”
He chuckled, interlacing their fingers.
Perhaps because they’d played the happy couple in front of Michael, holding hands felt natural now.
Reina stared at their clasped hands, her heart racing faster than usual.
She steadied her breathing and followed where he led, like a magnet pulling her along.
* * *
The Holy Nation buzzed with festival energy.
For the Holy Day, stalls lined the streets with items inscribed with priests’ blessings.
As Reina marveled at the curios, Kaiden’s eyes stayed on her.
The lively atmosphere seemed to lift her spirits.
Having lived only in the palace, this scene must feel novel to her.
Spotting a worker carrying a towering stack of goods heading their way, Kaiden gently pulled her close.
“Oh!”
Her head bumped his chest, and she peeked up, startled.
Seeing the worker pass, her face flushed red.
She felt embarrassed for getting so excited, like a child not watching her step.
“Be careful.”
“T-Thank you.”
“You were so reluctant to come, yet you’re this excited?”
He teased lightly, pulling her closer.
“There are a lot of people.”
“We’re already holding hands…”
“You almost got crushed by that stack.”
His exaggerated reply made him hold her tighter.
It was clearly an excuse, but Reina, unused to such banter, took it seriously.
Was I too careless? I don’t want to be a burden.
Thinking he found her bothersome, she pressed closer, tense.
“Is this close enough?”
Her cautious question made him bite his lip.
Her earnest gaze held no ulterior motive, unlike his.
Her innocence was so adorable he nearly blurted out his true feelings.
“…Yeah, like that.”
His voice was low as he replied slowly.
From then on, they moved through the streets like one.
The market sold mostly auspicious items, with colorful pouches standing out.
Each contained a priest’s blessing scroll, pricier for higher-ranking priests, promising health, wealth, love, marriage, or children.
“Wow, look at these. Do they really work?”
As Reina showed interest, Kaiden said casually, “Most of what’s sold here is fake.”
“What?”
Surprised, she used Ritsi’s power to inspect a pouch.
As he said, no divine energy was present—just ordinary pouches.
“You’re right. They’re just plain.”
Her disappointed look made him flinch, realizing he’d dampened her excitement. Scratching his cheek, he asked, “Want one?”
She shook her head, interest gone. “They’re fake anyway.”
“They sell real ones in front of the Great Temple.”
“Really?”
Her wide, sparkling blue eyes made him chuckle.
“People come for priests’ blessings on the Holy Day.”
“I see.”
“So just look here. We’re heading to the Great Temple soon anyway.”
The Papal Court was inside the Great Temple, restricted to authorized visitors.
But on the Holy Day, it opened to anyone with a reservation.
Normally, bookings would be full, but thanks to Arteon’s pass, they’d secured entry easily.
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