I Supported My Fiancé for 10 Years After He Said, 'Let's Get Married When I Succeed,' but When He Finally Did, He Dumped Me. By the Way, I'm a Witch and Turning 30 Next Year!! - Episode 45
“You want me to meet your brother, Ie?”
“Yes. I think if my brother meets you in person, he might approve of our engagement.”
Would he really? He seems like a difficult person to convince.
“It’s not just about family status. Our ages don’t match either, so I doubt he’ll approve.”
“Ages don’t match? I thought we were similar in age.”
“For a bride, the ideal age is between sixteen and twenty. A young, delicate maiden.”
In other words, at twenty-nine, I am considered well past the prime marrying age. Even if I had a large dowry, I doubt there would be many men in the world willing to marry me—except for one very peculiar person.
When I explained this common belief, Ie looked at me as if he didn’t understand.
“Maybe that’s true for a first marriage. But I’m remarrying.”
“Oh, right. So that means I’d be your second wife?”
“In my heart, I want to think of you as my first wife.”
“Well, you’re free to think whatever you want.”
Hearing my words, Ie gave a big smile and nodded firmly.
Honestly, I wasn’t too eager about the meeting, but if it would satisfy Ie, I was willing to go along with it.
And so, a few days later, the day arrived for my meeting with Ie’s brother, Cardinal Claiburg.
I made sure to dress neatly, but as always, I wore my usual witch’s robe. Since this was a formal meeting, I chose my most elegant robe.
As I was preparing, Carbuncle spoke up.
“Hey, where are you going, all dressed up like that?”
“I’m going to meet Cardinal Claiburg.”
“Ah, that strict-looking cardinal? At the Holy Church?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hearing my plans, Carbuncle made an unexpected request.
“Take me with you.”
“Do you have business at the Holy Church?”
“I’m worried about the World Tree.”
Ever since we heard the Saint’s story, Carbuncle had been getting more and more concerned that an incident like the one fifty years ago might happen again.
However, even divine beasts like Carbuncle couldn’t enter the area where the World Tree was located. He wanted to ask Ie for help.
“I don’t mind bringing you, but if Cardinal Claiburg sees you, he might get suspicious. Can you stay invisible?”
“Of course!”
Carbuncle instantly disappeared and landed lightly on my shoulder. He was weightless, so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting a stiff shoulder.
I expected Ie to arrive soon. Just as I thought that, I heard a tapping sound from the window.
When I went to check, I was startled to see a hawk with massive red feathers.
It was the Lust Witch’s familiar.
I quickly opened the window, and the hawk handed me a package.
“Oh, uh, thanks.”
I asked if it wanted some chicken, but it flew off without a word.
It was rare for the Lust Witch to send me anything.
I wondered what was inside. When I opened the package, I found a leather pouch and a card.
The card read: “I’ve completed the Charm Bomb made from Dryad flowers. I made too many, so I’m giving you some.”
It felt like a neighbor casually sharing extra food they had cooked.
A Charm Bomb was a terrifying item that could put a large group of people under a charm spell, making them utterly infatuated. I doubted I would ever need to use such a thing…
Just as I was wondering where to store it, Ie arrived to pick me up. I quickly stuffed the Charm Bomb into my pocket and stepped outside.
Ie wasn’t wearing his Holy Knight armor today. Instead, he was dressed in formal attire, the kind knights wore to social events.
The white outfit and cape suited him perfectly.
“Sorry. You’re dressed so properly, but I’m just wearing my usual robe.”
“Not at all. I understand that this is a formal witch’s robe, different from what you usually wear.”
Ie understood, but to strangers, I probably just looked like a typical witch. I could only hope that Cardinal Claiburg would be understanding.
As we rode in the carriage, I asked Carbuncle to reveal himself so Ie could hear his request about the World Tree.
“You want to go to the World Tree’s area? That will be quite difficult.”
Even members of the royal family found it hard to gain access.
“Then what about asking the Saint?”
“The Saint doesn’t have that kind of authority either.”
“Then who does?”
Ie frowned before answering.
“My brother, the Cardinal, or His Majesty, the Holy King.”
Only those two had the power to grant permission.
“Then should we ask Cardinal Claiburg when we meet him?”
“I wouldn’t recommend that.”
Ie explained that not only were he and his brother not on good terms, but his brother also refused to let anyone, even the Saint, near the World Tree.
“My brother has a deep religious devotion to the World Tree. He believes that only the Holy King should approach it.”
“I see.”
“If anyone tries to approach without permission, he’ll order the Holy Knights to remove them by force.”
“Just mentioning that we want to visit the World Tree might cause trouble.”
“Exactly…”
It seemed that Cardinal Claiburg had some extreme views.
“What about the Holy King? Would he allow it?”
“His Majesty has been bedridden for the past six months. I heard he’s awake for only short periods, so it might be difficult to even arrange a meeting.”
“I see.”
If I remembered correctly, the Holy King was eighty-five years old. Even when awake, he was busy with affairs of state.
It seemed that a king’s duty never truly ended.
“Hmm, getting permission will be tough.”
“I apologize.”
“Don’t worry about it!”
As we talked, we arrived at the Holy Church.
Inside, there was a teleportation circle for quick travel.
How convenient.
Finally, the moment had come. I was about to meet Cardinal Claiburg.
As I nervously waited in the church’s VIP room, a Holy Knight suddenly rushed in.
“Is something wrong?”
“A giant slime has clogged the lower town’s waterway!”
Apparently, it was an extremely rare Steel-attribute Unique Slime.
“It’s immune to all attacks. The captain asked us to request help from His Eminence.”
“I understand.”
Ie told me to wait here and immediately left.
I knew he had no choice, but unfortunately, Cardinal Claiburg did not wait.
Just five minutes after Ie left, he arrived.
“You? Alone?”
He was a dignified-looking middle-aged man, probably in his fifties, with an impressive mustache curled upward.
As soon as he realized Ie wasn’t there, his brows furrowed in displeasure.
I never expected to end up meeting him one-on-one.
Why did things turn out like this?! I screamed internally.