Chapter 19

'I told you not to...'

Even if she got hurt, it would heal quickly. Even if she grew exhausted, she wouldn't die. It seemed Edelaine still didn't realize that.

"...Nya! Ack! My, my wrist!"

The voices that had faded away for a moment began buzzing back into earshot.

Genevieve looked at the priest rolling on the floor, his wrist severed.

She didn't know his name. She knew he belonged to a faction that didn't care for her, but she never imagined he'd try to kill her.

The priest, writhing in agony, locked eyes with Genevieve and sucked in a sharp breath. Sanity returned to his dull gaze.

"W-Wait, ah, Saintess...!"

He tried to call out desperately, but it was already too late.

Genevieve wanted to rush to Edelaine, but the holy knights were already gripping her arms.

"Just a moment, I need to see Edelaine—let go of me!"

"You can see her later. Once the situation calms down."

"But!"

Genevieve gritted her teeth.

If she could heal even without touching, even from afar...

'Why can't I do it? I awakened—I can use purification!'

She felt indignant and furious at her own inadequacy. As she was dragged away, Genevieve burst into tears.

The priest, now back in his right mind, let out a scream.

Genevieve was immediately transferred to the imperial palace.

It was only natural, given that the second attack had occurred inside the church—and by an insider, no less.

The culprit was someone with unusually deep faith. He confessed that he believed the saintess, who used the goddess's grace for personal ends, had fallen into corruption, and that's what drove him to act.

"B-But, I, I just thought it... I a-absolutely never meant to kill!"

"You think getting swept up in impulse is an excuse?"

"That's not it! It was like... like I was possessed by an evil spirit..."

His body had moved on its own, the priest croaked from the chair he was bound to.

Edwin narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the priest's pathetic face. Covered in sweat, the man's features twisted in pain, but there was no trace of deceit in his desperate struggles or gaze.

Edwin asked.

"Do you even know who it is you attacked by mistake?"

"Uh, th-that..."

His eyes rolled around. Spotting someone behind Edwin's angelic face, the priest flinched, shoulders trembling.

"I d-don't know! I don't know!"

"Hm, good thing you don't. If you'd known and still done it, even I couldn't cover for you."

Edwin turned around.

Shane, arms crossed, let out a snort.

"It won't change anything."

"Leave him to me for now. I won't handle it sloppily. The church is making a fuss demanding his custody, and shutting them up is a headache..."

"Hand him over."

Edwin looked at Shane in surprise, then gave a wry smile.

"Planning to kill him either way, huh."

"Whether he dies in the execution grounds or in prison, the outcome's the same."

"Ah, true enough."

Not my problem...

"But isn't standing on ceremony unnecessary? He wasn't after Edelaine—he targeted Genevieve."

Edwin shrugged.

"He can't be blamed for the dangers she brings on herself, right?"

"Fair point, but to be clear—this is just me venting my anger."

"...When you admit it so readily like that, I don't even have a retort..."

"Edelaine wouldn't care a whit about the attack on her as long as she knows why that bastard went after Genevieve."

"......"

"Even if she knew she'd die in seconds gripped in that hand."

You severed that hand yourself...

Edwin shook his head.

"The investigation shows no backer behind this man. No suspicious circumstances, no signs he took orders from anyone. The pope's furious—if there were any disloyal elements inside, I'd have known by now."

"Then."

"Either a momentary impulse or someone manipulated him. One or the other..."

Edwin wrapped up and shoved Shane's back.

"Whatever the case, I won't let it slide carelessly, so rest easy and go."

Right before closing the door, he glanced back at the jailer. The jailer gagged the priest again and dragged him to a cell. More interrogation might yield info, but Edwin doubted anything new would come up.

"Genevieve must be shaken. I should at least check on her."

"I'll head back."

"Huh? Not seeing Genevieve?"

"Do I have to?"

"Cold, aren't you? Still her guardian, though."

"I've fulfilled my guardian duties."

It wasn't just about duty.

But Genevieve probably didn't want to see Shane's face right now either. Edwin didn't press further.

"How's married life treating you?"

"Am I obliged to answer? It's my private life."

"Drawing a line between us?"

"I despise people who blab about their romantic entanglements or private stories with others."

"...That kinda hurt..."

Shane responded to her so what? with silence.

This is the kind of guy he is.

He acted like Edelaine was the only thing in his sight, showing no interest or curiosity in anything else.

"If someone was manipulating him."

"Ah, black magic? Not impossible, but low odds. If controlled, he'd still be mindless. But he said the impulse was fleeting—sanity returned the moment he acted."

"Genevieve might have purified him."

"Her? Well, poison maybe, but..."

Truth be told, even that wasn't particularly impressive.

Genevieve was busy because her abilities weren't superior to the previous saintess.

Even the same region's poison miasma required two or three sessions instead of one. Expeditions cost money, so she couldn't help feeling the burden. Evaluations of her skills reached her ears no matter how she tried to block them out.

"Genevieve can heal wounds, but not cure diseases. Poisons are the same. All she can do is keep someone alive and maintain their stamina until an antidote's found. Even purifying a curse would take days at minimum. Shane, you're rating her higher than I thought."

"Just considering all possibilities. Edelaine..."

Shane trailed off, jaw clenching. The grinding of his teeth sent an eerie chill through the air.

"...will throw herself into danger like she's immortal, no matter what I say."

"...That's something else..."

To ignore threats from this terrifying man.

From the moment she didn't bat an eye at his nonstop confessions and blind devotion, coolly saying, "Sure, give it a shot with the saintess," Edelaine's extraordinary courage was nothing short of admirable.

Edwin, lost in thought for a moment, tossed out casually.

"I figured you'd lock her away in the manor after marriage, keep her hidden tight."

Shane didn't respond. He must have considered it.

"That's why I hinted you'd need to help me at the Founding Festival this winter. Well, now I know you're not locking her up, so expect plenty of invitations from here on."

His mother fussed every time she talked with Genevieve about how she hadn't married off her son yet—she'd start calling in guests ahead of time soon enough.

The Founding Festival was two months away.

Edelaine's good at judging people, so she'll be useful.

Though looking at Shane made him question that skill a bit. Or maybe she judged well, which was why he kept her at arm's length.

Edwin chuckled softly.

"Shane, I thought you wanted to hurt Edelaine."

He'd assumed catching the runaway and forcing marriage with threats was all to cage and torment her. He knew how broken Shane had been after Edelaine vanished.

To torment the woman who'd deceived and tricked him.

But it didn't seem that way now.

Shane stared straight ahead. The air grew heavy in the seconds of silence. He answered curtly.

"It's not different."

"Come on, a husband rampaging to kill the bastard who nearly hurt his wife?"

Edwin smirked teasingly but fell quiet upon seeing Shane's profile.

"To Edelaine, the very fact that I'm her husband is horrifying."

Shane's deep blue eyes, shadowed with gloom, turned self-deprecating.