Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 98

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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 98

There is no eating or drinking during a formal Dedication Ceremony.
After one has thoroughly immersed oneself in Purification Water to cleanse the body, the last thing needed is to soil that carefully purified flesh with something carelessly consumed.
Of course, since the Temple had caught fire and the Dedication Ceremony itself was postponed, the ritual of traveling all the way to the Temple to immerse oneself in Purification Water—and whether these people had actually prepared genuine Purification Water remained an open question—had also been cancelled.
Rather than accept the cup he was offering, I simply stared at his extended hand, whereupon Cronen cleared his throat with a small cough.
“The Princess Titania did not have the proper opportunity to undergo the purification ritual with Purification Water, did she? This is Ceremonial Spirits prepared for purification, which I and the other priests have crafted after consulting ancient texts.”
A sourish fruity aroma wafted up—the distinctive scent of Southern fruit so ripe it reeked of alcohol. A grape, perhaps? Though it didn’t quite seem to be.
An uneasy premonition stirred, and I retraced my memories.
Since moving to the Castrain Family Estate, I had tasted every single fruit that circulated in this Southern city.
Yet I had never seen a fruit with this particular aroma and color. Especially not one that could be fermented into spirits.
Besides, doesn’t fermenting spirits require a certain amount of time? How long had it been since the Dedication Ceremony was postponed? A month? Two months?
Separate from their usual posturing—’we are but a humble Temple, growing our own crops and baking our own bread’—could they really have managed to ferment spirits amid all that chaos after the fire?
I glanced down at my sleeves and the hollow of my throat. Hmm… white, of all colors. Even a few drops would show terribly, and changing clothes would be problematic given all the Mana Stones I had dangling beneath.
‘Right now I’m wearing the Curtain of Gloriana, so I was told my power can be used without performing the master ceremony. Has that grown stronger?’
-Yes indeed, contractor! ヽ(•̀ω•́ )ゝ
‘Can I purify myself even if I consume something strange?’
-Of course! If it’s something that would harm you, automatic purification engages! ☆(･ω･*)ゞ However, the level of alcohol contained in a simple beverage wouldn’t be automatically purified unless you’re protecting your health specifically—alcohol is something people consume for enjoyment sometimes, so it requires your will to purify it!
‘Wait, more to the point—am I even a minor right now… Oh, right.’
My eyes sparkled.
Even if I could reasonably expect there to be nothing seriously wrong, I still felt uncomfortable eating something an enemy had prepared. But fortunately, I had a perfect excuse at hand.
Whether in Korea or here, the age of the Coming of Age Ceremony was the same: twenty.
And Titania!
Had quite a long way to go before turning twenty!
Yet it was customary for minors to be permitted a drink or two, even at important ceremonial occasions like this.
Cronen clearly thought I wouldn’t be able to refuse for that reason, which is why he was offering—but that very assumption was my opening.
“How could I possibly disregard your thoughtfulness, Priest Cronen?”
I smiled and took the cup. As I hesitated, relief washed over Cronen’s face, and he relaxed visibly.
“But there’s a problem.”
Cronen’s smile cracked. With an expression of absolute regret, I ran my finger along the rim of the silver cup.
The crimson liquid sloshed. A drop spilled over, staining my fingertip. The color was as red as blood.
“I’ve already purified myself with Purification Water.”
“But the Temple hasn’t provided Purification Water. Where exactly did you purify yourself?”
Cronen bristled. I deliberately blinked my eyes in exaggerated innocence and asked, “My, Priest… haven’t you heard where I’ve been staying?”
As if recalling some unpleasant memory, Cronen’s face went slightly pale.
“…A-at the Castrain Family Estate, or so I heard.”
“The Castrain Family, as the foremost patron of the Northern Temple, ‘naturally’ understands every aspect and component required for the Dedication Ceremony. The moment they heard the Temple had caught fire, they grew concerned for the ceremony’s welfare and provided me with all manner of support.”
A lie, of course. Instead of Purification Water, I had indulged in a luxurious bath infused with lovely flowers and fragrant oils. The Southern heat being what it was, I hadn’t used very hot water, but my skin had become smooth as porcelain. Debi had been so delighted that she kept pressing every cosmetic and garment imaginable upon me.
Cronen stared at my face, which gleamed exceptionally from the aftereffects of that bath, his expression one of utter disbelief.
“Purification Water can only be made in the Temple! No matter how prestigious the Castrain Ducal House, could they really have transported it to their estate in such a short time without it becoming contaminated?”
Of course it was nonsense.
But if I insisted it was real, what could they do about it?
A house with money, commanding military forces, overflowing with intelligence networks, and able to disregard even the Imperial Family itself—what couldn’t such a house accomplish?
If you thought there was something they couldn’t do, that simply meant your imagination was insufficient!
I spoke with complete shamelessness, without batting an eye.
“Yes. Because it is the Castrain Family.”
“I find that impossible to believe!”
“Surely you don’t think I would lie to you, Priest? Why would I? And besides…”
At times like this, being imperial blood really was a convenient station.
Even if I was a disregarded youngest princess of the Imperial Family, I was still of royal blood!
No one could force my limbs and compel my lips to the cup if I refused to drink.
I raised the cup to my nose and inhaled. Then, deliberately loosening my grip on the handle, I swayed as if suddenly dizzy.
Crash! Bang!
The silver cup tumbled, and the crimson liquid scattered everywhere. I’d jerked my body back quickly enough to prevent the liquid from staining my white dress.
Instead, I’d splattered it thoroughly all over Cronen.
The pristine white of his priestly robes bloomed with red stains.
Drops fell from the hem of his robe, one by one.
With perfect aim, the red liquid had dripped down Cronen’s chin as well. His beard had turned crimson, making it look as though he’d tied a carrot or beet beneath his chin.
The sight of Cronen trembling with rage, his clothes and chin soaked in red, was absolutely hilarious.
Restraining myself from laughing outright, I opened my mouth.
“I’m terribly, terribly weak to spirits. Just smelling it made me like this… I’m still so young. Oh, how mortifying—I’ve been fasting since yesterday to keep myself pure, so my hands have no strength. Since today is such an important day, surely you’ll forgive me this mistake, Priest Cronen?”
“…”
Smile and splash the drink!
I can do this!
Get dizzy from just the scent and claim it’s a sudden headache that came on ‘just now’!
Of course I can do it!
Did they really misjudge me so badly? After seeing me collapse in front of people crying “My sword is gone! Waaaah!”, they should have expected me to be this shameless.
“The Temple naturally didn’t know how weak I am to spirits and prepared this with good intentions, so I won’t blame the Temple.”
How could you not know even that much about someone’s dietary habits and preferences? Of course this is your fault.
Of course, I wasn’t actually weak to spirits at all. In the first place, no one would have offered young Titania alcohol in the first place. Even young members of the imperial family only receive spirits at truly major ceremonies, and Titania was never invited to such occasions.
So if I threw a fit about being weak to alcohol, what could they possibly do about it? Who cares?
I pressed on with utmost composure, suppressing the desire to let out a loud laugh.
“This too must have been… an oversight that occurred while the Temple was urgently preparing the Dedication Ceremony. Surely that’s the case, yes?”
“…”
Cronen stared down at his dripping clothes, unable to hide his expression of constipated fury.
“I’ll remember the Temple’s earnest efforts to do their best. So perhaps you should… change into fresh robes, shouldn’t you? If there aren’t any spare garments prepared, I can have mine sent over on short notice…”
“…There’s no way I could impose such trouble on the Princess. I’ll step away for a moment.”
Cronen forced a smile, then abruptly left. His gait was rough and heavy—he was very angry indeed.
I whistled softly to myself, surveying the now-empty space. I carefully gathered the hem of my dress to avoid the spilled liquid covering the floor, and examined the silver cup rolling across the ground.
‘Can’t you figure out what this is?’
-I’m so sorry, contractor(｡ŏ﹏ŏ)…. I’m truly a very capable sword! But I can’t identify every type of ordinary object or food and their ingredients…. ……eh?(ㅇ︿ㅇ)
‘Eh?’
Like a malfunctioning machine freezing on a blank screen, the sword fell silent.

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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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