The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 51

 

Carlos and I walked side by side out of the main entrance of the Temple Main Hall.

 

Throughout our walk, the subtle gazes of the temple clergy followed us as a bonus.

 

‘It feels like we’ve become a spectacle.’

 

I expected this, but they have no intention of helping through normal methods.

 

Then.

 

‘I’ll just use abnormal methods.’

 

If they say it can’t be done, I’ll make it possible.

 

There’s a way. There always has been.

 

The biggest realization I gained from living as a princess was that the status of ‘imperial family’ is an excellent position for making impossible things possible.

 

Not long after leaving the Main Hall, I slowed my pace and looked up at Carlos.

 

“Duke, please go ahead. I’ll take a walk and think for a moment.”

 

Leaving only those words, I walked slowly while looking ahead.

 

My mind began racing busily.

 

I organized my thoughts as I walked slowly.

 

The Temple is under pressure from the Emperor.

 

Officially, the Temple and Imperial Court are independent positions with their own authority, but there wasn’t a fool who didn’t know that the Imperial Court’s influence reached the Temple.

 

When demonic energy spread across the continent over a decade ago, that dominance became even more certain.

 

Especially…

 

‘Who was the Cardinal of the Eastern Temple again?’

 

As I searched through my memories from before my regression, the name came to mind before long.

 

Cardinal Leonard.

 

He had a gentle appearance and soft speech, and on the surface seemed like a saint. He was popular with believers too. He worked hard on charity projects and supported orphanages. In the Eastern Region, he was treated almost like a living saint.

 

But.

 

‘He was excommunicated not long after.’

 

It was around when I was sixteen. An exposé broke that the Eastern Temple Cardinal had fabricated divine oracles.

 

The content was that the divine oracle from the cardinal selection 23 years ago was fake.

 

Divine oracles are sacred messages from God. They directly convey God’s will. Fabricating them is the greatest sin among blasphemies.

 

On top of that, embezzlement charges were added. He had been siphoning temple donations for decades. The amount was enormous.

 

In the end, he was excommunicated and met a miserable end. I heard he died of illness in prison.

 

And I know.

 

‘It was all the result of the Emperor pulling strings.’

 

The Imperial Court’s secret archives contained many such documents. Nobles’ weaknesses, clergy secrets, all kinds of dirty transaction records.

 

The Emperor had a hobby of collecting such things. To use them whenever needed. He said he felt at ease only when holding the sword’s hilt.

 

I had secretly looked through them when I was bored. Since I was a princess, I could enter, and no one thought I would look at such things.

 

The Emperor demanded enormous amounts of money and absolute obedience in exchange for turning a blind eye to the Temple’s corruption. The Cardinal of the Eastern Temple was no different.

 

‘I have a useful card.’

 

The corners of my mouth rose.

 

The night air was cold. I walked slowly through the alley in front of the lodgings. While organizing my thoughts.

 

‘Divine oracle fabrication 23 years ago. Embezzlement. Imperial bribes.’

 

How should I bring this up? Direct threats might backfire. The Cardinal is also a person in power. If cornered, he might bite back.

 

‘I need to start softly, then gradually tighten the grip.’

 

First probe. Watch the reaction. Then play the card.

 

‘And I should keep this secret from Carlos.’

 

The dirty dealings between the Imperial Court and Temple. Nothing good would come from him knowing. Getting unnecessarily involved would complicate things.

 

‘It’s better if I handle this alone.’

 

I walked for quite a while lost in thought.

 

Things were somewhat organized now.

 

‘Let’s move tomorrow morning. Meet the Cardinal, play the card, and get the guardian registration approved. I can do this.’

 

I raised my head.

 

When had I walked so far? The assigned lodgings had shrunk to the size of a fingernail.

 

“Should I head back now?”

 

It would be dangerous if I stayed out any later.

 

Only then did I sense a presence behind me.

 

I turned around.

 

“…Huh?”

 

It was Carlos.

 

He was standing a few steps behind me. Arms crossed. With a frowning expression.

 

“…You still haven’t gone in?”

 

“You certainly think for a long time.”

 

His tone was blunt.

 

Carlos turned around abruptly and walked toward the lodgings first.

 

‘…What?’

 

Did he follow me?

 

Was he worried about me wandering around alone at night?

 

‘No way.’

 

This person wouldn’t care about such things anyway.

 

But.

 

‘Why was he just standing quietly behind me?’

 

Without saying anything. Just as if he was waiting.

 

‘…I really don’t understand.’

 

Really, just when I think I know, I don’t.

 

After staring at him blankly for a moment, I followed behind Carlos.

 

His pale figure glowed faintly under the moonlight.

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

This time I went to the Temple’s main hall alone.

 

When I said I would go to the main hall by myself, Carlos’s reaction was brief.

 

“Alright.”

 

There was no additional reaction or comment.

 

Simply put, it was like saying ‘try what you can, and come back if it doesn’t work.’

 

‘I can handle it well on my own though.’

 

The morning sunlight was illuminating the Temple building. Yesterday it looked sacred, but today it just looked like a large building.

 

In the end, it’s nothing more than a rotten old tree.

 

When I headed to the reception, the same priest from yesterday appeared. Upon seeing me, her expression became subtle. It was a face that said ‘she really came.’

 

“Ah, Your Highness. The priest in charge is still….”

 

“Not the priest in charge.”

 

I firmly cut off her words.

 

“Let me meet the Cardinal.”

 

The priest’s eyes widened.

 

“The, the Cardinal?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s… there are procedures….”

 

“What’s the problem with a princess wanting to meet the Cardinal?”

 

The priest’s mouth moved hesitantly. Her face showed she didn’t know what to say.

 

“Still, you need to schedule an appointment in advance….”

 

“Since when do royals schedule appointments to meet Cardinals?”

 

At my sarcastic response, the priest’s gaze moved busily.

 

“Why, did His Majesty the Emperor tell you not to let me in?”

 

“That’s not…!”

 

“If not, then go tell him. That the princess has come.”

 

The priest couldn’t say anything more.

 

Even so, since she showed no sign of obediently following my words, I had no choice but to sigh and bring out what I had prepared.

 

“Then say this. ‘There’s something urgent to discuss regarding the oracle from 23 years ago.'”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

The priest, who had been bowing her head the whole time, looked up with a bewildered face. Her expression showed she didn’t understand what I meant.

 

Of course she wouldn’t. This was something only the Cardinal would understand.

 

“Just relay it as I said. He’ll understand.”

 

“Um, excuse me….”

 

“Quickly.”

 

The priest hesitated but eventually went inside.

 

And this time she really did return shortly after.

 

However, her attitude was completely different from before.

 

“The Cardinal says he will see you.”

 

She was much more polite than before, and more than that, her face was tense.

 

‘As expected.’

 

Since he has something to hide, his reaction was quick.

 

He moved immediately at just the words ’23-year-old oracle.’ If he didn’t know what it meant, he would have ignored it. But he understood right away.

 

“Guide me.”

 

The priest bowed her head and led the way.

 

We walked down the corridor. The direction was different from when we went to the waiting room yesterday. Deeper inside, further in. The corridor decorations became more luxurious. There were paintings hanging on the walls and carpets laid on the floor.

 

‘Yesterday they sent me to the pantry, but today it’s VIP treatment.’

 

The world really is simple after all.

 

Finally, we stood before a large door.

 

The Cardinal’s Chamber.

 

It was a door decorated with gold leaf. Holy Knights stood on both sides.

 

I took a deep breath.

 

‘I can do this.’

 

The door opened.

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