Chapter 7.2 – Duty Of A Married Couple
***
A word from the Marquis and the temple was turned into a circus. The cable tunnel connected to the Holy Land’s Great Holy Temple was kept open almost 24/7, and a large number of carriages bearing the temple’s insignia streamed in and out.
There was a single calm person alone in this whirlwind. It was Valia.
There was some commotion only on the first day, and after that there was nothing much for Valia to do. Sean and Robin, whom Shuden had assigned to her, were friendly, and it didn’t feel awkward as she was already familiar with them.
She was touched to be given three delicious meals a day, and was also moved by the fact that she could take daily warm baths. The fact that she didn’t have to clean up at all made her the happiest.
Of course, that didn’t mean she felt completely relaxed the whole time. Valia often found herself lost in thought, mostly because of Shuden.
‘Why is he marrying me?’
This thought was at least still better than her next one.
‘Won’t he regret marrying me?’
The concept was so scary that even when alone, she couldn’t open her mouth to voice it.
Although the Marquis fell in love with Yeri, Madame Garth was also a beautiful woman. Valia had seen his wife several times in the past life. Madame Garth had brilliant red tresses that stood out from afar, which were often adorned with flowers and jewelry. As a high-ranking aristocrat, she wore beautiful white lace-edged dresses to match her status. Valia was a plain mouse compared to her.
Valia still didn’t know about what kind of deal there was between the temple and the Marquis and Imperial Family. Although Valia was now the subject in the center of this recruitment, even she didn’t know how she would become the Marquis’ bride this way.
‘Let’s not rock the boat, since I don’t know anything.’
As long as she remained still in the center of things, she would eventually find out more. It was a reality that Valia realized while working for the Imperial Family in the past. Fortunately, she was good at waiting. She knew she could bear the wait despite her curiosity.
‘The day where I’ll be able to ask will come.’
Valia concluded her thoughts this way, and now she was sitting in the reception room. The Great Holy Priest was in front of her. She had never seen him this close before, and she blinked nervously.
“My Lady,” he said.
It had only been a few minutes ago that the Great Holy Priest called for Valia. Sean stood loyally behind her. The Great Holy Priest had wanted to separate Sean and Robin from Valia for their private meeting, but the knights refused to back down, stating they had orders from their Lord. It was accomplishment enough that Robin was allowed to stand outside the door.
“It’s not that I have any other way, but I summoned you to impart a blessing,” the Great Holy Priest said.
“Blessing…you say?” Valia asked, her eyes widening slightly. It was well-known that a priest’s blessing was more precious than ten golden crates packed with diamonds. A priest’s divine power was limited, and a great tribune was needed to receive a blessing.
‘Although that wasn’t the truth.’
The belief that ‘A priest’s blessings is precious’ was a kind of ploy, a gimmick devised by the Holy Land. The real truth, ironically, became widespread throughout the continent because of Yeri, the woman of the oracle. With her title as the Woman Chosen by God, she gave her blessings whenever she wanted, and the priests’ influence considerably diminished.
To make matters worse, there was a large uproar when it was discovered that the Holy Land lied for the preservation and competitive edge of their divine power. The cooperative—though superficial—relationship between the temple and the Imperial Family devolved into a power struggle.
‘But no one knows this will happen yet.’
This was still long before Yeri showed up. Being able to receive a blessing was still considered a once-in-a-lifetime dream. Even Sean had an uncharacteristic look of awe on his face.
“But Great Holy Priest, if you wish to give a blessing—” Valia began.
“I know,” the Great Holy Priest said. “The ceremony and ritual have already been completed. I’ve also offered all the tribute needed. Consider it a wedding gift from the temple to you, Lady Valia.”
Valia knew that his power was all a lie. She was amazed that this seemingly benevolent priest could lie without blinking an eye. Was he forced to lie for the sake of the temple’s power?
Sean bowed his head. “I thank you on behalf of My Lady,” he said respectfully. A blessing and a ritual was worth that much. Valia also hid her inner feelings and thanked him.
“But what kind of blessing will you impart to me, Great Holy Priest?” she asked.
“It is a blessing that will make it easier for your husband to be attracted to you, My Lady,” he replied.
Valia’s eyes rounded. She expected a blessing of good health or fertility, not attraction…
It wasn’t just Valia who felt something was wrong.
“Great Holy Priest,” Sean cut in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but wouldn’t His Excellency need to be informed of that kind of blessing?”
“How can he refuse? Doesn’t it matter to him that the blessing may be gone forever?”
“Well…”
Sean hesitated for the first time. A priest’s blessing was not easily given out, even when a large amount of money was offered. What’s more, it was the blessing of the Great Holy Priest! Sean was one of the few people who knew that Valia would be the Marquis’ wife. Realistically, Sean was concerned that Valia might hold a grudge against him for causing her to lose the blessing.
Valia thought silently as she listened to the debate between the two.
‘Did Madame Garth receive this blessing in the past too?’
She couldn’t confirm it, but she couldn’t help but have reason to suspect. She asked a question to buy herself some time to think about it.
“The one who will be my husband—the Marquis, that is—is he scary?”
“He is an intimidating person, in a sense. He sucks the soul out of women,” the Great Holy Priest answered.
“…I see.”
The Great Holy Priest’s words were expressed accurately. Even Sean, who risked his life and was loyal to his Lord, could not refute the statement. Valia also agreed inwardly. She had almost been swayed by the Marquis in such a short time.
A growing worry began to take root in her. Even if the Marquis was attracted to her and treated her well, what then?
[Did you hear? Marquis Garth said he had fallen in love with Yeri!]
[Yes, I heard that too. That’s why he had a fight with the First Prince.]
In the past, these rumors spread throughout the palace, so everyone knew. Only then did Valia understand the shock that the Marquis’ wife felt. How terrible would it feel if she was blessed with attraction, only to have her husband leave her? Indeed, the Marquis’ wife could not bear it, and she broke down at the Imperial Ball, where she was only supposed to show her graceful self.
‘There’s no guarantee that I won’t be like that too.’
In the beginning, Valia thought she would have been alright with this arrangement. She had confidence because she didn’t know the Marquis was such a formidable presence. However, once he appeared in front of her, he had shattered her expectations. More than anything, that gaze he had… Well, she didn’t know how someone’s eyes could look like that. The moment his jewel-red eyes laid upon her, she experienced a shocking sensation where it felt like the sturdy castle of her heart was falling apart.
“My Lady?” the Great Holy Priest said, snapping her out of her thoughts. She soon made up her mind.
“Great Holy Priest. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but no thank you.”
“…May I ask why?”
“I don’t want to rely on the blessing to be loved by my husband. Even if he fell in love with me in the future, I would always be unsure. What if I hadn’t been blessed? Would I have not been loved by my husband? Those kinds of thoughts.”
The Great Holy Priest’s expression shifted slightly. The attraction he meant was physical attraction, not emotional love.
Valia continued resolutely. “My husband won’t receive that kind of blessing, so I’d like to be treated the same and not receive it as well. That is the duty of a married couple.”