Chapter 3.2

The carriage came to a stop, and the door opened. While the usual protocol was to be assisted by a footman or lady-in-waiting, I alighted from the carriage alone. Amidst the noticeably more modest ranks of the Royal Guard compared to before, a knight stepped forward and asked, “Shall we escort you inside the temple?”

“No, that’s alright. I think it’s better if I go alone.”

“Understood. We will wait here, then.”

“It won’t take long. I’ll be out as soon as possible.”

“Please don’t worry about us, Lady. Take your time with your business.”

The knight saluted crisply and rearranged the formation.

Perhaps because it was the Grand Temple, a quiet and calm atmosphere flowed despite the considerable number of people around. The people lined up at the entrance glanced at us. I gave a quick nod to the Royal Guard knights and joined the line.

This place, the Grand Temple, is a sanctuary dedicated to the Goddess Aletheia. The Goddess Aletheia is the creator god who created this world, a benevolent deity who represents the world’s goodness, and a deity in opposition to the demons revered by the demon race… or so the background setting of this work goes.

There seemed to have been many other detailed settings, but this much is what remains clearly in my memory. I also recall thinking while reading that the one who created this world wasn’t Aletheia, but the author.

As someone who has been transmigrated into this world, I obviously didn’t come to the Grand Temple to believe in the Goddess Aletheia and offer prayers like a resident of this world. It was because of a letter that arrived from the Grand Duchess two days ago.

A warm letter filled with all the worries a mother could have: “Are you doing well?”, “Are you eating your meals properly?”, “Are you sleeping well?”, and so on.

At the end of the letter, which was packed with concern, were these words:

[Make sure to visit the Grand Temple. Your mother has asked the High Priestess for a favor. He will bestow a blessing upon you, Eloe, so that you won’t fall ill and can achieve what you desire. Understood?]

I’ve always been somewhat superstitious, and in this mysterious situation of having been transmigrated into a book, the word ‘blessing’ intrigued me a little. It might just be a blessing for good health, but who knows? Maybe it’ll drive away the bad luck of Jeras that looms over me. And I wanted to reassure my family, who must be worried sick about me day after day.

For that reason, I found myself at the threshold of the Grand Temple.

The word “blessing” made me think of what Kieryk had said. The words that Eloe had received the blessing of mana. This was a fact that was not revealed in the original story because Eloe’s role was so minor and she died early.

It was surprising and happy, yet at the same time, it was bittersweet. Eloe had a remarkable talent but was unable to properly use it.

‘Since things turned out this way, I have to work hard for Eloe’s sake.’

I haven’t told my family about the blessing of mana yet. It’s not that I don’t believe Kieryk’s words, but it’s not too late to tell them once I’m sure. It will naturally be revealed when I enroll at Haiola Academy anyway.

As I was lost in these thoughts, the line in front of me had completely disappeared. Passing through the open doors, the path split into two. The left was the infirmary, and the right was the chapel.

The line for the infirmary was very long, and only about two or three people out of ten were heading to the chapel. I took the path to the right.

On the left wall of the long corridor, there were murals depicting the miracles that Aletheia was said to have performed. Most of them showed Aletheia healing the sick or helping people in distress, but occasionally, there were scenes of her vanquishing magical beasts or demons.

The common point in all the scenes was the radiant golden light that shone from Aletheia’s hands.

‘Is that what divine magic looks like?’

“Greetings. The scheduled morning service has concluded, but have you come to pray?”

I was startled and snapped out of my thoughts by the sudden voice. A priest in a plain white vestment spoke to me. The half-open door beyond seemed to be the chapel.

I hadn’t exactly come to pray, but I had no other answer, so I nodded. The priest smiled subtly and opened the door for me.

“The High Priestess is in prayer, so you may join her from a comfortable seat.”

Upon entering the chapel, the first thing that caught my eye was the statue of the goddess at the very front. The massive statue, easily over 5 meters tall, had two pairs of wings.

Uniquely, they weren’t feathered like an angel’s wings but were made of geometric patterns entangled together to form the shape of wings. Furthermore, as if under a spell, the patterns moved slowly like stars following an orbit.

The mystical wings spread wide as if embracing one entire wall of the chapel. Fragments of light fell from the wings and settled in various spots throughout the chapel.

The goddess’s eyes were closed. Her expression was kind and benevolent, making me feel at ease just by looking at her. Between her hands, a spherical orb, like a bead, floated. Upon closer inspection, the orb’s color changed with each passing moment. It didn’t seem to be reflecting light, but rather changing its color on its own.

Below the orb, sun, moon, and star-shaped crystals were strung together like a mobile. The crystals received the soft golden light emanating from the goddess statue and sparkled brilliantly.

Overwhelmed by the fantastic and solemn sight, I stared at the statue for a long time. The chapel was excessively simple and modest, which made the statue stand out even more.

A soft voice, occasionally muttering prayers, flowed through the chapel as if it were sunk in silence.

“Excuse me. Are you Lady Eloe?”

“Ah, yes. And you are…?”

“The Grand Duchess informed me of your visit. I am Grace, the High Priestess.”

A woman in a similar white vestment approached and slowly bowed her head. Unlike the previous priest, she wore a white hat on her head. Upon hearing her introduction, I quickly bowed as well.

“I am Eloered, from the Duchy of Kilmaria. I should have introduced myself first, my apologies.”

“Not at all. I heard you’re living alone for your studies, having come from the Duchy. Are you having any difficulties?”

“My mother is just worried because I’m a bit frail. I have no difficulties at all. I’m feeling quite well.”

“That’s just a mother’s heart. Especially since you’re living separately. Would it be alright if I prayed a short prayer for your health, Lady?”

“Of course. I would appreciate that.”

Grace had me sit in a nearby chair and placed her hand on my head. When I closed my eyes, her calm voice began to pray. A moment later, a peculiar sensation came over my body once again. It was a sensation similar yet different from when Kieryk used magic a few days ago.

Back then, it felt like both cold and hot energy were flowing through my body at the same time, but now, it felt like something lukewarm, soft, and fluffy was flowing out from within me and enveloping my body.

‘It feels strangely familiar…’

Grace’s soft prayer continued. I subtly opened one eye and my eyes widened. My body… my body was glowing with a faint yellow light!

‘Wha-what is this? Is it a blessing effect?’

Could a High Priestess have such a dramatic effect on someone who doesn’t believe in a god at all? It seems there are many things in this world that human reason can’t comprehend.

The yellow light didn’t get stronger or fainter; it maintained a subtle brightness. It was similar to the goddess statue looking down at us from above.

‘Looking at it this way, I feel like… I’ve become a human mood lamp.’

This is a mood lamp blessed by a goddess! Just give it three delicious meals a day, and you can use this groundbreaking product semi-permanently without worrying about energy! Only 39,900 won!

…The thought was so ridiculous I almost burst out laughing. I bit my lip and closed my eyes again. ‘Just don’t look.’

“…I sincerely pray and bless that the blessed breath of Aletheia may be found in every part of Lady Eloe’s life. Thank you for waiting. You may now open your eyes.”

“Thank you, High Priestess.”

“You are most welcome. It is my duty as a priestess who serves the gods. But, Lady.”

“Yes?”

I stood up from the chair and straightened my dress, looking at Grace. What’s wrong?

“Did you feel anything unusual while receiving the prayer? A new energy that you’ve never felt before… or have you noticed any changes after receiving it?”

“Hmm? My head feels clearer, and my body feels refreshed…”

“I see. I must go assist with other people’s prayers. Please feel free to visit whenever you have time.”

“Thank you for your time despite being busy. Goodbye.”

I said my goodbyes to Grace and parted ways. Before leaving the chapel, I turned to look at the statue of the goddess one more time. Seeing the golden light flowing from the entire statue, I checked my own body. It was as if it had never glowed at all.

It must have been the effect of the blessing after all. I walked out of the chapel with a light step.

 

***

 

‘By the way, that blessing is really great.’

I was walking down the corridor, personally experiencing the effects of the blessing.

My physical condition hadn’t been great recently due to the change in my living environment and the stress from the Royal Guard. My shoulders were stiff, my back ached, and my eyes were strained, but all those symptoms had completely vanished. It was as if I had a deep sleep for a few days, or rather, as if I had been reborn, I felt completely rejuvenated.

Just as they say, a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body; the confidence I had recharged at home was bubbling up inside me.

‘It’s not a bad idea to rely on religion when life gets tough and exhausting. No, not at all.’

I was thinking that I should come here often when my eyes met a girl passing by. She looked about 15, and her complexion was extremely poor. Her face was as pale as a sheet, with not a trace of blood.

It was the moment I turned around out of concern.

“Hey!”

The girl, who was walking unsteadily, collapsed onto the floor. I rushed over to check on her. The girl’s limp body was as skinny as a twig.

“Hey, wake up. Hey! Is anyone here? Someone has collapsed!”

Only my voice echoed loudly in the empty corridor. What do I do? What do I do? I was at a loss, carefully pushing back the hair stuck to her forehead with cold sweat.

At that moment, a faint red color showed from the girl’s head.

‘Blood! It’s blood!’

I was on the verge of panicking myself. It seemed she had hit her head when she fell.

Calm down. Calm down and think clearly!

I was about to carry the girl and run to the chapel when I hit my head with both hands. With bleeding injuries, you should never move them hastily—first you have to check for airways and stability…

‘It’s not blood?’

Looking closely, what was coming out of her head was not blood but a reddish mist or something similar to smoke.

What is this?

I furrowed my brows and cautiously stroked the girl’s head and forehead. Her forehead was burning hot. But what caught my attention was not that, but the yellow light that had suddenly illuminated my hand and the red smoke that was coiling around it.

The red smoke seeping from the girl’s head wrapped around my hand like a vine.

My mind went cold as one unexpected and surreal event followed another.

The smoke gave off an ominous vibe because of its color, but there were no other changes besides it coiling around my hand. There was no sensation of it touching my hand like steam, either.

‘What on earth is this?’

As I turned my hand back and forth, examining it, the yellow light coming from my hand grew a little stronger. Perhaps because of that, I had the illusion that the smoke had become a little fainter.

‘It’s not an illusion. It’s really fading, isn’t it?’

The light emanating from my hand grew stronger and stronger, and the red smoke grew fainter in inverse proportion. It somehow seemed as if the light was neutralizing the smoke. The red smoke that had been wrapped around my hand soon vanished without a trace.

I looked at the girl’s head, from which the red smoke was still seeping. And I swallowed hard.

‘If my thoughts are correct…’

I gently placed my trembling hand on the girl’s head. The yellow light, which had been flickering slowly like a lightbulb at the end of its life, suddenly grew strong. The red smoke rose up in a surge as if rebelling against the light and then wavered like a flame.

“…Ugh…”

The girl opened her dry, cracked lips and groaned in pain. I was about to reflexively pull my hand away, but I changed my mind when I saw the red smoke being slowly swallowed by the light.

Still, her pained expression, with her face scrunched up, bothered me. I cautiously stroked the girl’s head.

“Mom… no. Sister’s hands are healing hands. Sister’s hands are healing hands.”

How long had I been doing that? The billowing red smoke noticeably diminished and then suddenly disappeared.

I looked around and examined the girl carefully. The cold sweat that had been pouring from her had stopped, and her forehead, which had been burning like a fireball, had returned to a normal temperature. Her face, which had looked so pained, was now peaceful as if she were asleep.

The red smoke was nowhere to be found.

“Phew…”

My hand, which had been glowing at maximum output, was back to its normal state as if nothing had happened. A sigh of relief escaped me.

I don’t know how I did it, but it seems I’ve passed the critical point, right…?

Still, I can’t leave her lying on the cold floor like this, so I should call someone quickly. I placed my hands on my knees to get up, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate.

Now I could feel my heart pounding. I must have been more shaken than I realized. I was in no condition to walk on my own.

“Over here! Is anyone here? Over here!”

“Lady! This way. Hurry!”

People came running from the direction of the chapel. Grace was leading the way, her white robes fluttering. Despite her unseemly demeanor for a High Priestess, I was so relieved that tears welled up. I sat on the floor and waved my hand.

Grace, who approached quickly, checked on me before the girl. No, no. You should check on the person who collapsed first! This is the problem with a society with a class system. The higher-status person always comes first, no matter what the situation.

I hid my bitter feelings and waved my hand.

“Please look at this child first. She suddenly collapsed as I was passing by…”

“Did you touch this child, Lady?”

Her voice was full of urgency. Uh… was I not supposed to touch her? I immediately nodded with an uneasy feeling. Grace’s expression became even more serious.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Grace took my hand and closed her eyes. The same sensation as when I received the blessing came and then quickly disappeared.

Grace’s eyes snapped open. Her eyes were strangely glinting, or was that just my imagination…?

“Did you not notice anything strange from this child?”

“Ah, well. A red smoke-like thing was seeping from her head. She also had a fever… But a light suddenly came from my hand, so I placed my hand on her…”

“Lady.”

Grace gathered my two hands, which were fumbling in embarrassment. Her face came right up to mine.

Why, what’s with this? It’s too much! I pulled my body back to get away from Grace, but she held my hands tightly and pulled me towards her.

“I love you, Lady. I love you.”

“…Pardon?”

 

***

 

Grace and I faced each other in a small room inside the chapel.

The girl had been taken to the infirmary by priests. According to Grace, she was past the crisis thanks to me and was only physically weak from malnutrition. There were no other issues, and she would soon regain consciousness.

It was a relief, but what she said didn’t make sense. What did she mean I helped her get past the crisis when she was just physically weak? It’s not like I gave her an IV.

As if she noticed my confusion, Grace began to explain.

“That child didn’t collapse from a specific illness. She collapsed because of a demon’s curse.”

“Pardon?”

The very first word was shocking.

As I let out a dazed sound of surprise, Grace smiled slightly at me.

“You can rest assured. The curse has been completely purified. You purified it, my Lady.”

“Pardon?”

I couldn’t help but just repeat “Pardon?”. What else could I say in this situation?

Purification… I had never done or even heard of such a thing. Before transmigrating, I was a very ordinary person who had never even experienced sleep paralysis. I don’t even believe in God!

“The red smoke you saw, my Lady, was the curse manifested through divine power. Every priest has a different way of sensing curses, but it seems you, my Lady, can sense them visually. The curse on the child was quite weak, but for you to sense it so clearly is truly amazing. I love you, my Lady.”

The way she spoke so fast, she could be a rapper. Was she always this talkative? And what’s with the declaration of love at the end of every sentence? It was like the automated “We love you, our customer” from a call center, but much kinder and more gentle.

I was losing my mind to MC Grace’s affectionate rap but barely managed to regain my composure.

“So, what you’re saying is that I have divine power…”

“My beloved Lady, divine power is, as the name suggests, a sacred and reverent power bestowed upon a select few by Aletheia, the creator god of this world. It is the duty of those who possess power to use it righteously. By bestowing divine power, Lady Aletheia commanded us priests to care for and heal the sick and to purify the wicked evil that tries to take root in this land. And sometimes, she gives us prophecies to help us avoid impending disasters. However, there is no need to feel pressured. As you take it one step at a time, you will naturally come to understand Lady Aletheia’s great will.”

“No, High Priestess. Please breathe while you speak…”

“While it would be wonderful if everyone could live with this special power, divine power is too great to be given to just anyone. Isn’t it true that everyone is born with a different meaning? My deeply beloved Lady, from the moment I bestowed the blessing upon you, I felt a certain destiny from you. The divine power within you is like an inexhaustible spring and a boundless ocean. Even I, the High Priestess, cannot fathom its limits.”

This place is a rap restaurant.

How can she say so much without her tongue getting twisted even once? And it’s not a rap to diss someone, but to praise. This is a new horizon for rap.

I looked at MC Grace with a look of awe. Grace grabbed my hands.

“My Lady, you are the one chosen by Lady Aletheia.”

“Ahahaha, you don’t have to say it like that…”

“Have you ever considered learning divine magic?”

I knew it. I should have seen this coming.

I surreptitiously averted my eyes to avoid Grace’s burning gaze.

First of all, I didn’t even know that Eloe had latent divine power, and even if she did, divine magic was far from my personal taste. I like flashy, explosive, and shiny things. If I learn divine magic, I’ll have to heal sick people, and I’m not confident I can do that well.

“I’m sorry, but it’s too sudden. Could you give me some time to think about it?”

“Is there something you’re worried about? Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions. I will answer anything honestly and in detail.”

“No, no. I don’t have any specific questions. It’s just that this is truly unexpected. I want to think about it calmly.”

“Of course. It’s only natural for you to be surprised by the suddenness. Then I will give you some time to think in peace, my Lady.”

Grace said gently and stood up. And she went to the door… and then she locked it and stood there, blocking it!

No, hey! What are you doing now?!

“I will wait here until you make a decision, my Lady. I can wait for hours, no, for days.”

‘Don’t smile so benevolently while holding someone captive! Is it okay for a High Priestess who serves a god to do this?!’

As I restlessly approached the door, Grace said, like a macro: “I love you, my Lady.”

“I don’t love you! I’m going home. Please move!”

“Have you decided to explore the world of divine magic with me? I am so happy. The Grand Duchess will be delighted as well.”

“No! I said I’d think about it!”

Grace made a disappointed face and covered the doorknob with her body. ‘Why are you disappointed? I’m the one who should be disappointed!’

I tried to create an opening by moving erratically left and right. But Grace stood still like a steadfast rock. Ugh, really!

“My Lady, divine power is not a power that anyone can handle. The divine power inherent in you may even surpass mine. You must trust me. You must learn divine magic.”

“I didn’t say no. I’ll think about it. As positively as possible!”

“I know you’ll say, ‘I’ve thought about it carefully for a few days, and I don’t think I can learn divine magic for many reasons. I’m sorry.'”

I hate people who are quick-witted. I really hate them!

“Learning divine magic doesn’t necessarily mean you have to become a priestess. Just think of it as a casual study and give it a try. Then, if it suits you, you can become a priestess, and even rise to the position of High Priestess, can’t you?”

I don’t know if she’s trying to convince me or trying to deter me. The moment I learn it, I’m definitely on the path to becoming a priestess!

I silently screamed and squeezed past Grace, finally managing to grab the doorknob. Grace’s eyes went wide.

“No, my Lady!”

Grace spread her arms to block me. I squeezed out the remaining strength to turn the doorknob. The lock clicked, and the door opened.

It’s open! Let’s get out of here fast!

I ducked under Grace’s arm and passed through the door. But it wasn’t the end. Something large and dark stood blocking my way.

‘To think she would even call someone…’

“I’m in a huge hurry! Please move…?”

“I almost died waiting for you, my Lady. Is your business finished?”

Jeras asked in an uncharacteristically gentle voice and with a look in his eyes.

‘Aack! Who’s this now?!’

 

***

 

Jeras watched the carriage of Eloe as it left the Grand Duke’s residence, and then he rose to his feet. The size of the Royal Guard escorting the carriage had noticeably shrunk. Even so, it was still an excessive escort for someone who was not a member of the imperial family. It seemed the Grand Duke of Kilmaria had put a lot of pressure on the Emperor, with whom he had a brotherly relationship.

It was clearly overprotective, but after watching Eloe for a few days, Jeras somewhat understood why the Grand Duke was making such a fuss.

‘Because she scampers around like a little squirrel.’

As soon as the escort was slightly reduced, Eloe came out of the Grand Duke’s residence at least once a day. Her destinations were usually the famous tourist spots in Rivai that Kieryk had told her about.

However, she didn’t actually look around the tourist spots; she would just loiter around the periphery and then return to the mansion. She didn’t like crowded places, and she was worried that people would be startled if her escort knights rushed in, but there was no way Jeras could have known what was on her mind.

Jeras simply regarded Eloe as a strange woman.

The carriage, which had been running at a moderate speed, stopped in front of the Grand Temple. Jeras, who had erased his presence to avoid being discovered by the Royal Guard knights, watched Eloe get out of the carriage.

Her voluminous, thickly braided pinkish-silver hair looked like a squirrel’s tail. Her pure white skin, as if made of snow, and her delicate features were so beautiful that even Jeras, who knew her true identity, was briefly fooled. It was no wonder that Kieryk, who didn’t know her true nature, was showing interest in her.

‘My brother needs to know her ill-tempered personality.’

In any case, Kieryk had no plans to visit the Grand Temple today, so the probability of the two of them meeting was extremely low. If he could just get through today, he could relax for a few days since he had to attend an event at the imperial palace soon.

‘How long do I have to keep doing this? Can’t my brother just get married already?’

Jeras grumbled to himself and kicked an innocent stone. After confirming that Eloe had left the knights outside and entered the Grand Temple, Jeras turned without hesitation.

After a few steps, his eyes suddenly turned sharp. Jeras quickly returned to the Grand Temple.

He looked around with eyes as sharp as a falcon searching for prey and found a skinny girl wrapped in rags. The girl was undoubtedly human, but a demonic aura enveloped her. It seemed she had been cursed by a demon.

The girl stumbled as if she would collapse at any moment and entered the Grand Temple. It was not a small temple, but the Grand Temple where the High Priestess resided. Since it was a weak curse, it would be difficult for an ordinary priest to notice it, but it would be impossible to avoid the High Priestess’s detection ability.

Despite thinking that, Jeras followed the girl. It was not because he was worried about the squirrel. It was because the extermination of demons was his mission.

When Eloe and the girl met in the corridor, and when Eloe put her hand on the collapsed girl, Jeras was about to rush out and separate Eloe and the girl. Eloe, who had no immunity to curses and possessed mana, was the perfect target for a curse to transfer.

But Eloe purified the curse on the girl. Jeras couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.

A person who had not received priestly training purifying a demon’s curse? Even if it was a simple curse, it was by no means an easy thing to do.

‘And the soul I can see… what is that Lady?’

The blessing of mana and the divine power that could even purify a curse. Putting her ill-tempered personality aside, he couldn’t help but be intrigued.

If even Jeras felt that way, how much more would the High Priestess feel? The High Priestess quickly took Eloe away. She was probably threatening her into becoming a priestess.

Jeras watched the locked doorknob, waiting for the right moment. Knowing Eloe’s personality, she wouldn’t agree to become a priestess, so he planned to intervene, save her, and take credit.

“Move, Your Highness! I’m in a hurry!”

He had made an effort to speak kindly, but Eloe ignored Jeras and tried to push past him with her shoulder. Seeing Eloe’s eyes, which had no regard for him, an inexplicable malice welled up within him.

Jeras grabbed Eloe’s hand and gently kissed the back of her hand. His eyes, shining brightly, were fixed on Eloe.

Eloe froze like a stone in that position. Her face turned pale. Her whole body was screaming that she hated this.

Kissing the back of a lady’s hand is a common greeting, so why did she have to shudder like that?

His reflection finally appeared in her wide eyes, which looked like they were about to pop out. His mind was still noisy. It felt like his malice would only subside if he teased Eloe a little more.

Suddenly, a great idea crossed Jeras’s mind. A way to both tease Eloe and make sure she never encounters Kieryk.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived. I apologize for my late greeting.”

“It’s alright. Is it alright if I take the Lady with me? If your conversation is over, that is.”

“Ah… yes. Of course.”

“Thank you. Let’s go, my Lady.”

“No, wait. Just a moment…!”

Jeras smiled at Eloe, who was turning beet red as she tried with all her might to pull her hand away.

He held her hand firmly, with the will never to let go.

 

***

 

‘What is this, seriously?’

I had been sitting almost sprawled out in the carriage, but now I got up. I stomped my foot hard to vent the piled-up irritation, but the sturdy carriage floor didn’t budge. A soft carpet was laid out, so not even a small sound was made.

‘Is this what a carriage for the Imperial Prince is like? Is even the carriage going to ignore and mock me? Ugh, this feeling of helplessness. It’s so annoying!’

I grabbed a cushion that was rolling around and threw it at the opposite side. The cushion hit the wall and slid down slowly.

A few days ago, Jeras, whom I had encountered at the Grand Temple, took me out of the temple without saying a word. His gaze, fixed on me, was inexplicably filled with discontent.

‘Why is he looking at me like that? I’m the one who should be angry after my hand was suddenly stolen!’

After glaring at me in silence for a long time, Jeras said he would send someone for me and then disappeared just as he pleased.

And this morning, an imperial carriage barged into the Grand Duke’s residence. The symbol of the Borrestian Imperial Family was emblazoned on the door, and with so many people, including Alberto, watching, I had no choice but to get in.

I asked the coachman for the destination, but all he said was that I would find out when we got there.

“My Lady, we have arrived.”

The coachman opened the door and let down the steps. I slowly got out of the carriage and looked around.

It was a small temple. We hadn’t been in the carriage for a long time, so we couldn’t have left Rivai, but the temple and the surrounding scenery were very different from the Rivai I had seen so far.

The buildings surrounding the temple were cracked and broken in many places, with no part of them unscathed. The old wooden doors were tattered as if they would fall off at any moment, and the low huts were crammed together without any space between them. Dust rose from the dirt ground with every gust of wind.

I carefully took a step toward the temple. I walked past the low, almost pointless fence, and an old man in a priest’s robe came out of the temple. The yellowed, patched-up robe showed signs of its long history.

The old priest seemed to have noticed me and approached with a kind smile on his face. His deeply wrinkled face looked benevolent, like a model for a priest.

“Hello. My name is Eloe. Is the Second Prince…?”

“Prince Jeras has spoken a lot about you, My Lady. Please come inside and we can talk.”

The old priest naturally led me into the temple. His straight posture was a contrast to his white hair and beard.

‘He has a very good physique for an old man. He must have been strong in his youth. But Jeras talked a lot about me? I can’t imagine he said anything good.’

I asked the old man, whose back was as straight and broad as a young man’s.

“Did the Prince talk badly about me?”

“Hahaha, not at all. It seems you two get along very well, just as I expected.”

“We don’t get along. And we never will.”

“Hate is the most fearsome kind of love, they say. Now, please have a seat.”

I didn’t think he was like this, but the old man was practically cursing me.

The inside of the temple was neatly organized. We sat down at a table in a corner of the temple. As soon as we sat down, the old priest got straight to the point.

“Prince Jeras told me that you have strong divine power, My Lady.”

“Yes. I found out recently when I went to the Grand Temple to receive a blessing from the High Priestess.”

“I also heard that you saved a child who was under a demon’s curse. As someone who has been a priest for a long time, even I found that difficult to believe. I am very happy to be able to watch over a talented person like you, My Lady. We were in need of some help, hahaha.”

“That’s too much prai… What did you just say?”

“Prince Jeras registered you as an apprentice priestess at our temple.”

Jeras… you son of a bitch!

I clenched my fists under the table.

‘Who gave him permission to register me as an apprentice priestess? Is he completely insane?!’

The old priest just laughed with a kind face, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

“Although we serve the gods, it is very difficult to understand what they do and what their will is. I am so grateful that they have sent the right person at such an unexpected time.”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but that lunati… I mean, the Prince must have misunderstood something. I have no intention of becoming an apprentice priestess…”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Mason. As you can see, I manage this small temple. I may have many shortcomings, but I will do my best to teach you as much as possible, My Lady.”

‘Are all priests like this? He’s not listening to a single word I’m saying!’ It seemed he was determined to make me an apprentice priestess, no matter what.

The loose, laughing face no longer looked benevolent. This old man was definitely in league with Jeras. I bit my lip tightly. I had no intention of being played by Jeras’s tricks.

“Sir, I’m not interested in divine magic. I’m also going to enroll in Haiola Academy soon, so I can’t be an apprentice priestess. I don’t know what the Prince told you, but it’s all a lie. Don’t believe him.”

“How could this be… Is that truly the case?”

Old man Mason made a face as if the world was crumbling. ‘What’s with this sudden change in attitude? Just a moment ago, he was smiling like he was so excited!’

Tears welled up in old man Mason’s eyes. Not stopping there, he wiped his tears with his wide sleeves and began to wail.

“How could such a thing happen… I believed in Prince Jeras and you, My Lady, so wholeheartedly… I can’t bear to face those children. They must have been so full of hope since they were expecting a new apprentice priestess…”

“Children?”

As if on cue, the door to the inner part of the temple opened. Children hanging on the door looked at old man Mason with bright, sparkling eyes.

The old man shouted in a mournful voice,

“The Lady says it will be difficult for her to be an apprentice priestess. Oh, what should we do, my children?”

“…Waaah!”

Without a single leader, all the children burst into tears at once. Even though everything was happening like a play with a script, my heart softened at the sight of the crying children.

“Hey, hey, kids. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Stop!”

‘Ah, I’m going crazy!’

“Waaaaaaaaaahhh!”

I was screwed. I had forgotten that the more you try to comfort crying children, the more they cry.

The children ran up to me and clung to me like cicadas, their voices rising. Tears the size of chicken eggs fell from their deer-like eyes. Six children were clinging to me.

‘Ugh, I can’t live like this, seriously.’ I stroked the children’s heads, shoulders, and backs.

“Sister, don’t go!”

“Stay with us. Play with us, sister…”

“Grandpa’s food is not yummy!”

“I don’t want to go to the well and fetch water every day anymore. Please?”

‘What is all this?’ Listening to the words pouring out all at once, it seemed the children were taking on a certain amount of the temple’s work.

I stole a glance at old man Mason. The old man was wiping his tears with his old sleeve. I couldn’t tell if he was truly crying or just pretending. I couldn’t trust him.

“Since there’s always a shortage of priests, it’s not easy to find one in such a remote place. No one wants to come here… and there’s a lot to do. My Lady, you are the first apprentice priestess to come in months, so the children had very high hopes.”

The old man’s tears might have been fake, but his words were convincing. Even from my perspective, not knowing the circumstances, the temple’s situation didn’t seem good.

But still, to have an old man and children run a temple on their own…

I took the opportunity to examine the children. I had worried they weren’t getting enough to eat, but they all had good color and plump cheeks. The clothes they were wearing weren’t fancy, but they were in good condition, with no frayed or torn parts. They also smelled nice and clean, as if they bathed regularly.

If anything, old man Mason, who was wearing tattered clothes, seemed to be in the worst condition.

‘It looks like he’s having a hard time taking care of the children all by himself.’

“Sister! Sister!”

A tiny hand pulled at my dress. I quickly looked down. A little girl, who looked to be about three or four, was looking up at me. Her clear, sky-blue eyes were curved in a pretty smile.

The child suddenly held out her fist.

“Tomato! It’s for sister!”

What fell into my outstretched palm was a cherry tomato. It was round and ripe and looked very delicious. ‘I wonder if they have a vegetable garden around here.’

Suddenly, I remembered something from my childhood. The orphanage where I grew up had a vegetable garden, and we grew our own fruits and vegetables depending on the season. The original purpose might have been to give the children a nature experience, but they quickly lost interest.

In the end, it was up to the teachers and a few diligent children to tend the garden. I was one of them. Well, I didn’t mind because I liked the vegetable garden.

The little girl was still looking at me with sparkling eyes. I knelt down to meet her eye level. Then I plucked the stem off the tomato, brushed the dirt off, and put it in my mouth.

“Yummy? Yummy?”

“Yes. It’s really delicious. Thank you.”

“The yummy tomato! Rita planted it!”

‘I guess her name is Rita.’ She waddled her short tongue and puffed out her chest, which was fatally cute.

‘Ugh, no. I can’t fall for this cuteness. I can’t, but…!’

“Rita wants to plant peaches with sister.”

“Why peaches?”

“Hehe, because sister’s hair is the color of a peach!”

‘Ugh! I lose!’ I clutched my heart in front of the lovely Rita and had to admit defeat.