Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 62

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Chapter 62

Lisianthus would certainly have thrown back some blunt objection like, “How can I leave the Imperial Princess unguarded in the temple?” And the temple would just as certainly have countered with something like, “How can you doubt us? We are a temple. We take no sides!” — which would have left us with nothing to say in response.
“I had heard praises of the Southern Temple’s austerity from distant places, but now, serving the Imperial Princess, I am honored to witness it with my own eyes.”
The words were formal, but Barbara’s gaze was cold. Of course, Cronen simply smiled pleasantly as if Barbara’s look meant nothing to him whatsoever.
“Ah, it is mere rumor, I assure you.”
“Given that this region overflows with wealth, the temple must face many demands from ruffians trying to shake its foundations with money. Yet you uphold your principles so admirably against such pressures. It is truly admirable.”
“For a temple that hosts the royal family and conducts the Dedication Ceremony, our temple must appear quite humble. But such are my principles. To live within one’s station, to live without shame before God. Shamefully, even my temple brothers and sisters have come to share this conviction and have helped greatly.”
Cronen’s words flowed as smoothly as flowing water.
“This bread was made by Priest Orlando, the cheese by Priest Silencio. And these mountain berries were gathered just now by Delpindo, the novice priest who went to greet the Imperial Princess.”
Barbara’s smile froze. Watching Cronen’s slow, easy grin, I could only think that we were dealing with no ordinary opponent.
A truly enormous city lay nearby. If they were genuinely renouncing all temptation and living modestly in complete self-sufficiency, one would deserve to applaud.
But judging from what Plux had experienced and from Lisianthus’s own complaints, this temple was already deeply corrupted by worldliness. They were simply feigning virtue before me.
The fact that Plux could steal a Sacred Object at will meant the temple’s internal state was already a complete mess.
Just yesterday, on the way back from being kidnapped, I saw it myself — there was only one guard stationed in the building where I was staying. And that guard was just a novice priest.
They must have been worked to exhaustion; he was yawning so wide his jaw cracked, and he dozed off while staying watch through the night. If he was that tired, I wanted to tell him to just sleep.
Standing watch all night with no one to relieve him — why was the system like this? Were they deliberately setting things up for disaster?
From what I’d observed of the temple’s layout during my brief tour yesterday, Sacred Objects were stored near Cronen’s chambers.
Since the Dedication Ceremony itself would be conducted within the temple, related facilities were concentrated in that area.
Straining my shallow knowledge, if one truly wanted to strengthen and reinforce a barrier, I recalled that you needed not just light-bearers, but every kind of power-wielder — fire, water, earth, wind, and so on — all gathering to pour in their strength. If even one was missing, the effect wouldn’t be properly realized.
The most crucial part was that tomorrow I would drip my blood onto the Sacred Object, and besides that, nearly everything else was trivial affairs. Many of it was purely symbolic ritual.
“If it pleases you, after the meal, would you immerse yourself in the Purification Water Ritual? You must soak for at least three hours before tomorrow arrives. When you immerse yourself in the water for the ritual, regrettably we cannot heat it, so it may be somewhat cold, but….”
“The weather is so warm that should be fine. But when I immerse myself, is it… truly necessary to have someone standing by?”
“Ah, no. If it troubles you, I shall have the area cleared entirely.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Something about how worldly authority means nothing before the sacred, and so forth — in any case, according to the temple’s rule that all members must use formal speech regardless of rank, I was dutifully using formal speech with the priest as well, royal blood or not.
But Cronen’s manner troubled me.
It wasn’t that I expected him to offer convenience like Brian did, or to make some grand pitch.
Considering everything, it was strange that he acted so unselfconsciously toward me. Even when we first met, he was chatting with Gregory before greeting me.
More than that, there was the matter of the Black Market.
It bothered me.
Might the Imperial Consort be the backing force?
For something that dangerous to be distributed so casually seemed to leave a foul taste.
To traffic in such dangerous goods, reduce the city lord’s son to that condition, and vanish without a trace?
I had merely heard the story, and yet it felt wrong. It seemed deliberate — a target chosen, a person destroyed that way. And while they were at it, they damaged the Sacred Object too, ruining the Dedication Ceremony.
I managed to save him in a single night with my (physical) healing; but what if I hadn’t?
Count Cortez hesitated to ask the Castrain Family for help.
That meant that regardless of the city’s welfare, to save his son, he would have stopped at nothing. One could only wonder which hands he might have clasped in the process.
After finishing the meal with some effort, when I was guided to the great bath filled with Purification Water, I found a wide pool carved from pale stone brimming with clear liquid.
Having bathed infrequently during the carriage journey, and with Devi and Barbara standing guard, I was able to sink into the water with a completely unguarded heart.
Squeak!
A terribly small and adorable sound echoed through the bath.
I slowly turned my head.
Something with leathery wings stretched them and fluttered about.
A rat? Or perhaps a bat? Its round nose glistened damply, and its eyes shone as bright as polished obsidian. It was so tiny I couldn’t quite make out what it was.
In any case, once it spotted me, the creature released something from its mouth and rolled it toward me like a marble. Reflexively, I caught the transparent orb rolling along the edge of the bath.
The moment I grasped the orb, a small image suddenly shimmered in the air.

“Good grief, Bibi!!!”
My face crumpled into an involuntary grin. In the palm-sized window, Bibi was smiling shyly at me.
Today she had her hair in two braids with daisy and sunflower blossoms woven in, which was utterly adorable.

“Oh, oh I see. Bibi, I’m so glad we got to talk like this, but you should sleep at dawn! Or you won’t grow tall!”