Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34
And Diego Schmart appeared as if he had heard my innermost thoughts, materializing with a sharp sound.
“My goodness. I wondered why Your Majesty would seek me out first… but what are you doing up there?”
“Pardon?”
I looked down at him in bewilderment. Diego Schmart smiled and gestured.
“These stairs are used only when making offerings to Raulus God. Beyond them lies the Altar. It is forbidden to enter, for that is where Raulus God himself treads.”
“Ah…”
Auredhian Belgot. You didn’t tell me the most important thing!
I felt my face flush with heat as I descended the stairs again. I had nearly committed the irreverence of stepping upon the Altar where the god himself descends…
Once I reached the bottom, Diego Schmart guided me toward the side of the building.
“Please come this way. The path leading to the priests’ temple is here.”
“Yes!”
Following Diego Schmart, I found the path indeed continued. It was lined on both sides with neatly trimmed almond trees.
As we turned the corner, a grand temple structure finally came into view in the distance. I could see priests in white vestments moving about busily. This must be the main building of Barishard Temple. I walked along the polished path while conversing with Diego Schmart.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Your Majesty gave me a hint.”
“A hint? When?”
I had been with him the entire time—my eyes widened in confusion, and Diego Schmart laughed as he explained.
“There exists a method among holy priests to convey meaning without speaking. Though Your Majesty is not a priest, you possess the most powerful and pure holiness, so there is no difficulty in conveying your intent to those like myself.”
“Ah…”
Now I understood how Auredhian had summoned the knights. That murmuring from before had not been mere muttering to himself.
Diego Schmart asked kindly.
“How is your health, Princess?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
I nodded quickly. My condition was truly excellent. It had been a long time since leaving Lebovni that I felt this vigorous even without Auredhian by my side.
In fact, my condition seemed almost excessively improved. The somewhat heavy mood I had been carrying was gradually lifting away.
“Being in the temple should certainly be better for you than in the Imperial Palace. There is nothing you need to be particularly cautious about. However, there are many areas where outsiders cannot enter, so I would appreciate it if you would keep that in mind.”
“Of course. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Diego Schmart was one of the few people who knew how much I despised boredom. Before learning that he was the designated next Archbishop of Barishard, I had summoned him to the Imperial Palace at all hours without restraint. The recollection of this fact filled me with considerable embarrassment.
I fumbled out an apology to him.
“I’m sorry for troubling you when you’re so busy. Today and all this time… I’ve been quite inconsiderate…”
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m actually not that busy.”
Ah, kind Diego Schmart. I wish Auredhian had inherited even half of this priest’s gentleness. That affectionate iron-willed emperor would surely have teased me, saying “How surprising that you knew,” spinning his words with amusement.
As I gazed up at him with admiring eyes, Diego Schmart smiled and continued.
“I understand you received the baptism of Raulus God, Princess. Then allow me to guide you first to Believers’ Square.”
“Yes!”
I had no way of knowing where anything was, so I had no choice but to follow him. I trailed after Diego Schmart as we entered the temple.
The temple certainly carried a different weight of earth than the Belgot Imperial Palace. It felt almost as though I had returned to Lebovni.
Come to think of it, there were many blessed lands in Lebovni as well. Did their influence extend to the Capital of Libne where I lived? Given how small the territory was, it was certainly possible. I nodded to myself in understanding.
Lebovni was certainly comfortable to live in. The problem was that I might have died suddenly there without ever knowing why. Thinking of it that way, my mood grew heavy again. To part from the world in such a manner would be as unjust as being scolded to death by Soleia Elad.
Since I’m living anyway, I should seize a good elixir of life and live long and well. Yes, that’s what I want—but there’s this nagging unease at the back of my mind. Auredhian pretended nothing was wrong, but it seems something genuinely is happening.
Remembering that today was the day Auredhian and Soleia were supposed to meet made it harder not to connect the dots. And the fact that Soleia was standing in front of my palace…
I thought I only needed to flee beyond the Imperial Palace to escape that wicked witch. But life, it seems, is never that simple. Who knows if that woman has cast some dark magic on my palace!
“This corridor, marked with golden thread, leads to the priests’ prayer chamber. We restrict civilian access here. The prayer chamber for outsiders is marked with red thread. And right beside it, there’s a separate one made just here.”
While I was lost in thought, Diego Schmart passed through several rooms, explaining as he went. I nodded vaguely and looked around.
So the corridor with golden thread is where ordinary people come and go, and the side draped with red thread is the priests’ prayer chamber. Got it.
“Beyond the prayer chamber, if you venture deeper inside, you’ll find the space used by the faithful.”
Diego Schmart continued his lengthy explanation of the Temple’s structure, while I only committed to memory the places I should avoid. Still half-lost in my own thoughts.
After walking a bit further, an open, spacious area appeared. Multiple pillars supported both sides, and it connected directly to the garden outside.
Among the white-robed priests, I could see scattered commoners in ordinary clothes. And more rarely, a few noblewomen in clearly luxurious dresses.
“Oh…”
Belgot nobility. My mind, which had been preoccupied until then, finally returned. Since coming to Belgot, except for glimpsing them from a distance near the Imperial Palace a few times, I’d never seen the nobility this close.
I leaned closer to Diego Schmart and whispered.
“It seems many nobles come here.”
“Yes, indeed. This is the only place in the Capital where one can pray directly to Raulus God.”
“I see.”
“Within the Temple, there is no distinction of rank. Both commoners and nobility use the same space. Today seems to have more people than usual. Then… shall we go this way first?”
I quickly followed Diego Schmart’s lead. He crossed the square without hesitation. As I hurried after him, I felt prickling gazes upon me.
“…?”
For some reason, today felt like I was attracting more attention than usual. I glanced around and realized it wasn’t my imagination. It wasn’t just gazes—groups of two or three were gathered, looking at me and whispering.
“Ah, is that her…?”
“His Majesty personally…?”
“I heard her mood seemed a bit off lately…?”
Whisper, whisper.
“What…?”
I felt a bit embarrassed. There were far too many eyes on me. My ears burned hot. What is this, why are people whispering while looking at me…?
I wasn’t accustomed to being the center of so much attention. It would be more accurate to say I felt aversion to it. An unwelcome memory flickered through my mind.
“…”
But just before the scene could become vivid, I consciously managed to block the thought. I shook my head vigorously, shaking off even the thread of memory. It’s a completely irrelevant recollection anyway. Why am I like this!
I quickly pulled up the hood of my robe and covered myself completely. Once my ears, which must have turned red, were hidden away, I finally felt some relief.
If it were Auredhian, I would have grabbed his hem. Unfortunately, my reliable shield wasn’t beside me right now. I merely clasped my own fingers together and hurried after Diego Schmart.
* * *
“Ah, so that must be the princess from Lebovni, I presume.”
Countess Aiven whispered quietly. Hezario, standing beside her, picked up the thread.
“It seems so. That pale pink hair—it’s just as I heard, quite distinctive. There’s no way to mistake her.”
“Indeed. And more than I expected…”
Countess Aiven trailed off.
“How should I put it? More than expected, far more than the rumors suggested…”
Likely, everyone in this place who had laid eyes on the Princess of Lebovni shared the same thought.
Hezario smiled and spoke.
“You’re far more adorable than the rumors suggested.”
“Oh, indeed. That’s exactly what I was about to say, Hezario.”
Clarisse Aiven, the Countess of Aiven, beamed brightly in agreement.
“His Majesty brought her here personally in his own arms. And then he kept her hidden deep within the Imperial Palace, never uttering a single word about the Princess—so naturally, speculation has been rife all this time.”
“Precisely. I wagered she would be a legendary beauty of unparalleled grace. Of course, it seems I wasn’t entirely off the mark, but… the reality is rather different from what I imagined.”
“Isn’t it? I thought the same thing. She’s nothing like the image I had in mind.”
They exchanged similar remarks back and forth, their gazes fixed entirely upon the Princess as she hurried across Believers’ Square.
Between her fluffy, pale pink hair, the tips of her ears flushed crimson were faintly visible. Embarrassed by the sudden deluge of attention, the Princess pulled her hood down over her face.
Soft exclamations scattered through the crowd at the sight.
“Oh my goodness…”
“Heavens, how precious.”
Sweet as candy, her hair paired with those innocent, sky-blue eyes—an irresistible combination of colors that drew every gaze. Her features were delicate and doll-like, arranged in an adorably beautiful way. And the way she seemed unaccustomed to such attention, her awkward movements, the embarrassed flush on her face—it all added to her charm.
Clarisse broke into a radiant smile.
“What an absolutely lovely Princess you are!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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