CHAPTER 46……….
A flustered Angelus darted her gaze around.
Where did he go?
Kyle had walked right past her and was heading toward Everett.
Did he just… pretend not to see me?
Everett, watching them both, felt just as awkward.
Why is he coming over here? At a time like this, he’s supposed to be greeting the saint.
Before she knew it, Kyle was standing in front of her.
“I greet Your Grace. You’ve come to see the saint, I presume?”
“No. I came to see Yan.”
Kyle glanced around.
“But why aren’t there any chairs here?”
From below, Alfred hurried up with two chairs.
Kyle slid one toward Everett.
“Sit. And you too, Your Holiness.”
Though Angelus had been seething, at Kyle’s words she quickly brightened into a pleasant smile and took her seat.
“Everett, why are you still standing? I told you to sit.”
Once he saw her seated, Kyle finally turned to look at Angelus.
Meeting his deep, dark green eyes, Angelus felt her cheeks flush.
“Your Holiness, I have a question.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Please, ask anything.”
She swept her long platinum hair over one shoulder.
“I heard just now that you said this young lady here will never marry.”
At the mention of Everett, the hand smoothing her hair froze.
“That… was Lord Anishu’s message.”
Her voice was laden with a nasal sweetness entirely different from when she spoke to Everett.
“This lady asked earlier, and I’m curious too. Why is she destined to live alone?”
Why is he only asking about that woman?
Angelus’s gaze began to tremble faintly.
Kyle leaned back and looked steadily at Everett beside him.
“I know this lady a little. Eccentric, yes — but I can’t imagine she’ll be alone forever. So why would such a prophecy come out?”
Everett tried to keep a blank face, unwilling to be drawn into his teasing, but her brows were already tightening.
Eccentric? What’s that supposed to mean?
As always, Kyle found her instant reactions adorable, and his lips twitched.
Angelus, meanwhile, was baffled.
He was asking her the questions, but never once gave her his full attention.
Her grip tightened on the hair in her hand.
Just then, the priest who had slipped away earlier reappeared at the far end of the hall.
“Lord Yankeller, over here…”
At the unexpected sight of Kyle, Yankeller started to greet him with a bright smile — then froze.
Why is Everett… with Kyle?
A moment earlier, a priest had rushed up to him, saying the atmosphere between the saint and the visiting young lady was tense.
Checking the guest list to see which house she belonged to, he had found the name: Everett Gronji.
If not for the temple’s relentless workload, she was someone he would have sought out countless times.
Everett, here at the temple…
His heart had pounded faster than his steps as he hurried down the hall.
But the scene before him went beyond surprise into shock — Kyle smiling warmly at Everett.
Has Kyle met Everett before? When? Where?
He met Kyle more often than family and shared deeper conversations with him than anyone else.
Yankeller had always believed he knew everything about him.
But now, Kyle was wearing an expression he had never seen — not tense, not weighed down with thought, but… different.
Has Kyle… ever looked at anyone like that?
A dull ache throbbed in his chest. Without realizing it, he clutched at it, prompting the priest beside him to ask if he was unwell.
“Your Grace is here too. Shall I tell him you’ve arrived?”
“No. He’s in the middle of a conversation. He’ll come to the office soon enough.”
He couldn’t bear to watch Kyle and Everett any longer.
Letting out a harsh breath, Yankeller turned sharply away.
“I’ll be in my office. When His Grace comes down, bring him to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Yankeller disappeared into the hall, Everett suddenly sprang to her feet.
Kyle and Angelus — she didn’t think she should remain between them any longer.
“I’ll be going now.”
“You haven’t heard the answer to my question.”
“No, I’ve heard it. Lord Anishu says I can’t marry, so I suppose that’s that. I’ll just have to prepare for a life alone.”
If Kyle hadn’t been here, she would have pressed for answers until she got them.
It was frustrating to leave without that, but for now, the priority was getting away from this scene.
She moved to pass Kyle, but he lifted his arm gently.
Ugh… now is not the time for this.
Everett’s face hardened, and she spoke in a low voice.
“Your Grace, I really must go. Please lower your arm.”
She looked angry.
Kyle’s green eyes froze over as he looked up at her.
His lips twitched as if to speak, but in the end he lowered his arm.
“Then, I’ll see you later.”
Kyle didn’t take his eyes off her back until she had left the temple.
Was she upset by what I said?
Her uncharacteristic reaction made him let out a worried sigh.
“Your Grace.”
With Everett — the thorn in her side — gone, Angelus saw her chance.
“I have long wanted to meet you. If it’s all right, I’d like to serve you tea. There are too many people here… perhaps we could go to my reception room?”
She set her hands on the table and slowly slid them forward, her fingertips nearly touching his.
Kyle glanced down at their hands, then raised his head.
“Your Holiness, since I’m here, I’d like to hear Lord Anishu’s prophecy for me.”
“…P–Prophecy? You mean, draw the Arcana?”
“Yes. Everyone says you are Lord Anishu’s embodiment. I’d like to hear your famed prophecy myself.”
His tone was serious enough that she couldn’t brush it off with a laugh.
Angelus’s mind worked quickly. She saw the people still watching.
“Your Grace, there are too many eyes and ears here. How could I possibly give your prophecy in a place like this? Let’s go somewhere quiet…”
But Kyle only gave a low, magnetic chuckle.
“I’m not an emperor… It’s fine. You’ve always given prophecies here — so why not do mine here too?”
Angelus’s eyes shifted restlessly.
“Your Holiness, is it difficult for you?”
It was a chance she couldn’t waste — to leave a strong impression on Kyle.
Kyle’s never seen the Arcana before, just like the others. I’ll do it the way I always do.
To hide her clumsy handling, she shuffled the cards more slowly than usual.
Kyle’s gaze on her wasn’t mere curiosity — it felt more like scrutiny. It was so heavy she nearly dropped the cards several times.
“Your Grace, what would you like to know?”
She pitched her voice higher to mask her nerves.
“Hmm… what should I ask…”
Murmuring to himself, Kyle looked at her and smiled faintly.
“There’s a ball coming up. I’m told I’m to find a marriage partner — will I meet her there?”
Angelus’s white teeth flashed in a broad smile.
“You’re wondering if you’ll meet your destined lady. Let us hear Lord Anishu’s words.”
She laid the Arcana out in a straight line with both hands.
Kyle’s eyebrow twitched at the sight.
“Please, choose a card, Your Grace.”
“This one.”
When she saw it, Angelus’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
“A good prophecy, I take it?”
“Yes, indeed. This says you will meet the woman you love at the ball.”
The two priests behind her exchanged puzzled glances — she had never once given a positive prophecy before.
The card in front of Kyle was the Seven of Pentacles — a man harvesting one pentacle and gazing worriedly at the six still on the vine.
Pointing to the pentacles, Angelus explained:
“This represents the woman. Among many, you have chosen this one.”
She claimed the harvested pentacle was the farmer’s chosen lady.
In truth, the Seven of Pentacles’ main keywords were evaluation and consideration — a card that often appeared at a crossroads of decision.
Kyle nodded.
“Hmm… that’s how you interpret it.”
Missing the nuance in his tone, Angelus clapped her hands lightly.
“Then let me congratulate you in advance, Your Grace.”
She tilted her head slightly, giving him a flirtatious look.
But he was still gazing at the card.
“Your Grace, as I mentioned earlier — I have a very fine tea I’d like to serve you, as a special treat.”
A flicker of urgency crossed her pale gray eyes.
“I appreciate the invitation, but not today.”
Kyle rose abruptly.
“I came here to meet the priest.”
“T–Then… couldn’t that priest join us as well?”
