Chapter 75
75
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While wandering around under the pretext of touring the royal palace, Beatrice followed closely behind us.
As we aimlessly crossed the garden, Hatin Palace came into view.
'Ah, the chapel.'
Suddenly, I understood why Rosa frequented the chapel with the acolyte who was the "Child of Blessing."
'If she goes to pray, Beatrice and the Royal Guard won't follow her anymore.'
With the red-haired priest behind me, I tested them.
"Since the priest came to help me, I should go offer a prayer of gratitude with him."
Beatrice's eyes widened in surprise.
"As Your Highness wishes..."
Though she said that, Beatrice had only ever heard rumors of me going to pray.
'Because I've never actually been near Hatin Palace.'
In any case, I succeeded in stopping Beatrice.
"Should we wait here?"
Beatrice asked, standing alongside the Royal Guard at the chapel entrance, and I nonchalantly nodded.
"Yes, that's fine."
With that, only a private meeting with the detestable priest remained.
I crossed the spacious chapel and entered the small prayer room that Rosa frequented.
As I closed the door and looked up at him, I felt a surge of anger.
"...Is this how you're going to do it?"
He instantly dropped the expression he had been maintaining and smiled.
"Did you miss me a lot?"
My friend, who had kept me on edge all week.
My friend, who was once a small bird, then a large bird, and now a full-fledged priest, was being too much.
I barely managed to suppress the urge to shout.
"How could you leave for a week without coming back? I, I was so..."
Kashian, no, Yan chuckled and placed his hand on the top of my head.
"Did my little one worry about me a lot...?"
I slapped his hand away and denied it.
"...Ha, not at all! Still, who comes back a week later after saying they'd be back in a few days... well, not that you're a person anymore? Anyway, how could you do that!"
Yan apologized very simply.
"Sorry."
"Tch...!"
Then, he suddenly pulled me close and lifted me up.
'I really don't need the technique of spinning me around like my father...'
He whispered as he gently raised and lowered me, as if to soothe me.
"Don't be angry, little one. I'm doing this to be by your side. To protect you."
I should be angry...
'I should definitely be angry because he broke his promise and made me worry for a week...!'
Seeing him, who always pretended to be so dignified in front of my parents, immediately acting silly in front of me, somehow made my heart soften.
"You, you should have told me! You're coming back anyway, so why make me worry for nothing...!"
"Did you think I wouldn't come back?"
Yan chuckled and pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly.
"Don't be ridiculous. Who will protect our little one if I'm not here?"
His large hand patted my back.
I reluctantly pulled away from his embrace and looked intently at his face again.
It was indeed Yan, whom I had missed so much.
'Still unnecessarily handsome, shameless, and brazen...'
It was Yan.
Only then did I feel relieved, but I turned my head away and snapped.
"A few days is not a week. If you do that again, I won't forgive you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I punched his chest at the annoying reply, and he feigned pain.
"Ouch! Little one, you have a strong hand, you know?"
"How are you going to protect me if you're so weak?"
Yan chuckled.
"You've become quite clever. It was worth raising you diligently."
He put me down, then clasped his hands in front of his chest in an uncharacteristic gesture.
"Father of the Sun, I have finally arrived at this place."
I was about to tease him for suddenly praying, but Yan, whom I looked up at, seemed so devout and sincere.
While I was surprised and speechless, he prayed in a sincere voice, as if drawing from the depths of his heart.
"With two wings and two legs, may I protect Ruelle, the King chosen by the gods."
I, who had been standing there vacantly, also put my hands together, following him.
But since I couldn't think of anything to pray for, I prayed a little differently from Yan.
'Thank you for sending Yan to my side...'
After that, the atmosphere was quite awkward.
After a brief silence, I perked up and asked.
"Yan, do you know how many wild guesses everyone made about you while you were gone?"
"What were they?"
"Silvia thinks Yan is the son of the Sun God."
His face became so terrifying for a moment that I was startled and added.
"That's really blasphemous, right? Silvia is too much..."
"What else... what other stories did they tell?"
"Ah, this is what Beatrice said."
I smiled brightly and continued.
"Apparently, Yan went to find a mate."
Yan sighed in resignation and muttered to himself.
"What's truly blasphemous..."
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Never mind. Let's go back now."
Yan then grabbed a weed that was sticking out from the prayer room chair and yanked it out.
He threw it on the floor and deliberately stomped on it.
I stared at him in surprise at the unexpected behavior, but he opened the door as if nothing had happened.
"What are you doing? Let's go."
* * *
When we came out of the chapel, Beatrice greeted us happily.
Even though I had been sulking all the way to Hatin Palace, I made a point of explaining to Yan in a friendly manner.
"This is the only chapel in the royal palace. Since the Ea Temple is nearby, the chapel is small. So, royal events are often held at the Ea Temple."
Yan nodded naturally.
"It's different from the Temple of Shamash, which stands alone."
We used formal language with each other, conscious of Beatrice following behind.
'But he's talking like he's actually been there?'
No, wait a minute...
'Come to think of it, did Yan go to the Temple of Shamash during that week and complete all sorts of preparations before returning?'
I shook my head, quickly dismissing the thought.
'That's impossible. The Temple of Shamash already contacted us a week ago to say they would send a priest.'
As I looked at Yan with suspicious eyes, he asked.
"By the way, Your Highness, you said there are two months left until the Holy Power Revelation Ceremony?"
"Yes, although I don't think I'll need that much time..."
Should I drop a hint about the Empress of the Empire?
While I was pondering, Yan asked again.
"Has the exact date been set?"
"Well... it's on Terra Festival."
Yan's steps stopped for a moment.
"...Which festival did you say?"
He must have forgotten that he should be using formal language with me.
I shook my head, afraid that Beatrice would hear, and answered in a hushed voice.
"Terra Festival. I was a little surprised too. We almost forget about Terra Festival in Ruelle. But my parents thought that day was the closest festival, so..."
Yan's handsome brow furrowed for some reason.
"Your Highness."
"...Yes?"
"You know I'll make sure you have a good ceremony, right?"
I chuckled and glanced at Beatrice.
Fortunately, she wasn't close enough to hear our voices.
"...I know."
"But that day won't work. You have to convince your parents to change the date before it's announced. You have to move up the schedule. Can you do it?"
Listening to him, there was no reason to bring up the idea of bringing the Empire over to my side.
'I wanted to move up the schedule to save the Empress anyway.'
I looked into Yan's dark eyes and nodded.
"Yes, I'll try."
* * *
The next afternoon, Rosa was very annoyed.
'A priest came from the Temple of Shamash...!'
It was different from Joy, who had accidentally drifted into Ruelle because of the accident at the Terra Temple.
The Temple of Shamash had specially sent the most excellent priest for the Princess's Divinity training.
'Not an acolyte, but a priest...!'
But he hadn't even come to greet Rosa.
Even though Lilin was the only one who had received Divinity, they were still living as one Princess.
'Mom is deliberately hiding me. Because she's afraid of being caught that I don't have Divinity...!'
When I thought about it deeply, it was a reasonable thing to do, but that didn't make me feel any better.
Just as Rosa was huffing and puffing, there was a knock. Knock knock.
"Rostel, are you inside?"
Dakota jumped up and opened the door at the King's voice.
She couldn't understand the Princess's uncomfortable mood, so she was very happy with the King's visit.
"Your Majesty."
Dakota bowed deeply, and Rosa also bent her body appropriately beside her.
"What is it, Mom?"
Pretending to be a good daughter was sometimes not in my nature.
Of course, I had been trying my best usually.
But to have to be cute and smile in front of my parents even on a day like today.
'I'm the First Princess. But just because Lilin received Divinity first, I'm being pushed to the back like this...!'