My Sweet Deceiver - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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The Pope poured water into the teapot and began to boil it. When the water boiled, the kettle squeaked.
Then the Pope rose from his seat, took the tea out of the tea container, and brewed it. The tea container was a small wooden box gilded with handles and locks.
The front of the tea container was engraved with a picture of the Nate scripture, a grape vine, a cat, an olive tree, and a sheep. The tea container was a very expensive item that ordinary people could get even if they worked all their lives.
Until then, there was no word between the Pope and Denis. It was to see who would say what first.
As the Pope poured tea, a deep scent bloomed from the teacup.
“It’s a good tea.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Denis looked down at the teacup and said, “The picture in the pot reminds me of a verse from the scriptures.”
“Are you talking about the sheep who has repaid the favour?” asked the Pope.
“Yes. This is a verse I loved as a child. It said that the olive tree took pity on the sheep who had been starving for several days and allowed it to bear fruit.”
Denis grabbed the cup and took a sip of the tea.
“It’s a phrase that I really like, too.
“Then you know the back part, too.”
Denis looked at the Pope.
While bewildered by the out-of-the-ordinary scriptural story, the Pope kept his mouth shut and continued his behind-the-scenes story.
“As time passed and the olive tree grew old and sick, people started to cut it down. Then the sheep sacrificed itself to stop the people, and eventually died. And Nate, taking pity on that fact, gave the sheep a new life.
“You know it very well, Holy Father.”
Denis smiled a little. As a Pope, it was natural to know the scriptures well.
“That’s true, but-” The Pope replied defensively.
“I was impressed by the sheep who never forgot to pay back the favours even as time went by. How about you?”
“So do I. Nate has a clear distinction between lessons and rewards.”
“Good. Then the Holy Father would not have forgotten the debt you owe me.”
“…”
“I want you to pay me back.”
Denis’ eyes, looking at the Pope, were indifferent as if they contained nothing.
“…Why are you only mentioning it now?”
The Pope gathered his brows as if he was uncomfortable with the topic Denis brought up.
“Because this is the most appropriate time. You are aware that I am having trouble with the succession of the throne.”
Denis hit the nail.
“I need help from the temple.”
***
In the carriage returning from the temple…
Denis leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
‘Will the Pope accept the proposal?’
In fact, it was a threat under the guise of a proposal.
Since he mentioned Queen Charlize, the Pope’s weakness, he thought that the Pope could not ignore him.
God is watching.
Denise raised his right hand and placed it over his heart. He retraced the words engraved under the layered garments.
If there was a real God, he wouldn’t have thrown the saint’s child into the mud like this.
No, he would not have taken the saint’s life in vain.
A smile broke out.
The clatter of horses’ hooves hitting the ground sounded like a lullaby. He was so tired that he couldn’t sleep. Denis opened his closed eyes and looked out the window. Before he knew it, he was near the palace.
“Can I get off here? I’d like to take a walk.”
The carriage stopped, and Sylvan prepared to get off. Denis raised his hand and stopped him.
“Sylvan goes back with the coach.”
“But Prince…”
“This forest belongs to the royal family, so what’s the matter? It’s within walking distance from here to the palace.”
Sylvan made a troubled expression on his face, and then resigned.
“Okay. Please come back before the sun goes down, my Lord.”
“I will.”
Denis got out of the carriage and looked at the forest. It was a birch forest owned by the royal family. The dense birch trees were swaying in the wind, and the sound of the trees shaking sounded just like water flowing.
He moved slowly.
The scent of fresh wood brushed the tip of his nose.
The birch seedlings, which were offered by an aristocrat more than a hundred years ago, became dense forests and a place where royal people sometimes came to relax. It was also said that the previous King loved the birch forest and made a treehouse in the middle of the forest and visited the forest every day. As evidence, decades later, Denis could still see a well-managed treehouse.
He also came to the birch forest after a few years. A two-hour walk across the promenade led to the west gate of the royal castle.
He moved as he listened to the whispers of the birch trees. He loosened the tie around his neck. A gust of wind scattered his fine blue-black hair.
Denise suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.
Lolling around with her in the birch forest.
Was it a dream or a hallucination?
A familiar scent seemed to pass by in the wind.
Light floral and perfumed scent.
He turned his back and looked behind him.
She was standing with a surprised look on her face.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m out for a walk. The royal physician told me to take a walk often.”
The woman murmured perplexedly. The woman stood alone without a maid behind her.
She didn’t think she’d meet him here either.
“Oh, yes.”
The wind blew between him and her. The hem of the woman’s dress swelled up in the wind. Denis lay down his coat on a flat lawn under the treehouse. The woman was still absentmindedly nailed to the spot.
“What are you doing? Sit down or go back.”
The woman looked confused. However, she thought she would not be kicked out, so the woman carefully sat down next to where he was lying.
Denis quietly closed his eyes, listening to the hem of the woman’s dress rubbing against each other.
“Then why is the prince here at this hour?”
“I’m taking a walk, too.”
“Okay.”
The woman was hesitating to ask anything more.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m a little tired right now.”
“Did you not sleep?”
She asked in a worried tone. The question was so sweet that he felt emotional.
“As you can see.”
Denis’ voice was silent as he answered. He had not been able to rest properly for several weeks, and when he came to see the Pope, he had no energy in his body.
That’s it.
Denis clicked his tongue inwardly.
They heard birds chirping in the distance.
As he lay still in the birch forest, his nerves, like a sharpened knife, seemed to be dulled.
Lubern’s short summer was coming to an end.
After the short summer, the long winter will come.
“…Tehez.”
“Yes, Prince.”
“Should I quit being a Prince and live in the South?”
He threw his hand lightly over his eyes as if joking.
Tehez did not respond.
“If you don’t like the South, what about the East?”
He remembered that she liked the eastern forest, where they went on vacation. It had already been two years since he had spent time in the woods with her.
“Until then…”
The woman took her words off carefully.
“Until then… will you need me?”
He thought the question sounded somehow desperate.
“Yes, my wife.”
His voice was sweet, as if he had never turned her down.
Tehez was upset by his answer. She wanted to ask he told her to take her hands off his matters.
‘Is it because you don’t need me anymore?’
“Then why did you tell me to let go?”
She ended up asking.
Tehez lowered her head. She wasn’t confident to look him in the face and hear an answer.
Denis answered kindly.
“Well… could there be a better way? I don’t know.”
“…”
“I had to say that. I…”
It was like an excuse.
Instead, he continued.
“I will tell you when I no longer need you. Got it?”
Tehez raised her head.
‘That means you still need me.’
It wasn’t a straightforward answer, but at least it wasn’t that he was going to throw her away right now.
Tehez was a little relieved.
He yawned tiredly.
She asked without missing a moment.
“Can I put you to sleep? My prince.”
It was such a sweet suggestion.
For a moment, he couldn’t refuse and looked at Tehez. There was an ocean in her eyes, and he wanted to rest in peace in the ocean.
“Yes, Tehez.”
He pulled Tehez’s arm.
“Put me to sleep, please.”
A small body was pulled over him. The familiar body temperature and slender shoulders in both hands were very pleasant. It felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was back in place. It fit perfectly without a single point of error. Denis shuddered all over.
The weight of the woman he hadn’t seen in a while seemed lighter. The woman was looking down at him. Her hair fell down and embraced him like a golden curtain. Blue waves fluttered in the eyes of the woman where he got lost.
Denis looked down and looked up at the woman, and the sentiment was different. It was a strange feeling. Denis glanced over the woman’s face and noticed a tiny spot under her chin. It was something he couldn’t see well when he looked down.
He stroked her mole gently with his index finger. The little discovery made him feel more refreshed.
“Would you mind lowering your head?”
The tip of Tehez’s nose that approached collided with his nose. Denis swallowed her lips like a hungry man. There was a splash, a wet sound. The sound of birch swaying came in like waves. The incessant tide and ebb eroded him.
He saw the light leaking through the birch trees.
Between the leaves, between her fluttering hair.
Maybe it wasn’t deja vu?
Denis laughed softly.
It was a satisfactory smile for the first time in a while. He felt drowsy as the welcome guest came to visit him.
The eyelids closed comfortably.
Finally, he was submerged in the ocean.
(To be continued in the next episode)
