Chapter 28
28
At Celestina's words, Eden replied heavily.
"Everyone is worried about you, Saintess."
"I know. But that's worrying about 'Saintess Celestina,' not me."
A sad smile lingered on her lips as she clutched the warm teacup.
Eden found it hard to deny her words. Because she was right.
As a heavy silence fell, Celestina smiled brightly, as if to say she was okay.
"I said something unnecessary. I'm sorry. I end up acting spoiled around Sir Eden for no reason."
"Not at all. It is enough for me if I can be of help to you, Saintess."
"Really?"
"Yes."
At his unwavering and upright answer, Celestina brought the teacup to her lips with a satisfied expression.
Sip.
Celestina closed her eyes and hummed a tune as she felt the warm tea pass down her throat.
"I really like the tea that Sir Eden makes for me. You'll keep making it for me in the future, right?"
After saying that, she narrowed her eyes and watched Eden's reaction.
As always, Eden simply nodded calmly.
"As long as I am protecting you, Saintess, of course."
"That's right, Eden is my shield and sword."
"That is correct."
Celestina smiled secretly.
If it were someone else from the Temple, they would have blushed and been overjoyed at Celestina's every word.
Because she was beautiful and the most powerful Saintess in history.
But Eden was different. Just a knight. An attitude that simply fulfilled his duty.
That noble loyalty, never crossing the line, satisfied Celestina all the more.
"More than that, the reason I came to visit so late at night..."
Celestina, who had emptied half of her teacup, put it down and gazed at Eden as she spoke.
"I heard from the High Priest. That you went to the Mercedes Ducal Family today to investigate the attempted poisoning of His Majesty the Emperor."
At those words, Eden flinched slightly and pressed his lips shut.
A subtle discomfort settled in his blue eyes.
Celestina, keenly aware of that emotion, wore a pitiful expression.
"It's already been seven years since I became a Saintess through Divine Revelation, but I've never met him even once."
As she said, Khadien had never participated in a Temple event. Of course, the Temple side did not try to invite him.
"But I've heard stories often. That he denies the Goddess and antagonizes the Temple."
Her pure white eyelashes drooped heavily.
A deep sorrow cast a shadow over her delicate face, resembling a lily of the valley.
"Besides, I heard that he and Sir Eden are like oil and water. You must have had a hard time."
"...It's nothing."
"What kind of person is he?"
At Celestina's question, Eden's fine brow furrowed slightly. Celestina intuitively knew that he was thinking of the Mercedes Ducal Family.
After a moment of silence, Eden quietly parted his lips.
"That man... is an enigmatic person. Rude, arrogant... and lonely."
"I see. He's a pitiful person."
A pitiful smile settled on Celestina's lips.
As the atmosphere sank, Celestina quickly changed the subject.
"Come to think of it, is there no woman who has caught Sir Eden's eye yet?"
"Pardon?"
At the sudden question, Eden looked at Celestina with surprised eyes.
Celestina, who smiled playfully, asked back with a relaxed face.
"Sir Eden is already at the age to marry, isn't he?"
"..."
Eden's gaze lowered slightly.
Eden was 26 years old this year.
Rather, it could be said that he was a little past the marrying age.
"...That's right."
Eden answered indifferently.
It had been a long time since the marriage of priests and Holy Knights was forbidden.
Currently, priests and Holy Knights could also marry and have children.
Moreover, Eden also held the title of Marquis.
The marriage proposals that flew to him every day were enough to fill the fireplace.
Eden, though he himself was unaware, was in fact the most eligible bachelor in the Empire.
Perhaps it was a very obvious story.
He was not only the commander of The First Holy Knight Order but also the master of the Marquis family, second only to the Ducal Family, and he was steadfast and, above all, very handsome.
Of course, when it came to beauty and title, Khadien was a step above, but he already had a son who had been declared his heir, and rumors of Insanity were openly spreading.
No one wanted to be his wife.
So, any woman would have no choice but to aim for Eden Aquillium.
Eden, who was ignorant in that area, simply thought that the marriage market was active these days and moved on.
"How is it? Is there a woman who catches your eye? A woman you're interested in."
At Celestina's secret question, Eden closed his lips.
Celestina often asked such questions about whether there was a woman who caught his eye.
Each time, Eden would answer with a wooden face, "There is none."
It was natural. There were plenty of women who were making advances on him, but his duty was only to protect the Saintess, Celestina.
He had no time to pay attention to women.
But...
"If it's a woman I'm interested in..."
Eden's lips, which had been closed for longer than usual, moved slowly.
Celestina quietly watched his cautious movements.
Soon, Eden answered, putting strength into his hand placed on his thigh.
"There is."
"There is?"
As if she hadn't expected it at all, Celestina asked back with a surprised expression.
Eden, unaware of Celestina's change, nodded seriously.
"It's not a romantic feeling. I'm just concerned..."
"...I see."
Celestina answered quietly in a low voice. After fiddling with her teacup, which had already cooled, for a moment, she suddenly smiled and asked.
"To think that a woman has captured the interest of the great Sir Eden. I'm so curious about what kind of person she is. Could you tell me her name, just to me?"
But at that question, Eden flinched like a frog hit by a stone.
Looking at him, feeling strange, Eden answered with a slightly depressed face.
"...I couldn't."
"Yes?"
"I asked, but I couldn't hear it. She didn't tell me."
"What?"
Celestina's eyes widened.
It was hard to believe at once. That's because it was none other than Eden Aquillium.
A woman who refused to tell her name to the most popular man in the Empire.
Leaving Celestina's confusion behind, Eden recalled the conversation from the day with a darkened face.
'Would you tell me your name?'
Since he had never asked a woman for her name before, Eden was inwardly nervous.
But at the same time, Eden didn't think she would refuse his request.
But the answer that came back completely shattered Eden's expectations.
'I was just doing what I should as a tutor of the Mercedes Family. So you don't have to repay me.'
That was why her refusal was even more painful.
At her polite yet firm refusal, Eden could not ask her to tell him her name again.
Eden was definitely not asking her to tell him her name because he had any personal feelings for her.
He just wanted to know her name because he felt that she was amazing for leading the situation.
But to think she would refuse...
Before he knew it, Eden was lost in Livia's thoughts, with Celestina in front of him.
Celestina, who had been staring at such Eden with a blank expression, suddenly smiled and spoke to him.
"Don't be so discouraged, Sir. You'll have a chance to meet her again."
"...?"
"The Baptism is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"Ah."
"You'll be able to meet again. I also..."
Celestina, who trailed off, soon smiled brightly like sunshine and continued.
"I really want to see her."
"..."
At Celestina's words, Eden was lost in thought.
Celestina, who had been watching him quietly, suddenly stood up from her seat. Eden, who belatedly came to his senses, also stood up following her.
"I'm glad I came to visit today. I also heard about Sir Eden's her."
"Saintess... it's really not like that."
Eden's face became troubled at Celestina's mischievous joke.
Then Celestina smiled lovingly.
"Hehe, I'm just kidding. Then I'll be on my way. Have a good night, Sir."
"I hope Celestina-nim also has a peaceful night."
"Thank you."
After exchanging friendly greetings, Celestina left Eden's room.
Click.
As the door closed behind her, a deep darkness spread over the hallway.
And.
"..."
Celestina, with her back to the closed door, looked back at Eden's room with a blank expression, then slowly crossed the hallway, tearing through the darkness.
