Episode 4

“An engagement contract…”

Indeed. The fact that she had traveled back in time, and that it was to this exact period, was a stroke of luck for Russelin. The engagement contract was as worthless as kindling in her eyes. With a look of distaste, she shoved the document deep among the other papers, hiding it from sight. Her expression, which had been calm and collected moments earlier, hardened with discomfort. It was due to Aydin’s recent erratic behavior over the past few days.

‘What are you so anxious about? As you always say, I’m just a half-baked priestess.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. With that kind of magic inside you, how dare you…’

‘If not you, then who am I supposed to rely on?’

‘…Ha, fine. Stay close to me like that. I never intended to let you go anyway.’

His possessiveness, once so obvious, now seemed absurd in retrospect. The sheer desperation with which he clung to her, afraid someone might steal away his half-baked priestess, was almost laughable. Today, once again, his filthy grip had attempted to reach for her.

‘My lady, the lord has requested that you join him for a meal. Please, follow me.’

‘I have no appetite. Tell him I’ll be dining alone. He might prefer that, too.’

The knight, who served her husband, had spoken as though she had no say in the matter. Russelin sighed quietly, low and controlled.

“…I need to act quickly.”

The first thing she realized after standing up to Aydin was simple: to break free from the vicious cycle of their twisted relationship, she had to change. Not only did she need to escape Aydin’s grip, but she also had to reclaim Lavrenti, the life that had been stolen from her. For that, she needed strength—strength to oppose him.

‘Do you think you can escape from me and survive? Who would take in a half-baked priestess like you?’

The familiar, tormenting voice no longer fazed her. It may have haunted her in the past, but now it was different.

‘I just need to find someone for whom being a half-baked priestess isn’t a weakness.’

Someone who could stand against Aydin, someone who could exploit the very weakness Aydin tried to use against her. But was there such a person?

“…I’ll find them, no matter what.”

To face Aydin Bert, she would need to align herself with someone even more dangerous. But there was no time for fear or hesitation as there had been in the past. Russelin calmed herself and began reflecting on the days gone by.

“Aydin must have proposed to me after bringing in the second priestess. I was so desperate back then that I accepted.”

Even back then, he had been maintaining his relationship with Celia. If that was the case, her path forward became clearer.

“I need to escape Bert Manor before he proposes.”

She might not be able to stop him from bringing Celia into their lives, but she had to avoid being completely bound to Aydin. Russelin set the papers down and pressed her fingers against her temples. But her moment of contemplation didn’t last long.

Bang!

Without so much as a knock, an uninvited guest barged into the room, striding towards her with rough steps. Russelin, having anticipated his arrival, lifted her head calmly without a hint of surprise.

“Aydin?”

At her indifferent call, Aydin’s face, flushed red with anger, twisted into a menacing scowl.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you refuse?”

Aydin was furious that Russelin had declined his invitation. It was an emotion she found utterly useless, which made it easy for her to respond.

“I wondered what the fuss was about.”

“What? Are you saying this isn’t a big deal?”

“That’s just the reality, isn’t it? You’re always too busy to spend time with me.”

Russelin’s words were blunt, but they carried the tone of a woman tired from loving in vain. Perhaps that was why Aydin, flustered, opened and closed his mouth, unable to form a response. But that brief moment of hesitation gave way to something else entirely.

“…Why do you have this?”

His gaze had landed on something—a document she had hoped to keep hidden.

Aydin’s gaze slowly dropped as he roughly snatched up one of the documents. It was a file Russelin had glanced over just moments earlier, detailing the particulars of a certain man—a man both Russelin and Aydin knew well.

“Why are you looking into this bastard?”

“…”

“Are you not going to answer me?”

Russelin, too, was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, but Aydin failed to notice. He likely hadn’t realized that, in his anger, he had given her a vital hint. Suppressing her inner delight, Russelin spoke calmly.

“For your sake.”

“What?”

“I am soon to become your wife and the lady of the Bert Duchy. Shouldn’t I know about anyone who poses a threat to us?”

Though her words seemed to express concern for Aydin, she knew there was no better way to strike at his pride. A potential threat to Aydin and the Bert family… that was none other than—

“Leonard Estere.”

“…”

“The only man bold enough to disturb your peace of mind, isn’t he?”

Leonard Estere, the head of the Estere Grand Duchy, and another protector of the empire like Aydin. Based solely on status, Bert as a mere duchy could hardly challenge the grand duchy of Estere. However, Aydin had used his position as one of Ragnar’s protectors to confront Leonard. Russelin knew well why Aydin was particularly wary of Leonard.

“What? Am I not enough, and now you’re after this guy’s magic too?”

“…”

“Do you really think that bastard would even look at a worthless half-baked priestess like you?”

Aydin’s hostility stemmed from fear—the fear that someone might take what he considered his possession. He growled menacingly, attempting to intimidate Russelin, but she remained unusually composed.

“I belong to you. What’s there to worry about?”

There was nothing more satisfying for a man like Aydin than seeing his possessions affirm their loyalty. Russelin thought she had accurately hit the mark with his psychology, but Aydin’s reaction was harsher than expected.

“Then prove it.”

Crushing the document in his hand, Aydin roughly grabbed Russelin by the wrist and pulled her into his arms. She hadn’t been prepared for his sudden movement, and now she was trapped against him. His voice, cold as ice, echoed his command.

“In a week, you will accompany me to the imperial palace.”

* * *

In the Tristan Empire, the protector acknowledged as bearing the power of the gods was considered noble, elevated by divine favor. However, as the saying goes, too much of anything can be dangerous.

The people, fearful of the uncontrollable magic of the protectors, anxiously awaited the arrival of a priestess who could tame their power. As the only woman capable of controlling the protector’s magic, the appearance of a priestess was always a matter of great public interest, with the imperial palace going so far as to officially announce her presence.

Currently, Priestess Russelin held that role, though everyone knew she was not a complete or fully realized priestess. That fact made the upcoming royal banquet all the more significant—it would mark the introduction of a true priestess, not a half-baked one like Russelin.

‘Aydin, that event is meant to introduce the second priestess. How can I possibly attend?’

‘What, are you afraid standing before a real priestess will make your half-baked nature even more obvious?’

‘That’s not it…’

‘If it’s not, then follow me. The empire needs to know you belong to me, so no one tries anything foolish.’

In the past, Aydin had rarely shown her any public attention, but now he was bringing her as his partner to the event. While it might have been out of possessiveness, it was still enough to draw others’ attention. Russelin, despite her calm exterior, couldn’t help but feel a hint of tension as they arrived at the imperial palace.

‘I may have come this far, but I won’t move according to Aydin’s plans.’

The mere fact that this banquet would introduce Celia, the second priestess, made it a deeply unsettling event for her. Russelin’s eyes glinted with steely determination. Aydin, ever watchful, noticed her expression immediately.

“Don’t even think about trying anything foolish.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I mean, don’t leave my side.”

“There’s no need to be so wary.”

At least, you won’t catch me doing anything underhanded.
Russelin’s words seemed intended to soothe Aydin, but in truth, they were a reminder for him not to waste his energy on needless worry. However, Aydin, missing her true meaning, reacted defensively and gripped her shoulder with force.

“Don’t make me laugh. Who knows if you’ll receive that bastard’s magic the moment I step away.”

Despite his panicked, anxious demeanor, Aydin’s words were crude and base, a clear insult aimed at Russelin. She didn’t respond verbally but kept her lips sealed, while a brief flicker passed through her eyes.

“Now that I think about it, Grand Duke Leonard Estere will be here today, won’t he?”

As a protector of the empire, Leonard Estere was required to attend all royal events involving the imperial family. In other words, he would also be present at today’s banquet.

“Don’t worry, Aydin. The guest of honor today is him. Do you really think I’ll have any chance to cross paths with him?”

“…What?”

“You already have a priestess. Surely, the second priestess will go to another protector.”

Russelin’s tone was matter-of-fact, as though stating the obvious, but Aydin remained silent. Of course, he didn’t answer. After all, he had already claimed the second priestess for himself.

‘No doubt, Aydin will flaunt the second priestess in front of Grand Duke Estere again today.’

If she couldn’t stop it, she could at least use it to her advantage. Resigned to the difficulties of her past, Russelin coolly accepted the situation, harboring a faint hope amidst it all.