Chapter 74: CH 74

Chapter 74 (See you again)

Lariette looked down at Doha with her round eyes. It was to understand his intentions.

Doha’s eyes were too serious to be joking. He was smiling, but he wasn’t joking.

“Let’s go together… Where?”

She asked with a bewildered expression on her face. Then Doha shrugged her shoulders as if asking for something obvious.

“Wherever you want to go. Where do you want to go?”

“To the West… No, that’s not important.”

Lariette, who had answered the sly question involuntarily, was startled and shook her head left and right.

The West. Doha remembered the information he wanted without missing out.

“Doha belongs to the Alteon Temple in the capital city. But can you travel?”

It was impossible to leave the temple to which he belonged, unless he resigned from his priesthood. It wouldn’t be easy to get a few days off.

“I’ll just quit.”

And Doha answered in a calm tone, as if talking about something insignificant.

Lariette, knowing how difficult it is to become a priest, stared at Doha with her mouth wide open. It was the way she looked at his immature brother.

“Say something that makes sense, idiot!”

“Why doesn’t it make sense?”

“How does it make sense to quit the priesthood just to follow one trip?”

Tsk! Lariette kicked her tongue and criticized his absurd remarks. Even at her point, Doha just smiled languidly.

“It’s not just a trip.”

“What?”

“It’s a trip with Rie.”

How could that be ‘just one trip’? Doha added with a wild smile.

A few loose strands of silver hair slipped down and covered his face. However, good looks were not obscured by such things.

When Lariette did not hold her outstretched hand, Doha moved his face closer to the side of the sofa she was sitting on. It was a beauty scene of its own.

“I am now tired of the filthy reality of the temple. I happen to have something to look into in the West.”

Politics within the temple, the pressure of High Priest Gibralfaro and his followers, the backstabbing, and the threat of life. The troublesome title of successor appointed by the Pope.

I’ve had enough of all this. He has always run after the greatest power and the highest position, but gradually it has no meaning.

In the first place, Doha never thought of becoming a pope. I just wanted to crush those who ignored me with my power.

Lariette was Doha’s first real aspiration. She was the first person I loved.

The meeting that started for simple curiosity and future profit soon became sincere, and he desperately wanted Lariette.

I couldn’t let her go like that.

“Come with me, Lady.”

It was a suggestion that could be nodded to itself. Traveling with a handsome and capable priest, there must be no reason to refuse.

However, this was only Doha’s decision. The one who mistook herself for the time limit had enough reasons to refuse.

“I’m sorry, Doha. I can’t.”

“… The reason is?”

“I have to travel alone this time.”

Lariette’s voice was firm and unwavering. I didn’t want to see my body explode and die in front of my precious friend. It was the same reason as leaving Asrahan.

Doha wiggled his eyebrows for a moment in an unexpected firmness. However, he soon regained control of his expression and returned to a relaxed face.

This is not the only opportunity. I didn’t want to ruin the relationship by acting impatiently.

“Yeah, I think you’ve made up your mind, so I won’t ask any more questions. Then take this.”

“Huh? What it is?”

Lariette accepted the pocket he handed with both hands. The weight was heavy, as if she had heard something quite a lot.

When I loosened the string and opened the hole, all I could see was a bunch of sparkling jewels in the pocket.

“What is this….”

“It’s a reward for what you’ve healed up until now.”

“I can’t take this. You are the one who saved me from death.”

Lariette shook her head and handed the bag to Doha again.

The number of times she healed him was too few to count. Because he wasn’t hurt in the first place.

On the other hand, Doha regularly healed her throughout her stay in Kandel, and during the two kidnapping riots, he healed quite a deep wound. If she had to pay money for healing, it would have come out with an amount she couldn’t afford.

What do you mean he’s paid me for the healing in such a situation? I couldn’t do that, no matter how hard I tried.

However, Doha’s heart was quite firm.

“Please accept it. It’s the heart of a friend who supports the safe journey of a young lady. If you refuse even this, I will be really sorry.”

Doha lowered his eyebrows and pretended to be pitiful. Then he added a sly lie, saying, “Don’t you know that my family owns a mine?”

Lariette looked at his face and pockets alternately and was confused.

Realizing that she was hesitating, Doha covered the back of her hand with both palms and squeezed the pockets tighter.

A whispering voice continued.

“You’ll accept my heart, right?”

In the end, Lariette raised both hands and feet to him. I didn’t have a lot of money for travel, but I was very grateful for his support.

When Lariette gave up, Doha got up with a satisfied smile. It was almost time to go back.

“Well then, Rie. I’ve got to go.”

“Go back safely, Doha.”

Lariette also got up from the sofa and saw Doha off.

‘Maybe this is the last meeting with Doha.’

It seems that Doha doesn’t know, but she didn’t have much time now.

In a few days, Lariette will leave Kandel’s mansion, and after that, I will never see Doha again. I’m not sure I’ll be able to meet you, though.

Memories of Doha came to mind one by one. He healed herself from the first cold, became friends, ate delicious food together, and saved each other.

They were all fun and happy times. I can’t imagine my daily life without Doha.

Just before he left the door, Lariette pondered over and over what to say as a final goodbye.

It was so much fun thanks to you, take care, I’m happy, thank you… There were so many things I wanted to say.

However, she couldn’t put up with anything that revealed the last meeting, so she chose the simplest one.

“Goodbye, Doha.”

Doha just rolled up the corners of his mouth and grinned, whether or not he knew how sad she felt. Then, as always, he answered slyly.

“See you again, Rie.”

We will meet again, for sure. He muttered gladly at the intense intuition that came to him.

* * *

After Doha left, Lariette prepared to go out. I was thinking of going to meet my other friends.

Asrahan followed Lariette with a face like a puppy lost its owner.

Even though she was trying to change her clothes, he kept in his seat and left the room sullenly at her rebuke.

“Can I go with you?”

Asrahan asked as if he had waited as soon as Lariette changed clothes and came out.

I didn’t want to leave her alone. He had already planted people around all of Blanche’s associates and removed all the dangers, but he was still uneasy.

All misfortunes would come regardless of his will or efforts.

How much attention did he pay to Lariette’s safety after one kidnapping, and it happens again.

Asrahan was the most powerful Duke and the most powerful swordsmanship in the Empire. However, he could not control all the circumstances.

He felt his helplessness through this incident and felt that she was weaker than the glass.

I couldn’t even try skinship because she might break if I touched her. I wanted to hug her tightly and put my lips together like before, but I couldn’t.

It was impossible for him to let Lariette alone.

“Even if I’m going to see the princess?”

“I will wait for you in the carriage. I will be quiet so that you don’t feel uncomfortable.”

The inside of his body shook in fear of her refusal.

I wasn’t afraid because I couldn’t keep up if she refused. I was afraid that I would be reluctant to force her own will, even if she refused.

Fortunately, there was no need for the precious Lariette to be forced.

“Okay then, let’s go together. I’ll leave early so you don’t wait too long.”

“I can wait a day.”

Asrahan’s face brightened in an instant. Lariette burst out laughing at his exaggerated replies, adding that he shouldn’t be joking. Of course he was sincere.

Asrahan quickly finished preparing, they got on a carriage and left the Duke’s residence.

Lariette looked out the window and admired the scenery for a moment. The scenery of the forest road in which green leaves bloomed brightly passed by.

A memory of the day when I sat here and chatted suddenly came to mind.

– Asrahan! Good luck in the future! I’ll take good care of you!

– I think you’re misunderstanding something. You and I are nothing more than an employer-employee relationship.

– Anyway! We do things we don’t know about the future. Now that we live together, what’s wrong with shaking hands?

It was a conversation when he signed a contract with him and headed to Kandel’s mansion.

Like the words at the time when she proudly claimed that they didn’t know the future, Lariette couldn’t have even imagined that the future ahead of him would be like this. I really didn’t know that he would love me so much and that I would have to leave him.

Lariette slowly turned her head to look at Asrahan. As if he had been looking at her all the time, their eyes met quickly.

Asrahan made eye contact with her, he slowly rolled his eyes and smiled. It was a kind and lovely look.

All of a sudden, my eyes got hot. The tip of my nose was itchy and my chest was pounding.

‘No, I can’t cry in front of Asrahan.’

Lariette bit her lower lip hard and pressed the tears welling up. I didn’t want to show myself crying.

With only a few days left before parting, Lariette’s every moment with Asrahan was so precious. There was no time to waste with sad emotions.

“Lariette, are you okay?”

“No, not at all! It’s good to be with Asrahan.”

Asrahan, who read Lariette’s expression promptly, looked at her with a worried face. Lariette waved her hand saying no, but his worries did not go away.

Fortunately, the coachman soon announced the arrival.

Asrahan told her to play well with a pitiful expression that didn’t suit his size, as he was sad that he couldn’t break up with her.

Lariette replied that she understood, but smiled awkwardly.

Today, I didn’t come here to chat and drink tea like before. I was about to say goodbye to my friends.

“Lariette! How long has it been?”

As she entered the main gate of Count Osman, Erze’s roaring voice greeted Lariette.

Along with her, a strong body with dense muscles attacked her in an instant. Erze was hugging Lariette.

“I heard the news. How severe was your heartache?”

Erze’s voice soon became teary. It was as if she could feel the moisture on her shoulder, where her face was buried.

There were already rumors in social circles that the Duke of Blanche had ordered to kill her daughter. Asrahan, concerned about Lariette, used to try to stop the rumor, but it was impossible to stop it completely, as horses were the furthest way.

In particular, the princess Erze was the first to hear the news. You don’t know how worried she was during the week Lariette didn’t wake up.

“Erze…”

“Oh, my God, I’ve kept you, the patient, standing up for too long. Hurry up and go in! Our friends are waiting.”

Erze wiped her tears with her hands and smiled brightly. Then she quickly grabbed Lariette’s arm and dragged her.

Jenvier and Juana, who were waiting in the backyard, also greeted her with bright faces.

But strangely, one figure was not seen. Sheria wasn’t there.

“What about Sheria?”

When Lariette asked the question with curiosity, the faces of the three of them hardened in an instant. Jenvier and Juana glanced at Erze as if to speak quickly.

“Lady Mirchen has decided not to spend time together with us anymore… How can we continue to meet when she has done such a thing to you?”

Erze explained in a complicated voice. It was decided right after she took her and escaped in front of Asrazan.

– I can’t stand your behavior anymore. I won’t let you come to our meeting again, Lady Mirchen.

-… Hah! I don’t want to join any more gatherings like this! A princess who doesn’t know if it’s a man or a woman, a woman who is rumored to be crazy in the social world, a widow who has to hold her breath! If this isn’t a drop, what is it?

Sheria screamed at Erze’s back, angered by the fact that she had been kicked out. However, it took only three days for her to change her attitude after realizing the reality.

– We’re friends, Erze! How can you leave me? No one calls me, and if I do this too, I’ll be a loner. Erze, please…!

Sheria knelt down and begged desperately. However, Erze’s attitude was quite firm.

– We’re not friends, Lady Mirchen. I felt pity for you and hurt my real friend, and I have no intention of repeating it.

She ordered a knight to drive Sheria out, and Sheria was kicked out screaming and never able to approach Erze again.

“I am sorry for you in many ways. My foolish ego has tormented you.”

After Erze finished explaining, she bowed her head and apologized to Lariette. She had already apologized to Juana and Jenvier.

“No. I can understand Erze’s feelings… Also, I have something to apologize for.”

“You? what?”

Lariette put a faint smile on her lips and hesitated for a moment to answer. As it was before, the last goodbye was very difficult.

“… I will be leaving the capital for a while. I am going to travel alone. I may not come back for quite some time.”

The three of them widened their eyes in surprise at the sudden words.

If an aristocratic woman was traveling alone, other nobles in the social world would point out that she was not modest. The question of how her lover, the Duke of Kandel, was about to leave was a sure thing to come out.

But, as Sheria criticized, it was a meeting club, and none of the three were acting like aristocrats.

“I see. Have a safe trip. I hope you have a happy trip.”

Erze wished her happiness with a friendly voice. Jenvier and Juana also added that they would like to meet again when she returns.

So Lariette finished saying goodbye to all her friends.

After that, time passed steadily.

Lariette had no regrets with Asrahan, and Asrahan also cherished every moment with her as if every minute was wasted.

And finally, the real last meeting has come.

It was Asrahan’s departure day.