CHAPTER 43…..
Despite Angelus’s confident reply, Hugo kept his mouth firmly shut.
Irritated by his lack of reaction, Angelus raised her voice sharply.
“I’m bringing in huge donations for the temple. Even if I don’t marry, isn’t that amount of money more than enough payment for the Arcana?”
“It’s not just about marriage.”
It was a conversation they’d had countless times before.
Angelus would always bring it up again as if venting her frustration, and Hugo would patiently explain again.
As always, she only half-listened, sipping her wine.
“From the outside, it looks like the High Priest is running the temple. But in reality, everything moves under Yankeller’s hand.”
“Oh, I see. Still so strange every time I hear it—such a bookish, young master-like priest…”
“Make him your man. It will certainly benefit your relationship with Grand Duke Kyle.”
Angelus swirled the wine in her glass.
“Hmm, I guess it wouldn’t hurt, since they’re friends.”
“Exactly. If you can win Yankeller’s favor before Grand Duke Kyle comes to the temple, things will go much more smoothly.”
Her gaze turned to the portrait of the High Priest hanging on the wall.
Meanwhile, the maid cleared the empty bottle and brought fresh wine.
“You have another consultation with a noble tomorrow. Please pace yourself.”
“Got it. Stop nagging me already. Are you going to meddle in things like this too?”
Angelus slammed the freshly opened bottle down onto the table with a thud.
“By the way, how long are you going to let those beggars stay outside the temple?”
They were a group of vagrants pretending to be commoners who wished to meet the Saintess.
Hugo had personally gathered them from various places on the outskirts of the capital.
“The priests keep asking when I’m going to meet those beggars.”
“The Saintess must show compassion regardless of class. Many people admire you when they see the line forming.”
“I don’t care about that. What if they actually manage to get into the temple?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve spoken to the priests.”
“Good. Now get out—I want to rest.”
Angelus called the maid to prepare her bathwater.
Hugo bowed and quietly left.
“That sly snake… Once I become the Grand Duchess, you’ll be the first one I get rid of.”
Sinking into the warm bathwater, she stared blankly at the ceiling.
“Yankeller Fenaios. Yankeller…”
Angelus muttered his name over and over.
The only man in the temple who didn’t even twitch an eyebrow when he saw her.
No matter how she looked into those clear brown eyes, she couldn’t guess what he was thinking.
“Hmm… How am I supposed to get close to a guy like that?”
She let out a frustrated sigh.
Morning sunlight streamed harshly through a gap in the curtains.
Her head throbbed—too much wine while scheming about how to go after Yankeller.
Her stomach churned, and the room spun.
She wanted to just stay in bed all day, but she couldn’t.
If Hugo had stressed it so much before leaving, it meant he’d been given orders.
She might throw childish tantrums, but she wasn’t actually a clueless child.
Angelus called for the maid waiting outside.
Once she was dressed in a pure white gown and her makeup was finished to look fresh and pure, there was no trace of her hangover.
Pleased with the maid’s work, Angelus lifted her chin and examined her reflection from every angle.
“My lady, shall I bring breakfast here?”
“No, I’ll eat with the priests today.”
“But don’t the priests all eat together in the main dining hall?”
“There’s someone I need to meet. If he won’t come to me, I’ll just have to go to him.”
Standing before the closed door, Angelus gently clasped her hands together.
Time to become the benevolent Saintess.
When she stepped into the priests’ dining hall, silence fell instantly.
Hands froze mid-bite, mouths stopped chewing—every eye turned to her.
A moment later, the murmuring began.
Some approached her, others stole glances.
All except one—Yankeller Fenaios.
Angelus basked in the priests’ gazes.
Standing tall in the center of the entrance, she let her eyes slowly sweep across the wide room, flaunting her beauty.
Someone she made eye contact with dropped their fork with a clatter.
Yes, that’s the kind of reaction I deserve.
She was satisfied.
But then a faint crease appeared between her elegant brows.
In a corner table, Yankeller sat alone, not even bothering to lift his head.
The sunlight through the window made his curly brown hair look even thicker.
Focused entirely on his book, he was ignoring her.
He dares… not look at me?
With a picture-perfect smile, Angelus strode straight toward him.
All eyes followed her, and when they realized she was heading for Yankeller, soft gasps echoed here and there.
The moment shattered their vain hope that she might sit with them instead.
“Lord Yankeller?”
Standing across from him, Angelus called his name.
Yankeller looked as if he might dive into his book from how absorbed he was.
He gave no answer.
Her clasped hands tightened; heat crept up her face.
“Ahem, ahem…”
She gave two short, sharp coughs.
Only then did Yankeller look up, startled, and spring to his feet.
“Saintess! What brings you here?”
Angelus found his startled reaction… rather cute.
“Am I not also a member of the temple? You’ve been kind enough to let me eat in my room, but I thought it might be proper to sometimes dine with the priests like this…”
Nearby priests overheard her and smirked.
“Ah… There’s no need for that, but since you’re here…”
Yankeller glanced around.
Everyone’s eyes shone with hope, signaling him to let them sit with her.
“The Saintess can’t just sit with the priests… I’ll arrange a table for you.”
Angelus took the seat across from him instead.
“I wouldn’t want to trouble anyone. Why not just dine with you?”
Her maid quickly set her meal down.
Yankeller was only bewildered by this sudden situation.
He scratched his head with the small book in his hand, unsure what to do.
Angelus began eating as if to make a show of it, forcing him to sit back down.
With the Saintess in front of him, reading was no longer an option.
He sighed lightly and focused on eating.
I thought he’d go right back to reading… At least he has manners.
Angelus picked up a freshly baked roll and held it out to him.
“Have this too. It’s too much for me to eat alone.”
“Ah, I’ve already… Well, thank you.”
He placed the roll untouched on his plate.
“What were you reading?”
She initiated conversation.
“Just… a book on temple management.”
In truth, it was about crafting magical tools.
Yankeller discreetly pulled the book closer and flipped it face-down so the title wouldn’t be seen.
“Since the day the High Priest introduced us when I first came, this is our… first real meeting, isn’t it?”
“Ah, is it?”
His reply was flat.
“You must have been busy? I sent you a few messages…”
“This is the busiest time of year for the temple. And thanks to the large donations you’ve secured, it’s been even busier.”
His voice was calm, but there was an edge in his words.
Shouldn’t making money for the temple be a good thing? What’s with the attitude?
But Angelus wasn’t the type to be discouraged.
“I’m sorry, Lord Yankeller. I truly thought I was working hard for the temple’s sake… I didn’t realize I was making things harder for you.”
She put on a sorrowful expression.
Most men would fumble over themselves to comfort her.
Yankeller didn’t.
He just nodded while chewing the bread she’d given him.
Consistent indifference.
He was neither rude nor friendly.
If he’d just openly ignored me, I could at least pick a fight… What is this attitude?
Angelus gulped down the milk in front of her to suppress the bubbling anger.
Though he looked her in the eye while speaking, there wasn’t a shred of interest in his gaze.
Then, Yankeller asked:
“Saintess, when did you gain the foresight to use the Arcana?”
At his question, her eyes trembled faintly.
“A few months before I entered the temple. I saw Lady Anish in a dream, and after that, I gained the power of foresight.”
Yankeller only nodded once, disinterested.
“Why do you ask?”
“As a priest, of course I’m curious. There have been many who falsely claimed to be Lady Anish’s incarnation.”
“Are you saying I’m lying?”
She flared up, but his expression didn’t change.
“No. I was only curious. My apologies if I offended you.”
He lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
That night, the High Priest took the Arcana. And now… she’s making prophecies with it? Is it because she really is a Saintess?
The seventy-eight cards Lady Anish had used for prophecy—the Arcana—
The High Priest had removed them from the temple’s vault.
And days later, he had brought in this Saintess Angelus, claiming she was Anish’s incarnation.
There had always been those who claimed such a title, but it was the first time the High Priest himself had endorsed one.
And as if on cue, crowds flooded into the temple to see her.
Everything is lining up without a single flaw. So perfectly… it’s suspicious.
His contemplative look was like a silent signal telling her not to speak to him.
The priests’ whispers sounded like mockery in her ears, filling her with humiliation.
So you’re going to treat me like this, Yankeller… Just you wait.
