I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 13

The strong pull made me hurry down the stairs along with her.

“N-No, wait. Arvina!”

Before I could even try to stop her, I was dragged along. A hand shoved me forward, telling me to get in quickly, and before I knew it, I had stepped into the carriage.

As soon as I sat in an empty seat, the high-rank Purifiers glanced at me. Their looks clearly asked why a fourth-rank was here.

“I tend to get very nervous. I thought I might feel a little better if Louize stayed by my side.”

Arvina explained the situation on my behalf. At her words, the sharp looks disappeared in an instant.

Everyone was on edge.

Purifiers who were usually talkative kept their mouths shut this time, their nerves tightly drawn.

I was just as overwhelmed by the sudden situation.

Why had Gerard’s rampage rate suddenly increased?

Since the rampage three years ago, the temple had been keeping especially close watch on Gerard’s rampage rate. They had even assigned dedicated personnel to monitor it alone.

The reason they still sent Gerard on missions despite his instability, even while assigning dedicated staff, was simple.

A single person could produce power equal to a legion, so there was no loss economically or militarily.

The fact that no one had detected this change despite everyone monitoring his rampage rate meant that an unexpected variable had intervened.

…Could that cause be me?

His body, which responded only to my purification, might have reacted abnormally because of me.

If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have let him go like that yesterday. If I had eaten dinner with him like he suggested and carefully sensed his condition, I might have noticed something and warned someone in advance.

“……”

Emotions began to fill me like water in a well. Why am I always like this. If I’m a Purifier, why do I only realize it after he’s already reached his limit?

The carriage sped forward and passed through the main gate of the grand ducal residence. The surroundings looked devastated, as if a bomb had gone off.

The moment I stepped down from the carriage, something crunched under my feet. It was shattered glass.

“This way! Please hurry!”

The servant led us not to the main building, but to the first floor of a separate wing. It seemed they had barely managed to move Gerard here without even reaching the main house.

The heavy door had been blown in half, and groans and urgent shouts could be heard in chaotic overlap.

“The Purifiers from Hartheon Temple have arrived!”

“Bring them in quickly!”

I wasn’t one of the Purifiers they had been desperately waiting for, but I followed at the back of the group into the bedroom.

“Ugh.”

It felt as if a burning clawed mass had scraped across my skin.

Gerard lay unconscious on the bed. His appearance looked completely peaceful, but the energy pouring out of him was anything but.

If he woke up in this state, that would be a disaster. That was why all the high-rank Purifiers had been summoned to treat him beforehand.

“Huff, huff…”

One of the Purifiers who had been treating him first collapsed to the floor with a nosebleed. With a pale face, shaking her head as if she couldn’t continue, she was helped out by a servant.

The others weren’t in much better condition.

“Our energy is being drained, but it’s not being absorbed at all.”

“If all the Purifiers exhaust their strength here, it will affect the other Awakened as well.”

“Then are you saying we should just let His Lordship rampage like this? That would be a national disaster!”

“There were definitely no signs beforehand, so why…!”

With no solution in sight, the situation grew serious, and voices began to rise.

“I’ll try.”

A clear voice cut cleanly through the noise.

Everyone’s attention turned to Arvina. She rolled up the sleeves of her purification robe, which hung down to the backs of her hands, and approached Gerard with a resolute expression.

She looked like the only savior who could restore a ruined world, and everyone fell silent.

“I’m sorry, but could everyone step outside so I can concentrate?”

The surroundings were certainly chaotic. If Arvina’s purification proved effective, the situation might even progress to deep contact purification.

Without objection, everyone left the room.

After taking one last look at Gerard’s face, as if he were in a deep sleep, I was about to leave as well.

“Louize, will you stay?”

Arvina’s voice stopped me.

“…Me?”

“Yes. Why do you think I brought you here when you’re only fourth-rank?”

Her voice flowed smoothly and gently, without the slightest edge. While I hesitated for a moment, the door closed.

Click. At the faint sound of the lock engaging, I blinked once.

Given the situation, deep contact purification was unavoidable. Even though it was a medical act, it was embarrassing enough to see strangers perform deep contact purification, but having to watch my former lover and my friend do it.

Even a nightmare wouldn’t be this cruel.

“This is for Lord Castion. Please.”

I closed my lips, which had been hanging open in a daze. Dry saliva, I didn’t even know when it had gathered, slid down my throat.

When I slowly nodded, Arvina’s bright red lips curved pleasantly.

“I knew it. You’re the only one. Thank you.”

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