My Husband Has Changed - Chapter 159



Only Noblemtl

#159. Saintess
2024.03.07.

He gasped at the sight of her sulking about the ‘doll’.

As Adele’s eyes grew stronger, he tilted his lips up.

“The power of God is the power to choose fate. And my son wanted you to live a life of your own choosing, not a doll.”

“… … .”

“And so now you are a god as he wished, and a human who has lost his purpose.”

I will give you all the choices in the world.

Adele bit her lips tightly at the voice in her memory. Her emotions grew intense and her throat tightened.

Now she realizes. It was from the beginning. From the beginning, Valentin knew everything.

Even though he knew everything, he blindly cherished her and showered her with affection. Because

he pitied her, because he couldn’t help but love her… … Even though he knew that she was a doll made and sent by someone for the purpose of captivating her.

She slowly bent down, leaning on the table. If she stayed like that, tears would burst out.

“… … Please tell me how to purify the corruption.”

“It’s impossible.”

“Is there really no possibility? Is there really not even a single possibility?”

“Well… … .”

His eyes shone with a strange color. Adele briefly pinned her hopes on it, but he slowly shook his head.

“There is only one being who can receive and maintain the power of the gods. One who can be angry, but can sacrifice for the greater good. In other words, one who will not seek personal gain.”

“… … .”

“It was only natural that she lost her power and became corrupted… … .”

Because she tried to protect you privately. It seemed as if the god was criticizing her in that way.

When Adele could not bear the accusation and averted her gaze, he shrugged and lightened the mood.

“Well, since this will be the last time we see each other, I will give you a gift.”

A gift? Was he trying to tell her how to purify the corruption? He burst into laughter at her earnest expression.

“If it was something that could be purified so easily, why would a doll like you be needed? In any case, ‘this’ will be of practical help to you. I don’t know if he’ll like it.”

She looked around to receive ‘this,’ but there was nothing in his hands.

It didn’t even seem like he was preparing anything tangible. He smiled quietly at her bewildered gaze.

“I’ve already given it to you, so don’t doubt it. The rest is up to you to decide how to use it.”

“… … Just one. Answer one more thing.”

“Try it.”

“Did Valentine really know everything from the beginning?”

He stared at Adele silently for a long time, then tilted his lips.

“It depends on what the standard is. However, in the case of my sons, it’s relatively clear.”

“… … .”

“The serpent was clever and planned all this. The dragon was foolish and let you pass even though he knew everything.”

“… … .”

“Yes, my child. He guessed my fate from the moment he first saw you. And I wanted to save you even if it meant abandoning me.”

The afterimages from her dream came back to her clearly.

The smile when their eyes first met, those lips and breath, the countless nights he turned away to not let her go… …

Before she could bear it any longer, she jumped out of her seat and ran.

Her knees buckled before she could take a few steps.

Adele bent her upper body and gasped for something she had barely held back. It wasn’t even clear whether it was laughter or tears.

It didn’t matter what started it or who was more responsible. The choice had already been made, and the past, once set, would not change no matter how much she regretted it.

Ah. How selfish this love was. Valentin even deceived her right before the consequences of his unilateral choice were right before her eyes.

There was only one reason. It was more efficient to leave her ignorant than to convince her.

The more she let her guard down, the more successful his plan to make his lover a complete being would be.

She had once believed that Valentin understood her completely.

Because he was becoming more and more human. He thought and acted like a human. But it was a deception from beginning to end.

A lie just to reassure her.

Just wish me luck this time.

I had never felt more deeply that he was not human.

When all the lies Valentine had told to reassure me, all the promises he had made, came to mind in all their splendor… … .

Huh? Adelaide.

Adela gasped and slowly sank into her seat.

Despite this terrible deception and betrayal, she missed him, missed him. Felt affectionate. Felt pitiful.

“Your Majesty.”

She quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand and turned around. She

had guessed it was Donovan, but it was a soldier she had never seen before. He saluted her politely.

“I have news for you. The missing knights of Ansgar have been found. The scouts have sent a messenger requesting urgent support. And…”

The soldier took a deep breath and continued.

“It seems that His Highness the Grand Duke of Ansgar has also been found. The body is badly damaged, so their identity has not been determined, and they are currently being brought here. I apologize, but I think you will have to check it yourself…”

* * *

The missing knights of Ansgar have returned. Along with the body of their lord.

“Honestly, I don’t remember anything… I don’t remember a

single thing… .” The missing individuals all stated that they had little memory of the past ten days, with blank expressions on their faces.

In fact, they couldn’t even believe that they had been missing for ten days.

“It seems like His Highness the Grand Duke blocked our path at the end… … By the way, has it really been ten days since that day?”

They only remembered two things. They

said that they were attacked by a monster and that they were obsessed with a strong sense of duty to bring the Grand Duke back no matter what.

The Grand Duke’s body was immediately delivered to the priests and placed in a coffin.

The coffin arrived in front of Adelheid in the middle of the night after all the funeral preparations were complete.

“Check it out.”

The moment the priest carefully lifted the coffin lid, a foul stench spread everywhere.

Several people standing nearby could be seen clutching their noses and hastily retreating. Adel looked at the body placed in the coffin with a pale face.

“… … .”

The wounds had turned purple, the flesh had begun to rot, and the bugs were swarming… … .

According to witnesses, the decomposition had already progressed significantly even though it had only been three or four days since his death.

Even half of his face was unrecognizable.

Unlike a time in the past when he had been pale and looked as if he would come back to life at any moment.

“Is this your husband’s body?”

“… … Yes.”

Adele answered with her trembling eyelids lowered.

Contrary to her worries that she would be able to see it with her mind intact, it was strange that she didn’t even shed tears.

No matter how much of a shell it was, it was ‘Valentine’s’ body.

All she could feel was guilt for being her husband.

Thinking back, Valentin and I had a relationship filled with lies from start to finish.

Even the first deal that he would return the Grand Duke’s soul to him one day… …

“Well, hmm. Then I will proceed with the procedure quickly.”

When Adele held onto the coffin and refused to let go, the priest coughed and made a sign.

She nodded and stepped aside so the priest could close the coffin lid.

“Yes.”

The Archduke’s coffin was immediately taken to the makeshift crematorium.

It was common practice to burn the bodies of those killed by demons, regardless of their status.

Otherwise, it was believed that even more terrible monsters would be born from them.

“Almighty Morrig. As the innocent one now returns to your embrace, please show him mercy as when you first came down to the world… …”

The priests in white recited the prayer and poured holy oil generously over the firewood and coffin.

It was the utmost courtesy that could be afforded in the north, where even a single drop of oil was precious, and in the middle of a fierce battlefield.

At someone’s command, the knights drew their swords and spears. The clashing of blades echoed high in the dark sky.

“May the glory of Ansgar reach Triskel!”

“May he find rest in the infinite ring of life!”

Finally, all the rituals were over.

The high priest tilted the torch and lit the altar. Blaze. The blue flames rose fiercely in an instant, engulfing the coffin in its entirety.

“… … .”

Adele knelt down at the foot of the altar and clasped her hands together.

The long veil fluttered behind her back in the winter wind. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling the cold air brushing her cheeks.

Then, somewhere, she felt as if she would hear Valentin’s voice again.

“Rain, rain.”

Adele opened her closed eyes at someone’s sharp call. The sky was bright.

As if the long winter night had ended and morning had begun again. A ray of light pierced through the dark night sky and descended upon her head.

Everyone there recognized the omen at a glance. The coming of the ‘saint.’

Whenever humanity is in danger, the savior sent by ‘Morig’. Like Ingrida who built the wall long ago… … .

“… … Saintess.”

Someone knelt down and spat out in a trembling voice.

That was the beginning. Like a wave spreading, the people standing around them began to kneel one by one.
　

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