“Mmm, it’s sweet.”
I sat at a table by the window and munched on a piece of brownie.
The sweetness that was strong enough to send shivers down my tongue, the warm sunlight, and the blue courtyard seen through the window instantly heightened my dull mood.
As I was humming a song that came out on its own, Delton, who was next to me, clicked his tongue as if he found it pitiful.
“Are you going down that rabbit hole right now? Didn’t you hear what the human who came out of the palace said a little while ago?”
“I can’t hear you. My hearing is so good. I told you there would be a test for the Saintesses.”
“It’s not just an ordinary test. Don’t you know what will happen to you if you don’t pass it?”
“Why don’t I know that? There’s a lot of gossip going around. If we don’t pass this checkpoint, Saintess Veloce will be hung on the gallows.”
“Huh, is someone who knows that acting so relaxed?”
Delton, who was bursting into laughter, glanced at the empty plate in front of me and stuck out his tongue as if he was amazed.
“Oh my, you managed to finish that whole plate.”
It was a plate containing brownies.
“It’s so convenient. As soon as I heard that, my appetite was completely gone and I couldn’t even touch the cookie, which got soggy.”
In fact, the plate in front of him was piled high with cookies that he had not even touched.
I shrugged.
“Don’t do that, just eat. The situation won’t change even if we worry about it.”
"... I wonder what on earth you're thinking. I want to open that head and take a look.”
Delton muttered as if he couldn't understand. He looked very frustrated.
Unfortunately, his doubts could not be resolved.
Because I couldn't understand why I was so calm. At this moment, when I might lose my neck at any moment.
'They say that when people are cornered, their minds become calmer. Is that the case for me too?'
It was at that time that I was looking out the window, thinking about such things.
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door, followed by Martha's voice.
“Your Ladyship, His Highness has arrived.”
“Please come in.”
I turned my head, putting one of the cookies that was given to Delton into my mouth. I saw the Crown Prince walking through the open door.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
I didn't even feel like getting up today, so I greeted him while sitting down.
It would have been a great insult to greet the royal family while sitting down, but the Crown Prince came over without saying anything, pulled out the chair next to me, and sat down.
“Have you heard the news? His Majesty is going to evaluate me.”
“I’m already on my way back from meeting the Emperor because of that.”
“Huh, did you beg him to drop the test?”
“Isn’t that obvious? In any case, you are a Saintess officially recognized by His Holiness. To make you take a retest based on the words of someone who took that position without any formalities is no different from trampling on your honor.”
“I am touched that Your Highness is thinking of me so much. But judging from your expression, I guess His Majesty did not accept it.”
The Crown Prince nodded once with a stern face.
“He don’t seem to have any intention of listening. It seems like he's determined to open that gate.”
“I guess so.”
Melina's claim has already swept the capital.
In three more days, the entire empire will know about this situation, and if no action is taken, public sentiment will waver.
Oh, I guess something is bothering you.
Could it be that everything Saintess Melina said was true?
Has Saintess Veloce been deceiving us all this time?
The public sentiment that has been stirring little by little will soon rush to the imperial palace and shout like this.
Kill Saintess Veloce!
Kill the woman who dared to steal the constellation and incurred the wrath of the goddess!
Let's kill that woman and appease the goddess's wrath!
'It's obvious even without looking.'
It was at that time that I smiled wryly, predicting an unfortunate future.
A deep sigh disturbed my thoughts.
When I looked around, I saw the Crown Prince roughly wiping his face with his hand.
The face that kept appearing and hiding in the palm of his hand was clearly showing impatience.
As expected of the Crown Prince of Catalonia, he was good at hiding his expressions, so I was a little surprised to see him so openly expressing his emotions.
At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly turned his head and stared at me.
“Is it possible to infuse an object with the power of a lion?”
“An object?”
“For example, a piece of jewelry like a necklace or a ring. Then, even if there is no lion, wouldn’t you be able to use the power yourself?”
There was a faint hope on his face as he spoke. But I just shook my head quietly.
“I already asked. Delton said it’s not impossible, but it takes a big vessel to hold that much power.”
“You mean the size of the bowl?”
“Yes, it is not easy for Delton to control the harmony of nature. Since it requires considerable strength, the size of the vessel must be large.”
It meant that it was impossible to deceive people by hiding something like a small trinket.
The impatience on the Crown Prince's face changed into a look of despair, and soon a heavy silence fell between us.
I hummed as I tapped my feet, enjoying the silence.
“If you want to live, you will die, and if you want to die, you will live.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That’s my mother’s favorite saying. It’s said to be a proverb from the Eastern Continent.”
“I think I’ve heard that saying before. But why did you suddenly bring it up?”
“My mother came to me in my dream last night and said that. It’s been 13 years since she passed away, but this is the first time she’s come to me in a dream...”
After speaking for a while, I met the Crown Prince's eyes and smiled brightly.
“My mother, who didn’t show up even the day before I was taken away as a sacrifice, has shown up like this, so I guess I’m in a crisis.”
For a moment, his expression hardened. I guess my smile must have seemed like a surrender to him.
But his prediction was wrong.
I did not give up, but held onto hope. I took as advice the proverb my mother told me in my dream.
“I think now is the time to risk my life.”
I smiled mischievously, wrinkling my nose.
“You want to take the test of the holy relic?”
The Marquis of Bayen asked, leaning his back against the back of the sofa and leaning toward me. He looked as if he couldn't believe his ears.
Unlike him, I looked extremely calm and said as I put down the teacup I was holding on the table.
“Yes, I think that’s the best option for now.”
"Ha."
The Marquis let out a sigh.
“I clearly warned you before. There is a price to pay for the test of the holy relic. The moment you touch the holy relic, you never know what price you will pay. You could become crippled, or lose your life in an instant.”
Bam!
As soon as the Marquis finished speaking, a dull sound rang out.
The Crown Prince sitting next to me hit the armrest of the sofa hard.
Even so, his gaze was fierce as he looked at me, as if his heart was not at peace.
After all, from the moment I said I would risk my life for the sacred relic until I set foot here, he was the one who tried to dissuade me a hundred times.
“That won’t do. Going in a limb to get out of a limb is not the right way to do it.”
"Your Highness."
“Why are people so extreme? After sacrificing their lives and barely saving their lives, when they say they will use their precious lives for themselves, how can they so easily put that precious life on the table?”
“...”
“There must be some way. If there isn’t, I will find a way, even if it means making one. Until then, just wait quietly.”
He stood firm in stopping me, but he could not break my will.
I stared at him for a while with wavering eyes as if telling him to change his mind, then turned my gaze back to the Marquis.
“Your Excellency, I’m sure you’ve heard, but in three days, the examination will take place. They say it’s a place where the two Saintesses will showcase their skills to the public, but the only person who will be tested is me.”
“...”
“I have to go through the test alone without the lion who helped me. But as you know, I am an ordinary person with no divine powers, so there is no way I can pass the test. So what will happen to me?”
“...”
“If I lose this game, I’ll die anyway. Why should I be so afraid of that divine punishment in this situation? Please give me one last chance.”
The Marquis stared at me silently. His eyebrows, which had been furrowed as if he was being scorned, were straightened again.
But the eyes directed at me were thick with confusion.
In the heavy silence that fell, the Marquis and I continued to lock eyes.
Somehow, it felt like we were fighting a war.
After some time had passed, the Marquis parted his dry lips.
“Would you really not regret it? Even if you go blind, even if you lose the use of one arm, even if your knees become stiff and you can no longer use your legs..."
“...”
“A little more, even if it’s just three days. Are you confident that you won’t regret it if your life ends immediately?”
I lifted my teacup again and met his gaze.
“Yes, I do not regret it. I will not regret my choice, no matter what terrible punishment I receive for daring to covet the holy relics with my body that is not permitted.”
There was not the slightest waver in my voice as I said those words.
I sat at a table by the window and munched on a piece of brownie.
The sweetness that was strong enough to send shivers down my tongue, the warm sunlight, and the blue courtyard seen through the window instantly heightened my dull mood.
As I was humming a song that came out on its own, Delton, who was next to me, clicked his tongue as if he found it pitiful.
“Are you going down that rabbit hole right now? Didn’t you hear what the human who came out of the palace said a little while ago?”
“I can’t hear you. My hearing is so good. I told you there would be a test for the Saintesses.”
“It’s not just an ordinary test. Don’t you know what will happen to you if you don’t pass it?”
“Why don’t I know that? There’s a lot of gossip going around. If we don’t pass this checkpoint, Saintess Veloce will be hung on the gallows.”
“Huh, is someone who knows that acting so relaxed?”
Delton, who was bursting into laughter, glanced at the empty plate in front of me and stuck out his tongue as if he was amazed.
“Oh my, you managed to finish that whole plate.”
It was a plate containing brownies.
“It’s so convenient. As soon as I heard that, my appetite was completely gone and I couldn’t even touch the cookie, which got soggy.”
In fact, the plate in front of him was piled high with cookies that he had not even touched.
I shrugged.
“Don’t do that, just eat. The situation won’t change even if we worry about it.”
"... I wonder what on earth you're thinking. I want to open that head and take a look.”
Delton muttered as if he couldn't understand. He looked very frustrated.
Unfortunately, his doubts could not be resolved.
Because I couldn't understand why I was so calm. At this moment, when I might lose my neck at any moment.
'They say that when people are cornered, their minds become calmer. Is that the case for me too?'
It was at that time that I was looking out the window, thinking about such things.
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door, followed by Martha's voice.
“Your Ladyship, His Highness has arrived.”
“Please come in.”
I turned my head, putting one of the cookies that was given to Delton into my mouth. I saw the Crown Prince walking through the open door.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
I didn't even feel like getting up today, so I greeted him while sitting down.
It would have been a great insult to greet the royal family while sitting down, but the Crown Prince came over without saying anything, pulled out the chair next to me, and sat down.
“Have you heard the news? His Majesty is going to evaluate me.”
“I’m already on my way back from meeting the Emperor because of that.”
“Huh, did you beg him to drop the test?”
“Isn’t that obvious? In any case, you are a Saintess officially recognized by His Holiness. To make you take a retest based on the words of someone who took that position without any formalities is no different from trampling on your honor.”
“I am touched that Your Highness is thinking of me so much. But judging from your expression, I guess His Majesty did not accept it.”
The Crown Prince nodded once with a stern face.
“He don’t seem to have any intention of listening. It seems like he's determined to open that gate.”
“I guess so.”
Melina's claim has already swept the capital.
In three more days, the entire empire will know about this situation, and if no action is taken, public sentiment will waver.
Oh, I guess something is bothering you.
Could it be that everything Saintess Melina said was true?
Has Saintess Veloce been deceiving us all this time?
The public sentiment that has been stirring little by little will soon rush to the imperial palace and shout like this.
Kill Saintess Veloce!
Kill the woman who dared to steal the constellation and incurred the wrath of the goddess!
Let's kill that woman and appease the goddess's wrath!
'It's obvious even without looking.'
It was at that time that I smiled wryly, predicting an unfortunate future.
A deep sigh disturbed my thoughts.
When I looked around, I saw the Crown Prince roughly wiping his face with his hand.
The face that kept appearing and hiding in the palm of his hand was clearly showing impatience.
As expected of the Crown Prince of Catalonia, he was good at hiding his expressions, so I was a little surprised to see him so openly expressing his emotions.
At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly turned his head and stared at me.
“Is it possible to infuse an object with the power of a lion?”
“An object?”
“For example, a piece of jewelry like a necklace or a ring. Then, even if there is no lion, wouldn’t you be able to use the power yourself?”
There was a faint hope on his face as he spoke. But I just shook my head quietly.
“I already asked. Delton said it’s not impossible, but it takes a big vessel to hold that much power.”
“You mean the size of the bowl?”
“Yes, it is not easy for Delton to control the harmony of nature. Since it requires considerable strength, the size of the vessel must be large.”
It meant that it was impossible to deceive people by hiding something like a small trinket.
The impatience on the Crown Prince's face changed into a look of despair, and soon a heavy silence fell between us.
I hummed as I tapped my feet, enjoying the silence.
“If you want to live, you will die, and if you want to die, you will live.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That’s my mother’s favorite saying. It’s said to be a proverb from the Eastern Continent.”
“I think I’ve heard that saying before. But why did you suddenly bring it up?”
“My mother came to me in my dream last night and said that. It’s been 13 years since she passed away, but this is the first time she’s come to me in a dream...”
After speaking for a while, I met the Crown Prince's eyes and smiled brightly.
“My mother, who didn’t show up even the day before I was taken away as a sacrifice, has shown up like this, so I guess I’m in a crisis.”
For a moment, his expression hardened. I guess my smile must have seemed like a surrender to him.
But his prediction was wrong.
I did not give up, but held onto hope. I took as advice the proverb my mother told me in my dream.
“I think now is the time to risk my life.”
I smiled mischievously, wrinkling my nose.
***
“You want to take the test of the holy relic?”
The Marquis of Bayen asked, leaning his back against the back of the sofa and leaning toward me. He looked as if he couldn't believe his ears.
Unlike him, I looked extremely calm and said as I put down the teacup I was holding on the table.
“Yes, I think that’s the best option for now.”
"Ha."
The Marquis let out a sigh.
“I clearly warned you before. There is a price to pay for the test of the holy relic. The moment you touch the holy relic, you never know what price you will pay. You could become crippled, or lose your life in an instant.”
Bam!
As soon as the Marquis finished speaking, a dull sound rang out.
The Crown Prince sitting next to me hit the armrest of the sofa hard.
Even so, his gaze was fierce as he looked at me, as if his heart was not at peace.
After all, from the moment I said I would risk my life for the sacred relic until I set foot here, he was the one who tried to dissuade me a hundred times.
“That won’t do. Going in a limb to get out of a limb is not the right way to do it.”
"Your Highness."
“Why are people so extreme? After sacrificing their lives and barely saving their lives, when they say they will use their precious lives for themselves, how can they so easily put that precious life on the table?”
“...”
“There must be some way. If there isn’t, I will find a way, even if it means making one. Until then, just wait quietly.”
He stood firm in stopping me, but he could not break my will.
I stared at him for a while with wavering eyes as if telling him to change his mind, then turned my gaze back to the Marquis.
“Your Excellency, I’m sure you’ve heard, but in three days, the examination will take place. They say it’s a place where the two Saintesses will showcase their skills to the public, but the only person who will be tested is me.”
“...”
“I have to go through the test alone without the lion who helped me. But as you know, I am an ordinary person with no divine powers, so there is no way I can pass the test. So what will happen to me?”
“...”
“If I lose this game, I’ll die anyway. Why should I be so afraid of that divine punishment in this situation? Please give me one last chance.”
The Marquis stared at me silently. His eyebrows, which had been furrowed as if he was being scorned, were straightened again.
But the eyes directed at me were thick with confusion.
In the heavy silence that fell, the Marquis and I continued to lock eyes.
Somehow, it felt like we were fighting a war.
After some time had passed, the Marquis parted his dry lips.
“Would you really not regret it? Even if you go blind, even if you lose the use of one arm, even if your knees become stiff and you can no longer use your legs..."
“...”
“A little more, even if it’s just three days. Are you confident that you won’t regret it if your life ends immediately?”
I lifted my teacup again and met his gaze.
“Yes, I do not regret it. I will not regret my choice, no matter what terrible punishment I receive for daring to covet the holy relics with my body that is not permitted.”
There was not the slightest waver in my voice as I said those words.
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