<Episode 18>
[Really, really! It was such a moving speech. Priests to the lowest places. Dorothy to the highest!]
[Dorothy! You were amazing!]
[Forgive the noise now, Dorothy. We're all just so thrilled....... You're truly an incredible gift to us-]
[Me! I already feel my power returning. Is this my imagination?!]
The gods' voices poured out the moment we entered the Temple.
Their chatter was enough to scatter my soul, but surprisingly, it didn't bother me.
I'd been tempted to get excited myself since it had gone so well for an impromptu idea, but that wasn't important right now.
[Ahh! Dorothy. Where did such a pretty thing drop from?]
['Pretty thing'? Dorothy isn't an object.]
[Always so rigid! It means our baby!]
Amid the gods bickering, I hurried along.
Having provoked her, the High Priestess must be seething.
[But Dorothy....... Where are you going?]
[To the High Priestess.]
[All quiet.]
At my answer, Agatha spoke solemnly. The voices in my head fell silent instantly.
[What do you need me to do?]
[What you always do.]
I took the elevator back to the room with the balcony from earlier.
Beyond the door, the room was quiet.
Even if the High Priestess and Temple indulged in greed, she didn't show direct anger or tyranny.
So she couldn't lash out openly right away.
[‘That worthless wench dares humiliate me. I'll crush her thoroughly.’]
Still, thanks to Agatha, I knew her state of mind.
I knocked at the right moment.
"High Priestess, it's the Saintess."
I said it like announcing food delivery. Silence enveloped the room, then the door flew open.
The High Priestess had opened it herself.
She looked fine outwardly, but madness nearly gleamed in her eyes.
She smiled at me as if to devour me—a smile brimming with rage.
"Yes, Saintess."
Honestly, it was creepy scary.
"We have things to discuss, don't we?"
Her eerie face approached too close, chilling my fingertips.
[I-is this even human? Almost like a malevolent spirit?]
Knowing she was human, I blurted it out unconsciously.
[She's human. But....... her soul is very dark. Usually transparent or white. Even corrupted, it's grayish....... Hmm.]
Agatha's voice sounded somewhat flustered.
"Yes. We do."
I steadied my trembling voice and nodded.
The High Priestess, staring straight at me, gripped my wrist tightly and whispered in my ear. A voice too low for others to hear.
The priests in the room thought we were having an important private talk and didn't listen in.
"You must think me easy prey. That I can't touch you? Saintess, I have many ways. I can give you a life where you'd beg for death."
It was a chilling threat.
"Who sent you? Theodore? You've been plotting to screw me over from the start. The abilities you showed me were all fabricated lies. What have you dared do to me?"
Her grip on my wrist tightened, stronger than most adult men.
[Th-that crazy— Dorothy, let me—]
[Wait. We can't provoke her now!]
I refused the gods' protective barrier and urgently said what I'd prepared.
"It was for you, High Priestess."
I whispered back, matching her low tone.
"Nonsense—"
"Earlier, when greeting the people, I suddenly foresaw the future. A future where you're in danger....... I was trying to fix it."
"......What?"
"See? Why else would I rush to you after that? To explain. If I meant to screw you over, would I do this?"
Her grip loosened bit by bit. The demonic rage on the High Priestess's face subsided slightly.
"Explain that future properly. Follow me."
Releasing my hand, she walked past me out of the room.
A horde of attendants and priests followed her. I blended in and trailed behind.
* * *
We went to the greenhouse right next to her room. People dying of poverty, yet a greenhouse next door. Truly outrageous luxury.
She and I sat across a tea table. I took a sip and spoke.
"High Priestess. Did you know the gods each have their own abilities?"
"Famous tales. Like the goddess of the hearth, Vesta, protecting family harmony, or the god of medicine, Iaso, healing the sick."
She answered nonchalantly.
"There are many more besides. Lady Agatha does foresight, and Vesta you just mentioned can grant an unextinguishing fire to homes."
"Not just talk? Such specifics....... First time hearing this."
The High Priestess looked a bit flustered.
I didn't know all the gods' abilities fully either, so I improvised.
"Yes. Not vague things like prayers for family peace, but diverse, specific powers. But They don't mention them. Worried humans would obsess and depend too much. There's also a divine rule against using holy power excessively."
This was what Agatha had actually told me.
"I can't use them all, and don't know everything. They don't tell me. Plus the rule against overuse."
I added that I barely knew the types, let alone use them, and there were divine rules, so don't demand powers from me.
The High Priestess frowned in thought, then slowly nodded.
Having seen me fly from the sky today, she couldn't deny it.
She'd questioned if it was some device, but honestly, I had no time or ability for that. With the High Priestess's eyes everywhere in the Grand Temple, she knew I hadn't tricked anyone.
"Today, Lady Agatha gave a foresight. As I said, They rarely do because of human dependence worries....... But She really cherishes you."
I recalled the High Priestess's jealous thoughts that the gods favored 'this wench.'
No matter her greed or lack of piety, she was High Priestess. Her position made her crave divine connection and resent my existence.
"......Me?"
[High Priestess's heart just skipped.]
Agatha said flatly. Right on target for excitement.
I leaned in like sharing a secret and whispered just loud enough for her.
"In the near future, the Emperor will corner you. Your position narrows greatly, you'll be ousted from High Priestess. To prepare, you need the Empire's subjects' hearts on your side. That you must remain High Priestess."
"The gods... took my side?"
The High Priestess asked with wide eyes.
[‘The gods finally recognize my worth.’]
"......The gods know your efforts well. For reviving the Temple."
I suppressed disgust and smiled warmly.
More acting skill required than any priestess I'd seen.
[‘Yes, I've always prioritized the Temple's well-being. Of course They'd approve of growing it this much. High Priestess backed by gods. Perfect.’]
"So for the Temple's sake, hoping you'll continue well, They had me do relief. Long-term, it improves the Temple's image."
"Right. Relief serves that function."
The High Priestess nodded.
"This relief needs more than usual, but it'll bring you great gain in the end."
I whispered like a wicked devil. She smirked.
[Dorothy, impressive....... How do you lie so smoothly......]
Agatha admired innocently. From a kind god, it didn't feel like praise.
"The gods recognizing my heart pleases me."
She resumed her dignified act. Recalling her earlier rage felt chillingly cold.
The High Priestess across from me now even smiled gently.
"Yes. Let's await the time. And Dorothy."
"Yes, High Priestess."
"In a week, a light tea party. You must attend. We're meeting Marchioness Arland, so keep that in mind."
"......Yes."
So this was Agatha's hunch about the High Priestess scheming.
I nodded.
Marquis Arland was the Empress Dowager's brother, imperial kin. Closest noble to the imperial family.
But the Marquis was deeply pious like the late Emperor couple, clashing often with Theodore.
Currently, aside from the Empress Dowager, the only house defying and scolding the Emperor without 'insolence' charges.
Especially the Marchioness, close to her sister-in-law the Empress Dowager, wielded great social influence.
Taking me there meant.
‘Showing off the Saintess to solidify Temple influence among nobles.’
Typical of her—always scheming to grow power and wealth.
[Need preparations?]
[For now, help from the goddess of beauty and god of music seems necessary.]
Thrown into dreaded high society after all. Of course, for my goal, it was inevitable eventually.
‘Can I do well?’
Recalling the novel's social scenes, I shivered unnecessarily.
