Chapter 17
Alice turned her head towards the statue of Helios.
“Why give me such an ability…”
She had thought it wasn’t anything special, but this seemed to be a much greater power than she’d imagined. With great power comes great responsibility. But she didn’t want to be responsible for anything.
Alice’s life goal was to live quietly and uneventfully.
“I liked it… but I shouldn’t be so pleased about this.”
Alice pondered for a moment about her holy power. The result of her deliberation was ‘Let’s just keep it hidden and live normally.’
She wanted to become a priestess to escape the duchy, but had no desire to become the High Priestess. Being High Priestess would mean she couldn’t live freely.
Yes… if I hide it, who would know?
“…Surely you won’t do something underhanded like suddenly delivering an oracle, right?”
Alice asked the statue with an uneasy look. She knew there would be no answer, but she just threw the question out there anyway.
“Duchess Dearrut.”
But just then, a voice suddenly called out.
“Ah! You startled me… I thought it was the voice of the god.”
Alice, who had been startled, realized it wasn’t the god calling her when she heard a subsequent knock.
Knock knock-
Calming her surprised heart, she cleared her throat and answered.
“Yes. Come in.”
The door opened carefully and a young-looking female priestess entered.
The priestess bowed her head and asked, “The High Priest has sent a cup of tea for the Duchess. It’s made with herbs grown in our garden behind the temple. The aroma is quite lovely.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Alice smiled faintly as she watched the priestess set the teacup on the table. Unlike the male priest she’d met earlier, this one looked youthful, likely a lower-ranking priestess, but her brown eyes were full of innocence.
This is exactly what I imagined an ideal priestess would be like.
Alice took a polite sip of the fragrant tea. Then she realized this was the perfect opportunity to find out if she could become a priestess herself.
If she asked the High Priest, she’d have to deal with unnecessary questions and might even arouse suspicion if she was unlucky. That priest was used to dealing with nobles. He might even send a letter to Lady Quillian saying the Duchess was saying strange things.
So it would be better to ask a priestess who wouldn’t be too suspicious of her. Someone like this cute lower-ranking priestess right in front of her.
After setting down her teacup, Alice turned to the priestess.
“Excuse me, Sister.”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Well… I know there’s a requirement that one must be pure of body to become a priestess.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Um… I know someone who is married but due to unavoidable circumstances, is still physically pure. Could such a person become a priestess?”
The priestess furrowed her brow slightly, as if thinking.
“Hmm, there hasn’t been such a precedent… Oh!”
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she clapped her hands and continued.
“There was once a married woman who developed holy power and became a priestess. Usually, marriage disqualifies one, but it’s said that those who develop holy power without undergoing the divine blessing ceremony can become priestesses regardless of other qualifications.”
“…So if one has holy power, the other requirements don’t matter?”
“That’s right. Such a person is already blessed by the god.”
The lower-ranking priestess said with a proud expression.
Alice’s face also brightened considerably. She had confirmation that she could become a priestess. Holy power was like a free pass.
Alice looked at the statue with reverent eyes.
Lord Helios, though we’ve never met, I sincerely thank you.
“But does your friend have holy power?” the young priestess asked, her eyes wide.
“Yes. She said she has a small amount of holy power.”
“I see. Then she should start by submitting a priestess registration application.”
“…A priestess registration application?”
“Yes. If one wishes to become a priestess, whether they have holy power or not, they must first fill out and submit a registration application to the temple. There’s a section for special circumstances on the form where she can note that she has holy power. Then our temple will conduct a separate holy power examination and proceed with the registration process.”
“Ah… I see. Thank you so much for explaining all this in detail, Sister.”
“It’s nothing. Of course I should help someone who wants to become a priestess. That friend of yours will soon be part of our family in the god’s embrace.”
Actually, it’s me.
The young priestess smiled brightly. Her pure innocence pricked Alice’s conscience.
“Ah, yes. Haha…”
As Alice smiled awkwardly out of embarrassment, the priestess pulled a paper from her robe pocket.
“Here, this is the registration application. I’m in charge of receiving registration documents, so I carry a few with me. Please pass this on to your friend.”
To think she’d resolve the application issue in one go. Alice was truly grateful.
“…Thank you so much. May I know your name, Sister?”
“I’m Violet.”
I must repay her kindness somehow later.
Alice firmly etched Violet’s face and name into her memory.
“Violet… that’s a pretty name.”
“Thank you.”
Violet’s cheeks turned slightly pink, as if embarrassed.
As Alice was receiving and putting away the application, there was a knock on the closed door.
“My lady, it’s Sienna.”
It was the voice of Lady Meltain.
Alice turned her head towards the clock. Indeed, two hours had already passed.
It was time to return to the duchy with Lady Meltain.
“Violet, I’ll see you again next time.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Alice bid farewell to Violet and left the prayer room.
* * *
“You’re late.”
Alice looked a bit flustered when she saw Madam Quillian standing in the lobby upon returning to the ducal mansion.
I didn’t expect her to be waiting.
Thinking that the Madam must have been quite anxious about Lady Meltain’s outing, Alice greeted her.
“Mother, I’ve returned.”
“I’ve returned, Madam Quillian.”
“…Yes, Lady Meltain. You should go up and rest well. You must be very tired after offering prayers like this when you haven’t been back from the west for long. I’m sorry to have troubled you because of my inadequate son.”
“…Inadequate? Isn’t it the Duke who has revived the Dearrut Duchy? The fate of the Dearrut Duchy hangs on the Duke’s health, so this level of effort is nothing.”
“When you put it that way… I’m grateful.”
The corner of Madam Quillian’s mouth trembled slightly.
It seemed like she was holding back the urge to curse.
Lady Meltain, who had elegantly put Madam Quillian in her place once again today, smiled sweetly.
“But since Madam Quillian is being so considerate of me, I’ll shamelessly go up and rest first. I prayed very earnestly today. Have a good night then.”
After Lady Meltain had gone up the stairs and disappeared, Madam Quillian let out a deep sigh.
As if trying to control her anger.
That fox-like wench.
Madam Quillian muttered a curse in a low voice before turning to Alice.
“Why did it take so long? Did you stop somewhere other than the temple?”
“No. We only offered prayers at the temple. Lady Meltain must have been truly desperate, as she went to a private prayer room saying she didn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Is that so? Are you certain she stayed only in the private prayer room the whole time?”
“Yes. I discreetly asked the priest guarding the corridor of the prayer rooms, and he said Lady Meltain never came out until her prayers were finished. Then we came straight back to the mansion.”
“Hmm… Perhaps she was deliberately laying low today since it’s the first day. That one is no ordinary person, so don’t let your guard down and keep a close watch. If you notice anything even slightly suspicious, you must tell me immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Now then, go to your husband. Isn’t it about time for his medicine?”
Madam Quillian said with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
She seemed extremely pleased with the fact that Kylus was being poisoned daily.
If she knew I had switched it out for vitamins… she’d probably have a fit.
Alice felt the urge to reveal that fact herself someday.
She wanted to see Madam Quillian’s face crumble spectacularly at least once.
Of course, now was definitely not the time, so Alice meekly lowered her gaze.
“…Yes, Mother.”
* * *
“Young Madam.”
As she entered the bedroom, Helkin greeted her.
“You’re here again today? Why have you been coming every day lately?”
Since giving the medicine was something she could do alone, there was no particular need for Helkin to come.
But recently, Helkin had been showing up without fail every day.
At Alice’s question, Helkin looked flustered and scratched his chin.
Why are you suddenly asking?
Helkin was at a loss for words when Alice, who had been going about her business as usual for days despite his presence, suddenly asked.
This was because the reason Helkin came every day was to check Kylus’s condition after he woke up from taking the medicine Alice gave him.
The poison had not been completely neutralized yet.
But Alice remembered Helkin’s strange behavior from before and wasn’t about to back down easily.
“Hmm, it seems like there’s something going on.”
As Alice raised an eyebrow, Helkin gulped.
He glanced surreptitiously at Kylus lying on the bed.
If he put on another clumsy act this time, Helkin would die by Kylus’s hand.
It felt like the Duke might open his eyes and warn him at any moment.
Helkin racked his brains and said…
