“Did I marry him just for his looks?” she wondered, a chuckle escaping her lips. “What does it matter how we got married?” she asked rhetorically. What mattered was how to get a divorce. Though she didn’t remember the specifics, there must have been a reason she married Ares. But now, what difference did it make?
Besides, he probably wants to divorce me too, she thought. Despite spending a lot of time together lately and forming an unexpected bond, she didn’t have the desire to maintain their relationship. “I want to take Sasha with me,” she decided. For a moment, she rationally suspected that he wouldn’t want to take Sasha with him either.
Just then, there was a hurried knock on the door. “Captain! He’s here, he’s here!” Cecil exclaimed, bursting into the room with an excited expression.
“He?” Kirine asked, confused.
“Yes! It’s His Holiness Pope Vincent Holy!” Cecil replied.
Kirine, who had been resting her chin on her hand with a bored expression, jumped up in surprise. “That’s today?” she exclaimed, realizing how much time had passed. She quickly gathered her outer clothes and rushed out of the laboratory.
***
“It’s so magnificent,” Kirine murmured, her eyes wide with awe. Outside, a procession of the Pope’s knights was lined up, each one clad in immaculate white attire that exuded a sense of purity and refinement. While the garments might have appeared simple, they were made from silk woven with platinum threads, and the small accessories they wore were crafted from rare jewels, making it difficult to even estimate their value.
“They’re definitely different from the ambassadors of the Katen Kingdom,” she commented, her voice filled with admiration. The way they walked exuded a refined elegance and an unusual sense of authority. Just getting a bit closer felt like she could be cut by the swords hanging at their waists.
But the one at the front, Vincent, wore a benevolent smile. He hasn’t changed at all, she thought, a sense of nostalgia washing over her. It had been eight long years. Yet, Vincent looked exactly the same. If anything, he seemed to radiate an even softer and more gentle aura, which was quite surprising.
“I greet the Great Sun of the Empire,” Vincent said, his voice warm and welcoming.
“Welcome, Your Holiness,” the Emperor replied.
Throughout the exchange of pleasantries, Kirine couldn’t take her eyes off Vincent. His bright blonde hair seemed spun from sunlight, and his golden eyes mirrored that very hue. His clean and fair skin complemented his striking features perfectly. Vincent Holy was exactly as she remembered him.
He hasn’t changed at all, she repeated, her thoughts drifting back to the past. She had wondered if he might have changed even a little during the eight years she couldn’t remember, but he had not at all.
At that moment, Vincent suddenly turned around, his gaze fixed directly on her. “May I have a word with an old friend?” he asked the Emperor.
“As you wish,” the Emperor replied, feigning an apologetic expression. He seemed to have anticipated this and readily agreed, but he discreetly gestured to Kirine to ensure she wouldn’t reveal that she had lost her memory.
Surely I won’t be caught? Kirine thought, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the upcoming encounter.
***
Naturally, after leaving the Great Hall, Kirine and Vincent headed to her laboratory.
How should I address him? she wondered, unsure whether to speak formally to Vincent, who had become a Pope in the eight years she couldn’t remember, or to treat him casually as a friend. In the end, she decided to say nothing until they arrived at the lab.
She felt a surge of anxiety, wondering if she seemed strange. “How have you been?” Vincent asked, as if he had been waiting for the question. His friendly tone eased Kirine’s nerves.
“I’ve been well. You’re the same as ever,” she replied.
“Is that a compliment?” he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Of course. It means you’re still kind and gentle,” she said sincerely.
However, Vincent’s reaction was unexpected. He wore a bittersweet, troubled expression, and she was about to ask him why. “By the way, how is your daughter?” he asked, changing the subject.
“She’s doing well, of course,” she replied.
“I’ve missed her; it’s a shame,” he said, a genuine sadness in his voice. Seeing his face, Kirine felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
Since she didn’t know what had happened during the eight years she couldn’t remember, she wondered if it would be awkward with Vincent. However, contrary to her expectations, she felt completely at ease in his presence.
“I should get going now,” Vincent said, standing up abruptly.
“Already?” Kirine asked, surprised. Even when she waved him to sit back down, Vincent silently shook his head with a smile.
What came out of his mouth next was shocking.
“Your husband doesn’t like me being with you.”
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