Charlotte burst into laughter as Odette left. Their previous meeting had been absurd.
Platinum blonde hair that shined even more brilliantly in the orange light of the setting sun, and sparkling blue-green eyes.
It was a completely different sight from the wretched and insignificant figure she had seen in her previous life, locked up in a prison.
How dare you talk about Odette.
But what was most absurd was Odette's behavior.
'This is ridiculous. How dare you hit my cheek?'
Odette made fun of herself. It was something she never even imagined in her dreams.
Her older sister. Han Su-wan was a gloomy and depressed person. She always lived with a timid expression and a worried look on her face.
Even so, whenever Song-i's mother treated her well, she would smile as if a fluorescent light was shining on her face.
A face that is particularly unpleasant to see because she smiles as if shr owns everything in the world.
"...But you treat me like I'm inferior, you know?"
Cheeky Odette. But Charlotte didn't stop Odette from leaving.
She wanted to tease her a little, but she was in the central cathedral. It was a place where the High Priest or the Pope might pass by at any moment.
Moreover, Charlotte's memorial service was coming up soon, so there was no telling when the High Priest would come out into the garden to greet her.
Odette was in trouble if they noticed her. If they found out she was alive, the evening memorial service would be canceled right away.
'It would be a problem if the memorial service were to be canceled.'
After the debutante ball went awry, Charlotte had been treated poorly for two years. Her only way to rise in society was to be adopted into a noble family.
To do that, she has no choice but to uphold her reputation as a purifier by holding a memorial service tonight.
So, she absolutely must do well. She can't afford to miss out on the Transcendents in this life, right?
'Don't get carried away by your emotions. For now, just focus on how to respond to the fact that Odette is alive.'
The two lives she remembered gave Charlotte a very clear message: the only protagonist's place was rightfully hers.
Whether it was a past life or this world.
In any case, Odette's position will forever be nothing more than Charlotte's shadow. It's a device that makes Charlotte shine even more. That fact won't change even if she's born again.
Charlotte took a deep breath. Someone called out to her from behind.
"Saintess, were you here?"
'Look at this. You never know when the High Priest might show up.'
If she had caught Odette earlier, she would have been discovered by the people of the central cathedral.
Charlotte smiled and turned to the High Priest.
"What were you doing? From a distance, it looked like you were talking to someone."
"Oh, she was an assistant priest. We talked briefly because she said she was going to the market to prepare for the Great Feast."
Charlotte nonchalantly lied to the priest and changed the subject.
"I should have gone in earlier..."
"...I'm sorry for making the High Priest come to me in person. I guess I'm a little tired after the parade, I feel dizzy."
"Oh, I see. I feel sorry for the tired Saintess. What should I do? You have to change into the funeral attire right away."
"Of course, I should be happy to do that. Where can I change?"
"I will guide you, so just follow me."
Charlotte followed the High Priest down the corridor, her thoughts never stopping.
Now she will change into her tunic and go to the crypt of the central cathedral.
In the basement, a sacred flame had never been extinguished since Rosalind first lit it. The sacred flame will be carried to the main chapel where the memorial service will be held. The memorial service will begin with a candlelight service there.
After the long memorial service, the torch will be carried back to the garden, where it will be used to light firecrackers to start a spectacular fireworks display.
'If we do all those events, it will take at most 4 hours. Is there a great attack that Odette can do on me during that time?'
Charlotte recalled one by one what the Purifier could do and what the status window's functions were.
But no matter how much she thought about it. It was difficult for Odette to hit Charlotte in a few hours.
Then...
Charlotte, who had been thinking deeply, followed the High Priest, but then suddenly stopped walking.
"Saintess?"
When the sound of Charlotte's footsteps following him suddenly stopped, the High Priest looked back in surprise.
He was the youngest of the High Priests. Usually, a High Priest needs a long career and becomes a High Priest at an old age. However, he became a High Priest at a very young age.
He was also a priest whose influence within the central cathedral was so strong that the Pope was wary of him. In her previous life, at this point, within a few years, he had gained a voice almost equal to that of the Pope.
'A priest with shallow faith and a fervent desire for the power of the Pope.'
Today, the Pope deliberately excluded someone from the memorial service to help with Charlotte's clothes.
'That human became the Pope after the Pope died suddenly in my last life.'
The Pope warned her several times, saying that he was capable but not trustworthy, so be careful.
The name is clear...
"Father Raphael..."
Charlotte called the priest in a trembling voice.
"Actually, before I attend the memorial service. I have a secret I want to tell only to you, priest."
"Yes?"
"Can you consider this the sacrament of confession and keep my secret?"
Charlotte's voice sounded hesitant, frightened.
"..."
Raphael was so flustered by the sudden situation that his eyes widened, but it only lasted for a moment, and he quickly changed his expression to a solemn one and answered.
"Of course."
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the serious voice.
'You chose well.'
Now, on the eye of the cathedraI's most solemn occasion, amidst all the busyness, the Saintess suddenly decided to reveal a secret.
But how can you make such an expression in an instant? You must be ready to hear a secret at any time.
Since what they want is the power of the Pope, it is easy to use. People who seek profit tend to have fewer variables when using it. Compared to people who seek beliefs, morality, and religious beliefs.
"As Lady Charlotte knows, no priest dares to reveal the contents of a confession. I am a priest who diligently follows the rules of the temple."
"Father Raphael."
"Besides, isn't Lady Charlotte a Saintess whom I must protect with my life? Even if a sword is held to my neck, I have nothing to confess to you."
"Well, that's good...It was such a heavy secret for me, I wanted to confide it to the priest I trusted the most."
Charlotte pretended to hesitate, her lips quivering.
'Raphael has his own power within the central cathedral.'
So as soon as she confesses, the contents will spread to Raphael's people in the central cathedral. So she must think carefully before she speaks.
"Haa.... I'm scared to actually tell you."
Charlotte spoke hesitantly, burying her face in her palms. Raphael smiled gently as if telling her to hurry up and speak.
Finally, Charlotte blurted out in frustration.
"I am not actually an A-class purifier. I am an S-class purifier. The purifying water I saw in my dream was actually the ocean."
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment