Chapter 53
Alice had wanted to go to the temple for a peaceful life, but according to the Empress, life in the temple would be anything but peaceful.
It wouldn’t just be uncomfortable – she might even die if she failed to become Pope.
It was so dangerous that staying by Kylus’s side might be safer.
The Empress was essentially telling her to stand at the forefront of a battlefield.
Victory would bring enormous power, but Alice didn’t want such power.
Even if the Empress made an incredibly sweet offer, Alice absolutely did not want to take her hand.
She had been resolute about this since opening her eyes in this world.
Of course, that didn’t mean she wasn’t scared.
Alice’s palms began to sweat under the Empress’s steady gaze.
As naturally as possible, as naturally as possible.
Trying to calm her pounding heart, Alice slowly parted her lips.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. You seem to have overestimated my abilities. I am not worthy of becoming Pope.”
“It has long been the temple’s tradition to choose as Pope the person closest to the deity. And that criterion was determined by how much love one receives from the deity and how strong one’s holy power is. Alice, your holy power saved a dying person. That ability is by no means insufficient.”
The Empress replied gently, seemingly taking Alice’s words as modesty.
Looking at the Empress’s kind smile, Alice realized something.
She hadn’t even considered the possibility that Alice would refuse.
No, the Empress had no intention of accepting Alice’s refusal.
So this, like when she sent her lady-in-waiting to bring Alice to the palace, wasn’t a proposal but a notification.
The Empress had already placed Alice on her chessboard.
Alice lowered her gaze and thought to herself.
She was well and truly screwed.
Come to think of it, the Empress had just revealed her hand. Hidden cards that were never known publicly.
The Empress being revealed as the villain happened in the extreme latter part of the story. Until then, the Empress had been thoroughly hidden.
Pretending to be perfect.
For quite a long time, no one had uncovered her secret.
That meant that those who knew her secret either became the Empress’s people… or refused and died. One of the two.
Understanding exactly why the Empress had summoned her, Alice couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Refusing now meant death.
But she couldn’t accept the offer either…
She couldn’t throw herself into the fire just to avoid the immediate crisis.
How could she possibly defeat High Priest Prion in the first place?
Moreover, with her reverence for the deity being as small as an ant’s dropping, if she became Pope, the deity might manifest and punish her.
Death either way.
No matter which choice she made, all she could see was death.
What should she do?
As Alice was stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Empress urged her.
“Duchess?”
As if telling her to answer quickly.
If only Kylus were here at a time like this.
Cornered, his face suddenly came to mind.
And at that moment, as if by magic, a familiar voice rang in her ears.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
A low voice resonating from not too far away.
Alice and the Empress turned their heads towards it simultaneously.
There stood Kylus, about ten paces away.
Am I seeing things because I’m so desperate?
Alice closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, wondering if it might be a mirage.
She looked again with narrowed eyes, but it wasn’t an illusion.
Kylus was really standing there.
Why are you here?
Dressed in a black formal suit, standing in the middle of the garden, he looked strikingly handsome, but his face was frozen in a chillingly cold expression.
As he took a step closer, Baroness Hestils rushed out from behind.
“You can’t do this!”
Not only Baroness Hestils but other maids as well ran to block Kylus’s path.
Behind them, an imperial knight limping into view could be seen.
Alice wondered what was going on, but soon learned what had happened through Baroness Hestils’ words.
“Assaulting a knight and entering Her Majesty’s garden without permission!? What kind of rudeness is this!?”
Baroness Hestils’ agitated voice echoed loudly through the garden.
Alice’s eyes widened as well.
Assaulting an imperial knight…?
It seemed Kylus had reduced to this state the knights who had been fine when she entered.
Those knights appeared to be the Empress’s personal guards, and he had beaten them?
Is he crazy?
Alice swallowed her silent shock, but Kylus’s face remained stone-cold.
He gave Baroness Hestils a cold once-over and simply walked past her.
“Your Grace!”
Ignoring her completely, Kylus addressed the Empress.
“Your Majesty, I apologize. In my haste, I committed a breach of etiquette. However, I had no choice. Your Majesty took the Duchess away without proper procedures and then barred my entry. I was compelled to be rude out of anxiety that something might have happened to my wife.”
At Kylus’s words, Alice saw a sneer flash across the Empress’s lips.
But it was so brief and slight that only Alice, who was close by, could have noticed it.
“Of course, this doesn’t excuse my rudeness, so please mete out an appropriate punishment.”
Kylus bowed his head.
However, the strange thing was that despite bowing his head, there was no sign of remorse in his demeanor.
If anything, he seemed even more dignified.
Alice wasn’t the only one who felt this way; Baroness Hestils let out a short breath as if dumbfounded.
“Your Majesty, you must have the Duke removed immediately…”
“Enough.”
The Empress, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.
She shook her head at Baroness Hestils.
Receiving the Empress’s silent gaze, Baroness Hestils, surprisingly, instantly changed her fuming expression to a calm one.
Then, as if she had never raised her voice, she bowed her head and retreated with the other palace staff.
After the limping knights followed Baroness Hestils away, the Empress looked at Kylus, who was still bowing his head.
“Duke, I have no intention of punishing you, so please raise your head.”
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s generosity.”
Kylus raised his head and immediately took a step forward.
Crossing the distance of about ten paces in just a few strides, he entered directly under the gazebo.
More precisely, to Alice’s side.
Kylus looked down at Alice.
Though his still rigid expression exuded coldness, when their black eyes met, her anxious heart calmed.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the Duke so reckless. I suppose… this means the Duchess is that important to you. I seem to have committed a faux pas without realizing this.”
The Empress’s intense gaze fell on Alice’s profile.
As Alice swallowed dryly, Kylus turned to the Empress.
“I too have committed a breach of etiquette, so I’m in no position to speak. However, I hope that next time, you won’t summon the Duchess so suddenly.”
Kylus suddenly took Alice’s hand.
Her hand was covered in sweat, so Alice reflexively tried to pull away, but Kylus, as if not noticing, gripped her hand even tighter.
Then he asked her gently.
“My dear, are you alright?”
“…Yes.”
“You’re already a sensitive person, you must have been quite startled by this incident. I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”
What’s this? Why is he acting like this?
Alice was bewildered by his sudden affectionate act as a loving husband.
And sensitive? Who?
As Alice widened her eyes as if to say ‘Are you crazy?’, Kylus squeezed her hand.
The strong pressure bringing her fingers together snapped Alice back to attention.
Realizing his intention, Alice slightly raised the corners of her mouth that didn’t want to go up.
“…I was quite startled, but I’m fine.”
“Is that so? I apologize if I frightened you, Duchess.”
The Empress spoke to Alice, but Kylus, as if not hearing, kept his eyes fixed on Alice.
“How can you be fine when your face is so pale?”
Kylus’s other hand lightly touched Alice’s cheek.
Feeling the warmth from his large hand, Alice was momentarily at a loss for words.
She was surprised and flustered, but also because the hand on her cheek was so warm, and his eyes seemed genuinely concerned, she couldn’t say anything.
Fortunately, Kylus naturally removed his hand despite Alice’s confusion and spoke to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, it seems my wife is not feeling well, so we should take our leave. If there’s nothing more important to discuss, please allow us to depart.”
“There was nothing particularly important to discuss. I simply called her out of my selfish desire to see the Duchess once.”
“In that case, we’ll be going now.”
Kylus raised Alice to her feet, still holding her hand.
Then he gave her a look as if telling her to quickly pay her respects to the Empress.
You need to let go of my hand for me to bow properly.
Alice glanced at the hand he was still gripping tightly.
His gaze followed hers to their joined hands. Instead of letting go of Alice’s hand, Kylus adjusted his grip to a more comfortable position.
Alice, who hadn’t wanted that, gave him an incredulous look, but Kylus didn’t let go.
Isn’t it clammy?
Her hand was soaked with sweat from tension. Surely his hand must be slippery too.
Nevertheless, there was no sign of displeasure on his face.
It seemed he had no intention of letting go of her hand until they left the Empress’s palace.
Alice had no choice but to turn to the Empress while still holding his hand.
For now, the important thing was to leave this place with Kylus.
