With her brown hair and glasses, the other person probably wouldn't have guessed that she was Odette.
She had a familiar expression on her face.
'A smile disguised as boundless humility.'
That look that makes anyone feel harmless and disarmed.
But even if no one else knew, Han Soo-wan knew. When Han Song-i made that expression, she was at her most arrogant.
"May the grace of God be with you!"
Charlotte shouted as she threw chocolates and a silver coin over Odette's head. They hit her head and fell with a clank.
As Odette reflexively flinched in pain, Charlotte spoke in a sympathetic voice, wondering what she had interpreted.
"Don't be discouraged! I pray that you can become like me.
"..."
"Please be happy!"
'The way they speak, the way they smile, even the way they talk are all exactly the same...'
The carriage and procession passed Odette and crossed the bridge. Only her back was visible, her pink hair fluttering in the autumn breeze.
Those who remained after the parade had passed all looked tired due to the unusual security. Melted chocolates were scattered on the floor, staining their legs.
Odette, who was watching the back of the departing procession, turned around in the exact opposite direction the carriage had been heading.
The Central Cathedral, Charlotte's starting point, was Odette's destination.
Odette walked towards the cathedral.
Charlotte and Odette cannot live together in this world.
If Odette's hypothesis about Charlotte's identity is correct, Charlotte will definitely try to kill Odette.
Of course, Odette had no intention of letting Charlotte live in peace.
Because Han Soo-wan has a debt to repay to Han Song-i, who used her to her advantage and then killed her.
Did Charlotte tell me to please be happy?
"I intend to do so, Charlotte. This life will be happy."
After Charlotte's happiness was shattered.
***
A small chapel on the first floor of the central cathedral.
Rolf, sitting closest to the small window on the right wall, looked out the window bitterly.
Those rose petals and confetti were flying in the air all day long.
'How much is that...? Would I have donated if I had known it would be used for something like that all day long? It's all the hard-earned money of the Count's family...!'
To Rolf's eyes, each and every piece of confetti fluttering in vain looked like money.
It was heartbreaking to think that all the money they paid to enter the Central Cathedral was being spent there, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
The Barcehas were a pious nation. There were temples everywhere in the empire, but the central cathedral was a space of a different class from the other temples.
Unlike a regular temple, which was open to anyone with religious faith, the central cathedral was open only to the Pope, High Priests, Saints, and assistant priests who worked in the cathedral with the Pope's permission.
A sacred place that even the Emperor, let alone the common priests, could enter only with the permission of the Pope. It was so strict that he wanted to go in there even more.
It was also a wish of ardent believers to enter the central cathedral at least once in their lifetime.
The Pope knew better than anyone the desires of such believers. That is why on this 'Victory Day' he announced that 'I will select ten of the most devout believers and open the doors of the central cathedral.'
Regardless of whether they are priests or ordinary believers, whether they are commoners, nobles, or royalty... As long as they have deep faith, the door will be opened.
It was the first time in history that the doors of the central cathedral were opened to laypeople, not even priests.
He even announced that he would give just one of them the honor of standing in the front row of the candlelight vigil with Charlotte.
The 'Victory Day' candlelight service is held with the holy fire kept from going out in the central cathedral.
Just attending that service is a once-in-a-lifetime honor for the faithful, and to be able to stand with Saintess Charlotte?
The structure was such that everyone had no choice but to turn their eyes and donate.
'The problem is that you have to prove your faith with money. It's like a temple that is so dirty and worldly...'
Rolf clicked his tongue. The Pope had never said it officially, but anyone familiar with the workings of the temple could tell that the 'religious faith' he spoke of would be measured purely by the amount of donations.
'In the end, I was evaluated as having the highest faith in the empire. It is clear that it was a matter of paying a lot of money.'
Rolf was not only one of the ten people who were allowed to enter the central cathedral, but he was also 'the only believer' who was allowed to stand in the front row with the Saintess at the memorial service. He poured in so much money that he was blind.
Of course, it wasn't Rolf's personal money. It was money poured in from the Count's assets.
"Get the Purifier involved somehow, Rolf. No matter how much you spend, make sure I have a proper conversation with that Charlotte!"
Rolf's chest tightened as he recalled that arbitrary order.
'Who on earth would want Count Albrecht's patronage these days?'
The Count seemed unable to view the situation objectively.
In the old days, when he was famous for his good character, everyone wanted to receive the patronage of the Count's family, but now, even poor painters and composers shake their heads when they hear the name Albrecht.
So, it is unlikely that Charlotte, who is currently receiving attention as the Empire's only Purifier, would want to receive that support.
'Moreover, what the Count ultimately wants is to adopt Charlotte.'
Purifiers of low rank, whether commoners or slaves, were lined up by nobles to be adopted into their families.
'But Charlotte is a Class-A Purifier, right?"
Count Albrecht thought that since Charlotte had not yet been adopted, there was still hope for the Count's family.
However, Rolf thought that the reason Charlotte had not been adopted yet was because Charlotte had high standards for choosing an adoptive family.
All the families who proposed adoption to Charlotte were either high-ranking or local nobles.
That was because rumors spread behind the scenes that the Duke of Brentano hated Charlotte. The high-ranking nobles were afraid that adopting Charlotte would make them enemies with the ducal family, so they were cautious.
But that kind of atmosphere won't last long. Even though the Duke of Brentano is actively interfering with the high-ranking nobles... Since the Pope has made Charlotte host 'Victory Day', it's no different from declaring that he will definitely treat her well.
As of today, Charlotte's followers will be joined by ardent believers who follow the Central Cathedral.
So why on earth would Charlotte, who was on the rise, choose Count Albrecht?
Rolf tried several times to convince the Count that he would only be wasting money, but the Count was adamant.
"Albrecht is already cornered. Even if the odds are slim, we have to try."
At the same time, he gave Rolf complete control of the property and personnel affairs, which was once the omnipotent authority that Mrs. Becker had.
It was no different from pressuring him to meet Charlotte no matter how much of his fortune he spent.
Having power was sweet, so he followed the Count for a while, but... the more he checked the ledgers every day, the more he felt sorry for the money. This was because he knew exactly where the Count's finances were at the moment.
'Until two years ago, this amount of donation would not have been enough money for the Count's family.'
It was heartbreaking to have to spend so much money when every penny counted.
It was disheartening to think that the money had turned into confetti and rose petals that rained down from the sky all day long.
It was then. With a creaking sound, the window directly opposite where Rolf was standing opened.
Whoosh, the sound of the wind was heard behind him. Before Rolf could be surprised, the candles that had been gently lighting the chapel went out all at once.
"What is it...?"
The chapel where Rolf is is a space with a couple of small windows.
So, as soon as the candles went out, the inside of the chapel became completely dark. It was the moment when Rolf, startled, tried to get up.
A squeak was heard as the door opened.
"What? What the hell is going on?"
While Rolf was lost for words, a thud was heard as the door closed.
Soon after, the sound of someone walking in with a thump was heard. Rolf swallowed hard and narrowed his eyes in tension.
But to my dismay, a small, robed woman entered the chapel.
The woman sat down in Rolf's chair, although there were plenty of empty seats in the chapel.
The chapel's pews were long benches, so even though he was sitting on one, he couldn't see the outline of her face very well. He could only guess that she was a young woman.
'I was making a fuss for nothing.'
Rolf felt embarrassed because he was making such a fuss over someone just entering the chapel. He felt even more embarrassed when he could guess who was in front of him.
'There is only one young woman who would be free to roam the central cathedral.'
Rolf had already sent a letter to Charlotte, saying that he would wait all day in the small chapel and that he would be happy to talk to her.
Ahem, he cleared his throat and asked expectantly.
"Are you by any chance... Lady Charlotte?"
"..."
When the other party did not respond, Rolf tilted his head. There were no young women among the high priests. Could they be the assistant priests who took care of the chores at the central cathedral?
"Are you by any chance... an assistant priest?"
While he was wondering, his eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. At that moment, when the woman's face seemed somehow familiar, the corners of her mouth went up.
"Long time no see, Rolf."
A voice like a flute echoed through the chapel. Rolf almost lost his mind.
It was a voice so familiar, so unforgettable. But it was the voice of someone who could never be alive.
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