Chapter 87

When I glanced at the part he pointed at, there was a very small scratch. After checking him, my body, which had been hardened by tension, became calm and relaxed.

“What, you scared me.”

“Didn’t you treat the others with minor scratches?”

Seeing the way he pouted out his mouth, I seemed to know why his heart was broken.

“Still, I looked at Your Majesty first.”

Even at my words, Declan made a dissatisfied face as if he had nothing to refute as he muttered.

“If I had known it would be like this, I would have got myself hurt.”

My blood pressure rose at those words, and I slapped him on the arm.

“Is that what you’re talking about now? Do you want to see me run out of breath?”

As I spoke, my emotions overflowed, and tears welled up.

“Yes, I was wrong. So, don’t cry.”

Confused, Declan didn’t know what to do though he gently wiped my eyes.

“I did it because I liked that you cared about me. I didn’t want others to take your attention…”

He sighed as he spoke and rubbed his face.

“I was wrong.”

At that, he hugged me and gently patted me on the back. When I was held in his warm arms, my heart calmed down a little. Simultaneously, my anxious and worried mind from when we were attacked earlier seemed to be at peace now.

Leaning on his body even more, Decan hugged me tightly.

“I didn’t want to be the first to make you cry.”

A voice with a sense of humiliation fell over my head like a sigh.

“Don’t say things like you want to get hurt in the future.”

“Yes, I was wrong.”

Repeating himself, Declan buried his forehead on my shoulder as if he was embarrassed by his own actions.

‘Ugh, what should I do with this big puppy?’

Hugging him and rubbing his back, I sighed inwardly as I thought so to myself.

“You mustn’t get hurt under any circumstances. Don’t even think about leaving me alone.”

He twisted his eyes and placed his forehead against mine.

“How can I leave you? You are so lovely and precious.”

His lips touched softly as I felt his hot breath tickling my face. I was grateful to be alive whenever I felt his breath, his warmth.

* * *

After that, there were several more raids, but due to their skilled response, we managed to get through without any major injuries. By the time we reached our final destination, the Imperial Palace, the sun had already set.

“Your Majesty, I am so glad that you came back safely. Do you know how anxiously I waited?”

As soon as Noah saw Declan, he ran with tears.

“What a fuss.”

Declan frowned as he blocked Noah’s chin with one hand that was about to hug him.

“How can you do this?! You’re too much.”

Even though Noah gave him a sad look, it was immediately cut off with a single knife.

“In the meantime, Duke Otien has dispatched people and searched for Your Majesty’s whereabouts.”

The next moment, Mason approached Noah and lowered her voice.

“Isn’t that what you expected? Fortunately, it was discovered later than expected.”

“Excuse me, who’s next to you?”

Mason glanced at me in my robe.

“My fiancée.”

“…Yes?”

At those words, Mason and Noah were astonished.

“Fiancée… When did you get engaged? No, you didn’t say anything like that?!”

“Chief attendant, calm down.”

Calming Noah down, Mason forced him to step back.

“Your Majesty, please explain so that I can understand. You canceled the declaration that you would never get married.”

Even though he asked calmly, Mason’s face was filled with surprise.

“Things have changed. I have someone I want to marry.”

“What the hell happened in Ielro?”

I let out a sigh inside at the wary eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

When I gently pulled Declan’s robe, he turned around and asked.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Mason and Noah’s eyes widened at the soft tone.

“I’ll greet them myself.”

“This is your first introduction. Let me do it.”

It seemed as though Mason and Noah’s eyes would pop out any second if I let this go any longer, so I nodded helplessly.

“Let me officially introduce her. This is my fiancée, Erica Luhandel.”

“Hello. My name is Erica Luhandel.”

As I took off my robe and said my greetings, the two of them took a deep breath at the same time.

“I always wanted to show myself, but now, I am able to greet you properly.”

“…What, what is this? Your Majesty, am I crazy?”

Seeing Noah stuttering, Declan shook his head. At the same time, Mason didn’t say anything and just stared at me.

“This is Chloe’s doll.”

The two, who were not sure, froze at the sharp answer.

“Did I not tell you? I am going to find a way for Erica to be human.”

Despite Declan’s explanation, the two were still speechless.

“We even had an engagement ceremony at the Grand Temple, presided over by the Pope. Here’s the deed.”

Then, he took the certificate from his chest and handed it to Mason. He studied the contents slowly, in motion stiff enough to make a squeaky sound.

“You…really did.”

He glanced at Declan and me slowly with a puzzled look.

“R-really. Are you Miss Erica…?”

As if still in disbelief, Noah asked blankly.

“Yes, I’m really glad that I can have a conversation like this with you.”

At my words, he blinked a few times and then slowly approached me with a nervous look. Very carefully, he stretched out his finger towards me but was caught by Declan and bent over.

“Ack! Let go of me.”

Seeing Declan’s eyes, which seemed to want to kill him right away, Noah shrugged.

“I was just wondering did I see a ghost or not? I can’t believe it. What can I say?”

Noah burst into tears at the injustice he experienced. Seeing him like that, I laughed at his stupid look.

“I’ll cut off that finger if you try to touch Erica one more time.”

“You are cold-hearted.”

Noah pursed his lips in disappointment.

“Now, I can touch her like this, so she’s a human, okay?”

Taking my hand, Declan clasped it and waved it in front of Noah’s eyes.

“Even when Your Majesty said you were going to the desert, I honestly didn’t think it was possible.”

Mason seemed perplexed as to how to take this.

“It was hard to believe because it was done by the power of God. Still, it’s true that she’s a human being.”

At Declan’s words, he then gazed at me with a smirk and was stunned.

“Even though you couldn’t see me, you believed in me. Thank you so much.”

As I bowed my head towards the two of them, they were both flustered.

“How can you bow your head to me? Don’t do that.”

Noah was lost and waved his hand.

“I wanted to say hello when I could see you in person. I was really scared that people would think I was a cursed doll.”

“I’m glad it’s not a spell or curse. I’m just relieved that His Majesty isn’t sick.”

Declan grinned at Mason’s words.

“Erica is far from magic or curse. Because she is the savior chosen by God.”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

Mason asked with a quizzed face.

“A divine revelation has already come down to all the priests on the continent to recognize Erica.”

“Huh…? It’s kind of strange that there was a saint named Luhandel and with the Pope’s presence.” Mason said as he glanced at the engagement certificate he was holding in his hand.

“Because of Erica, the divine power was returned to all the priests.”

After hearing the shocking story one after another, Mason and Noah were now in a dazed state.

“…Is that possible?”

“It was made possible because of me.”

When I raised my hand and drew out the divine power, everyone looked at me bewitched.

“…It really is divine power.”

“I only thought it was a mythical story!”

Unlike Mason, who exclaimed quietly, Noah rubbed his eyes.

“Excuse me, but can I touch it once? I’m so curious how it feels.”

As Noah’s eyes lit up with curiosity, Declan intercepted him.

“It’s okay. I have to show my divine power to many people in the future.”

“You’re not even hurt.”

Oh, look at that jealousy.

“I can make you feel divine power without touching it.”

At my words, Declan was skeptical and stepped aside. When I raised my divine powers stronger, a white light appeared over his head like rain.

“Wow… What should I say about this? It’s warm and cozy, it’s like being held in your mother’s arms.”

Noah muttered in shock.

“The Pope not only conferred the title of the Saint upon Erica but, instead, also agreed to be her guardian.”

“You came fully prepared.”

“She is a good prey. So, we have to be prepared.”

Mason seemed to have grasped Declan’s intentions.

“We will do it together.”

“Of course, I will.”

The three people, including Declan, exchanged glances seriously.