chapter 49
The Saint’s bedroom, located at the deepest part of the Grand Temple.
Florencia, in her casual clothes, paced back and forth inside the room, constantly checking the wall clock.
“Why isn’t he here yet? It’s almost five o’clock.”
Elion, who had promised to visit in the afternoon, was still nowhere in sight.
Florencia’s patience, after waiting all day, was gradually wearing thin.
Just then, there was a knock—knock, knock, knock—followed by the voice of a young maid from outside the door.
“Saint, Duke Klitzmann has come to visit you.”
Florencia’s face immediately lit up at the long-awaited news.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
Her hair was disheveled, and her face looked pale from purposely skipping meals over the past day or two.
Satisfied with her sickly appearance, Florencia quickly slipped into bed and leaned against the headboard.
“…Alright. Show him in.”
“Yes, Saint.”
Shortly after, Elion entered the room.
“Florencia? Are you feeling alright?”
She watched him silently as he approached the bed.
The previously dull and chilly room instantly felt bright and warm when he stepped inside.
It was as if a gentle, spring breeze surrounded his presence.
“As expected, you’re essential to my life, Elion. My light, my air. So please, always stay by my side. Stay with me.”
Praying earnestly in her heart, Florencia finally spoke, her voice a little weak.
“Ah… Elion. You came in person. Thank you.”
Elion’s sympathetic gaze swept over her pale face.
“You don’t look well at all. I was worried when you suddenly collapsed as soon as we entered my estate.”
“You make it sound so dramatic.”
Florencia brushed her face and said,
“I’ve always been like this since I was little. I guess staying up all night praying the past few days took a toll on me without me realizing it.”
“You’re already frail, and you stayed up all night praying?”
“But I’m feeling much better now. Really. By tomorrow, I’ll be fully recovered. Thank you for worrying, Elion.”
“How could I not worry when the empire’s only Saint is unwell? You heal others, but can’t heal yourself.”
“….”
Florencia gave a faint, powerless smile and lowered her head.
Just then, a maid brought a teapot and cups and set them on the bedside table.
Watching Elion take a sip of tea, Florencia asked,
“The engagement… is it true?”
“Yes. It’s true.”
Elion nodded quietly.
Seeing his expression completely devoid of excitement, Florencia mustered the courage to speak.
“Elion… you said you had no intention of dating or marrying. So… was it the Emperor who forced this engagement on you?”
“He said that if I were to have a romance, I should do it after an engagement.”
“Ah…?”
Florencia’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
While she was happy that the engagement wasn’t originally Elion’s idea, she was desperate at the thought that he wanted to date that woman.
To Florencia’s knowledge, it had been less than a month since Elion met Miss Payson.
And yet, he decided to get engaged because he wanted to start a relationship with someone he barely knew.
Florencia simply couldn’t understand it.
“What is it about her… Miss Payson, that you like so much?”
Clenching her teeth tightly, she asked.
Elion, seemingly surprised by the question, paused and then thought carefully.
“She resembles me. We both have our imperfections.”
“….”
The crease between Florencia’s brows deepened.
Resembles him? ‘We’? Imperfect?
Nothing made sense.
His low voice continued.
“But… Miss Payson is also different from me. She’s honest and sincere about what she wants. So even with her imperfections, she shines.”
Earlier he said they were similar… and now he says they’re different?
Elion’s perspective on the world was always rational and sharp.
But to Florencia, who had shared a lonely childhood with him, he was an exception.
Now it seemed he intended to make that woman an exception too.
His explanation about her was neither rational nor composed at all.
The special bond shared between Florencia and Elion no longer felt special.
Elion, unaware of Florencia’s burning heart, continued speaking.
“No… I think she shines even more because of her imperfections. What does that even mean? I don’t really know, even as I say it.”
He smiled awkwardly at his longtime childhood friend.
Florencia cursed herself for seeing him smile as he thought of another woman, yet still looking so admirable.
“I like that about Miss Payson. Should I say… it’s endearing?”
For a moment, Elion froze.
Endearing? Rubiana is endearing? We’re… not like that!
Even he couldn’t help but feel flustered at his own words.
But only briefly. The thought of seeing Rubiana made his heart pound fiercely.
At the same time, he recalled the argument in the carriage, the awkward silence, and the way she lowered her head.
Elion regretted it.
He should have fulfilled whatever she wanted.
“On the way back, I have to stop by the Payson estate.”
Watching Elion lost in thought, Florencia’s chest ached as if it were being torn apart.
She couldn’t understand a word he said, but one thing was clear:
“Elion… he’s sincere with her. He likes her… No! That can’t happen! You’re mine!”
Florencia despaired.
If she remained passive, she would lose Elion forever.
She had to stop it at all costs. He was her life.
“By the way, you were injured too, right? Are you alright now? Is it okay for you to move around like this?”
“The injury was nothing. My magic was a bit unstable, but it’s fine now.”
“Your magic… was unstable? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Just your concern is enough. It wasn’t serious enough to monopolize the Saint.”
Elion spoke playfully with a small smile, and Florencia once again fell for him.
She felt a strong desire to completely possess his smile.
At that moment, the communication stone on Elion’s wrist shimmered.
“Ah, it’s my aide. Just a moment.”
“Alright.”
As Elion stepped onto the balcony to respond, Florencia quickly got up from the bed.
From a hidden drawer, she took out two yellow pills and dropped them into Elion’s teacup.
“One might not be enough, so let’s try two this time.”
Once the pills had fully dissolved, Florencia returned to her bed.
Fortunately, Elion was still communicating on the balcony.
Shortly after, Elion returned with a stern expression.
“What’s wrong, Elion? Is something happening?”
“Sorry. I have to go now.”
“Ah… it can’t be helped.”
“Take care of yourself. We’ll meet again.”
“Alright. But the tea…”
Florencia glanced at the largely untouched teacup with disappointment.
Not wanting to leave most of the tea served for a guest, Elion took a large sip.
“I’ll go.”
“Take care.”
Watching his quick footsteps disappear, Florencia clenched her fists.
She had put two pills in, but he drank so little that she feared it would have no effect. Frustration surged.
“Why did Rubiana collapse again? Didn’t Omar say she was in perfect health? She even said so herself. Then why…!”
As he walked briskly, Elion’s anger began to boil.
“Damn it.”
He sighed heavily and climbed into the carriage, only to be hit by a sharp migraine.
“Ugh!”
He grimaced and clutched his head.
Finally seated in the carriage, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“My body… isn’t normal again. I heard she was in perfect health less than half a day ago, and now the pain has started again!”
Elion gritted his teeth, thinking of Omar.
What is the empire’s so-called greatest healer even doing?!
All he did was tell them to exchange magic on their own.
He didn’t even know how much magic they were supposed to exchange.
Moreover, her supposedly perfect health had collapsed in just a few hours.
“Damn quack!”
Elion’s jaw tensed as he tried to suppress his anger.