Chapter 34: Saintess Kaphia part 1

The cold season.

Ignoring the fierce weather, the young priest, concerned about the praying Saintess, brought her a cloak and kindly requested.

“Saintess, it’s cold. Please stop praying and go back to your room.”

“I understand.”

Without showing any signs of refusal, Kaphia returned to her bedroom, a cool smile spreading across her face.

Now is not the time. According to rumors, the return of Lady Klein will be announced at the spring debutante ball, right? Fine… I can wait patiently until then.

It has already been over thirty years since she became a Saintess. Kaphia, who had suffered all kinds of humiliations due to the weakening of the temple’s divine power, was in a position where she needed to hold onto something.

‘Even though Duchess Orleans says she’ll back me up, that alone won’t be enough.’

A long time ago, the Duke and Duchess Klein, who were said to hold the heart of the Empire to the left, visited the temple. The Duchess, who was near her due date, came seeking prayers for peace.

Kaphia immediately began thinking of ways to weave connections. If there was no reason, she’d create one. So, she pretended to bless the soon-to-be-born child, subtly blowing weakened divine power into the pregnant Duchess’s belly.

As soon as she saw the Duchess, Kaphia knew. This child, soon to be born, was a mage who would inherently absorb enormous magical power. But for now, the child was nothing more than a powerless fetus with only latent potential.

If I intervene, I can do anything I want.

This impromptu scheme, concocted on a whim, worked out better than expected. Hearing that the youngest, who was about to be born, would be born sickly despite being expected to be spoiled with love, they suddenly entrusted the newborn to the temple.

They just gave her the noble name Tiana Marietta Klein and left her. Now, the life of the infant princess was entirely in Kaphia’s hands.

‘Good.’

Originally, Kaphia had planned to keep her for as long as she could, under the pretext of curing a non-existent illness, until the child could understand words. When the princess grew a little older and would naturally follow Kaphia like a godmother, she’d return her and maintain a good relationship.

But no, she couldn’t allow the princess to grow up into a rare and powerful mage. That wouldn’t be right.

I had suffered all my life, mocked for becoming a Saintess, but this child would not be allowed to have rank, magical power, and a good husband all in one. That’s unreasonable. You will think of me as your lifesaver and serve me all your life, my good princess.

Was it the lust for power that ruined the Saintess, or was Kaphia’s very nature fundamentally wrong?

Filled with twisted desires, Kaphia kept the princess locked in the temple until she was nearly six years old. Not only that, she gave her the temple’s ancient ruby pendant to prevent her from manifesting her innate magical powers.

When the princess, newly born, opened her eyes, her hair, naturally light blonde, resembled that of the Duke. But due to the powerful effects of the ruby pendant, her original hair color slowly started turning into a light pink. Over time, it might even change to dark red.

Kaphia pressured the nurse and maids, telling them to never speak of the illness, which was supposedly a serious one. Thus, even in the letters sent regularly to the Duke’s estate, there was no mention of such a thing. When the princess turned three, a painter was invited for her birthday, and they hurriedly declined, saying the princess needed to rest.

Kaphia didn’t hate Princess Klein out of malice. She simply treated her as a means to fulfill her desires.

Nearly five years had passed.

Now, at six, the princess had grown accustomed to staying in her room, and although they hadn’t become very close, Kaphia had managed to keep her there. If the sickness continued for too long, they might send in another healer.

It was time to send her back. After raising her for five years in the temple, the Duke’s estate would no longer be able to look down on her.

‘The time is near.’

The Saintess would claim the princess was healthy now, except for her hair, and would send her back to the princess’s party.

Then… the carriage was suddenly ambushed on its return journey.

The criminals? Most likely they were remnants of the fallen nation, pirates from the far reaches of the Empire. They committed brutal murders to steal the goods and a bit of gold from the carriage.

I swear, this was not Kaphia’s doing.

The problem was the carriage’s extravagant appearance. If they had gone a little further, the nearby knights were supposed to come out to escort it.

The coachman and everyone else were killed, and the young princess disappeared. If the survivors took her, she’d probably have been sold as a slave in a kingdom with poor security beyond the Empire.

Thinking of this terrible outcome, Kaphia later gave a prophecy that the princess would return to the Duke’s estate… It was a calculated move. The Duke, whom she hadn’t seen in years, would try to press her about the past, and Kaphia needed to buy some time.

The Saintess’s lips twisted in an ugly smile.

The prophecy I made worked out just as I intended! It’s just that your eyes and steps missed by just a bit.

‘Honestly, Duke Klein, it’s your fault. If you had properly recognized the person, your bloodline would have led you to your daughter. If you’d taken just one more step, you would’ve found your daughter safe and sound.’

Then I wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble, and your reunion would have been complete, just as I wanted.

“Ha.”

Lost in the distant past, Kaphia’s gaze returned to the present.

……

(T/N: Duke Klein’s flaw is that he’s so devoted to his only daughter that he failed to see the obvious truth in front of him. Same goes with the rest of the family members)