Chapter 16

As always, his unchanging, handsome sleeping face greeted her.

“Good… afternoon,” Alice said in greeting. She gazed quietly at Kylus’s face for a moment before murmuring softly, “I shouldn’t get attached… But it seems I’ve already grown quite fond of you.”

Judging by the twinge of disappointment she felt at the butler’s words earlier, Alice swallowed the rest of what she wanted to say. 

It absolutely wasn’t some impure feeling of regret at no longer being able to see his fine physique. She had hesitated for a moment, feeling disappointed that a line was being drawn between them. But thinking about it, drawing that line was the right thing to do. 

After all, there was nothing she could do for Kylus anyway. Besides, she would soon be leaving the duchy, so it was rather fortunate to draw the line here.

“That’s right… I’m someone who will be leaving this place,” Alice said, as if trying to shake off her sinking mood, but it wasn’t very effective.

She should never have allowed herself to feel any affection for Kylus from the start. The problem was that he was unrealistically handsome. It was impossible not to look at him.

After she leaves, Kylus will die. 

She was trying to accept that fact, but she couldn’t be sure she would feel nothing when she eventually heard the news of Kylus’s death.

If only a miracle could happen and Kylus wouldn’t die after she left. 

Like Lady Meltain’s early appearance, perhaps Kylus’s death could also be averted?

But that would change the flow of this world too much. Such a thing probably wouldn’t happen.

“…So I should stop thinking about it.” About you.

Feeling unsettled, Alice turned her gaze away from Kylus’s handsome face. She didn’t look at him again until she left the bedroom, as if trying to organize her troubled thoughts.

Just as Alice left, Kylus’s low voice resonated through the bedroom.

“…She’s leaving this place?”

Slowly sitting up, he ran a hand through his ebony hair, eyeing the door Alice had exited with a strange look.

He had deliberately told the butler to give Alice some time alone to get to know her better. But he didn’t expect to hear her true feelings like this on the very first day.

Had she married with the intention of leaving the duchy from the beginning? 

If so, it made sense that she didn’t obey Madam Quillian’s orders.

“Leaving, huh…” 

Alice Fordley is leaving the duchy.

“That’s…”

Kylus couldn’t take his eyes off the spot where Alice had been standing, feeling an inexplicable irritation and frustration.

* * *

The next day, as the sun began to set in the afternoon, a carriage leaving the Dearrut duchy headed towards the Temple of Helios, the sun god.

Alice, riding in a carriage for the first time, was quite excited. 

She had imagined a medieval carriage, but this was far better, with top-notch comfort. It was amazing how the carriage didn’t seem to shake at all.

Marveling at the experience, Alice looked around curiously until her eyes met those of Lady Meltain sitting across from her.

“You seem to be in a good mood, Madam,” Lady Meltain remarked.

“Ah, I suppose I’m excited about going out after so long,” Alice replied.

“I heard you got married not long ago. It seems you didn’t go out much at the Fordley estate either?”

“Yes. It’s quite a rural domain, and our family circumstances weren’t very comfortable, so I couldn’t go out often. Actually… that’s why I told my mother I wanted to go out with you, My Lady.”

Alice carefully added the last part, as if sharing a secret. She wanted to make sure Lady Meltain didn’t misunderstand her eagerness from yesterday.

Lady Meltain’s green eyes deepened slightly as she responded slowly, “…I see.”

“Yes. When I heard you were going out, I really wanted to go outside too. So I thought it was a good opportunity. I figured if I said I was going to the temple with Lady Meltain, my mother would allow it.”

Alice wore an expression of utter delight.

Lady Meltain’s face soured a bit in response. 

It was understandable, as Alice didn’t look at all like a wife going to pray for her husband’s recovery. She appeared more like a frivolous woman who had given no thought to her ailing duke and was simply out for fun.

That was exactly how Alice wanted to appear.

“I see. Well then, we should go sightseeing in the capital together sometime, Madam,” Lady Meltain said, her intense gaze softening as she seemed to fall for Alice’s act.

“Really? That would be wonderful!” Alice exclaimed, clasping her hands together with a bright smile. She maintained an innocent expression, as if she knew nothing.

After exchanging some trivial conversation with Lady Meltain, the carriage came to a stop.

“Young Madam, My Lady. We have arrived at the temple,” the coachman announced as he opened the door.

Alice and Lady Meltain stepped out of the carriage together.

* * *

“Welcome, Duchess of Dearrut.”

As they entered the temple, a priest was waiting for them. 

Having seen the Dearrut duchy’s carriage, he naturally greeted Alice.

Alice already knew from books that temples were friendly to nobles. Unlike commoners, nobles sent massive donations to temples. The higher ranking the noble, the better the treatment.

To the point where a priest would personally come out to greet them like this.

“It’s nice to meet you, Father. We’ve come today to offer prayers for the Duke’s health,” Alice said.

“I hear that Duke Dearrut has not yet recovered. We priests have been trying our best, but… it seems our prayers have not yet reached the gods. However, if the Duchess herself offers prayers like this, I’m sure the gods will surely respond.”

The priest spoke with a benevolent smile.

If only that were possible… it would be nice.

But Kylus is in a state where he cannot wake up.

Alice hid her bitterness and awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Yes. I would be grateful if the gods listen.”

“They certainly will. Now, let me guide you to the prayer room. Our temple has separate prayer rooms for nobles, so you’ll be able to pray comfortably.”

At that moment, Lady Meltain, who had been quiet until then, interjected.

“Do we have to share a prayer room with the Duchess?”

“Ah… Yes. The prayer room I was going to guide you to is for two people, but do you wish to pray separately?”

The priest looked at Lady Meltain and then glanced at Alice, as if wondering if they weren’t together.

Alice turned to look at Lady Meltain.

Lady Meltain slightly furrowed her brow, as if apologetic, and said, “I’m uncomfortable having people around when I pray. If it’s alright with you, Madam… could we each use individual prayer rooms?”

She’s up to something.

Alice had suspected Lady Meltain had ulterior motives from the moment she mentioned visiting the temple. But seeing her desire to be separated like this made Alice even more certain.

For a moment, Alice’s mind flashed back to what she had told Madam Quillian – the absolute lie that she wouldn’t leave Lady Meltain’s side.

Alice put on a fresh smile and opened her lips.

“Of course, My Lady. I think I’d be more comfortable in a private prayer room too.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll see you in two hours.”

“Alright, My Lady.”

Cheering on Lady Meltain’s secret plan for Madam Quillian’s quick exit, Alice parted ways with her.

* * *

“Hmm, so this is the sun god…”

Having arrived at the private prayer room, Alice looked up at the statue on the altar.

Helios, the god of the sun.

As befitting a deity, the statue’s appearance was extremely beautiful.

Just like Kylus.

“Ah… This is really bad. That man Kylus has become my standard of beauty.”

Alice let out a deep sigh at how naturally Kylus came to mind.

How could she forget him and live well like this?

Come to think of it, Kylus’s face wasn’t one that could be easily forgotten.

It would probably come to mind until the moment her coffin lid closed.

After all, such a handsome man wasn’t common.

“I should never have met him in the first place. Or if you were going to have me possess someone, couldn’t you have made me possess a passing extra or something? You’re just making my heart all unsettled for no reason…”

Alice spoke towards the statue.

Then she fell silent for a moment.

But of course, there was no answer.

In novels, this is when the god’s untimely voice would suddenly ring out.

It seemed she didn’t have that level of plot armor.

Feeling embarrassed, she rubbed the back of her neck and approached the bookshelf on one side of the prayer room.

It was filled with books about the gods.

Among them, a book about holy power caught Alice’s eye.

Alice took out the book and opened the first page.

[This book was personally written by me, Strophel, the great first pope, so before reading, show your reverence to me.]

“Wow… This book makes me not want to read it from the very first page.”

Alice contemplated closing the book right away at the self-absorbed introduction, but she turned the page.

And she found a notable passage about holy power.

[Holy power is a blessing from the gods. However, not everyone can have the same holy power just because it’s a divine blessing. Just as mages have different circles, the holy power that priests possess also varies greatly according to the will of the gods. The most common level is that of lower priests, who can warm the body or heal small wounds.

Being able to heal large wounds is only possible for high priests. Moreover, the ability to completely heal wounds at once or treat internal injuries is rare even among high priests. At least someone of my caliber is needed to do that.]

“…What?”

Alice lifted her head from the book with a bewildered expression.

It wasn’t because of the narcissistic final sentence.

“You need to be at least a high priest level to heal major wounds…?”

Her holy power had clearly healed Kylus’s wounds completely.

She had seen it clearly with her own two eyes.

But it turns out that wasn’t a common level of holy power.

Alice’s golden eyes trembled slightly.