Chapter 129
Prion poured out a lengthy admonishment as if unable to contain his rising anger. And Alice instinctively became solemn.
Though Prion’s words weren’t directed at her, everything he said was correct. It felt rather like being scolded by a teacher alongside a friend who had caused trouble.
[As expected of the child I chose. Not a single word is wrong. To dare burst into the sanctuary that honors me by practically breaking down the doors—he deserves divine punishment with no excuse.]
The deity added, seemingly pleased with Prion’s sharp demeanor. He had even stopped approaching Alice and was watching Prion with satisfied eyes. His annoyance felt like that of a sister-in-law instigating beside a mother-in-law.
Well, divine punishment might be a bit much…
Alice thought it was somewhat excessive, but she didn’t say anything more. After all, Kylus was in the wrong. At that moment, Kylus turned to face Prion. Alice observed his profile. His face was still rigid.
Was he going to confront Prion right here? That would be an outrageously unreasonable behavior, but with Kylus… it was possible. He was someone who knew his own abilities and power so well that he sometimes acted with what seemed like unwarranted arrogance.
Of course, until now, his arrogance had been justified. But today, the deity was watching everything. What if he really did receive divine punishment for going further? That couldn’t happen.
Alice intended to apologize to Prion before Kylus could say anything. But Kylus was faster.
“In my haste, I committed a discourtesy that should not have been done. I apologize. If the temple wishes to impose punishment for this incident, I will accept it willingly, High Priest Prion.”
When his deep voice finished speaking, Alice looked at Kylus with a bewildered expression, wondering if she had heard correctly. For Kylus, with his lofty pride, to apologize so respectfully.
Even when he had beaten the knights and entered the Empress’s palace, he had only offered a perfunctory apology with great confidence. So even if he apologized this time, she expected it would just be a simple “sorry”…
But now, Kylus genuinely acknowledged his mistake with a truly serious face and proper etiquette. Even Prion seemed caught off guard, perhaps not expecting Kylus to admit his fault so readily.
[…Perhaps he’s not completely mad after all.]
Even the deity said as much. As a hint of confusion tinged Prion’s angry gaze, Kylus continued:
“It’s been only a day since the assassination attempt at the hunting competition, and when I heard my wife was alone in the sanctuary… I lost my reason.”
“High Priest, I’m sorry too. Let me apologize as well. The Duke acted out of concern for me, and I’m sure he had no intention of insulting the temple or Lord Helios.”
Alice quickly added, watching the wavering Prion. Prion’s gaze turned to Alice. She looked at him with eyes full of remorse, as if pleading for him to understand their sincerity.
[Hmph.]
The sound of the deity snorting at her performance was heard. Alice paid no attention and continued to cast pitiful looks at Prion.
Eventually, Prion softened his sharp demeanor with a small sigh. “I’m not entirely unsympathetic to the Duke’s feelings… so I’ll let this incident pass. But, Duke, I have matters to discuss with the Duchess, could you please step outside for a moment?”
Kylus’s gaze turned to Alice. A look asking if it was alright for him to leave. Alice nodded to Kylus.
She could guess what Prion wanted to talk about. Naturally, he would ask about her meeting with the deity. And it was better if Kylus remained unaware of this matter.
Especially if he learned about the dark specter—Kylus would likely draw his sword, deity or not. Just now, he had burst in, nearly breaking down the sanctuary doors, fearing something had happened to her. It was entirely possible.
The deity and Kylus clashing. Obviously, a human couldn’t defeat a god, but Alice didn’t even want to imagine that scene. No. Absolutely not.
“Your Grace, it won’t take long.” Alice said with a faint smile.
“Very well. I’ll wait outside the sanctuary, then.” Unlike when he entered, Kylus left the sanctuary compliantly.
As the door that had been flung open closed again, Prion took a step toward her. Prion glanced once at the deity’s massive statue, then met Alice’s gaze. And with trembling eyes, he asked:
“Duchess, did you meet Lord Helios?” Prion’s question was, as Alice had expected, about her meeting with the deity. Prion was looking at Alice with eyes full of expectation.
His gaze was so intense that Alice felt as if she should tell him everything about the deity. So with an awkward smile, she asked the deity inwardly: ‘What should I do? Tell High Priest Prion everything?’
[What do you mean by everything? Didn’t I tell you not to mention that I’m here?]
‘No, not that… about the dark specter… that story.’
If she didn’t tell him, Prion would likely be terribly disappointed. Like a child hearing that Santa Claus isn’t real on Christmas.
The deity exhaled a low “hmm” and answered: [No. You can’t tell him that either. Turning back the time of the world is a taboo that humans should not know. You have no connection to this world, but that child is a soul of my world, so he must not approach the taboo.]
‘Ah, taboo…’
As Alice nodded in understanding, the deity continued: [Unlike you, my child is very intelligent and will dig deeply if he hears about the dark specter, so just say you heard my voice and make up something appropriate.]
Unlike me, he’s intelligent?
Well, yes, of course Prion’s scholarship would be higher than hers, but there was no need to go that far. Alice barely managed to suppress her souring expression at the deity who didn’t miss an opportunity to criticize her even while discussing important matters.
And Alice opened her mouth to Prion with a smooth smile: “Unfortunately, I didn’t see Lord Helios manifest, but I did hear his voice. The reason Lord Helios called me was because he was moved by the sublime beauty felt in my soul.”
[…What sublime beauty? Pure soul? When did I ever say such things to you? Are you mad?]
The deity’s voice was heard as if saying “what nonsense.” But Alice didn’t pay the slightest attention and continued with even more exaggerated gestures, placing her hand on her chest:
“Thus, Lord Helios bestowed upon me a blessing of power beyond my deserving, but that wasn’t enough to satisfy him, so he told me that’s why he called me here today. He praised me so much, saying I had a soul so pure it was unlike a human’s…”
[When did I ever praise you? Pure soul? What are you saying? I’m not such a frivolous deity!]
Alice spoke even more clearly, as if for the horrified and disgusted deity to hear: “And most touchingly, Lord Helios told me that he cherishes and loves me more than any other human. It was truly an honorable and meaningful time.”
Alice caught her breath after her long speech and smiled with a moved expression. And the deity beside her wrinkled his face as if he had eaten a bitter persimmon. As if dumbfounded, saying something like, “Talking about love, of all things.”
At this, Alice covered her mouth and giggled “hoho” with apparent delight. The deity’s intense reaction of disgust was quite satisfying.
Yes, she had deliberately used such cringeworthy words to make him squirm like that. It wasn’t her plan from the start. But the deity had attacked her first.
From their first meeting, she seemed to have been called “damnable thing” and “foolish thing” more than ten times, and now he was belittling her as less intelligent than Prion. I’m annoyed too.
And besides, it was the deity who told her to make something up for Prion, so it didn’t matter. Except for the fact that her own hands and feet curled up in cringe as she spoke.
At that moment, Prion, who had been watching Alice, smiled awkwardly. “Lord Helios doesn’t usually speak so much… For him to praise you so extensively, he must truly cherish you greatly.”
“Haha, it seems so.” Just then, the sound of the deity heaving a deep sigh as if he had given up on everything was heard.
“But were there no other words? Special revelations for the Empire, or instructions for the priests…” “No. There were no other words at all.” “…I see.”
Prion seemed a bit disappointed, but quickly recovered and said to her: “Duchess, though you are not a priest, you are especially cherished by Lord Helios, so please visit the temple often. Your visits alone will please Lord Helios. And I will arrange for you to enter and exit this sanctuary whenever you wish.”
“Thank you for your consideration, High Priest.” “It’s what I should do as a servant of the deity. Now, the Duke must be waiting, so you should go.” “Yes.”
Prion went ahead first, and Alice pretended to follow but turned her head. Toward the deity. Meeting her gaze, the deity said:
[Alice, you must find the dark specter as quickly as possible. The specter will surely be near its host. Search around the Empress thoroughly. Having received my power, you will be able to sense the aura of the dark specter.]
“Duchess?” “Ah, coming.”
After secretly nodding to the deity, Alice followed Prion out of the sanctuary. “My lady.”
Kylus, who had been waiting for her, approached her side. Though it had been a short time, his black eyes were busily examining her, as if he had been very worried. Alice smiled at him and lightly touched his arm. As if to say she was really fine.
“Let’s return to the ducal residence, Your Grace.” And as the sanctuary door closed, she peeked inside one last time to see that the deity was no longer visible.
Inside the carriage heading to the ducal residence. Alice was uncomfortably aware of the awkward atmosphere inside the carriage. Despite the carriage having departed quite some time ago, Kylus hadn’t spoken a word.
Indeed. This awkwardness was due to Kylus’s sudden silence, unlike when they had left the temple. She had expected him to ask why Prion had called her and what had happened in the sanctuary as soon as they boarded the carriage.
But Kylus was simply watching Alice quietly. That made it even more uncomfortable. He could at least look out the window. Though he didn’t seem angry at her… What could he be thinking?
Alice pursed her lips, then relaxed them, writhing in awkwardness, and finally cleared her throat and spoke first.
