Chapter 23
Just as I was enjoying the scent of the forest with my eyes closed, the carriage came to a halt. It seemed we had arrived at the Temple.
I stepped out of the carriage and glanced around. Directly in front of me stood the central temple, a grand structure supported by towering white pillars. Flanking it on either side were smaller buildings arranged in symmetry.
“Your Imperial Highness, we’ve been expecting you.”
A man approached us and greeted me. With a quick glance up and down, I recognized him as a priest of the Temple.
“We’ll wait here. Please take your time.”
“Alright, I’ll be back soon.”
Leaving my nanny behind near the carriage, I followed the priest toward the central temple.
Just like the royal library, the Temple was a strictly restricted place, so my attendants were not permitted to enter with me. As I stepped inside behind the priest, the solemnity of the space was instantly palpable. It was, after all, a place devoted to the gods.
The rows of white columns I had seen from outside were even more majestic and awe-inspiring from within. After walking a little deeper inside, we came upon a door.
“I’ll wait here until your prayer is finished.”
“Alright.”
Just as the nanny couldn’t enter the central temple, even the priest wasn’t allowed into the special chamber beyond this door. I pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.
The first thing that greeted my eyes was a stone statue in the shape of a person, an image of a deity, and an altar beneath it for prayer. Everything in the room was pure white. Light filtered in from a hole in the ceiling, casting a divine glow on the statue.
‘Well, I’ve come this far, so I should at least go through the motions.’
I tried to recall exactly how Ariel had done it. Kneeling before the altar, I closed my eyes and offered a silent prayer.
But the prayer I gave today was entirely different from the ones Ariel had once offered.
‘Please let me live a peaceful life here, free of trouble.’
Where Ariel’s prayers had always been for Calix and the child she would never bear, mine were entirely for myself.
‘I don’t want to die young. And… if possible, I’d really love to return to where I came from.’
And then…
‘No, forget it. I’m sure he’ll be fine on his own.’
I had almost prayed for Calix, but stopped myself. Instead, I offered a prayer for the real Ariel, who no longer existed in this world.
‘I don’t know where her soul has gone, but I hope she’s found happiness.’
Where had Ariel gone? Why had I ended up in her body, in this world?
I knew no one could answer those tangled questions, but that didn’t stop my curiosity. When I opened my eyes, I lifted my head and looked up at the gleaming statue bathed in sunlight.
“You’re not going to answer me, are you?”
I had to laugh at myself. Who did I think I was talking to? With a faint chuckle, I stood up and walked toward the door to leave the room.
The priest was still waiting for me in the same place as before.
“Have you finished your prayer?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Then allow me to escort you back to the carriage.”
And so, retracing our steps, we walked back the way we came. But unlike earlier, we now passed a few people and received greetings as we went, which suddenly made me think of Princess Isabella.
Surely she must still be somewhere within the Temple.
“Where is Princess Isabella… no, I mean, Priestess Lowella?”
Isabella had given up her title as princess and chosen a life of devotion, even abandoning her name. My curiosity got the better of me, and I asked the priest where she was.
“Priestess Lowella is currently in prayer in the western prayer room.”
“Oh? Is that far from here?”
“Not at all. It’s just a short walk this way.”
He gestured ahead as he replied.
“Would you like to see her before you leave? Though I must warn you. It may be difficult again today.”
I hesitated. He was likely right.
Ariel had tried several times to speak with Isabella during her visits to the Temple, but Isabella had always refused, insisting she didn’t wish to meet anyone. So even if I expressed a desire to see her now, it was almost certain she would decline.
“I’ll just take a quick look and be on my way.”
“Understood. This way, please.”
I wasn’t hoping for a conversation. I was simply curious about the kind of person she was, perhaps because of Allen.
When we arrived at the western prayer room and quietly stepped inside, a delicate-looking woman was praying in silence.
I studied her from behind and fell deep into thought.
What exactly was the relationship between her and Allen? Allen would leave her favorite flowers in her empty room every single day. Were they like siblings? Or… something else?
It didn’t really matter what their relationship was, and yet, for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about the two of them.
“Shall I inform Priestess Lowella that Your Imperial Highness wishes to see her?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll be going now.”
She wouldn’t want to see me anyway, so rather than intrude, I chose to quietly leave.
“Understood.”
I gave her one last glance before turning away. It was at that moment.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
A clear, gentle voice called out from behind me. I stopped in my tracks and turned around.
Princess Isabella, who had been kneeling in prayer just moments ago, was now standing and gazing directly at me.
“Princess Isabella…”
“I’m no longer a princess. You know that.”
She began walking toward me slowly as she spoke.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Priestess Lowella.”
I hastily corrected myself and apologized. Before I knew it, she had come right up to me.
‘Wow… she really does look like Calix.’
Despite having different mothers, Isabella bore an uncanny resemblance to Calix. Her hair was a softer shade of black, her eyes a deep crimson, yet her appearance was strikingly similar to his.
Even her gaze, calm and unwavering, was much like his. Her gentle voice and fragile appearance belied a strength and resolve that mirrored his own.
“Did you come today to pray again?”
“Yes. And on my way out, I was curious to see how you were doing.”
“I’m doing well. And you, Your Imperial Highness, have you been well?”
“I… Yes, I have, thank you.”
“Would you be willing to come to my room for a bit?”
“Pardon?”
“I’d like to talk somewhere quiet.”
It was unexpected. She had never once acknowledged me before, and now she wanted to talk?
“Ah… yes, of course.”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to make of it, but gave my answer.
“Priest Noah, I’ll escort Her Imperial Highness from here.”
So his name was Noah. It suited him, his gentle features matched the name perfectly.
“Very well. Your Imperial Highness, then I’ll take my leave.”
He bowed and quickly disappeared.
“This way.”
“Yes.”
I followed Isabella as she led me through the Temple grounds. The private quarters for priests and priestesses were located in one of the smaller buildings to the right of the central temple.
She remained silent the entire walk. I had questions I wanted to ask her as well, but I held my tongue, knowing it wasn’t the right place.
After about ten minutes of walking through the tranquil grounds, we arrived in front of a small door.
“This is it. Please, come in.”
I followed her inside and was struck by how modest the room was, nothing like her chambers in the imperial palace. The bed was small, just the right size for the room, and a desk stood beside it.
In the center was a round table with two chairs facing each other, and a small wardrobe stood tucked into the corner. I glanced around subtly, careful not to seem too curious.
“It’s quite small compared to the palace, isn’t it?”
Isabella immediately caught on to what I was thinking and asked.
“Oh… no, not at all. It’s lovely.”
I quickly denied it as if the thought had never crossed my mind.
“Please, have a seat.”
She gestured to one of the chairs.
“Thank you.”
I sat down, and she took the seat across from me. Silence fell over the room once again.
Isabella didn’t speak. She simply stared at me. I didn’t look away. So we sat there, gazing at each other without a word, for quite some time.
Then finally, she broke the silence.
“It’s been three years, hasn’t it? Since we last sat across from each other like this.”
“Yes… Three years.”
It had already been three years since the day blood was spilled in the palace, when Isabella, last surviving sibling, had sought refuge in the Temple.
“You look much better than the last time I saw you.”
“I’m sorry? Last time?”
Her words caught me off guard, and I scrambled to mask my surprise.
……
T/N: I’m really curious about Princess Isabella
