ALL NOVEL Chapter 89
Just when she thought it was over, a commotion arose now of all times… And at Marilyn’s birthday party, no less.
‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have attended the birthday party.’
Despite being told there would be no one to insult her.
Despite having a potion to change her hair color and a bonnet to hide her face.
Above all, because it might be her last chance to attend her friend’s birthday party.
Whatever the reasons, she should have stayed away. That would have been the right choice.
If she truly cared about Marilyn…
“Don’t be disheartened that Lady Jaina is someone the High Priest didn’t foresee in their future. Of course, it was due to some action of the lady’s that the demons appeared, but…”
And it was at that moment.
“What an amusing story you’re telling.”
A clear, low voice resonated across the birthday party venue.
Instantly, the previously noisy surroundings fell silent.
The man who had drawn everyone’s attention towards himself approached Jaina and Raikis with confident strides.
It was Rosian.
“Shaking people with baseless rumors devoid of evidence. Where did this story originate from?”
Jaina tilted her head up to look at the man standing beside her.
Being shorter than Rosian, what first came into her view were his solid chest and broad shoulders. She had to crane her neck further to meet his gaze.
Those red eyes, colder than she had ever seen.
The domineering aura Rosian exuded, as if suppressing his opponent, felt unfamiliar.
While not as unnerved as before, Raikis still seemed somewhat apprehensive.
“Well, many do spread such stories out of mere interest. It’s only natural for Your Highness to be concerned when it involves a lady you cherish.”
“Get to the point.”
“In my case, I heard it directly from the priest Meren, but…”
People exchanged glances with each other. While the baseless rumor had been circulating vaguely, there had been no direct source cited until now. Today, however, Raikis had precisely named a priest.
“To what depths has the temple stooped?”
Though people murmured, Rosian remained unfazed. His presence gradually restored the silence around them.
“The temple faction is proving their incompetence through various means. Unable to achieve anything with the foresight they boasted, they’re now attempting to escape by sacrificing a powerless young lady from an inconsequential household, aren’t they?”
Raikis twisted his lips.
“I didn’t directly say that, but…”
“So you conveyed such words only to retract your tail now?”
Rosian let out a scoff. As the taller man looked down imposingly, Raikis seemed to flinch, visibly stung by the slight.
“…Your Highness is being too harsh on the temple faction.”
And with those parting words, Raikis swiftly took his leave, almost fleeing the scene.
Jaina hadn’t expected Rosian to be capable of such logical confrontation.
To her, Rosian had been the philandering prince. The protagonist of
‘But he did recently win the martial arts tournament.’
The High Priest had said Jaina wasn’t present in the future he had foreseen.
Since the novel didn’t significantly feature the temple, continuously portraying it as insignificant in
But what if that prophecy was accurate?
‘That everything changed because of me…’
Once Raikis had left, Rosian turned to her and asked:
“Are you alright, Miss Jaina?”
That this person’s life had changed because of her?
Princess Elia, and many others, had tried so hard to reform Rosian’s character…?
“Miss Jaina!”
Seeing Jaina remain silent, Rosian seemed concerned.
As she saw herself reflected in his jewel-like crimson eyes, Jaina asked:
“How did you come to be here, Your Highness?”
“A lady deeply cherishing her friend invited me as a precaution for any potential incidents.”
Turning her head, Jaina saw Marilyn heaving a sigh of relief.
-They say Prince Rosian danced with you at the debutante because he has feelings for you?
Upon seeing Jaina speak up, Rosian let out a languid, relieved breath.
Curving his eyes tenderly, he smiled at her.
“I’m glad you came. I didn’t expect you to be subjected to such nonsense, Miss Jaina.”
The nobles attending Marilyn’s birthday party had informed their families that the ‘Lady Jaina’ had attended in disguise, revealing her appearance.
-Prince Rosian, who had been reclusive for some time, made an appearance at a mere lady’s birthday party. It seems to be because of Lady Jaina.
-Prince Rosian defended Lady Jaina and chased away the performer Raikis. Clearly, his partner at the debutante wasn’t just for show.
However, that was merely what caught the attention of a few.
Most people focused primarily on what Raikis had said.
-The harpsichordist claimed that the priest Meren had directly stated the demons descending from the mountains were due to Lady Jaina.
People went to sleep that night, intending to share this story at the next social gathering they would attend.
However, that minor incident was immediately buried the very next day.
For the Tower Lord Diamid had single-handedly annihilated all the demons that night.
* * *
Diamid had sent a message to the Grand Temple, the location of the priest Meren who had claimed, ‘Lady Jaina is the direct cause behind the demons emerging from the mountains.’
-You remain as incompetent as ever, it seems.
That was the entirety of it.
Considering the excessive fuss the temple had made while dealing with the demons descending from the mountains, his words were succinct to the point of coldness.
-If you continue to prattle on irresponsibly, evading accountability, I shall directly seek out your representative, the High Priest, and hold them accountable.
What did the Tower Lord mean by seeking out the High Priest and holding them accountable?
Recalling Diamid’s merciless nature, the priests were gripped by fear.
Though he had been unusually quiet in recent years, he was still a formidable power that even the continent’s greatest couldn’t carelessly provoke.
And while the priests were frozen, unable to offer any further stance, news of Diamid single-handedly eradicating the demons within a single night spread throughout the Empire.
“Goodness, you’re saying the Tower Lord himself dealt with the demons?”
“Considering how little their numbers dwindled despite the priests’ efforts over several days, those must have been tremendously powerful demons…”
Diamid had publicly announced his feat of vanquishing the demons solely for Jaina’s sake.
So that the rumor branding Jaina as the root cause would be quelled.
Of course, he could have concealed it like before, all for Jaina’s sake.
With the demons gone, the rumor itself would have subsided to some extent.
However, that wouldn’t have been enough to truly protect Jaina.
There needed to be someone else to shift the focus away from her. Only then would another rumor sweep across the Empire.
And if that someone was the recently low-profile, yet savior of the world from the Demon King – the Tower Lord himself – people would be even more enraptured.
“Truly, now as before, we should place our trust in the Tower Lord over the temple.”
“Since Lady Jaina resides at the Magic Tower, perhaps the Tower Lord directly intervened once malicious rumors about her began circulating?”
“In that case, we mustn’t provoke Lady Jaina, who lives where the Tower Lord resides…”
And just as Diamid intended, people eagerly gossiped.
The more criticism the temple received for once again proving ineffectual following the Demon King war, the greater the distrust towards them grew. Conversely, the priest’s remarks about Jaina only served to fortify her defense, for it would be the reason motivating Diamid’s actions.
And for Diamid, there was an unintended boon.
Perhaps due to the recent rumors, Jaina had appeared haggard – though admittedly, only to Diamid’s eyes.
Now that she knew the rumors surrounding her were mere speculation, would Jaina be at ease?
He wished to confirm her expression, even from afar.
Thus, Diamid summoned Izren and, using him as an excuse, circled around Jaina’s vicinity.
Izren said:
“…It seems appropriate to approach Jaina directly.”
Ordinarily, Diamid would have rebuked such unsolicited advice as overstepping.
However, when the subject was ‘Jaina,’ he displayed an entirely different demeanor.
Of course, Izren had no way of knowing that even if Diamid loitered around Jaina like a lovesick puppy, he wouldn’t care in the slightest if misunderstood as her subordinate or personal knight.
But Izren cared for Jaina.
Not in a romantic sense, but because it was thanks to her that he could be his current self.
‘For Jaina’s sake.’
Seeing Diamid flinch at the mention of Jaina’s name, Izren continued:
“Jaina doesn’t dislike you.”
“…”
“She’s simply indifferent.”
Diamid, who had been parting his lips, promptly closed them at Izren’s candid truth.
“There’s a saying that indifference in love is a form of affection.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Izren spoke while gazing intently at him.
“So I believe you can start anew.”
Izren’s gaze fell upon Jaina, who was approaching them.
Diamid’s pupils trembled upon seeing her.
Jaina politely bowed her head.
“I heard the Tower Lord has subjugated the demons. I came to express my gratitude.”
“…There’s no need to be so thankful.”
Izren inwardly muttered ‘fool’ as he scrunched his face in displeasure at Diamid’s response, which would only embarrass the one who spoke to him.
Jaina calmly continued:
“I know you were simply doing what needed to be done. And that it wasn’t for my sake. But still, thank you.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Diamid nodded.
‘At least I seem to have left a somewhat positive impression…’
Hopefully, this would allow him to carve out a small place in Jaina’s heart.
‘But it was only natural as a father, so receiving gratitude feels rather complicated.’
However, the reason he didn’t fully conceal himself when coming to see Jaina was… Well…
‘Perhaps I had hoped she would approach me first…’